Israel’s Defense Chief Supports War Inquiry

[IChing]

JERUSALEM, Sept. 1 — Bowing to rebels in his own Labor Party, Defense Minister Amir Peretz of Israel called today for a full independent inquiry into the recent war in Lebanon, changing his previous position and putting him publicly at odds with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Mr. Olmert, of the Kadima party, announced earlier in the week that such a state commission, appointed by the Supreme Court, was unnecessary. Instead, he announced two government-controlled investigations, one into the military’s performance and one into the government’s. The country’s comptroller-general also will look into the preparations and performance of local government officials.

Mr. Peretz, elected head of the Labor Party not long before the March 28 elections, was considered an unlikely defense minister, and his own performance during the war has been widely criticized, with many calling for his resignation. He himself appointed a panel, headed by an aide and former general, to look into the military’s performance, and was widely criticized again for trying to control the inquiry.>>>snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/01/world/middleeast/01cnd-mideast.html?ex=1314763200&en=f09cbfc831378fd4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

better watch it
no one is allowed to criticize right?

[enid602]

1. defense

Wait a minute . . . a country's defense chief is calling for an inquiry, but is not being labeled as a Nazi or terrorist? Maybe we could learn something from Israel.

[IChing]

2. He is from the Labour Party not the right wing government party

This is good news I think for Israelis.