85 reserve officers to Olmert: Military, politics should be separate

By JPOST.COM STAFF
85 reserve IDF officers gave a letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, saying they were against attempts to tie together the military with political interests. "The use of [military] uniform to express political protest is a dangerous thing in a democratic state and should be rejected," they wrote. "We all witness the work being done to strengthen the military and upgrade its capabilities. This should continue in a professional manner, away from the influence of any political arguments," they added. The letter was sent in response to a letter sent to Olmert last week by several platoon commanders where, the officers called on him to accept responsibility after the Winograd report is published, and not to overrule in advance the possibility that he might have to resign.