2nd Lebanon War = 'Serious Missed Opportunity'

The New York Times has posted an English-language version of the executive summary of the Winograd Commission Report on Israel's 2006 Lebanon campaign. It refers repeatedly to "serious failings and flaws" and other missteps.

Some lessons toward the end:

· Fear of criticism in case of failure may lead to defensive reactions, working by the book, and abstention from making resolute decisions and preferring non-action. Such behavior is undesirable and also dangerous.

· In a dynamic complex reality, one should not prepare better for the last war. It is also essential not to limit oneself to superficial action, designed to create an appearance that flaws had been corrected.

· It is also essential not to focus exclusively on coping with dangers, but to combine readiness for threat scenarios with an active seeking of opportunities.

· When speaking on learning, one should take into account that enemies, too, are learning their lessons.