THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, September 5, 1975 29 Meir, Dayan, Yom Kippur War (Continued from Page 26) General Staff, in addition to his own staff, without ap- preciating that in a parlia- mentary democracy the re- sponsibility for these matters fell on him too. Likewise, in all matters of military preparedness and intelligence evaluations, he was responsible to the prime minister and the Cab- inet. "The shock of the war caused something to snap in MOSHE DAYAN Dayan. The initial Arab the Suez Canal should not onslaught and success threw him into a fit of pessi- have been any less. "On many occasions his mism, which colored his evaluations right through instincts both about ap- the war. He spent a consid- pointments and other devel- erable amount of time in the opments in the armed forces front line, away from the were correct, but strangely nerve centre, frequently enough, and contrary to creating an air of pessimism popular conceptions, he hes- around him and giving ad- itated to impose his will. "After the war Dayan vice which, had it been went out of his way to taken, could have changed Mrs. Meir, and jus- the course of the war and praise would have left Israel with- tifiably so, because it was out the trump,cards that to a great degree her proved to be so valuable in strength of character and the disengagement negotia- ability to remain composed in the most difficult cir- tions. "It is difficult to evaluate cumstances which coun- the logic behind his think- teracted Dayan's pessim- ing, issuing a directive in istic nature and his jeremiads. May to prepare for war in "Mrs. Meir's method of late 1973 and then, in the government brought about a light of all the intelligence system whereby there were in the first week of October no checks and balances and and on Yom Kippur morn- no alternative evaluations. ing, opposing the total mo- Her doctrinaire, inflexible bilization demanded by the approach to problems and to chief of staff, thus causing government was to contrib- the loss of valuable hours of ute to the failings of the gov- mobilization time. ernment before the war. "She was very much the "Dayan was repeatedly overbearing mother 'who indecisive. "Had his suggestion on ruled the roost with an iron the first day for with- hand. She had little idea of drawal to the line of the orderly administration and passes in Sinai been ac- preferred to work closely cepted, the subsequent Is- with her cronies, creating raeli crossing of the Canal an ad hoc system of govern- would have been impossi- ment based on what was ble. He misread the politi- known as her 'kitchen'. "But once war had broken cal developments, main- taining all through the out these very traits proved war that there would be no to be an asset. She was strong and adamant and cease-fire. "In his favor it should be gave the country the power- said that he read the inter- ful leadership it required national situation, with par- both in time of war and in ticular reference to the So- the involved post-war politi- viet Union, as the political cal negotiations. "On many occasions general he is. But militarily he moved from the extreme she, a woman who had of complete confidence that reached 75, found herself the ratio of forces along the thrust into a position fronts was adequate to deal where she had to decide with the Arab attacks to a between differing military state of complete depression options proposed by pro- and a lack of confidence in fessionals. She decided, the same forces a day later. and invariably decided "His very cautious nature well, drawing on a large was unable to stand up to measure of common sense the challenge of bitter real- which had stood her in ity in time of stress. For- good stead." With the sharing of re- mally, he might not be re- sponsible for the mistake of sponsibility for intelligence the ratio of forces along the errors, Chief of Staff Gen. front line and for the prepa- David Elazar is credited rations along it; but in fact with "stability and strength he considered himself as a in the most trying circumst- super-chief of staff, acted as ances, never losing his com- such, and stated as much on posure." many occasions. Gen. Shmuel Gonen is "When Gen. Hofi was un- described as "an unfortun- happy about the situation in ate war casualty" because the north, Dayan flew to he had arrived too late to inspect the front line with know his command when the chief of staff and de- the war broke out. cided to reinforce the area Herzog maintains that with units of the 7th Bri- Gonen was unfairly treated gade; his interest and in- after the war and that the volvement in the line along degree of criticism leveled at him was unjustified. He is described as an able officer. Gen. Arik Sharon, the hero of the Sinai war who led his forces across the Suez, encircling the Egyp- tian Third Army, is given full credit for outstanding generalship, and his bravery is highly commended, but his criticisms and risks taken are viewed as having been unrealistic. All of the military men involved in the conflict undergo scrutiny, thus providing totality in judg- ment in the splendid book in which Gen. Herzog provides this significant view of the situation as it may affect future involve- ments for Israel. The sinister role of the Soviet Union is subjected to thorough review. The USSR emerges as the major villain in a game of war encour- aged, financed and militar- ized by the Russians. The generally known mischief stemming from the Kremlin is revealed here in a state- ment presenting the extent of Russia's provisions for the Arabs, especially Syria, aimed at the severest blows at Israel. "Within a year of the 1972 summit meeting, the Soviet Union was supplying the Egyptian and Syrian armies with the weapons they be- lieved essential in order to go to war. "The Soviet decision to supply Scud missiles to Egypt—three months be- fore the 1973 summit meet- ing—was a conscious act designed to remove any Egyptian hesitation about going to war. "Sadat had planned to go to war in May 1973 but he decided on a postpone- ment because as he put it in an interview in Akhbar El Yom in August 1974: `the Soviets set the date for the second summit meet- ing with Nixon in Wash- ington for the month of May, and for political rea- sons which it is not neces- sary to reveal at this point I decided to postpone the date...' ,411 &et ?ice odd. cued eaetaste/t4 peace, qeetid, 764 qcoitew444 74 iteui 23111 Coolidge, Oak Park North of 9 Mile Rd. "At the same time Presi- dent Assad made a secret visit to Moscow and the re- sult of his visit was the stepped-up supply of a com- plete surface-to-air missile system which was rushed to Syria in the months of July and August 1973." 548-3530 4359 Orchard Lake Rd. Pine Lake Mall (West Bloomfield) 851-9477 HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY Young Women of Jewish National Fund Lucky & Flo Bloch and Family 17139 Shervilla Sfld. Max & Serena Brumer and Family 14630 Ludlow O.P. 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