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Politics : Dutch Central Bank Sale Announcement Imminent? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sea_urchin who wrote (22408)	2/23/2005 5:42:01 AM
From: GUSTAVE JAEGER	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81091

Told you so: Israel picks a pilot to head the IDF... Will Iran get the message? Wed., February 23, 2005 Adar1 14, 5765 Ya'alon may retire early to make way for Halutz, pullout By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon may retire early in order to make way for his successor Dan Halutz, who is formally to take over just before the July 20 target date for the beginning of the disengagement, senior military sources have said. They said Tuesday that Ya'alon feels that the current date is too close to the implementation. The final date will be agreed upon by Ya'alon and Halutz, the sources said, adding that Ya'alon may retire toward the end of June. Maj. Gen. Halutz was named Tuesday by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz as the next chief of staff, the first ever to advance from the ranks of the air force. The appointment must first be approved by the cabinet, where it is expected to pass without a hitch. Halutz, 57, will be the 18th chief of staff. Mofaz selected Halutz ahead of Maj. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, who is now expected to retire from active service. Before he takes up his new post, Halutz is expected to begin a round of new appointments in the General Staff. He is consult with Mofaz regarding the appointments. Ya'alon delayed making the nominations while it was still unclear whether his term of office would be extended, his rationale being that the make-up of the General Staff depended to a great extent on who was to be at the helm. Two of the key positions to be staffed are deputy chief of staff (to replace Halutz) and intelligence chief (instead of Major General Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash, who will retire from the IDF at the end of the year). Two of the leading candidates for these positions are former GOC Central Command Moshe Kaplinksy and GOC Northern Command Benny Gantz. Striving to keep Ashkenazi Military sources said Tuesday that every effort will be made "to keep Ashkenazi within the military framework." One of the possibilities being discussed is that Ashkenazi will soon be appointed director general of the Defense Ministry, in place of Amos Yaron. Another option being weighed is that Ashkenazi will remain in the IDF as head of Military Intelligence, and will put himself forward as a possible replacement for Halutz at the end of his term. Security sources said Tuesday, however, that no concrete proposals were discussed at the conversation between Mofaz and Ashkenazi. haaretz.com

To: sea_urchin who wrote (22408)	2/23/2005 5:50:03 AM
From: GUSTAVE JAEGER	Respond to of 81091

Follow-up... General Dan Halutz is no softie... LOL... I mean, if Sharon asks him to drop a nuke or two on Iran, he won't blink --clue: Wed., February 23, 2005 Adar1 14, 5765 The high and the mighty By Vered Levy-Barzilai When the media furor was at its peak - a few days after the liquidation of Hamas activist Saleh Shehadeh in the Gaza Strip on July 22, by means of a one-ton bomb that killed 15 civilians - Israel Air Force Commander Major General Dan Halutz met with the pilot who dropped the bomb and with the other pilots and air force personnel involved in the operation. "It's important for me that you know I stand behind you and in front of you 100 percent," Halutz told the men. "The criticism that is being voiced here and abroad has nothing to do with you. All the critics, all the bleeding hearts - let them criticize me: You have no problem." The pilot, the person who pressed the button, according to Halutz, asked a few questions relating to the operational sphere. Other pilots and navigators talked about the nature of the mission. References were made to the unexpected killing of civilians, including children. There was discussion of the quality of the information they had when they set out on the mission, and the gap between that information and the actual situation on the ground. The group talked about the harsh reactions in the media, the attacks on the pilots of the IAF, such as private advertisements taken out by left-wingers under the heading "To the pilot who dropped the bomb: How do you sleep at night?" There were also direct threats to the pilots, who were described as "war criminals who are liable to find themselves sentenced to prison by the International Criminal Court at The Hague." Halutz dismissed all such criticism. "Guys," he said, "you can sleep well at night. I also sleep well, by the way. You aren't the ones who choose the targets, and you were not the ones who chose the target in this particular case. You are not responsible for the contents of the target. Your execution was perfect. Superb. And I repeat again: There is no problem here that concerns you. You did exactly what you were instructed to do. You did not deviate from that by so much as a millimeter to the right or to the left. And anyone who has a problem with that is invited to see me." [...] haaretz.co.il