Here's an interesting article in Ha'aretz about the role of the military and civilian leaderships in Israel in the decision to launch massive retaliation in response to the July 12th Hezbollah incursion into northern Israel. The role of the Chief of Staff of the IDF is always a very prominent one in Israel. But that of Dan Halutz has seemed especially so over the last two weeks. And one also has to figure in the lack of extensive military experience of the two lead ministers of the government -- Olmert and Peretz. This is at least an interesting part fo the equation.