Act of leadership

The fate of the State of Israel is now solely in your hands. The circumstances in Israel and around us are harsh, the threats are growing, and there's an existential threat from Iran on the horizon. We don't have much time.

From here the prime minister would outline his plans for the near future. He would at least make an explicit announcement as to the severity of the rules of conduct among IDF officers and the "outside", and would call on those who believe in God to believe in him as well.

He would call upon those who cannot meet the challenge to step down. He would pound his fist on the podium once or twice to emphasize a point here and there, speak assertively and then go home.

The next day, while the Churchillian speech is still resounding in the ears of the top IDF brass, one, two or three military personnel will be caught for committing minor offenses such as breaking the speed limit, leaking information to the press or a commander denying his subordinates sleep - and they would be dismissed from the IDF post haste. Perhaps then, the IDF could resume being a real army.

Coming alive with activity

And then in one fell sweep, the military would come alive with activity. Everyone would embark on emergency training, billions would be assigned to renew stocks, and lo and behold, the army would go back to basics as well. Namely, saluting superiors, wearing berets, raising the flag, and abiding by standard military dress code. As of late even Iraqi solders look more smartly dressed than IDF soldiers.

This would by no means mean that the army would pause even for a moment in its investigations into the failures of the last war. The probe would be carried through to the end, but the criticism would be conducted on the "outside" – in the press, on the radio and on TV. The IDF would be busy with its own affairs; preparing for the next war, improving its discipline and turning its current militia into a real army.

A simple solution

People would say: The talk on the "outside" such as that of dismissals and investigations and lies and truths can't be detached from the army itself.

But the solution is very simple: Senior officers found trying to promote personal interests would immediately be dismissed, with no mercy. In the past, I witnessed the dismissals of senior officers within hours.

The most memorable incident was that of a senior officer who was marked for great military success; his story went as far as Ben Gurion. As the story goes, the officer knew that his driver had stolen two bags of sugar but didn't report it to his superiors, within a day the officer found himself at home dismissed from the army.

And there's another incident where an officer was summoned to the chief of staff at eight o'clock in the morning and informed that the IDF knew for a fact that he had leaked information to the press. The chief of staff presented him with two options: A court martial or immediate dismissal. At nine o'clock that morning, just an hour later, he found himself on his way home. It was goodbye to the IDF.

The despondency currently prevalent in the military, as in civilian public life, can be rectified by implementing conduct not yet seen by the military, and by adherence to the rules of discipline, reward and punishment.

The smart alec approach, "it'll be okay" and "trust me" as in the words of Yitzhak Rabin, will be over.

Had I been Ehud Olmert I would call Amir Peretz today…