To its great credit, Israel has now looked itself squarely in the face regarding its government's conduct during last summer's war against Hizbollah in Lebanon. Among other findings, what is known as the Winograd Report accuses Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of "'severe failure' in exercising judgment, responsibility and caution during the outset of the war." The report adds that "Olmert acted hastily in leading the country to war last July 12, without having a comprehensive plan," and that he ""bears supreme and comprehensive responsibility for the decisions of 'his' government and the operations of the army." But it's not just Olmert; the Winograd Report also has harsh findings for the country's Defense Minister, Amir Peretz, and others. As a result of the Winograd Report, there could be several resignations of top Israeli officials, including Olmert and Peretz, at any time. This is exactly the way it should be in a democracy, which Israel most certainly is. Checks and balances, accountability, rule of law: these are the things that differentiate democracies like Israel and the United States from authoritarian or totalitarian regimes. You think there was ever a "Winograd Commission" after Syria's President leveled one of his own cities (Hama) and killed thousands of civilians back in 1982? Of course not, don't be ridiculous. In contrast, Israel had similar commissions after the 1973 Yom Kippur War and the 1982 Lebanon War, leading to the resignations of Prime Minister Golda Meir and Defense Minister Ariel Sharon, respectively.
What about here in the United States? It seems to me that, even though we don't have a parliamentary system of government and even though I do NOT advocate impeachment (not because they don't deserve it, just because it's impractical), it would be all to the good if we had our own "Winograd Commission" to examine the Bush/Cheney Administration's conduct in Iraq. Pair this/combine it with Jim Webb's "modern day Truman Commission" idea to examine waste, fraud and abuse in war contracting, and we could have some real sunlight shed on what's happened since we invaded Iraq over 4 years ago.
So, how about an American version of the "Winograd Commission?" I think that the "Webb Commission" has a nice ring to it, how about you? :)
WWBD? Bush, of course, would try to discredit the report, would smear the authors, would cry "political witch hunt", and do anything else to place blame elsewhere and NOT take responsibility.
How many exposes and "reports" can the American public stand before their eyes glaze, causing them to turn against the investigators and support the poor, misunderstood underdog, Bush? The endless spewing of corruption sewage, the unending incompetence of Bushies, the daily stream of new assaults on the Constitution has reached such critical mass that it is almost its own defense: Please, no more! We want to get back to important things like football/sports, and celebrity gossip, we're tired of all this politics so far in advance of the next election. It's called Investigation Fatigue.