LIEBERMAN: If you need to ask somebody if you’re successful or not, then you failed. After the Six Day War, nobody asked Israel whether we were successful or not successful. Today, if it’s not clear enough who is the winner and who is the loser, then you are the loser. I can’t say we are losers, but we are not winners. And the very deep internal dispute after this war is a more serious result than even the military result.
The society is divided. Politicians must be controversial. But the soldiers who came back from the war, and the parents, and people who never were involved in politics–you can feel their protests. They’re not just the political leadership. It’s a bad situation.
I think it’s a crisis of the system–not only the leadership. It’s not only this government. I’m against this government. But you can’t say it’s only this government. It’s four or five governments before, also. In Israel, [the political system] is so unstable. You can’t develop any political vision, any strategic vision. Every day somebody changes in the government. It’s impossible to continue in this framework. It’s the same in the Army. It’s not only political decision-makers’ failures. It’s the generals’ also. Their vision was wrong. They were sure that only with the Air Force it was enough to win the war.
No, it’s not only personal criticism; it’s criticism of our system. Do you think Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will survive this crisis?
No. I don’t see how [his party] can finish this year. In January 2007, they will not exist.
Of course, I’ll try to [win the most votes] in the next election, to be prime minister, or at least Defense minister … People like winners, not losers. I prefer to be strong. And if I will be strong, the people will like me. But it’s not crucial. I have options outside politics also.
No, no, no, no. Pure speculation. I tried to explain to Olmert and his people: in this situation, you must keep credibility. You can’t be involved in political endeavors, to buy somebody and sell somebody. You must be very open–everything on the table.
Yeah, in the last two weeks.
And I said, “You must have a full reshuffle from the beginning. There’s no chance.”
I don’t see any other possibilities. We have the experience of the second world war. What’s happening today is exactly what [happened] in Europe before the Second World War.
I don’t see any reason to discuss the details, how and which way. At the end of the day, I think it will be our problem, and Israel will do everything to survive.
I don’t know. I’m not a military specialist.
