Channels
Photo: Niv Calderon
Peretz. Trapped
Photo: Niv Calderon
Photo: Ahiya Raved
Mofaz. Where was he?
Photo: Ahiya Raved
Photo: Reuters
Sharon. What is he doing?
Photo: Reuters

Too many questions

War has exposed too many questions about defense establishment, home front, politics and much more

If just half of what Amir Peretz has discovered this month is true, he had better roll up his sleeves to set the defense establishment right.

 

During the war, Peretz was caught unbelieving at least once a day. He asked questions, but the answers he got made his hair stand up. Too many people shrugged their shoulders. Too many answers made his head spin.

 

The new defense minister sometimes asks simple questions, the questions of a decidedly non-military man. He is not a recent member of the IDF general staff, not one more recently retired general. His questions are those of a civilian, someone who wants simple answers in clear language, not some IDF slang.

 

But his questions were left unanswered. Peretz still can't understand how it could be that the IDF failed to have hundreds of missiles and heavy equipment aimed at Hizbullah bunkers in south Lebanon. He cannot understand how for six years, Israel watched the enemy dig in, yet did nothing to prepare: no precise maps of every tunnel and every bunker, every basement and every tree. He simply cannot understand what his predecessor, Shaul Mofaz, did for the past six years.

 

He also can't understand how it could be that Israel's vaunted intelligence community has no idea where the head of the snake making a joke out of Israel is hiding. He cannot understand why he can't just order the assassination of Hassan Nasrallah and have it be done. We've watched him for six years, tracked his movements, written secret reports about him. Six years – and nada. Nothing. Zero.

 

How could it be?

 

Until now, Peretz has been silent. He has toured the north, tried to give encouragement, to show a face that "everything is okay, it's under control."

 

But inside he knows full well what the story is, how unprepared we were for this war. He knows the day will come when the guns fall silent and the difficult questions will be asked.

 

He knows people won't understand how it could be that reservists have to bring compasses and binoculars from home, that there is no edible food, no equipment suitable for a modern army.

 

They are good questions, he will say tell the questioners, and will point to his predecessors, Ariel Sharon and Shaul Mofaz. Go ask them. They are responsible for the current mess.

 

Big mistake? Not according to Peretz

 

Some say Peretz's selection for defense minister was the political mistake of his life. Could be. At the moment, all the cards are stacked against him: The public doesn't understand exactly what happened here this month, the media is waiting for the first head to roll, the budget has been slashed, and next year's budget will also, apparently, feel the affects.

 

In this situation, Peretz is trapped: Not only can he bring down the government over social issues, he must now come to demand more money for defense. What he'd hoped to do – slash defense "fat" – has become a dream. Who would dare demand a cut to the defense budget now, when thousands of reservists haven't taken part in large-scale training exercises in years? When as the man responsible for Israel's defense establishment, the defense minister must put his house in order. That process will cost a lot of money.

 

Important voice

 

Peretz, for his part, is convinced those eulogizing him don't know what they are talking about. Three months after taking office, he believes his presence at the ministry will effect change, that a civilian presence at the decision-making table will change the situation, bring up important questions.

 

He feels meetings are no longer gatherings of the IDF General Staff; rather, they are productive meetings, and his contributions valuable. Leave now? When everything is hot and must be put in order? Don't make Peretz laugh.

 

War of questions

 

It's over. The silence that has characterized the political establishment the last month is over. Now, the abuse/accusations/criticism will resume. The people who forced themselves to wear heavy, restrictive costumes during the fighting will shed their heavy clothes for the lighter clothing of politicians.

 

One need not be a prophet, experienced political analyst or genius to know what's going to happen in the political and public spheres in the coming weeks. One need only recall the hushed criticisms of the government and the army over the last month to understand that things won't exactly be quiet, at least not any time soon.

 

Paying attention

 

Everyone's got questions, answers, charges, and of course – solutions. Everyone with anything to say about the pathetic state of Israel's civilian response readiness will say it now. Anyone with a stroke of genius to enlighten the chief of staff and his generals will do so now.

 

It is easy to dismiss the politicians as a group, to treat them as a special population that is easy to kick and treat them cynically. Occasionally, this treatment is justified. In this case, it might be better to remain silent and to pay attention.

 

Since the war began, dozens of politicians have discussed their opinions in off-the-record conversations with Ynet. Some of their questions cause one to shiver; others are downright frightening. Therefore, it is important at the moment to hear the questions and the charges, to get them in public. Because this war, more than the others Israel has fought in the past 15 years, is a war of questions.

 

There are too many questions swept under the rug the past month. Too many questions about IDF preparedness, about neglect of the civilian front and entire sectors of the population, about Israeli society's willingness to deal with war in the 21 st century, with bereavement, with quagmires.

 

There are too many questions about the chief of staff, his generals and lower officers. Too many questions about empty emergency supply rooms, about substandard bomb shelters and government ministries who have transferred responsibility for caring for Israeli civilians for generous millionaires like Arkady Gaidamak.

 

There are too many questions about the previous government, about one Shaul Mofaz, one Ariel Sharon, and the two governments they led.

 

Too many questions that must be heard. For a change, they must also be answered.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.15.06, 09:42
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment