Two Northern Command chiefs?
Deputy Chief of Staff Moshe Kaplinsky to function as connecting factor between General Staff, Northern Command. Chief of Staff Halutz says he trusts Northern Command Chief Udi Adam, but strange appointment raises few questions
Referring to his decision, Halutz said that it was done "in order to coordinate the IDF's efforts." He also claimed that he had full trust in the IDF commanders in general and in Major-General Adam in particular.
Although the formal explanation is that it is nothing but a technical move, some sources in the IDF wondered whether Halutz would have done the same with a different general instead of Adam.
"We are in the middle of a war and the pressure on the Northern Command is enormous," said a source within the IDF. "There's a need for coordination between the things that are being done in the Northern Command and the Central Command. Kaplinsky, who is very experienced, will do this job."
Adam: I will execute my responsibility
However, other sources in the IDF said in surprise that "the Command's chief has all the knowledge and opportunities to command his area and report to the general staff. It's weird that a senior officer, such as the deputy chief of the General Staff, should work in the same area and perform, in fact, some of the Command's general duties."
In an interview with Channel 2, Major-General Adam said: "I think that right now my responsibility is to command the Northern command. There are soldiers in here whom fight bravely, understand the missions, understand their responsibility and sacrifice their life. Right now I'm responsible to do it, and I will execute my responsibility."
"It's a war and there are harder thing than that right now. To tell you that it can return to routine? Probably not. I'm trying to focus all the powers and forces in order to reach the right and smart decisions on the northern front. It's more important right now, unless I'll feel I'm being interrupt."
Since the kidnapping of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, some IDF sources doubted if Adam is indeed the man who can lead the IDF's biggest move in recent years. They also suggested apparent failures in his functioning. Those question marks are sharper now, after Kaplinsky's appointment.
