Pre-election Observation: Say No To The Generals - Civilians Superior On
Critical Decisions
Dr. Aaron Lerner 7 April, 2019

There is nothing more frustrating for senior brass than to sit there and
listen to some civilian challenge their recommendations - or even worse
propose an alternative.

And it is understandable.

Behind the scenes the IDF is carrying out incredible operations that the
brass is confident would humble the civilians to silence if only the shroud
of secrecy could be lifted.

Unfortunately, the IDF brass fails to appreciate that the ability to
successfully plan and execute special operations doesn't give them a
monopoly on smarts when it comes to the bigger picture.

A reminder:

The greatest achievement of the Second Lebanon War - Operation Specific
Gravity - was thanks to the insistence of civilian DM Amir Peretz who
overruled all the brass who thought he was an idiot for ordering that the
IAF destroy the Fajr Rockets threatening Tel Aviv before they could be
repositioned by Hezbollah. The brass wanted to start by pounding Lebanese
infrastructure.

Hear Peretz describe the decision in his own words:
https://youtu.be/SM_LMb10qsQ

And it is worth listening to it as he describes the pressure he faced from
the brass.

Just a few of the many other instances that the brass was incredibly wrong:
- Civilian Begin vs. the brass on developing and deploying Israeli spy
satellites.
- Civilian Begin vs. the brass on the need to destroy (and the ability to
destroy) the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981.
- Civilian Yuval Steinitz vs. the brass on the need to destroy the Syrian
nuclear reactor in 2007.

And of course - we would not be on the Golan today if the civilian
leadership had bowed to the continuous vocal lobbying by the brass for the
Jewish State to trade the Golan for gizmos and a piece of paper.

To be clear: our nation owes its great respect and appreciation to the the
leadership of the IDF, past and present - including the generals heading
Blue and White - for the many bold and heroic operations that they lead.

Appreciate.

Yes.

Hand them the keys?

Absolutely not!
________________________________________
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