in minor defense of Olmert

I have been thinking some more of the criticism levelled at Ehud Olmert since the release of the Winograd Report. I would like to clarify something and possibly disagree with what I think is being taken from this whole mess.

I think that the public is beginning to criticize the actual decision to go to war. Thinking back to the rally and some of the articles I have read, it seems to be that the public, or some of it at least, has turned the Winograd Commission's findings into a source of criticizing Olmert for everything.

From what I read of the Winograd Report, the criticism seemed to be of the decision making process and the lack of leadership. I do not think the decision to go to war was criticized. Rather, how that decision was made, and how the war was (mis)managed and the decision making process during the war was faulty.

The fact that we went to war seems to have been necessary and forced upon us. Israeli sovereign territory was attacked, on two fronts (Gaza and Lebanon borders). Israeli soldiers were attacked and abducted, on two fronts (Gaza and Lebanon borders).

That needed a response. No country can take that sitting down and act like nothing happened. Israel had to go to war. Ehud Olmert's decision to go to war, i think, was fine and necessary. That is the minimum a state is obligated to do in such a situation. The basic tenet of any government is to protect its citizens from foreign attack. Had the government stood down and not responded, that would have been even worse, and they would have forfeited their right to call themselves a government.

The problem is the process of making decisions was faulty. Olmert was rash. he was inexperienced and did not have the right advisers. He relied too much on Dan Halutz's opinion. Halutz refused to listen to anybody who said something other than what Halutz wanted to hear. Olmert made decisions without analyzing all options thoroughly. etc. etc. read the Winograd Report for all the things he did wrong.

The initial response, though, was basically correct.