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Peres: Let Ashkenazi enter politics
Attila Somfalvi
Published: 18.02.11, 09:35
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15 Talkbacks for this article
1. How did Ashkenazi suddenly become the darling or the Left?
elhrac ,   USA   (02.18.11)
Was it his opposition to a preemptive attack on Iran's nuke program? What was Ashkenazi's role in torpedoing the Galant appointment? There is something dirty going on here, especially with Peres involved. The military should not be used to subvert democracy.
2. Military men should be banned from politics
Aharon   (02.18.11)
With all due respect to Ashkenazi and all of the great soldiers which have fought for and commanded the IDF, being a good soldier has no connection with being a good politician. In fact, I would argue that having been raised in the military establishment, military men are especially unqualified to be statesmen. The modes of thinking necessary to be a good statesmen are entirely different from, and in many ways in conflict with, the modes of thinking required for a military man. The military is an instrument of state policy. Its leaders and thinkers function on an "operational" level - they achieve operational objectives a, b and c - and they must do so in creative and unorthodox ways to be successful. A statesman operates on an entirely different level, what might be called political and strategic rather than being bogged down in the nitty gritty operational details. When a military man enters politics there is a very real risk that he brings with him his operational mode of thinking. Barak, as defense minister, has demonstrated this point repeatedly. The war in Gaza was a military-operational success - but military successes are worthless in themselves. A statesman must realise that "war is a continuation of politics by other means" - and military men are simply not in a good position to think in this way. Military men in politics are a liability, not an asset. They should be barred from holding public office.
3. Either we abolish the"presidency" or show me the way to get
tom ,   tel aviv   (02.18.11)
rid of this President. Please, really !!!!? Is there no end to Shimon in Israeli politics. He's done enough good&bad already!
4. The real Peres
Ricardo Macher ,   Karnei Shomron IL   (02.18.11)
No matter what the law says! What's good according to this old Stalinist man is to be the law, even if we change it every two years! Please!!!! Somebody send Peres to where he belongs!!! (a retirement house)
5. Peres is wrong - time to retire?
Progressive Populist ,   Sth/TelA-SAWe/Isr   (02.18.11)
First, it would just be silly to change this law back and forward all the time. Second, it´s important for the civil society that the generals go through an extensive cooling-off period. Thirdly - why is there a risk of "loosing him"? If Ashkenazi don´t want to wait, then that probably means that it´s not so important to him, and in that case - let him be a businessman instead. And 4: Ashkenazi has been a part of the mess, scandals and affairs in the Kirya. He is no angel. And also he is to blame for the "bad blood" between him and Barak.
6. yeah, go into politics & ruin any good reputation you have
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (02.18.11)
enter the cesspool and you shall become dirty.
7. to no.2
sensible guy ,   tel aviv   (02.18.11)
You should not be so closed minded,there are many former military that laid down their guns and went into politics. look up attaturk, ex army fella that reformed the ottoman empire. Gave women rights, removed the sultan, created parties for democracy, etc.
8. peres wants us to follow the example of the arabs
zionist forever   (02.18.11)
In the arab world whilst there are laws for the favorites of the leadership those laws can be bent. The arabs are now all having revolutions because they want freedom & rule of law and in Israel Peres wants permission to bend the law for one of his favorites. If you can change the law on one thing you can change it on another and pretty soon Israel starts to resemble the system the arabs are having revolutions to change. I Ashkenazi wants to enter politics then he should have a cooling off period first. That will allow him to think it through, get used to civilian life and wait at decide where his political loyalties lie because as chief of staff his loyalty was to the government of the day, The thing we do need to change now is get Peres out of politics, we don't need a president for life especially considering he was appointed by the Knesset not elected. This is not a monarchy and should not be treated like one.
9. Cooling off period
Sagi   (02.18.11)
is the biggest load of nonsense and it serves no purpose other than to keep talented people away from the "system" created by the two bit sheisters and con artists who call themselves parliamentarians. They make the rules to suit themselves and their games, not for the sake of the Nation. I so much yearn to see this country undergo change. I do not want violence as in the Moslem countries, but radical change is both cardinal and inevitable. The sooner. the better. Only a constitution and a representative electoral system can restore democracy to our country. Indeed they are the basic building blocks of democracy, which in our country starts and ends at the ballot box. The moment the results are announced democracy goes into a coma and stays that way until the next elections. Time for radical change has arrived.
10. Aschkenazi the Leftist. The plot against Galant now is clear
Frederic   (02.18.11)
11. Why I Don't Like Peres
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (02.18.11)
According to him, a law is matter of convenience. If a law harms someone he doesn't like - then it must be obeyed and enforced. But if a law harms someone he likes - then we can ignore it or change it or bend it or make an exception... You see, there really is no such thing as a "law" for Mr Peres. Laws are simply tools used to suppress anyone he doesn't like and conveniently ignore when he likes them. This attitude is the exact definition of immoral and is utterly despicable.
12. 5 - Progressive Populist
02.18.11   (02.18.11)
As far as Barak is concerned, PP must have made the day for slime-ball (not paint-ball) Barak with his remark here. I wonder how much Barak has paid you to say something nice about him. Barak is a loathsome creature and I doubt he will ever be missed once he's gone from the limelight he so loves!
13. Both want to get rid of the Golan!
Ben Yisrael ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (02.18.11)
Ashkenazi is guilty of bringing down Galant. The story is yet to unfold.
14. 2
zionist forever   (02.18.11)
In the US Colin Powel was considered one of the most respected politicans in the country and he was a former general. He made mistakes but I think generally Sharon was a good PM. Barak made a lousy PM but as defense minister while he is not the best there has ever been he has not been to bad. Compare him the the man who has no real military experience Peretz and its obvious the benefits of a former military man in the defense job. There is nothing wrong with ex military men getting into politics but there should be a significant cooling off period get used to civilian life.
15. Because Ashkenazi is a leftist of course
Claudia ,   Tampa USA   (02.19.11)
And has the same land for peace ideas as dumb a$$ Peres. #14 Is you believe not accomplishing the task in Gaza is the measure of a good defense minister, and pitting the entire general staff against eachother as that arrogant Barak did, Israel is doomed. Only Galant wanted to wipe out Hamas leadership and rescue Gilad. He was stopped by Barak and Ashkenazi. He's the man to be defense minister! Ashkenazi wants to give away the Golan and make peace with Syria. Fat chance that would work. Good God don't you leftist ever learn???
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