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Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, former defense minister Amir Peretz and former chief of staff Dan Halutz meeting on April 30, when the interim Winograd report was released. Halutz resigned after the Second Lebanon War. (AP)
Last update - 13:38 31/01/2008
PM: Winograd report 'lifts moral stigma' from me
By Amos Harel, Yuval Azoulay, Lili Galili and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Tags: Israel, Second Lebanon War 

Feeling exonerated over his decision to order a major ground operation during the final 60 hours of the Second Lebanon War, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert characterized the Winograd Committee's report as "lifting the moral stigma from me."

Sources close to Olmert said that the prime minister was "moved to tears" by the chapters that dealt with the ground operation.

Retired judge Eliyahu Winograd, who headed the committee assessing Israel's shortcomings in the Second Lebanon War 18 months ago, said in a statement, "The decision in principle authorized by the cabinet to embark on the ground operation was almost inevitable."
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Meanwhile, said that he would review the report and issue his response in the coming days.

Labor sources close to Barak said Wednesday that he is unlikely to resign but would likely evaluate alternatives, including calling for early elections.

The final Winograd Committee report on the Second Lebanon War has categorically laid blame for the failings in the war on the Israel Defense Forces - criticizing nearly every arm and unit. With particular reference to the ground forces, the committee wrote, "They failed to meet most of the missions and challenges they were assigned."

Winograd, speaking Wednesday evening after the committee's final report on the war was released, said that, "Our refraining from pinpointing individual responsibility should not be interpreted as concluding that such responsibility does not exist."

Winograd read from a prepared text for around 30 minutes, flanked on both sides by the other committee members. Professor Ruth Gavison followed with a similar statement in English.

"In an overall assessment of the war, we can say that it was a major and serious missed opportunity. Israel embarked on a long war, which it initiated, and which ended without Israel achieving a clear military victory," he read.

"A paramilitary organization of several thousand fighters stood for a number of weeks before the most powerful army in the Middle East, which enjoyed complete air superiority and great advantages in size and technology. The rocket attacks of Hezbollah against the Israeli home front continued throughout the entire war and the IDF did not provide an effective counter to this."

The full 610-page report was presented to Olmert and Barak an hour before the committee appeared before a small army of cameras and press.

In addressing one of the thorniest and most painful issues of the war, the decision to embark on a major ground offensive 60 hours before a cease-fire was declared, Winograd said: "Following a long period of making do with counter-strikes and limited ground operations, very close to the cease-fire resolution Israel embarked on a broad ground operation that did not result in any military gains and did not maximize the potential inherent in it."

The statement also discusses the committee's findings on the period between July 18 and August 14, 2006, in which serious shortcomings were found, some of which had been described in the committee's interim report in April 2007.

"We found grave faults and failings in the decision-making process and the preparatory work both in the political and military levels and the interaction between them," Winograd's statement read.

But it was in describing the serious faults and failings of the senior IDF command, and particularly of the ground forces, that the committee report was most critical.

Saying that the armed forces failed to provide a decisive response to the challenges it faced, the committee concluded that the IDF was unable to provide the political leadership with the necessary gains in the field of battle on which it could base diplomatic activity.

This failure, the committee report continues, gave the sense of disappointment and missed opportunity to the public.

"On the basis of any standard and realistic expectations, the ground forces - and thus the entire IDF - failed to carry out the missions assigned to them."

According to its findings, the committee describes a deep-seeded problem in the armed forces which it describes in terms of "basic values" that have been "undone."

The committee also warned that the lessons the IDF has learned from the war may be the wrong ones and may be preparing for past wars, instead of countering the threats and challenges of the future.

"We had the impression that along with expressions of renewal and revived commitment to completing missions [made] after the war, there is a sense of crisis in the army, both inside the [IDF] and also in its relations with Israeli society," the report states.

"The restoring of the IDF's standing needs to be based on genuine commitment," and the army, the committee writes, should once more become professional, trained and disciplined.

More specifically, the committee slammed the army for going to war lacking an approved operational plan that had been tested in exercises, and for continuing to operate throughout most of the campaign under conditions of intensive routine security operations, instead of genuine war.

The committee is critical of the failure to reach a quick decision on whether to end the fighting several days after the hostilities began, and the possibility of altering the reality in southern Lebanon through a broad and rapid ground operation that would include the use of reservist divisions.

The delay in calling up reserves is described by the committee as a serious mistake, and Winograd said in his statement that only during the final week of the fighting was the IDF in a position to carry out a major ground operation.

The report also described the General Staff's focus on an air operation against Hezbollah as inappropriate for the situation at hand.

"The power and force of the IDF was not brought into play during the war," the committee wrote.

Chastising commanders at all levels for failing to meet the declared values of the army, the committee wrote that, "The IDF conducted the war with concern for losses among its troops as a central element in the planning and its operational considerations. In spite of the sensitivity of the issue, it is difficult to accept the extraordinary effect that this consideration had on decision-making."

"We have found few instances in which there was a clear and determined insistence by individuals to stick to their decision, or of expressions of assertive initiative and commitment to the mission."

The committee condemned the IDF's in-house investigations following the war, describing them as superficial.

Criticizing the General Staff and the Northern Command for the lack of strategic thinking and planning, the committee points to a failure in communication between these two echelons.

The General Staff did not give sufficient attention to the need to defend the home front and bring the fighting to a quick end, thus lifting the threat posed to civilians.

"The command units failed to carry out most of their tasks," is the scathing conclusion of the committee.

In their criticism of specific units and their conduct, the committee pointed to the four divisions that fought the ground war and their problematic levels of readiness. It did say, however, that Division 91, under Brigadier General Gal Hirsch, who resigned to protest a caustic in-house evaluation of his performance, improved during the war, and was successful in meeting some of its tasks.

The air force is the only arm that enjoyed some praise in the report, "with very impressive achievements," particularly during the first night, in which the long-range missiles of Hezbollah were destroyed.

However, the navy was severely reprimanded, particularly for the missile strike sustained by one of its most modern vessels. The report states that the navy's attitude reflected contempt for Hezbollah's abilities and the damage to the ship could have been averted.


Related articles:
  • IDF says was 'well aware' of flaws before Winograd Report
  • ANALYSIS: Winograd Committee report says 'we are all guilty'
  • Winograd: Final ground op 'did not achieve military goals'
  • Winograd panel 'shocked' by IDF performance in war
  • IDF worried Lebanon war probe report will damage its image
  • IDF: Winograd must warn people criticized before giving report
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      1.   blames IDF...? 04:35  |  ljf-canada 31/01/08
      2.   "intensive routine security operations, instead of genuine war" 04:58  |  Michael A. Shoemaker 31/01/08
      3.   The corruption of israels leaders does not foster courage 05:27  |  bernard ross 31/01/08
      4.   Winograd Whitewash 05:30  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 31/01/08
      5.   winograd conclusion 05:33  |  anon 31/01/08
      6.   What would be the point by Barak for calling early elections? 05:57  |  Smadar 31/01/08
      7.   The buck stops here............... 06:21  |  Avraham 31/01/08
      8.   Not Good Enough! 06:24  |  TJ 31/01/08
      9.   What about politicians? 06:50  |  Frank 31/01/08
      10.   Q to Winograd: guilty for dumping Israel`s SLA alies in 2000, and 06:52  |  avigdor 31/01/08
      11.   "WHICH IT INITIATED" 07:03  |  Ali 31/01/08
      12.   You can not fight Terrorist like a conventional WAR 07:33  |  Levi 31/01/08
      13.   Full blame for IDF - what else?! 07:34  |  Citizen Zero 31/01/08
      14.   That is what I have been saying for months now 07:45  |  Kris 31/01/08
      15.   Barak should not even consider resignation. 08:03  |  Esther 31/01/08
      16.   Intelligence failure 08:04  |  Woodich 31/01/08
      17.   WHY DOES ISRAEL PROMOTE CONSTANT ANTI-ISRAEL STUFF TO THE WORLD? 08:21  |  Steve Randolph 31/01/08
      18.   olmert 08:51  |  watcher 31/01/08
      19.   #17 steve 08:59  |  Donnie 31/01/08
      20.   Very selective reporting 09:21  |  Zev 31/01/08
      21.   all this wouldn`t be happening if the world was not so stupid 09:21  |  Israelisreal 31/01/08
      22.   a terrorist state is fading 09:23  |  abou_tourab 31/01/08
      23.   HELLOOOOO....WHO GIVES THE IDF ORDERS???????????????????????????? 09:29  |  OLD SOLDIER 31/01/08
      24.   An incredibly biases and one sided article! 09:37  |  redmike 31/01/08
      25.   WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE IDF? 09:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 31/01/08
      26.   15 - Barak is finished whatever he does .. 09:42  |  redmike 31/01/08
      27.   After the Winograd report. 09:44  |  Harold Lane 31/01/08
      28.   Winograd calls for deterrent 10:04  |  Charles Oren 31/01/08
      29.   Execution questioned 10:05  |  Trev 31/01/08
      30.   The IDF Failed, But... 10:12  |  MB 31/01/08
      31.   rubbish!!! 10:25  |  sam 31/01/08
      32.   The real problem in 2006 10:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 31/01/08
      33.   ALI.YOU OPEN FIRE ON ISRAELI CIVILLIANS,YOU GET IT BACK 10:44  |  PETER SM 31/01/08
      34.   OLMERT-A real estate Lawyer,selling our land. 10:59  |  DavidB 31/01/08
      35.   Olmert in Tears? 11:08  |  Tzfonit 31/01/08
      36.   Olmert 11:08  |  Gabe 31/01/08
      37.   Olmert should resign and take the blame 11:13  |  Yonatan 31/01/08
      38.   The "IDF" is not to blame. 11:18  |  Steve the Pals. 31/01/08
      39.   Re Cipora #23 11:23  |  Esther 31/01/08
      40.   Playing politics with our lives. 11:59  |  Wino Sad 31/01/08
      41.   Let experienced militaries head our defense! 12:00  |  Avraham 31/01/08
      42.   Olmert 12:48  |  Yossi 31/01/08
      43.   Olmert is a respectable man 12:53  |  Ivor Dudd 31/01/08
      44.   winograd report 13:02  |  chana 31/01/08
      45.   A war of choice the country was ill prepared for 13:03  |  Steve Freid 31/01/08
      46.   MORAL STIGMA?..HOW ABOUT ALL THAT CASH IN YOUR OFFICE? 13:04  |  RICH WINO DAD 31/01/08
      47.   #33 PETER SM 13:08  |  Ivor Dudd 31/01/08
      48.   Chana, Esther, Cipora 13:30  |  S 31/01/08
      49.   Chris Linthwaite # 32 I Agree 13:43  |  Jeff Northridge 31/01/08
      50.   Objectionable little man 13:51  |  Fairplay 31/01/08
      51.   Olmert, Winograd and Mazuz 14:13  |  David 31/01/08
      52.   #49 Jeff 14:13  |  Chris Linthwaite 31/01/08
      53.   OLMERT & CO. WERE POPPING CHAMPAGNE BOTTLES!!??!!?!?!?! 14:17  |  POLTICAL PIGS 31/01/08
      54.   Uhud Olmert is just like all Arab heads of State. 14:59  |  Akram Zekaria 31/01/08
      55.   Steve Randolph 15:02  |  Iz Ray Leigh 31/01/08
      56.   The `Moral Stigma` is lifted. but the `Truth` will be hard 15:03  |  Dagma 31/01/08
      57.   Lifting The Moral Stigma 15:12  |  Jeff Northridge 31/01/08
      58.   Let us move on with the peace process 15:22  |  Tosefta 31/01/08
      59.   To # 50 - Fairplay - The Objectionable little Olmert 15:26  |  Dolly 31/01/08
      60.   To watcher # 18 - Who knows....... 15:34  |  arrabella 31/01/08
      61.   Photo above: The 3 Stooges. But unlike the old comedy team... 15:36  |  bat yam 31/01/08
      62.   This attempt to exonorate the civilians, at the price of the IDF 15:40  |  dusty/ Israel 31/01/08
      63.   "Winograd report `lifts moral stigma` from me..." 15:42  |  another physicist 31/01/08
      64.   Was Olmert ACTUALLY surprised at being exonerated when 15:49  |  Theodore 31/01/08
      65.   To POLITICAL PIGS # 53 - A Kadima Champagne Party 15:58  |  Dagma 31/01/08
      66.   Is OLMERT the Reason for those SEVEN TERRIBLE YEARS 16:03  |  Natasha 31/01/08
      67.   Iran should be promoting Olmert 16:16  |  Herbert Kaine 31/01/08
      68.   Iran should be promoting Olmert 16:16  |  Herbert Kaine 31/01/08
      69.   The Israeli people are responsible 17:00  |  Tim 31/01/08
      70.   To DAGMA # 56 - Your letter to Mr. Olmert 17:04  |  Theodore 31/01/08
      71.   The cat came back 17:12  |  JewishHeart 31/01/08
      72.   PLEASE DON`T GO OLMERT, WE NEED YOU, BABY 18:11  |  indrajaya 31/01/08
      73.   More importantly, the Winograd Report suggests that Israel as a 18:11  |  Smadar 31/01/08
      74.   winograd whitewash 18:25  |  Yerachmiel 31/01/08
      75.   57# Jeff Northridge: "If you take an enemy position 18:49  |  Akram Zekaria 31/01/08
      76.   re 69 19:58  |  mark 31/01/08
      77.   That picture looks like the axis conference... 20:19  |  yoni baer 31/01/08
      78.   Is that statue in the picture from Lennin`s workers party? 20:24  |  Nosferatu 31/01/08
      79.   Three guys waiting there turn at Mustang Ranch 20:26  |  Shimmy 31/01/08
      80.   68 Now Herb. Did you have to insult my family? 20:28  |  Uncle Fester 31/01/08
      81.   We fight to rid ourselves of evil 20:28  |  rick 31/01/08
      82.   ANOTHER WHITEWASH 20:41  |  GABE1 31/01/08
      83.   # 79. Some pretty fillys there shimmy. 20:57  |  Stephen. 31/01/08
      84.   report `lifts moral stigma` .Yeah.Thought you had a pair. 21:01  |  dudu 31/01/08
      85.   winograd report olmert 21:07  |  david 31/01/08
      86.   Since business is slow on talkback,why dont we all take a vote fo 21:11  |  Stephen. 31/01/08
      87.   I.DUDD.re deterence.Nasrallah admitted had he know the response 21:58  |  PETER SM 31/01/08
      88.   Winograd report-1 22:06  |  Hank 31/01/08
      89.   Coming from a man 22:39  |  Mark Lincoln 31/01/08
      90.   Winograd report-2 22:45  |  Hank 31/01/08
      91.   Tzfonit 23:05  |  Danite 31/01/08
      92.   Gabe1 23:20  |  Danite 31/01/08
      93.   USA directed the war not Israel 23:40  |  Free Gilad Shalit 31/01/08
      94.   Hank # 87 The Trick With Gaza 00:57  |  Jeff Northridge 01/02/08
      95.   Kapoo Olmert and Gangs are telling us 01:05  |  Joseph . E 01/02/08
      96.   USA directed the war not Israel - Winograd`s coverup here. 02:35  |  mike 01/02/08
      97.   Contempt for Hez´ abilities 02:38  |  Karl 01/02/08
      98.   With Jesus help Barak WILL resign 03:43  |  Yaakov Sullivan 01/02/08
      99.   Twaddle - free gilad 04:09  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08
      100.   The quandry every army suffers 04:18  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08
      101.   #91 & #92 Danite - very clever...Israel is a "macher-archy" 04:23  |  Smadar 01/02/08
      102.   And how will one allow the other - Danite 04:24  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08
      103.   I am glad 04:36  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08
      104.   yoni baer - you are right about the image 04:38  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08
      105.   Ahmed Tibi for Prime Minister! 04:49  |  Yaakov Sullivan 01/02/08
      106.   Of course it is arrogance 04:58  |  Mark Lincoln 01/02/08
      107.   Winograd 05:54  |  Rozz 01/02/08
      108.   Olmert 06:17  |  Judy 01/02/08
      109.   Olmert 06:29  |  Rozz 01/02/08
      110.   Olmert 06:29  |  Rozz 01/02/08
      111.   Netanyahu, useful guy... 06:55  |  TEA 01/02/08
      112.   Mark Lincoln 07:16  |  Danite 01/02/08
      113.   Smadar 07:19  |  Danite 01/02/08
      114.   mark Lincoln 07:21  |  Danite 01/02/08
      115.   And he is? The man who thinks it is 1938! 07:29  |  Maureen Ann 01/02/08
      116.   Are we ready for a change ? 07:44  |  Harold Lane 01/02/08
      117.   I think she is pretty charming, but the hair is ugly 08:43  |  Yaakov Sullivan 01/02/08
      118.   CORRECTION! Not 1/3rd but 3%.....!!! 10:15  |  Dagma 01/02/08
      119.   Olmert 10:19  |  Ralph 01/02/08
      120.   Unite 10:25  |  Odongo Joseph 01/02/08
      121.   Right Harold (116), but the problem as stated by the Winos 12:34  |  Karl 01/02/08
      122.   olmerts promises 17:55  |  caroline 02/02/08
      123.   Let Judges be the Judge! 18:55  |  Rigma 02/10/08
      124.   Corruption 18:58  |  Rigma 02/10/08
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