Hirsch, a highly-decorated officer who at one point was regarded as a
future contender for the position of chief of staff, said the military has
not been significantly enhanced since the 34-day war, which ended in August
2006. He said Israeli senior commanders would be unable to defeat Hizbullah
in another conflict.
"They didn't properly investigate the war," Hirsch, former commander of
the Galilee Division, said. "My demands to investigate were rejected. If
there is another war, the results could be similar to the last time."
Hirsch was the first senior commander who accused the General Staff of
incompetence and directed by political interests. Former Chief of Staff Lt.
Gen. Dan Halutz, who headed the military during the Hizbullah war, stepped
down in February 2007.
"Norms of ugly politics permeated the senior echelon," Hirsch said.
Months earlier, Northern Command chief Maj. Gen. Udi Adam submitted his
resignation. At the time, Adam acknowledged that the military had abandoned
its plans for a major ground invasion of Lebanon.
"The main failure was that of the senior command, which didn't use the
plans that had been prepared," Hirsch said. "When things got complicated,
the senior echelon fled. They directed the blame downward. There were no
public relations people in [the southern Lebanese town of] Bint Jbail. There
were in Tel Aviv."
"There were camps and leaks and 'Watch my back and I'll watch yours' and
manipulations of the media during the war," Hirsch added.
Military sources said Halutz's replacement, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, has
sought to enhance combat skills. The sources said Ashkenazi has
significantly increased combat exercises and set more difficult requirements
in ground maneuvers.
"When he [Hirsch] talks about the senior command, he has to include
himself," a senior officer said.
