Ex-IDF Chief: Olmert Sacrificed Troops For Political Spin
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - In remarks published Thursday, Former Israel Defense Forces Chief Of Staff Moshe Ya'alon accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of launching a militarily pointless last-minute ground offensive in the Lebanon war for sake of political spin. Thirty-three IDF soldiers were killed and many more wounded in that final push to the Litani River, which began just 48 hours before a ceasefire officially went into effect. Ya'alon told Israel's Ha'aretz newspaper, "This move was part of a (political) spin; it had no distinct military purpose," but rather was "aimed at providing a sense of victory." If that is the case, then the ruse has failed miserably, with opinion polls showing that up to 65 percent of the public wants Olmert and his government to quit over what it sees as a failed military campaign. Ya'alon said the nation should not have to wait for a commission of inquiry to uncover the truth. "Those who made the decisions should take responsibility and step down," he said. The retired general rejected the notion that Olmert's new and militarily inexperienced government could not have expected to do any better, and should be given a chance to learn from this summer's conflict. "Olmert cannot say 'I didn't know.' Even if he does not have military experience and never acted as defense minister, he knows how you go to war; this is not how it' |
