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Prime Minister Olmert's Speech Announcing "Professional Inquiry"
- How [do] we take the rage, disappointment, frustration and despair, as well as the sense of responsibility and love we all feel for the country, and use them to rectify that which needs to be rectified?
- On the surface, the solution appears simple: a judge is appointed to chair a state judicial commission of investigation, which will hear witnesses, collect evidence and pass judgment - an external, impartial, objective body. However, this is not what the country needs.
- It is clear to everyone what [would] happen. For a long period of time the top military and security leadership, including the IDF command will be completely paralyzed in fear of the verdict.
- What we need is an effective, professional inquiry, to examine the issues in depth, draw conclusions, and learn lessons. The army should be examined in the manner in which a civic democratic society examines its army, and the same applies to us - the political echelon.
- My Government will appoint a committee of inquiry [that] will be charged with the task of examining the functioning of the Government, its proceedings and decision making, and anything else it will see fit to examine. The Government’s conduct will not be exempt from professional examination and criticism. (Office of the Prime Minister)
Ehud Orwell's Speech
by B. Michael
- In the event that future historians ask for some type of document attesting to the nature and acumen of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, it's hard to think of a more appropriate document than the speech he delivered this week to the heads of local authorities.
- According to the prime minister, a state commission of inquiry is neither civil nor is it democratic.
- According to him only blunt toothed examination committees, void of any authority and financed by those being investigated, are appropriate for examining "a democratic civil society."
- To sum up, as promised we'll go back to the first sentence: "The responsibility for the war is entirely mine."
- If so, there's no need for an investigation. The person responsible has been found. And in keeping with the Jewish tradition of "He who confesses and forsakes (sins) will find mercy," he should be told: You confessed? Very well. Now resign. (Ynet News)
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Create a '9/11 Commission'
- Editorial
- The principal mechanism to begin restoring confidence in our leadership needs to be a proper investigation into the conduct of the war, how the problems the war revealed developed over time, and what must be done to fix them.
- The purpose of a trial is to come to a verdict and to mete out punishment to those found guilty. But even if a commission of inquiry does not consider or impose criminal sanctions, its purpose ends up being the political equivalent.
- The 9/11 Commission, established to investigate that attack on the United States and make recommendations for the future, could be a useful model.
- That commission was established by a special law, passed by Congress and signed by the U.S. president. Its chairman was a Republican; its vice-chairman, a Democrat. The commission members were not sitting members of Congress but respected figures and experts chosen equally by leaders of the two major parties.
- The democratic process, not a commission, should be the ultimate enforcer of blame that an investigation might apportion. What the public needs most are a comprehensive report on which to base its judgment and cogent recommendations for safeguarding the nation in the future. (Jerusalem Post)
Why Aren't Victories Investigated?
by Sever Plocker
- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert should have appointed a state commission of inquiry into the second Lebanon war because we won.
- Had the second Lebanon war ended in failure, we would have been able to understand why the prime minister is rejecting the calls for a state commission of inquiry.
- In such a case he would have understandably feared the public airing of dirty laundry such as the feebleness of the military and the political leadership, and he would not have taken the risk of being ousted.
- But now, with the picture of our achievements clearing, there is nothing more appropriate - publicly, nationally and historically - than the appointment of a state commission of inquiry.
- Olmert missed the opportunity for a victory report. His attempt to appoint a series of examination committees conveys a false message of defeat and cover up. (Ynet News)
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