Opinion  Others
How we lost our sparkle
Yoram Kaniuk
Published: 13.08.06, 20:53
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31.  How you got spoiled.
keren ,   sao paulo   (08.14.06)
You are right when you say that "Olmert and Peretz, like all of us, relied on legends ... " -but not only legends about air force. You are right when you say that "We failed to produce any original thoughts about planning future ..." -but not only thoughts about planning future wars. I guess these 2 statements say it all. My impression is that for Israel to defeat its enemies,it has to have more objectivity toward itself;it has to clean itself from its own polutions and dirts;it can not lose time in small things.It has to be more minimalist and much strong at the same time.But the most important is that the individual Egos should be diminished. Is it easy?No ,it is not! But a great suffering is a great opportunity as well, for a changing in the actual pattern to a higher level. Let's profit it!
32. Who won in this war?
jungleboy ,   Nicoze   (08.14.06)
"Maybe politicians didn't realize IDF is no longer such a great army !!" Is this possible after what we did for 50 years, I don't believe that any more, how come? We should be more wise...
33. I'll back home
youganov ,   Israel, Natanya   (08.14.06)
sorry, but I think that I should return to my homeland - Russia, to sleep there and to start my life again. Goodbuy what's called ' Promise land'.
34. SOLOPSISM
BORUCH HOFFINGER ,   BROOKLYN NY   (08.14.06)
Yoram Kaniuk, what are you saying? It's not Torah Judaism, it's incoherent and rambling.
35. There is no doubt IDF still Great,It was political game
e.m ,   s.f   (08.14.06)
And the first step of this game has started with establishment of new extreme fanaticism regime in Iran. They gave birth and invested billions of $ to Hezbollah, and it was Israel and USA intentionally have lets that the Hezbollah have got the power in Lebanon(the moment Hezbollah terrorists groups have used suicide truck and killed 240 American navy in Lebanon ,America had the right to fight back and finish the Hezbollah, but instead they moved out from Lebanon, it was a great encouragement for Hezbollah). Israel did the same thing in south of Lebanon which they never let the IDF hits them back and instead they dismantled the south Lebanon army and in 2000 IDF have moved out of Lebanon, another victory and encouragement for Hezbollah, And now the war with Hezbollah one more time the Israeli politicians did not lets IDF will do theirs job and another great victory for Hezbollah and Iran and the whole Muslims nations, indeed Israel have encouraged them for more war in future
36. IDF's Problems
Bob ,   Vial, USA   (08.14.06)
The IDF still has many great features about it. The IAF is superb, indeed, at their mission the best in the world. The officer corps is generally excellent and operational doctrine is superior to that of the USA. If you want to witness an army which is a confused mess just look at the US Army in Iraq which has the look of an elephant bogged down in a swamp. On the other hand, the readiness of the IDF's reserves, like in most armies, is poor to pathetic. Most of these reserve formations have no business being near the battleline they are so completely out of physicial and mental condition besides lacking the proper training and equipment. However, the IDF learns faster than any army in the world so they will correct these faults in short order. Nothing like a defeat to concentrate minds on fixing what's wrong.
37. To 14: Who is Responsible?
Chris ,   LA   (08.14.06)
The guy who killed Rabine, the fanatic was responsible. In short, I am 300% sure that Israel would not have gone to war in Lebanon again if Sharon was not in a coma, but in the PM's seat.
38. I hope you weren't paid for this drivel
Jason/Fredymeetallah ,   So. Calif. USA   (08.14.06)
There is nothing wrong with the IDF! In equipment or personel. What is lacking is leadership that has a moral clarity, to the purpose at hand. Sometime leadership of a free country is lacking, as France in 1939 to the present. Sometimes, political leadership is good but the military leadership is bad, as USA from 1861 to 1863. Never the less, focus on the end reslut and remain dogged in the determination to achieve that goal.
39. Dont Blame the IDF for Olmert's idiocy!
RA   (08.14.06)
You can ask any IDF general or officer in Israel and they will all tell you they were not allowed to do what needed to be done. They fought with 1 hand tied behind the back and 1 hand constantly pulled on. Despite this, the IDF produced great results. And stop your crying about casualties. This is a war and they are soldiers. In 1967 Israel lost 700+ in 6 days.
40. You got spoiled when you voted Kadima
Ignacio ,   Zaragoza, Spain   (08.14.06)
Olmert is a fiasco, his cabinet is full of incompetents and corrupted. You got spoiled by voting Kadima, and you will get spoiled until you impeach him. Impeach Olmert, save Israel. As easy as that.
41. Get Rid of Olmert & Co.
Robbie   (08.14.06)
The IDF is still great, but Olmert is not fit to lead Israel!. Israel needs to install an excellent missile defense system and there should be improvements made to the Merkava tank,.
42. Lower ranks
Sher   (08.14.06)
As Kaniuk points out, the individual soldiers are wonderful, unique. It is military command that has become complacent, arrogant. This was already a spanner in the works in 1973 and has become worse over the lifetimes of two generations of soldiers. Ditto in the political class. Together they produced this lesson. Who will have the humility to learn from it? Whoever it is will have to make acrobats out of the military elephant that prosecuted this war and will have to puncture the verbose balloons that now constitute our political class. To serve its purpose the army must be used in tandem with diplomacy, not in order to replace it. Only then will the sacrifice of the best of our young people be undertaken with the care, consideration, weighty reflection such a drastic step deserves.
43. Whatever IDF does, don't follow the American
Wibawa ,   Sydney   (08.14.06)
The IDF needs to reassess its military doctrine which is based on conventional warfare which pits its armies against those neigbouring Arabs countries (ie. Syria, Egypt). It's similar to that of US armed forces. It proves successful against conventional armies in the past. Against Saddam's army, the US forces annihilated them. But when pitted against asymetrical enemies with guerilla tactics, conventional military strategy doesn' work well. The same was faced by the US in its involvement in Vietnam. Much of Hezbollah strategy is borrowed from the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) 45 year ago with much improved weapon system. But it's a good experience from which IDF can learn and should adapt in the future.
44. Negativity
Stewart ,   USA   (08.14.06)
If other Israeli's are becoming as negative as this guy, we might as well pack up and go back to Germany like that president, Amade ... whatever, keeps saying. Also, the leaders of the Israeli army better get their show together soon, or get out of the way for others who understand constant change.
45. This article is incoherent ...
judy ,   London, England   (08.14.06)
I haven't a clue what he is trying to say. Why has Ynet posted this?
46. #2
Rachel   (08.14.06)
Agree, but please add the former finance minister who aggresively cut back on Defence budget, and also the fellow that crept out of Lebanon. Also a certain big shot who arrogantly wouldn't buy the anti tank stuff, (maybe 'cos he was in the air force)? You cant possibly only blame this lot, even if the one who, like a real tzaddik, abstained a couple of days ago, but when he was minister of defence was working on how to become prime minister.
47. 18 It works if you have no interest in occupying.
freedom ,   canada   (08.15.06)
Of course it would work, the country that has been carpet bombed cannot exist as a normal operational entity. What is the country to do, hide in bunkers until the bombs stop... there would be too many civilian casualties... its why no one carpet bombs anymore. its unneccessary. There will likely by vast improvements on tank defenses as a result of the success of anti tank missiles in this war. Im not going to say that tanks are becoming obsolete. I think they must change.
48. Complacency is our weakness.
Mag ,   Singapore   (08.15.06)
I am proud of my country, even prouder having known the fact that the Israeli army was the ones who trained/formed my country's army when we first got our independence. Was told it was toughest ever for our boys in that generations. Things have changed, perhaps the same goes for the IDF. It seems to me from tele, like they were out on school excursions. Like they can't wait to head home and hit the night clubs in Tel Aviv. Gone are the "Davids" who fought and killed the many "Goliaths" that came in their way, to steal, kill and destroy. Perhaps there are some left, but where are they? Could it be perhaps they(this generation of IDFs) did not labour to built this State. They were just enjoying the fruits their forefathers fought , labour to build what it has become today. Complacency is our weakness. However, like all wars Israel has fought before this. GOD will intervene, Israel will WIN, not because you were/are great, but your GOD, GOD of Israel, Abraham, Issac and Jacob is GREAT and Merciful to you! HIS covenant with you is Forever.
49. How we lost our sparkle
DANIEL ,   Lod, Israel   (08.15.06)
2. IDF still great; Political hacks messed up this one Yes I agree; they have saved us this time; however we lost Sharon touch, who's name was enough for the enemy to leave the battle ground! What's happening now? Our defiance minister doesn't even know certain war terms! How can he plan the strategy? All inexperienced bunch not fit for the war or wars those are already on the horizon! That Syrian baby is talking big; that Iranian Shia talking on behalf of these Sunnis! This shows Sharon is no more in power; or there is no one who can take his seat!
50. STOP babble-on, rebuild Lebanon!
DE Teodoru ,   ny usa   (08.16.06)
There's a beautiful Israeli poem about an old man greiving at his fallen IDF son's grave. The son replies: weep for me father, not for yourself, for I lie here in the cold, damp darkness with all my dreams lost and hopes buried because of your wilingness to sacrifice me to your ideologic stuborness. Israelis need to integrate into Mideast, not dominate it through US arms per neocons. The very Finance Minister that sought to make Israel independent of US$$$ was in the Kenesset calling for "strenght"-- what is that but more loss of sons and dependence on US arms and $$ ? A nation at war cannot economically be viable. It's always those who think that a big mouth makes them mensch who lose for moms the wonder only their woumbs could create. The neocon dream of Mideast dominance with US help is the raving of a bunch of ex-Bolsheviks in NY who shot-up testosterone and want to feel like men at your expense. But neither they nor their rotund sons fight for Israel, they fight as war profiteers. If you survived the neocons, O Israrel, you will survive Narsallah and will lead even him in rebuilding th very Lebanon whose destruction he and Bush provoked. Make them pay for spilled IDF blood: US must send Israel $10 billion for Lebanon reconstruction under its high-tech leadership and Narsallah cooperate his word to his people as he helps make the Israeli light a reality through reconstruction. That's the only way Hezbollah can keep its reconstruction promise to the South Lebanese. Hebollah's disarmament is an issue totally ecclipsed by the task aheah and almost any Israeli but Halutz will be welcome to contribute to the task...THEN Israel will Beuber's light onto the nations of the Mideast! Shalom and start rebuilding your brethern's house, be he Jew or Muslim, together
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