Mossad chief warned: Home front isn't ready

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Mossad head Meir Dagan recommended after the abduction of two IDF soldiers in the North last July 12 that Israel delay its military response against Hezbollah. Dagan explained it would be advisable to take basic steps to better protect the home front from possible Katyusha rocket attacks before striking in Lebanon. The full story will appear in the Passover supplement in Haaretz Monday.

Dagan gave his recommendation during an urgent discussion in Defense Minister Amir Peretz's chambers on the day of the abduction. He believed a strike in Lebanon would trigger an escalation, which turned out to be the case. Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin and the Defense Ministry's chief official for diplomatic affairs, Amos Gilad, both concurred with that assessment.

The discussion with Peretz was one of several that day, and all led to the government's decision to retaliate with a massive bombardment. Among the first targets were Hezbollah's medium-range rockets, which were almost completely destroyed the following night. Hezbollah responded with repeated Katyusha barrages until the fighting's last day on August 14.

During the discussion, Dagan said Israel would be involved in a prolonged confrontation. "The risk of damage to home front targets is very high. In my opinion, we don't have to strike right away. We can prepare and plan. What's to lose by striking in two days' time?" he said.

Haaretz

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1. A war without a defense minister

The thousands of rockets that hit the Israeli home front during the Second Lebanon War and the public sense of failure in the war join the characterization of the war as exceptional in being the first that was in effect conducted without a defense minister.

Officially, the defense minister was the head of an important party, but Amir Peretz did not really do his job. That is the feeling among the public and in the defense establishment. Had the war ended with sweepingly positive results, they might have continued with business as usual. But the results were otherwise, and many wonder how it happened that Peretz was appointed defense minister at all. Even Peretz himself understands the situation and has decided to demand the Finance Ministry in a future coalition agreement.

The war surprised Peretz as well. Had he known it would break out so soon after he began his term, he might have waived the appointment. When it broke out he found himself in a difficult and intolerable situation. Even earlier he deliberated a great deal regarding his assistants. His suspicions were sky high; he made sure to compartmentalize his actions and thoughts. In discussions it turned out that his knowledge of defense was meager. The difficult situation in his party preoccupied him a great deal, and it is doubtful he had time for a thorough reading of important security documents. During the first months many issues were repeatedly postponed.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/843874.html

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2. War was a catastrophe, top security officials told Olmert

In secret meeting held immediately after war in Lebanon, Mossad and Shin Bet chief demanded establishment of commission of inquiry, hinted former Chief of Staff Halutz must resign. Details of meeting published for first time in new book by journalists Ofer Shelah and Yoav Limor

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3383151,00.html

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"The heads of Israel's main security organizations, the Mossad and the Shin Bet, harshly criticized the results of the Second Lebanon War during a meeting with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, calling it "a national catastrophe."

They also criticized the conduct of former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, hinting that he must resign.

Details on the meeting were published for the first time in a new book, 'Captives in Lebanon', written by journalists Ofer Shelah and Yoav Limor.

The book reveals the decision making processes in the political and military echelons during the Second Lebanon War, and elaborates on the army's plans and the battles which took place during the war.

Mossad Chief Meir Dagan and Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin arrived at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem shortly after the war. During the meeting, the two officials asked Olmert's military secretary, Major-General to leave the room.

This was an unusual request, as the military secretary is present at all the prime minister's security-diplomatic meetings.

Dagan and Diskin, however, preferred not to cause the general to face a dilemma due to the message they were about to convey to the prime minister: The war was a national catastrophe and Israel suffered a critical blow."

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3. Someone is getting tired of these bumbling political stooges. nt

[pelsar]

4. israel is a county with depth...

and after these...we got more just waiting in line to take their places....

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5. Don't throw me softballs like that, it's too easy.

FWIW, I hope you are right. Authentic and courageous leadership would be a good thing right now, and not just for Israelis.

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6. actually i'm more cynical

the israeli electoral process based on eastern/western europe is not a good one....it does not let the cream of the crop rise to the top.....(peretz/olmert being a prime examples).

the american system of direct representation with separation of powers is the way to go..but then many would lose their seats and income, so change will not come easy.

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7. The US system is not a bad one.

Of course politicians do all they can to thwart it. Genuine public service just doesn't pay well enough.

Change does not come easy anywhere you go. I hear Robert M. down in Zimbabwe thinks he is not too old yet, and he admits having his political rival beaten, but says he deserved it.

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8. the reality...

in israel, is that if we really had direct represntation the settlers would "shit out of luck".....those in TA who support them would have to make choices between voting for the reps who support the settlers vs those who are more economice oriented.....and i doubt many would be willing to make those sacrficies.

And such would go the country, those reps who then voted to give the settlers money would have a hard time explaining themselves to their electorate....

ahh but one can fantasize (actually i've been drafted to help here: http://www.directrepisrael.org/EN/About.html and when i'm prime minister, i'll still write to the DU)