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Olmert awarding Ashkenazi his ranks on Wednesday
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Ashkenazi is the right man at the right time, friends say

Newly appointed chief of staff's associates confident he will be successful, lay out challenges facing army: 'The war exposed our weaknesses, and we are bleeding in shark-infested waters.' Reservists call for return to code of 'He who dares, wins'

"Gabi Ashkenazi is coming in at a very difficult point in time. The IDF has emerged battered from an unsuccessful fight and the estimate is that during his term there will be another war," said former Golani Brigade Commander Maj. Gen. (Res) Uri Simchoni of the challenges facing his friend, newly appointed Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi.

 

"Our weaknesses have been exposed and we are bleeding in a region which is like a pool teeming with sharks hungry for prey 

 

"Ashkenazi must prepare for every possible conflict scenario, develop a combat doctrine and train according to it. He must know exactly what to do when there are developments, there must not this practice of learning during the incident – like there was in Lebanon," added Simchoni.

 

He is confidant, however, that Ashkenazi, who was appointed on Wednesday morning in an official ceremony, has what it takes to succeed.

 

"He is the right man at the right time and in the right place. He is a man who knows how to work hard, who can be in touch will all the little details while still carrying out the larger things. Ashkenazi's dynamic will bring him to make good decision.

 

He is a man who knows how to build a circle of advisors from both within the general staff and from outside the army, people who have knowledge and experience and an ability to balance everything."

 

Simchon says that the new chief of staff will be tasked with correcting many failings in preparation for the war which may break out this summer or the next.

 

"There is much work ahead, particularly for the ground forces – where the army's weakness was exposed," he says. "From my conversations with Ashkenazi it is clear he intends to fulfill the weighty task he has been given."

 

Maj. Gen. (res) Ilan Biran, a former director general of the Ministry of Defense who was also once Ashkenazi's commander, said of his friend, "Gabi is the kind of leader who is extremely capable when it comes to bringing together his the commanders, consolidating them. He is faced with a vast challenge that includes strengthening the country's deterrence and creating an operative plan for the IDF.

 

"Gabi has fulfilled every possible post in the array of positions in the Golani brigade and he was also director general of the ministry of defense. All these positions form the base which will allow Gabi to unite and strengthen the general staff," added Biran.

 

Reservists expect chief of staff to dare

Among reserve soldiers there are a lot of expectations from Ashkenazi. Tomer Weinberg, a reservist who was seriously wounded on the northern border during the Hizbullah kidnapping cross-border raid in July, is one such reservist.

 

"As a Golani soldier I trust in the new chief of staff and believe he will be better than his predecessor; the main thing to do win back the reservists' faith in the military. A very crucial value was damaged here – you don't leave soldiers behind. The chief of staff must do everything to bring the kidnapped soldiers' home," said Weinberg.

 

N., a reservist in the elite 669 aerial rescue unit, said, "I expect the chief of staff to dare more and make use of the Special Forces. If our goal is to go in and rescue people, we go in and rescue them without thinking twice.

 

"During the war we heard of wounded soldiers' slipping away on the ground while we're 3,000 feet in the air – frustrated and wondering what we're doing there. Why can't we go down and rescue them?

 

"I believe in the current chief of staff's ability to make this change. We must go back to the reality of 'He who dares, wins.'"

 

Roi Mandel contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.14.07, 12:45
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