BARBARA'S TCHATZKAHS

OLMERT LACKS MORAL AUTHORITY When your own military turns on you, time to leave the dance. Hint, hint... Reserve soldiers say Olmert 'lacks moral authority', must resign 'Prime minister lacks the moral authority to send us out to battle again,' soldier who took part in Lebanon war says. His comrades say Israel should focus on returning kidnapped soldiers home by Rony Lifshitz Despite the release of a generally critical report on Wednesday that endorsed key decisions Ehud Olmert took during the 2006 war in Lebanon, a group of reserve soldiers who took part in the campaign are calling in him to resign, while others contend that Israel should now focus on returning kidnapped IDF soldiers Eldad Regev, Ehud Goldwasser and Gilad Shalit. "To us, the reserve soldiers who fought in the war, one thins is clear: Our trust cannot be regained," First Sergeant (res.) Lior Dimenes told Ynet. "The prime minister lacks the moral authority to send us out to battle again....

HE'S HAD A BAAAAD DAY... I was away from the computer most of last night and today due to a health emergency. So I am coming late to the Olmert Disaster. I've spent most of my time reading the calls for his resignation and the poor choices to replace him. Minister Livni's weak and limp response didn't win her any points with me either. Much like Bush and Cheney I am saddened that when Israel needs bold leadership more than ever, there is none to be had. I won't say too much that bloggers more astute and better than myself haven't already said... PM Olmert - leave with some shred of your dignity in tact. Please. Olmert Faces Another Day of Calls to Resign by Hillel Fendel and Ezra HaLevi Prime Minister Ehud Olmert survived the day-after-Winograd better than expected, but faces another rough day Thursday: The Knesset will convene to discuss the Winograd report, and later, a large protest is scheduled in Tel Aviv, demanding the government’s resignation....

DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT! Livni to Join Other Kadima MKs in Calling for Olmert to Quit by Hillel Fendel and Ezra HaLevi Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who said on Tuesday, "I am strong and will get through this," faces a major blow this afternoon when he meets with his party colleague Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni - who is expected to tell him to resign. Reports say that Livni will threaten that if Olmert insists on remaining in power, she herself will resign and will work to depose him. She will hold a press conference following the 4 PM meeting with Olmert. The Livni news follows a similar call and threat by coalition whip MK Avigdor Yitzchaki, who said that if Olmert does not resign by today (Wednesday), he himself will quit his position. Yitzchaki was a close aide to Ariel Sharon when the latter founded the Kadima party in late 2005, and feels no particular loyalty to Olmert. He claims that a majority of Kadima members share his sentiment. The att...

HERE COMES THE BLAME AGAIN... Here comes the rain again Raining in my head like a tragedy Tearing me apart like a new emotion (Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart - The Eurythmics) (Couldn't resist! I just love Annie Lennox (had the pleasure of seeing her live 2 summers ago at Jones Beach - what a voice and what a performance!). Annie, btw, was married to an Israeli until 2000.) However, when I saw this headline for some reason the above popped into my head. All I can say is the ship is sinking fast and the rats are falling over each other racing for the lifeboats, aren't they? Olmert-Livni tensions flare up over Winograd By Yossi Verter and Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondent The battle between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni following the release of the Winograd Committee's interim report is reaching a boiling point: Olmert is expected to warn Livni at a meeting between the two on Wedensday that she cannot continue to undermine him and still hold ...

OOPS! THERE IT IS!! One of the hardest, nearly impossible thing for these failed politicans to do? Admit failure. Oh they will say things to the effect: the information I got was faulty, I made an error in judgement and so on. We have all heard it before. But one thing I tell the women I counsel is that to truly take ownership for their mistakes and failures - people must never ever include the word (actual or implied) "BUT. " BUT is an obvious sign that they are about to project and blame-shift their failures, mistakes, errors or abuse onto someone or something else. Yes, there are reasons that these mistakes are made - most of them being human error. However, a true adult and true teshuva involves NO BUTS. Olmert is backed into a corner... let's just hope he makes the right decision this time. If past behavior is the best predictor of future behavior? He needs to step down and make room for someone more capable than he has shown himself to be. CALLS FOR OLMERT TO...