Outgoing infantry chief says military 'guilty of arrogance'

[bemildred]

The outgoing Chief Infantry and Paratroopers Officer of the Israel Defense Forces, Brigadier General Yossi Heiman, on Sunday became the first senior officer to concede a degree of failure in the Lebanon war.

"We were guilty of the sin of arrogance," Heiman said at the changing-of-the-guard ceremony at the Kastina base, where he was replaced by Brigadier General Yossi Bachar.

---

Heiman said that "despite heroic fighting by the soldiers and commanders, especially at the company and battalion level, we all feel a certain sense of failure and missed opportunity ... At times, we were guilty of the sin of arrogance. Everyone tells about his mission, but not what he didn't do and where he went wrong."

He added: "I feel the weighty responsibility on my shoulders. I failed to prepare the infantry better for war. I did not manage to prevent burnout among professional companies and platoons. I feel no relief whatsoever in the face of the array of excuses ... At this time, it is not easy being part of the system. Part of the public, and perhaps also parts of the leadership, is expressing lack of faith in us."

Haaretz

[MadMaddie]

1. This is why Israel will recover from their handling of the conflict

They are listening to the citizens who are calling for an investigation.....they are going to investigate, evaluate and change....

Not the good ole USA we are stuck with "Pathetic excuses for Leadership" who are going to "Stay the Course"!!

[pazuzu]

2. Then he said "the sun rises in the east." n/t

[The Magistrate]

3. As We Have Discussed Before, Sir

The effects of duty as an occupation force are corrosive on a military body. A gendarmerie is not quite a soldiery. Some of this effect seems to be on display in this episode.

[bemildred]

4. Yes Sir.

It would be beneficial to both Israelis and Palestinians if the lesson were learned. Police actions against relatively unarmed gangs are not at all the same thing as military operations against well armed, well prepared, and well trained foes. One does well to avoid confusing the two.