PM sets up special committee to probe government

[spindrifter]

conduct during war, nixes full state inquiry

By Haaretz Service
Mon., August 28, 2006 Elul 4, 5766

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert decided Monday to establish two committees of inquiry into the government and military handling of the Lebanon war, rejecting both a fuller, independent state commission of inquiry or a government commission of inquiry.

"We don't have the luxury to invest years examining the past. What we need is a businesslike, professional investigation that gets to the root of the problem quickly," Olmert said in a speech in the northern city of Haifa, where he spoke to leaders of communities damaged by Hezbollah rocket fire.

He also said he did not want to put the army in a position of "self-flagellation."

"The government, headed by myself, will appoint an investigative committee," Olmert said.

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http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/755793.html

[bemildred]

1. ANALYSIS: The committees of inquiry are a national farce

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has established committees of inquiry devoid of any real basis and lacking in public credibility. The results they produce will be viewed with distrust.

Olmert is well aware of the differences between the various tools of inquiry. He evaded the governmental decision to establish a state committee because it would have been comprised of members nominated by the president of the Supreme Court, and because a former senior Supreme Court justice would have headed it. Olmert knows that the public would attribute great importance to the findings of such a committee.

The prime minister has also circumvented a governmental committee of inquiry headed by a former senior justice - a committee that would have had the investigative authorities of a state committee of inquiry.

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The High Court of Justice is supposed to review a petition calling for the creation of a state committee of inquiry. In the past such petitions have been rejected. However, it has been made clear that judicial intervention is possible in "unusual and irregular" cases. The second Lebanon war is precisely that.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/755822.html

[bemildred]

2. MKs blast decision not to appoint state commission of inquiry

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's announcement Monday that he would not appoint an independent state commission of inquiry or a government commission of inquiry into the Lebanon war drew wide-spread criticism from the political arena.

Meretz Chairman Yossi Beilin called those summoned to testify in front of the committees of inquiry to refuse to do so, saying that those who testify risk engaging in criminal activity. He pointed out that they would not enjoy the protection given to those who testify in state commissions of inquiry.

MK Zehava Gal-On (Meretz) called on the heads of the commissions of inquiry and their members to refuse to do their jobs. "People of their distinction do not need to serve as fig leaves for a commission whose aim is to appease the public protest," she said.

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, whose leaders launched a hunger strike Sunday and demanded a state commission of inquiry, termed the committee that was appointed a joke devoid of authority. The heads of the movement said they would continue their hunger strike and protest until a state commission of inquiry is appointed.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/755825.html

[lumpy]

3. Sounds like this guy might have

a little bit of trouble covering his ass.