tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post7332675991208457433..comments2024-01-01T01:47:59.449+02:00Comments on Yaacov Lozowick's Ruminations: Civilian Investigation: Pros and ConsYaacovhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12835192312242961481noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post-17851464987145428812009-10-15T20:13:36.808+02:002009-10-15T20:13:36.808+02:00Yaacov, I also agree that doing a civilian investi...Yaacov, I also agree that doing a civilian investigation has few drawbacks and opportunity costs, with significant benefits, both in practice and perception. I'd like to recommend something, however...<br /><br />If the Americans, British and French are so interested in an Israeli civilian investigation, perhaps they TOO should be represented in the Israeli civilian investigative commission? Why not? Let's invite an entire international component, Germans, Norwegians, Chinese, Brazilians... serious professionals who have a reputation for non-political competence.<br /><br />That would lend true international credibility to the findings, while solidifying modern democracies behind just war against Islamic extremists. It would provide the intellectual basis for legitimizing future wars by establishing an agreed precedent within international law for nations battling irregular combatants who hide within civilian populations.<br /><br />Furthermore, it would help to solidify Israel's relationships with the world's leading powers.<br /><br />What do you think?Avigdorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05008730229882004376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post-43374585350270759322009-10-15T16:52:09.309+02:002009-10-15T16:52:09.309+02:00Richard has a point here - if we do nothing but in...Richard has a point here - if we do nothing but investigate OUR actions, then we'll be perpetuating the idea that we are the only one ever accountable in this mess. Hamas would continue to get a free ride.aiwachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06498306630912550217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post-70722198230982235492009-10-15T14:34:13.197+02:002009-10-15T14:34:13.197+02:00Richard Landes has advocated a report investigatin...Richard Landes has advocated a report investigating the methodology and biases of the Goldstone commission. Here's an idea. Perhaps Israel could set up a civilian commission with three mandates: (1) Investigate charges against the IDF contained in the Goldstone report. (2) Investigate (and in the process futher document) charges against Hamas contained in the Goldstone report (e.g. use of civilians as shields, rocket launches against civilian Israeli targets, etc.). And (3) Investigate the biases and methodological errors that led the Goldstone commission towards its unwarranted condemnations of Israel and its underplaying Hammas war crimes. The purpose of (3) would not only be short-term defense against the Goldstone commission's excesses. It would also be a step towards generating "best practices" for commissions investigating armies fighting insurgents and terrorists who hide among civilians.<br />Yours, RichardRichardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4008006782907969381.post-24670732825813146642009-10-15T13:02:45.179+02:002009-10-15T13:02:45.179+02:00maybe the grown-up thing to do, yes!
but as Israe...maybe the grown-up thing to do, yes!<br /><br />but as Israel has done her normal investigation I'd vote for rightful indignation<br /><br />how long and how often will you have to submit to being the accused and to prove that you are alright - you think anybody is going to change his or her mind once you have let yourself be forced into doing something no other state is ever asked to do?<br /><br />I liked Netanyahu's behaviour at the UN very much for the reason that it showed me how much I longued for rightful indignation coming back on the world stage - from anybody whether Israeli or not - at the insults thrown at "us" without the other side never ever confessing to even the tiniest of their own wrongdoings<br />if I sound pitchforky in this, that's because how I feel about it but I remain open to resign myself to diplomatic horsetrading anytime nonetheless because it probably is the grown-up thing to do<br />rgds,<br />SilkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com