_a.jpg "Photo: Eli Elgart")
Adam: IDF needs moral rehab
With bitter feelings outgoing Northern Command chief expresses faith in IDF commanders to draw lessons from Lebanon war failures
IDF Northern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Udi Adam ended his military career on Monday as Maj.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot stepped into his shoes.
Adam was irked during the Lebanon war by IDF Chief of Staff Lit.-Gen. Dan Halutz's decision to send his deputy, Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky, as his representative in the northern command.
On Monday he took issue with a number of failures he identified during the war.
From left to right: Eisenkot, Adam and Halutz (Photo: Avido Shapira)
"I want to clarify and warn that professional problems and lessons on managing the forces are deficiencies that can be fixed. But the main failures that I identify and which I experienced during this war are ethical problems of loyalty, friendship and cordiality," he said.
"These cannot be fixed by a mechanism. These are rooted and fundamental problems of norms and values that require soul searching and they need to be fixed."
Adam also thanked Halutz for appointing him to the post, saying he trusts his former commanders in rehabilitating the army and preparing for the challenges that lie ahead.
About his successor he said: "I am passing on the command to Gadi, a leading field officer in the IDF, honest, balanced and professional. I have no doubt in your capabilities Gadi, you are receiving good command and good people who will be with you and believe in you and therefore you will be leading the way."
Halutz, whose relations with Adam deteriorated during the war, told Adam: "I thank you and express my appreciation and wish you success in the future."
Eisenkot, who is aware of the delicate task he faces in light of speculations that a second round of fighting is inevitable, said: "I am receiving the command two moths after the end of fighting with Hizbullah. During that time it was possible to understand the change in the security situation along the northern border. Hizbullah was harmed significantly and its outposts were destroyed. The Lebanese Army, supported by the international force, has deployed along the border with Israel and shows signs of hope for stability."
Eisenkot added that the Israel Defense Forces will conduct a thorough investigation into the failures and successes of the war in Lebanon, adding that "there is a change in the security situation along the northern border."
He said the IDF is closely following Hizbullah's drive to replenish its arms supplies and draft more recruits into its ranks.
