Haareetz readers and Ze'ev Shiff agree - the IDF screwed up

After Qana Israel should:

Declare an immediate cease fire
59%
Negotiate Rice's plan, but no rush
5%
Apologize and keep fighting
16%
No need to apologize, it's a war
19%

Votes: 4669

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=744889

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Military Ops / Incompetent war management
By Ze'ev Schiff

Any summation of the conflict until the suspension of aerial attacks agreed upon by Israel late Sunday night as a result of the tragic incident in Qana could only conclude that management of the war has been incompetent.

First, the IDF's ground troops did not contribute anything toward stop the war of attrition against Israel's cities; second, this war of attrition on until the last moment.
It's also unclear what kind of international force will be set up in Lebanon. But things could change if the security cabinet approves certain plans in the next few days, and if the IDF uses its reserve divisions properly. Should that occur, Hezbollah is expected to resume its rocket fire toward Israel.

This conflict already has lasted nearly as long as the Yom Kippur War, and if the cabinet approves operative plans, it will clearly last far longer.

Ground troops conducted two operations, one in Maroun Ras and one in Bint Jbail, that were touted as "courageous battles against Hezbollah citadels." They became symbols as if they were Beaufort Castle in 1982.

The ground troops did not contribute to the battle against the short-range rockets in south Lebanon. Until yesterday, they were not deployed to prepare the area before handing it over to the multinational force − and it is doubtful whether any international force would agree to take it over under these circumstances.

The 1982 conflict was judged to be a bad war because it failed to achieve its objectives, but at that time, the IDF reached the Awali River in 48 hours with few casualties. Now, fighting in a narrow strip, the IDF hasn't finished the mission in three weeks.

The battle against Hezbollah was first and foremost an aerial and intelligence one. Hezbollah was struck from the air in many places, and paid dearly, but not dearly enough. The battle did not end with one fell swoop as many had expected. The IDF is strong, but its power has not been properly used or exhausted.

Members of the ministerial committee for defense would have been well advised not to blame the Americans. It was not the U.S. that disappointed Israel, but Israel that disappointed the U.S. We didn't deliver the goods, and the administration started pressuring us to change direction.
Even before the Qana disaster, we gave in to pressure and stopped bombing Hezbollah targets in Beirut. Washington thought this would strengthen the weak Lebanese government.
However, we certainly should not have agreed in haste and without serious debate, even if the call came from Condoleezza Rice. It was a repeat of the stunned halt to Operation Grapes of Wrath in 1996 following a similar disaster.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/744883.html