Ehud Barak's chicken coop

It's getting crowded in Ehud Barak's backyard. Those convicted of corruption, suspected of taking bribes, heroes of the state comptroller's reports and just ordinary power and seat-hungry people the likes of Binyamin (Fuad) Ben-Eliezer and Isaac Herzog are knocking at the door of the new Mr. Silence. They are once again seriously seeking to crown him the Labor party leader.

Before honest and innocent people fall into the trap set by Barak's cronies, I advise them to read the book "The Fall of Paris" by historian Alistair Horne. This is a must read for those who still do not understand how people such as Barak - friends and supporters of Ehud Olmert - are likely to bring the country down. This is a book that may open the eyes of misguided people whom Barak's propaganda machine is trying to drive out of their minds.

In his book, Horne describes, among other things, how corruption in France became the Republic's enemy in the 1930s. He writes about how affairs of corruption, accompanied by sentiments of disgust towards politicians and the government hovered above the political jungle of the helpless Third Republic.

According to Horne, within seven years from 1932 to 1939, 19 cabinets had fallen in France, 11 prime ministers had taken up office and pockets of pus (blackmail, obstructing justice and romantic affairs) exploded one after another. The outcome is well known: The Republic was defeated by the Nazis in May 1940.

This fascinating book provides food for thought about Ehud Barak, who is shamelessly seeking a seat in Olmert's cabinet. Barak didn't condemn Olmert even once for the allegations of corruption the latter has been associated with. We didn't hear him defend the judicial system and the state comptroller against the prime minister's harmful assault. We didn't hear him announce simply and clearly: I will not sit in a government headed by a man who sent thousands of soldiers to battle without clear war objectives; without him doing his homework.

Barak's refusal to say this takes us back to a statement he made during his term as chief of staff , speaking before an officers' course when there was a rise in military accidents: " Mothers in Israel send their children to the army after they raise them, and expect to see them embarking on life. We take them for one purpose: To protect the State. Not to send them back to their mothers in crates. I suggest everyone conjure up in their mind's eye the picture of a child raised for 20 years being returned in a crate."

These are harsh words. And what does Barak do with them after the Winograd Commission determined that Olmert had failed, failed, failed? He defends this shameless man. He is not prepared to say what Ophir Pines and Ami Ayalon told the prime minister. I will not be a member of your cabinet.

Old tricks

Barak has opted for this path for two reasons: Firstly, in his conduct he holds the war on government corruption in contempt and is demonstrating indifference towards the poor. From the height of his luxury apartment at the Akirov Towers in Tel Aviv, it's difficult for him to see hungry people.

He can't see the Qassam-ridden city of Sderot either - Olmert assured Sderot resdients he would fortify their homes as far back as last year but forgot to do so and continues to mislead them. Barak floats high above in another world.

Secondly: Barak is captive to those whose entire world boils down to chasing honor and arranging work for themselves and their associates. They are reminiscent of the sick chickens from Olmert's chicken coop. They are his business card.

Here is a partial list of the senior chickens in Baraks's chicken coop: Former Minister Salah Tarif, convicted of bribery and fraud; former Prime Minister's Office Director General Shimon Sheves convicted of fraud and breach of trust; fraud suspect Minister Issac Herzog, who exercised his right to remain silent during the police investigation into Barak's campaign funding; minister Ben Eliezer and his various scandals, including the purchase of gifts for events using ministry funds; Minister Shalom Simhon, suspected of taking bribes; and former Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg with his scandals pertaining to the Jewish Agency, the Knesset and personal benefits - which were curbed last week by a Labor Court ruling.

This gang takes to people the likes of Olmert, because he is actually them, and they are actually Ehud Barak, and the new Barak is the old Barak with all his old and ugly tricks; clean hands is not their concern.