Gaza Flotilla Raid: Israel Sends a Message
In normal times it would have been better to turn away the Hamas blockade-running flotilla using tear gas, high-decibel rock music, warning shots, and public ridicule. These are not ordinary times, and I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to send a clear and unmistakable signal to Israel’s most dangerous enemies, Iran and Syria. A few days ago we heard a public leak that Israel’s three diesel submarines, armed with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles, are being stationed on permanent rotation in the Gulf, right off the coast of Iran. It was a serious check-mate move.
In the nature of the hysterically biased leftist media in Europe and America, we will not know the truth about the events that led Israeli commandos to open fire on the Gaza activists who were diverted to the port of Ashdod. Hamas apparently mixed gunmen with self-proclaimed peace activists, civilians, and babies to provoke a violent reaction. The Israelis made a deliberate decision to respond with force.
Hamas uses human shields as standard operating procedure. Israeli commandos were like armed cops with a gun-bearing bank robber: Once the enemy shoots, you take them down. Only then do you try to figure out what happened. Israel’s legal system will now try to figure out the truth. It will take months.
Question: Israel is about to take a PR drubbing in Europe and America, and certainly at the left-wing and Muslim-dominated United Nations. Israel’s cabinet knew that would happen. Why did they decide to stop the flotilla with commandos? There are more imaginative ways to do that.
I think the decision was deliberate, and it was not aimed at the blockade-running convoy. It was a signal to Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, and most of all the United States — because we are in the midst of the most dangerous war confrontation in decades. This was also a signal for the Obama administration, which just stabbed Israel in the back at another UN phony “peace” conference.
Everything being done by Israel and its enemies today has a double purpose: It is what it is, and it’s also a strategic signal. This time the cabinet and PM decided to show their very sharp claws. It meant: This time we are willing to preempt you with gunfire. Take heed, because we are not interested in PR.
Look, it’s beyond question who’s side the one is on. You don’t see him bowing to anyone in Israel. He may technically have apostated from Islam, but you don’t see any Muslims calling for his head.
The Muslims believe he’s one of them and none of his words or actions have ever implied otherwise. His father was Muslim. He went to madrassa in his youth. He used to be Muslim, and Muslims have coded into their religion a hatred of Jews.
Obama hates Jews and it shows in his every action. I’m certain he welcomes war on Israel.
I suspect he sees himself as the 12th Imam. Kind of like Achmey in Iran.
The God if Israel states in his Word, “Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head.”
Obama is in charge of nothing.
My prediction is that Obama will not be able to help himself and will give the knee-jerk reaction. It is already in motion via the UN. He is a leftist, neophyte, and narcissist. He listened to the Rev. Wright for 20 years; he loathes Israel and all it stands for. Oh well….
I must respectfully disagree with your entire theory.
You don’t use commandos to show claws. The commandos went in with pistols and were yelling at each other not to shoot while watching buddies getting a brutal beating. They didn’t start shooting until the ‘civilians’ opened fire.
Commandos are used precisely when you want to minimize bloodshed and damage. They are highly trained precise troops with extreme discipline. They actually waited for permission before returning fire.
If the isralies had wanted to show claws, they’d have disabled the boat with a warship bumping it around. Warship hulls are thickly armored and civilian boats get nowhere playing bumper cars.
The Isralies did their damndest to avoid bloodshed, however, it only takes one to start a fight.
I agree. I would in some ways prefer that the author was right, but all the evidence suggests a PC talk-them-down approach to the Jihadists on that boat. It suggests a willful desire on the part of the IDF and Barak to believe they were ‘peace activists’ despite all signals to the contrary.
It reflects the division of souls within Israel; that is, the elites that Barak certainly represents and Bibi does as well can no longer decide whether to be Zionist or not. They will support desperate action against Iran to preserve the state of Israel physically. At the same time they wish to relinquish any Jewish claim to Judea and Samaria; that is, they push for a ‘two-state solution’ even while it is clear who Abbas is, and who the Hamas is. Bibi talks about a ‘demilitarized’ Palestinian state. Well, it is clear that THE REAL PURPOSE, tactically, of this convoy was to strip Israel of control of access to Gaza and guarantee a massive arms pipeline to Hamas in the future.
No, this was not some deliberate signal. I wish it had been.
“Warship hulls are thickly armored and civilian boats get nowhere playing bumper cars.”
I think you might be surprised at how thinly armored a modern warship is. When my dad joined the Navy is was said to be: “Wooden ships and iron men”, I joined up when it was: “Iron ships and wooden men.” Now-a-days it’s: “Aluminum ships and silicon men.” Weapons are now computer controlled and launched at great distances with rockets and GPS guided cruise missiles, most ships don’t even carry a decent deck gun anymore.
I don’t know about Israel’s warships but I’d bet they are as modern as ours.
I agree that the commandos tried to avoid a fight but there was a serious error by Israel in estimating what they would face. This is 4th generation warfare by the Palestinians and the Israelis need better options. Bumping the ship would have been better and even better might have been disabling it in deniable fashion. Maybe they could have let it get closer to the beach and then see it hit a “mine.” Maybe tear gas before the commandos dropped onto the ship. There had to be a better way and the Israelis played into the hands of the terrorists.
They used great strategic vision in building the wall. They need better tactical sense ion these confrontations. The greatest lesson from all this is the fact that Turkey and its Islamist government has now joined the enemy. Americans still think of Turkey as an ally. They need to realize that is no longer true.
Perhaps a better option would be to send in the equivalent of Navy SEALs and disable the ship propellers with a small explosive charge. The ship would be adrift in the water and then it would simply be a matter of towing the ship to some, other port if the provacateurs got tired of floating aimlessly in the ocean.
Very correct Mike. Erdogan is souynding like he wants a modern day version of the former Ottoman empire. Dont forget, in 2003 this was the guy who told GW Bush that the US could send the 4th infantry division into Al Anbar province from Turkey, then denied permission one week before we actually invaded. Erdogan also threatened in 2006 to cut off out supply routes into Iraq until Bush bribed him. Erdogan has been cozying up to IMadumb jihad of Iran and even with Hugo Chavez(and I thought moslems claimed they hated commies). Erdogan and Turkey are largely responsible for why we had so many early problems in Al Anbar province. Im beginning to think we may need to teach this Islamic supremacist punk a lesson. Only problem is Obamamoslem wont be the one to do it. After all, in his own “autobiography”(dreams from the father who abandoned him?) he said “in a crisis, I will side with my moslem brethren” Islam is merely trying(again) the same crap theyve tried every couple of hundred years since 632ad. This isnt the first time, violenceand hatred are there history.
Well…just blame the Jews! Everyone else does. The headlines of hate Isreal are all out there & I’m sick of it.
Look, as an ex-pat living in Eastern Europe, I can tell you that most Europeans hate the Jews. Isreal is looked at as the main problem against peace in the world. Naturally the US is in 2nd place.
If Hitler were alive today, he would probably be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the Holocaust.
I look at the attack this way. If the roles were reversed & Hizbollah, etc. were the commandos & they killed 16 Jews on the ships, all of the headlines would read something like this: “Peaceful Hizbollah police viciously attacked by bloodthirsty Jewish activists.”
The hypocracy of the press is simply laughable.
Isreal can & should do whatever they need to do to preserve their nation. Unfortunately, they have NO friends in the world & they are on their own.
Nuff said!
You’d be taken a lot more seriously if you could at least learn how to f**king spell. It’s ISRAEL for crying out loud.
This theory cannot be sustained, in light of Israel’s past actions; attacking US ships, keeping its nuclear program secret from US, spying on its allies, dual loyalties….who knows the truth about Israel’s intentions any longer…it is playing both sides against each other and will eventually be caught in the middle of the great game.
The comment that the rest of ME does want Iran taken out of the picture is accurate. When the US removed Iraq as the counterbalance to Iran, it set in motion these events. We meddled in the Middle East, upset the balance of geopolitics and are about to reap the whirlwind.
According to the San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea, 12 June 1994:
SECTION V : NEUTRAL MERCHANT VESSELS AND CIVIL AIRCRAFT
Neutral merchant vessels
67. Merchant vessels flying the flag of neutral States may not be attacked unless they:
(a) are believed on reasonable grounds to be carrying contraband or breaching a blockade, and after prior warning they intentionally and clearly refuse to stop, or intentionally and clearly resist visit, search or capture;
(b) engage in belligerent acts on behalf of the enemy;
(c) act as auxiliaries to the enemy s armed forces;
(d) are incorporated into or assist the enemy s intelligence system;
(e) sail under convoy of enemy warships or military aircraft; or
(f) otherwise make an effective contribution to the enemy s military action, e.g., by carrying military materials, and it is not feasible for the attacking forces to first place passengers and crew in a place of safety. Unless circumstances do not permit, they are to be given a warning, so that they can re-route, off-load, or take other precautions.
Do you have the same feelings towards North Korea you have about Israel?
Ah, yes, gordo12…..when logic cannot sustain, invoke moral relativism.
Ah yes, similar to Posner and the Az imm. law and the Chinese human rights violations.
Moral equality.
Man so much ignorance, so little intelligence.
What is it about these anti-semites that they have to twist reality to fit the narrative they wish to believe in.
Because moral code comes from religion not athiesm.Athiest fear death as for them there is nothing after they are dead.The mind is a powerful force.Your mind will construct your reality.Same applies at time of death.But hey what do i know?Im just passing through on this world on my way to the next….
Every defensive, offensive, or preventative action Israel takes to protect her citizens is automatically condemned by the Arabs, the UN, the European Union, and most of the international media as brutal, cruel, criminal, disproportionate, assymetrical, or simply excessive.
Since Israel knows that this is the case all she can do is carry out these actions to the best of her ability attempting to keep casualties low but carrying out the operations successfully and effectively.
Yesterday Israel sent a concrete and clear message to the Hamas terrorists and their supporters, that is, if you attempt to attack Israel or help those who attack Israel, you can and will be killed if necessary to stop you.
Yes there will be bitter and unfair criticism and condemnation of Israel by her enemies and even some of her allies, as expected, and yet the message that death awaits Israel’s enemies has been sent loud and clear!
is automatically condemned by the Arabs, the UN, the European Union, and most of the international media as brutal, cruel, criminal, disproportionate, assymetrical, or simply excessive.
Talk is cheap. None of these people are willing to back up their statements with action. None are sending in armies or what-have-you to save the Palestinians or kick the Israelis off the West Bank. The fact is, they really don’t care all that much.
This will all blow over as the next crisis dominates the news.
Turkey, keep your eye on Turkey. That could be the real game-changer here.
Why did Turkey actively and openly support this flotilla? Turkey is a NATO ally and used to have good relations with Israel. So why did the Turks openly support this venture? Could be that the Muslim fundamentalists are beginning to take over in Turkey? Turkey used to be one of the most pro-Western countries in the Muslim world, but that could be changing. If radical Muslim fundamentalists take over in Turkey, both Israel and the West are really screwed. You will have an almost endless supply of motivated jihadists using a fairly wealthy country as a base of operations right next to Europe. It could also cause lots of problems for the Kurds in neighboring Iraq, whom the Turks hate.
And remember, Turkey has already signed an agreement with Iran (along with Brazil) to process nuclear fuel. Could this move against Israel and its alliance with Iran signal Turkey’s departure from the Western sphere of influence? Could it also mean that Turkey is now throwing in its lot with the radical Islamic fundamentalists in the region? If it does, we’re in deep, deep, trouble.
Remember, keep an eye on Turkey. Heaven knows, Washington isn’t.
Indeed, Turkey is now threatening to accompany subsequent “aid” convoys with Turkish warships as cover. Israel will then be confronting a NATO member state.
It’s now clear which side Turkey is on, and why it was a mistake for Israel to be providing advanced military equipment to her (including sophisticated drones earlier this year). Given Turkey’s new “strategic ties” with Syria and Iran, it’s a fair bet whatever Israel provides Turkey will be exposed or provided to them.
You are right; the Israelis have given Turkey stolen American military technology. Matters of fact, the Israelis have sold stolen American military technology to Communist China and to the old Soviet Union.
Remember the Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard? He was caught red-handed handing stolen American military secrets to the Israeli Embassy in Washington. Most of the stolen information was given to the Soviet Communists by the Israelis in exchange for more Russian Jewish immigrants to Israel.
Now many of you ignorant have to explain why Israel would spy and steal military secrets from America to hand them to America’s enemies? I thought that most of you hypocrites on this site are calling Israel an American ally.
Yes, the Islamists, led by Prime Minister Erdogan, are indeed taking over in Turkey. Erdogan looks not toward the EU and NATO for partnership, but to Iran; and you may have noticed over the last year or so the very large number of Army officers and civilian officials arrested for “treason”- in other words, a systematic purge of secular Kemalists.
Erdogan has also been shamelessly open in his encouragement of Turkish residents in Germany to flex their political muscle towards the imposition of Sharia there.
We are in a world war, whether Obambi and his clueless advisors want to admit it or not.
I agree that Turkey has joined the enemy, Iran, and the sooner the American public realizes this, the better. They blocked the 4th ID from invading Iraq from the north, which aided the development of the Sunni resistance. It may be time to start a movement to aid the Kurds in Turkey. They are treated worse than the Palestinians. Certainly publication of this should begin. Turkey may have its eye on the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Legal Insurrection pointed out that if Turkey is in favor of supplying Gaza with arms, then it must also be a good idea to do the same for the Kurds in Turkey.
Liberty ship-earlier., I wrote to someone about Turkish PM Erdogan. Erdogan is NO FRIENDof the West. He IS an islamic SUPREMACIST trying to fly under the radar while everyone is focusing on Iran, North Korea, Etc. Erdogan is currently trying to force the Greek Orthodox church out of Istanbul, where its Hq has been since before the Ottoman Empire and was actually told by the prophet Mohammhead that the church would have protection by Islam for saving MOhamheads life once. In recent years Erdogan has taken on a much more militant stance, even without propmting from the voting populace. He has become very friendly with Iran, and even moreso with the likes of commie Chavez in Venezuela and even with there traditional enemies, Russia. thr Turks involvement is this should be no coincidence, if you listen closely to what Erdogan has been saying , especially since the Obamadud has been in office.
My vote is for the knee jerk reaction. However, please, O Dear Leader, show us that The Wizard did give you a brain and use it.
Obama missed the only opportunity he was likely to get when he failed to support the demands of Iran’s green movement for democratic change. His reaction (or lack thereof) was not a knee jerk response, but a carefully contrived indifference to the fate of ordinary Iranians in favor of the ruling theocracy. He won’t have this option when the missiles start to fly because any Iranian attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz will see the U.S. sucked into the conflict like it or not.
My vote is that Obama reacts with confusion followed by paralysis. Whatever passes for ideology in his severely addled brain will be confronted by a reality that he is psychologically unprepared to deal with. That 3 AM phone call from Hillary will suddenly become something very real. My prediction is that the man cracks under pressure. Let us hope those in the bunker with him have the sense to bundle him off (for reasons of “health” of course). It will be a terrible day when the thought of a President Joe Biden starts to sound credible. Nothing good this way comes.
Obama will act and act swiftly. But, not on what he should. He will ram through the cap and trade bill.
A world crisis is worth more than domestic.
And it gets worse! After Biden, there is …..Pelosi!!!
At least until November, and I kinda think that things will happen before then.
If Biden becomes pres, he gets to pick his VP, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Much the way Nixon chose Ford.
The only way Pelosi becomes pres is if both Obama and Biden are incapacitated at the same time.
Everyone seems to forget that Israel’s partner in the Gaza blockade is Egypt. The selective criticism in the press and out of the mouths of the world’s idiots, such as the obama administration, I find amusing.
The problem with this is, Israel has always held the moral high ground in the Middle East. They played the victim card effectively for over 50 years. Now, having lost the moral high ground, they have invited whatever the Palestinians or Arabs want to do and frankly, just gives Iran an excuse. They may have been goaded, however, they should have known better.
Angela,
I am having trouble following your reasoning. Your comment implies Israel lost the moral high ground. How so? The flotilla was clearly violating international marine law. Israel had a right to board and divert. Israeli soldiers were attacked and fired upon by Hamas activists. They returned fire with deadly effect. I can’t see where they lost the moral high ground. Hamas is by definition immoral. I can’t begin to catalogue the endless list of immoral behavior that spewed forth after they took control of Gaza.
“The ships were in violation of international marine law.”
“Israelis were attacked and fired upon by Hamas Activists.”
“Hamas by definition is immoral.”
The above statements are cheap perpetuation of the Israeli propaganda; the truth:
Israel is occupying Palestinian territories since 1967, in clear violation of international law
Israel is building illegal Jewish settlements on land stolen from indigenous Palestinians on the occupied West Bank, in violation of international law.
Israel built an Apartheid wall on stolen lands from Palestinian farmers, the International Court had deemed that wall illegal and in violation of international law
The freedom Flotilla was in international waters when attacked by Israeli pirates
The peace activists were not member of Hamas; they came from 40 countries, including England, the USA, Ireland, Germany, Spain, etc…
Members of the Freedom Flotilla were Noble Peace Prize Winners, Doctors, Reporters, and Members of the European Parliament, they weren’t members of Hamas.
The peace activists did not have any weapon to attack Israel, they carried prefab. Houses, medical supply, wheel chairs, for the Palestinian victims of the Israeli attack on Gaza on Dec. 2008.
Israel has created the largest prison on earth in Gaza; the Israeli inhumane siege of Gaza had transformed Gaza to a Palestinian ghetto, similar to the Jewish Ghetto created by the Nazis in Warsaw, Poland.
Hamas never committed any violence against the US or any other countries, except the Israeli occupiers of Palestine.
There are over 120 pending United Nation’s resolutions against Israel for violations of international law.
clear view -
When you are prancing around in your hitler youth uniform (that you had let out) lose the high heels. it just doesn’t work.
So, what you are saying is that it’s all Israel’s fault, right? “they brought it on themselves”.
Do you think that Israel has no right to be strong and defend her citizens from bloodthirsty terrorists?
How exactly did Israel lose the moral high ground?
I think she was trying to say that this was an example of bear baiting by the Islamists and Israel was clumsy in response. The response to suicide bombers was the wall. Israel needs a better tactical response to this new tactic as it will be repeated. The enemy are already organizing another convoy.
The very idea. Believing that having all of your neighbors not only wanting you dead, but actively trying to bring that about, making one a victim.
As to loosing the moral high ground. Not a chance. Isreal put it’s men in great danger in order to avoid bloodshed, but as always, the Muslims wanted blood, and they did whatever it took to get it.
I hear what you’re saying JohnCinGA, but not only is Obama not one of the four visiting the Wizard, not in possession of a heart, brain or courage himself, but he is rather the malevolent Wizard – pulling levers behind a curtain, screaming commands into a microphone.
His presidency is a lot like Oz, isn’t it?
Where, pray tell, is Toto to pull back the curtain?
The world trembles at the thought of pissant N. Korea and it’s Rube Goldberg nukes. Listen up guys. Israel has a superb military, and a very sophisticated nuclear capability. The Eurotrash count on Israel behaving as a liberal western democracy. You know, heavy on the brie and chablis, pass the arugala, let’s listen to some Brahms. Just keep grating on the Israelis, isolating them, making them a pariah. And just maybe they’ll discover their own Kim Jong Il. Or Ahmadinejad. You think that too fantastic?
Carla,
The world is about to get reeducated regarding Israeli defense capability. If Hezbolah, Syria and Iran, all allies are follish enough to launch a missile attack on Tel Aviv they will do serious initial damage and kill hundreds, if not thousands of Israeli citizens, some of them Arab.Israel will view the attack as an attempt to terminate it’s existance. The Israeli response will be severe and deadly. Syria and Lebanon will pay a very steep price for the attack. The IDF would attrit Syria and Hezbolah, Iran would be dealt a serious blow as Israeli forces would attempt to decapitate the regime.
An existential attack could likely provoke a nuclear response. Think long and hard about the consequences of that action. Obama’s incompetent diplomacy based on fantasy has increased the likelihood of aggression, not diminished it.
You should read Tony Cordesman’s report at CSIS on an Israeli-Iranian nuclear exchange. He estimates 600,000 Israeli casualties and 28 million Iranian dead. It would be the end of the Persian nation. It would also be the end of the Petroleum Age in the middle east. The full report is a pdf document.
We are in agreement that the Israelis may use nuclear weapons in their future wars. Israel is an Apartheid and morally corrupt entity very similar to racist South Africa. It is a state that is ruled by a bunch of Jewish fanatics like Bibi Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman.
The Jewish settlements built on stolen Palestinian lands are the center of Jewish fanaticism and extremism. The fanatic settlers indoctrinate their kids to hate and kill Palestinians at early age. Burning Palestinians Orchards and crops, as well as, poisoning Palestinians drinking wells is common practice by the Jewish settlers.
Yes, Israel is turning into a fanatic and morally corrupt religious state, like Iran and Afghanistan. The Israelis are capable of committing all kind of genocidal acts, including the use of nuclear bombs.
Matter of fact, the Israeli army has lost its will to fight tough conventional wars, since that army spent the last 30 years chasing and shooting Palestinian children armed only with rocks. The decline of the morale of the Israeli army was visible when that well-equipped army was defeated twice by few thousands poorly equipped Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon. In the year 2000 Hezbollah fighters chased the Israeli army and force it to chaotically withdraw from southern Lebanon in the middle of the night leaving behind its weapons. In 2006 few thousands Hezbollah fighters stopped 70,000 of the best Israeli divisions from making any push into Lebanon for 33 days. Hezbollah killed 160 Israeli soldiers, destroyed tens of the best Israeli tanks and forced the Israelis to call for ceasefire. Israel was furious and it retaliated by sending its war planes to bomb Lebanese civilians, killing over 1000 women and children.
Oh puhLEAZE. You think Israel is like the South African apartheid governments? Here’s a hint: for saying that in South Africa, you would have BOSS come to your door and beat the everloving cripe out of you. In Israel, this would warrent a series of shrugs and maybe a few angry retorts. Big Difference.
And if you think the IDF has lost its will, think again. The reason they have not been affected by the Indifadahs is because they have actually LIVED through them and they know EXACTLY what the few Palestinian Children they HAVE had to shoot were doing (namely trying to kill THEM).
No, Israel is still entirely capable of fighting and is a remarkably free nation where Arab Israelis enjoy equal rights. And when it opens up in the next big round, you too will see that the Arab League will learn that lesson anew.
you wrote <>
No need. Israel is doing a bang-up job of making itself a pariah. Help is not necessary.
Defending oneself makes one a paraiah?
The thought processes of these anti-semites is confusing and not easy to follow.
Rubbish. This wasn’t deliberate. It was Barak showing his incompetence by nor expecting a fight and arming our people with paintball guns.
I predict Obama will freeze with fear when confronted with any threat of direct engagement. He’ll appoint a committee, and go play golf, like usual. If responsibility was actually thrust upon him, he would turn catatonic.
Obama has made it obvious from the very first that he is no friend to Israel. How the American Jews can support this man is really beyond my understanding. He does not care what happens to Israel, he is trying to drive his own once great country into the ground economically, as well as weaken her as much as he can militarily. One of these days we will all look back and wonder how we let all of this happen. And when Iran gets the nuke, the whole world will be held hostage.
I’m afraid that most American Jews are liberals first, and Jews second.
Good for them. And having made this gambit and enduring the sh-tstorm to follow, hopefully they will become inured to the fake howls of protest and the media’s complicity. In the Age of Obama, its looking more and more possible that Israel may save America this time. As the menace in the White House guts our military and our national security, removing our spine one vertebrae at a time, the action of the Israelis will be a reflection of where we have been misled. They know who their enemy is. We are not even permitted to think about it.
It is never wise to tweak the Tigers tail. Private conversations with other Arab nations endorcing Israel with hope it will neuter the crazies in their midst, herein lies the problem. Main stream Muslims, whatever that means, do not support the “violent fringe” in their religon, yet they remain silent. Silence is support! We have waited in vain here in America for the supposed Main stream Muslims to stand up to their crazies, they remain silent. More troubling is the continual discouvery of financial support for know terrorist groups like Hamas and the PLO from supposed Main stream Muslims disguised as charity contributions. While the “One” continues dithering the Tiger has just unsheathed its claws, and issued a low murmmering growl……….Beware! Hamas, Syria all others, Israel is not into self-destruction, they are very into self-preservation.
I was having the same thoughts as the author. I think the article also has implications for the future that interest me. Like watching a train wreck sort of interest.
If Israel can take this step, which I wondered if they would follow through with, consider the future steps. The threat posed to Israel by these ships is miniscule when compared to the threat posed by a nuclear armed Iran.
Time is up.
The Israelis should have taken everyone off all the ships and sunk them. Turkey was trying to send a message. Israel shoud send one right back. Recognize Kurdistan as an independent nation…
And the genocide of the Armenian people while we are at it.
I’m sorry, but some time ago (1945 – 1947), the world blockaded ports from Jews trying to reach their ancestral homeland (see “Exodus”). It wasn’t until 1948 the Jews were permitted the return of land to create Israel (see “Oh Jerusalem”, Collins and LaPierre). They’ve fought and died protecting their land; land the Palestinians claim is theirs.
Right, and I’ve a bridge I’d like to sell you. Good view of the New York City skyline.
Anyone who believes this convoy had nothing but food and medical supplies needs to lay off the wagu steaks. The sole purpose of the convoy was to promote the idea of Israeli oppression. Yet, no one has yet commented on the oppressive thumb crushing the Palestinian people by their own “Government”. When such corrupt entities permit schools, mosques, hospitals and government offices to be used as arms caches or mortar pits, civilized, arugala chomping, Perrier sipping, elitists call them ‘Freedom Fighters’.
The Israelis live with the threat of death around them 24 hours a day, 365 days out of the year. Anyone who thinks a Prime Minister, whose brother lost his life saving captured citizens held by the comic opera known as Idi Amin, had best think again. The Palestinians may have numbers and the UN on their side, but I’d go with the toughest fighting force in the Middle East.
If you think our spineless, Muslim-loving, anti-Semitic, anti-American leadership will stop Israel from protecting their borders, let’s talk about that bridge.
One minor nit, there were Jews in Israel long before 1945. There have been Jews in that area, even after the Romans dispersed many of them in about 70AD.
Modern return movements date as far back as the mid 1800′s.
Personally I would’ve used torpedoes. They’re all the rage!
I agree 100%. Preferably torpedoes obtained from another country, with one or two warheads “defective” to be recovered later…
I wonder if the Israeli’s have the design specs for Egypt’s torpedos?
That’s an interesting analysis. My only question was not whether or not Israel was right to board the vessel, for I think that it was totally justified, but why they did it in international waters.
The convoy was offered the opportunity to dock at an Israeli port, unload their ‘aid’ and have it shipped to Gaza. IF the convoy was legitimate, it would have had no problem with such an offer. After all, their stated agenda was to deliver the aid.
But they refused. They also refused the Israeli offer to board and inspect.
Therefore their agenda wasn’t about delivering aid; it was about breaking the Israeli control of the Gaza coastline.
As as been noted, the funding and backing of this convoy has been directly traced to Iranian Islamic fundamentalists. The brain-dead leftist followers in the other (not the lead)boat, seem to be ignorant of this fact and focus only on the emotional warmth of ‘we are bringing aid’.
The videos show, not non-violent peace activists but vicious attacks against a military – who were more than justified in returning such violent attacks with their guns.
Obama? He’s out of it. Obama is a pathological narcissist; he doesn’t live in the real world. In fact, he rejects the real world of facts of terrorists, oil spills, health care costs….Obama lives totally and completely in a virtual world of words. What he alone says..is his reality, and he becomes paralyzed and angry when the real world intrudes on his words and his control of others by these words.
He’s tried to deny the reality of terrorism with his virtual world of words (renaming terrorism!); is paralyzed by the oil spill and does nothing to clean up the beaches; lies about the problems of health care (doctors cutting off limbs; 40 million not insured); lies about the costs…all of these show that Obama rejects reality and opts instead for a virtual world of his own words.
He’s rejected Israel both because of his anti-semitism and also because he prefers to ‘talk’ to the Islamic world…rather than engage in the real situations there. He totally ignored the democratic demonstrations in Iran, for they were focused on democracy, not on adulation of Obama. He’s enabled Iran to become nuclear and increase its power. And still, he talks and talks about sanctions and about how ‘I’m the President and I’m in charge’..
You know what might happen? The arab states are worried about Iran and its imperialist ambitions. They might turn against Iran!
Q. What do you call ten dead “peace activists”?
A. A good start.
I’m sure it was a Turkish set up (the vessels were Turkish flagged) , probably because the Turks have irredentist visions of a renewed Ottoman Empire. Meanwhile, the White House man child’s lead negotiator with China brings up Arizona’s new law on illegal immigrants (a much more restrictive law to enforce than the Federal version) as somehow an example of American human rights violations–although the current federal census does profile people by race and ethnicity. Apparently this was a state department negotiating tactic to gain Chinese sympathy for American difficulties with dealing with its home grown rubes–and to get out the democratic base for November. Once the Chinese understand the basic backward nature of rank and file Americans typified by racist Arizona brush poppers, the Chinese will doubtlessly penalize the Hermit Kingdom’s bad behavior for sinking a South Korean war ship and embargo Iran for violating the NPT; once again all will be right with the world–if only Israel would quit being, well, so Jewish .
Israel is a sovereign nation threatened with annihilation. Though it threatens no one’s borders, the states around it constantly menace it by both word and deed. Indeed, Iran’s past president Hashemi-Rafsanjani has already rationalized a nuclear strike on Israel. There can be no doubt what will happen if the situation is allowed to deteriorate further…which is why Netanyahu and his Cabinet have decided not to allow that.
It’s quite bad enough that Israel must suffer the pinpricks from Gaza and the West Bank. To allow Iran, or any other hostile nation in the region, to acquire the ability to strike Israel with a weapon of mass destruction is unthinkable, to the Israelis, at least. The knowledge that the Iranian ruling cadre is irrationally evil, and quite willing to accept massive death and destruction in Iran as the price for obliterating Israel, makes it imperative that Israel be positioned to strike first — and to launch on warning, rather than wait to be struck.
Don’t like it? That’s geostrategic reality. There are no do-overs for a nation that allows an implacable blood enemy to put a knife to its throat. If Obama and his henchmen aren’t willing to put the American nuclear umbrella over Israel — and they’re plainly not willing — then the Israelis will have to disabuse themselves of all thought of American support and do the job themselves.
I say: Good luck and Godspeed to them.
With Obama’s history so far, you are not seriously expecting him to show any leadership now. The Middle East is poised to explode into all-out war precisely because of that weak sister in the White House.
NEVER AGAIN.
NEVER AGAIN !
Never, ever again!
This is the same kind of faulty reasoning that I heard before the Iraq War.
How is it that we in America or those in Israel lose our high moral ground if after numerous warnings, we then take action against a regime that continually flaunts laws/U.N. resolutions – either the law is the law, or the law is an ass.
Israel would have lost the her own moral high ground had she chosen to do nothing. There are few countries on earth that would have boarded the ship at risk to its people – most countries would have sunk the ship where it floated.
Israel has lost nothing of the sort. I commend them for their restraint.
You guys never stop to amuse me. Here is IDF killing 10 innocent peace activists on a ship in international waters and you guys cannot stop supporting it. We are not asking for a lot here; just admit that IDF messed up and what they did wasn’t right. By admitting this, you are not betraying Israel. You really spent hours sitting behind your computer typing this article to justify or make sense of a crime; but let’s call it what is: it is a crime. When the US military commits crimes, we see a good number of Americans standing up and objecting. Where are the true morally conscious Israelis who are brave enough to say wait a minute what happened a few days ago was wrong.
Igkicks,
You need to develope a better understanding of fact here. The Israelis have a right under international law to enforce the Gaza blockade. They could have resorted to a greater level of force, yet they chose to send comandos armed with paint guns and pistols. The IDF forces were attacked and severely injured and did not fire until they were fired upon.
The error by the Israelis was in exposing the soldiers to danger by showing restaint. That won’t happen again. The Israelis will use a far more concentrated level of force to disable the enemy vessel when the next one approaches. I expect them to disable the ships propulsion system and take the vessel in tow. This will occur while an IDF frigate or patrol boat, backed by helicopter gunships and fixed wing aircraft train weapons on the activists. If they are foolish enough to attempt attack on soldiers again, they will pay dearly. New rules of engagement will be in effect. The activists will have no chance.
The Gaza blockade is illegal under international law and has been condemned as such by most nations. Israel’s actions in the occupied territories have been illegal under international law and have been condemned as such by most nations. The attack on a humanitarian aid flotilla in international waters, followed by the kidnapping and imprisonment of hundreds of people aboard those ships is a flagrant and deliberate breach of international law and standards. That the main vessel attacked was flying a Turkish flag makes this technically an attack on a fellow NATO ally. Yet the author of this piece and many of those who have chosen to comment seem to have willfully both accepted and seem to have internalized the initial Israeli spin on these appalling events.
As reported in the Israeli press, a total of three Israeli soldiers required hospital attention as a result of this attack – two with light wounds and one with moderate wounds. The people on the ship suffered at least ten dead, with dozens wounded, most by gunfire. And yet most of the people here seem to actually believe that it was the Israelis who were attacked and who are the victim!
Quoted in a post above is law regarding the enforcement of a blockade where a nation is being attacked as the scum Hamas was doing prior to Israel’s attack in 2009. Please cite the specific international law Israel has broken. And save me the victim diatribe. Hamas is a ruthless and despicable enemy that rules it’s own people through the consistent application of violence.
There is nothing illegal about the blockade.
Why do you not blame Egypt for helping to maintain the blockade?
Being a “peace activist” doesn’t make you immune to international maritime law OR to a government’s actions in defense of its country’s national interests. The Gaza Strip is run by Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel. Israel is blockading the Gaza Strip for that reason. If these “activists” want peace, they should refuse to deal with Hamas or anyone who supports it. They should refuse to send aid to the Gaza Strip until the Palestinians there choose a different organization to represent them – or whatever it is Hamas claims to do.
“We are not asking for a lot here…”
Who is “we?”
The fact that you believe those so called peace activists were innocent, tells me all I need to know about you.
Israel, don’t pay heed to the Taqiyya-spouting White House. Go with God.
This administration has played for months with the terrorists: Syria, Iran, hizb’ullah, hamas itself.
It has done whatever in its power to help the radical muslims in the middle-east while at the same time playing with the lives of our Soldiers in Iraq and Afgnahistan (DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MUCH TIME it took to THE “president” to decide the relatively small increase of Troops in Afghanistan ?).
It is important that Israel understands it is ALONE, at least until we will have elections and we will have results that cut the claws of an administration formed by marxists, anarchists, black supremacists, filo-jihadists, internationalists.
And it is only June, we are months away from the elections.
And the radicals WORLDWIDE know that these months are possibly their last months with a VERY FRIENDLY administration in full power in America.
Very dangerous times.
Let’s pray.
Wars like Israel vs Palis are not won with force. They are won in the PR world… the First Intifada knew that which is why they made sure to have pictures of kids with rocks vs Israelis with guns. Israel should have learned from that experience. If they do NOT have the support of the international community, things may go very badly for them. This incident, right or wrong… is very bad PR for them and may well distance what support they have.
If no one has Israel’s back, you think they can hold out for long on their own? I don’t.
This was probably a bad play.
You are sure sure sure that if all the dhimmis of the world stop “supporting” Israel, then “no one has Israel back” ????
You know, there is an ancient Book that you could read with some interest…
Well, according to the book, they occasionally had some pretty awesome support… seems to have waned over the past couple millennium.
Heck, there’s some stuff written in some bits which indicate they lost that support a long time ago. Personally, I don’t put much stock in either part of the book.
I would suggest that you are completely wrong on many levels:
1) Israel is a sovereign nation; the more she acts like one, the more she will be one;
2) Israel does not exist on the sufferance of Western public opinion.
3) If the US, for instance, were truly to reflect the will of its people in shaping Middle Eastern policy, that policy would be truly pro-Israel instead of the muddle it has always been.
Apart from all that, Israel is better equipped in different ways to defend her existence than the United States, given its present ‘leadership’ and level of public or political intelligence (voters, demographics). Despite the fact that Bibi, Barak, etc. are too soft on the Arabs, they will defend at least the country itself. We can’t even say that about America under Obama.
With the exception of the US, nobody has had Israel’s “back” for over 60 years.
“Obama has not been acting intelligently . . . .” Is this the same thing as “acting stupidlih”?
The best form of defence is attack. Israel needs to smack down a few more terrorists to demonstrate its continued single minded defence of its people. This just in on CNBC….they just did. Three Hamas terrorists have apparently been taken out. Good.
Go Israel…
Another Exodus.
The United States and Mexico cede all the land within ≈ twenty miles of their common border to Israel.
Or forget Mexico – just cede ≈ twenty miles on the U.S. side of the border.
Israel negotiates a fair price for the land it now occupies with all their neighbors who don’t like them. Plenty of oil money for that, right?
With this money, they can compensate the U.S. and Mexico.
The U.S. and Mexico would use it to, among other things, assist anyone who wants to remain a citizen of the U.S. or Mexico to move across the new border.
Those U.S./Mexican citizens who choose to remain become Israeli citizens.
Those Israeli citizens who choose to remain where they are now become Palestinian citizens.
The United Nations conducts the evacuation. This would include the transport of any structures within the current state of Israel to their sites in the New Jerusalem. Taking it apart and putting it back together would be Israel’s responsibility.
Look at the problems this would solve:
There would be immediate world peace.
Our southern border would be secure.
Right. As though drug runners and mules have every given a whit for national law, and the fact that they would be violating two borders rather than one would change everything.
And I love the idea that we should cede the millenia-old home of the Jewish people to the aggressors. What message do you think THAT will send to the Arab League?
And those new Palestinian citizens will last maybe three days tops in their new “nation.”
Nice try, please roll again.
Do you think the Islamists, including Iran’s leadership, realize that if Israel receives a nuclear attack, then a nuclear missile will also fall in the middle of Meca? Do they realize that what they hold dear is also vulnerable?
For the joy of all our jihad-supporting trolls:
FROM
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2010/Israel_Navy_warns_flotilla_31-May-2010.htm
Text:
Israel Navy: “Mavi Marmara, you are approaching an area of hostilities which is under a naval blockade. The Gaza area coastal region and Gaza harbor are closed to all maritime traffic. The Israeli government supports delivery of humanitarian supplies to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip and invites you to enter the Ashdod port. Delivery of supplies in accordance with the authorities’ regulations will be through the formal land crossings and under your observation, after which you can return to your home ports on the vessels on which you have arrived.”
Response: “Negative, negative.”
So Turkey being a NATO member means The POTUS Barack H. Obama (PBUH) can bomb Israel with the blessings of the other NATO allies?
Will we see American troops invading Israel to effect a “regime” change?
Then the one state solution will occur under palistinian rules backed by American armor and blood.
“Howinahell did we get to this point?”
YOU WROTE:
Obama has not been acting intelligently, because he has lost the trust of the Israeli side.
WRONG.
OBAMA IS ON THE OTHER SIDE.
It was no coincidence that the flotilla set sail the week after Obama’s NPT agreement condemning Israel and isolating Israel because Israel has a nuke deterrent.
And it was no coincidence that Obama invited Bibi to the WH the day after it was known there would be an IDF/flotilla confrontation.
This whole flotilla business is right out of the Alinsky playbook – and Obama is a part of it.
This is nothing more than Israel defending its people as it should. If the fools on the left don’t get it, then tough. They and the Muslim extremists they bed with deserve to be smacked down.
Jim Henley in an article today offers a sound rationale:
“The raid is the latest case of Israel choosing militarism over liberalism, which Beinart identifies as the core issue…
Israel not only no longer faces any enemies who pose an existential threat, it doesn’t even have enemies who can thwart any strongly held Israeli policy aim. No state is going to go to war to “destroy Israel.” I doubt any state particularly wants to. Certainly no state that might want to can do so. But beyond that, no state is going to go to war on behalf of the Palestinians and the Palestinians lack the power to launch an effective war on their own behalf.
Every time Israel takes major, disproportionate action, the “counter-productivity corps” tells us that very soon now Israel’s high-handedness will cost it essential allies, alienate the United States and set the country on the road to ruin. Every time, the furor passes. In particular, the United States has attempted no material rebuke of Israel since the administration of Bush the Elder, and these days barely bothers with rhetorical rebukes…
This is not Israel “shooting itself in the foot.” This is Israel winning. Be for that or against it, but at least recognize it.”
Go Israel!
Israel not only no longer faces any enemies who pose an existential threat
—-
Will this still be true after Iran gets the bomb?
look: you people can moan and graon all you wants…Israeli government is murderous. Period. it ia about time that we have a President who is dealing with Israleis they way they need to be dealt with… Israel is the biggest to out national security..
Dear Ms. Rove:
For some reason my mental image of you is one of a frumpy, disappointed Lefty driving an aging Volvo festooned with Save Darfur, Save Tibet and Save the Whale bumper stickers. In other words, a disgruntled, aging free love leftover form the 60′s. In other words, a no noat;hing twit. But of course, I might be wrong.
Dear Ms. Rove:
For some reason my mental image of you is one of a frumpy, disappointed Lefty driving an aging Volvo festooned with Save Darfur, Save Tibet and Save the Whale bumper stickers. In other words, a disgruntled, aging free love leftover form the 60′s. In other words, a no nothing twit. But of course, I might be wrong.
Killing people who are trying to kill you is now murder?
The only people who are being threatened by Israel, are those who are actively trying to destroy the state of Israel. Those who want to live at peace with the Israelis have long been able to do so.
James; Kudos on your article.I agree and had the same thoughts myself immediately after the storm of outrage on Monday.
There may have been a tactical blunder on the part of the operations people in not supplying heavy armed back-up sooner, but it seems to me that the paint rifles were meant as cover.
The defense minister, Ehud Barak, although a political leftist, has always had the reputation of being a no-non-sense military hardliner.
The timing of the attack, less than one day after the Obama double-cross of Bibi on the UN vote targeting Israel only on the nuclear compliance issues,is too close in time to be deemed co-incidental.
Israel lives in a tough neighborhood, and since there is no longer any mystery about where the Obama administration’s allegiances fall, she must show her neighbors that she is a force to be reckoned with. Look for more surprises, soon.
The timing was dictated by the convoy, not the Israelis.
Miriam Rove;
“Israel is the biggest (asset) to out national security.”
There- your post is now complete.
to miriam rove “you people” “wants” . enough said. praise the one.
LOL! Miriam is on the sauce it seems!! Just wait ill November Miriam, you’re not going to like it!!
Ratatosk,
Quite the contrary, it is right on schedule…
Isaiah 66:7-10 “Who has heard or seen anything as strange as this? For in one day, suddenly, a nation, Israel, shall be born, even before the birth pains come. In a moment, just as Israel’s anguish starts, the baby is born; the nation begins. Shall I bring to the point of birth and then not deliver?” asks the Lord your God. “No! Never! “Rejoice with Jerusalem; be glad with her, all you who love her, you who mourned for her.
It is a personal honor to me granted from God, a Gentile mind you, that throughout my life I was one of the ones chosen in history to witness Israel’s rebirth and taking its rightful place in Jerusalem. You should feel honored too. Nothing wanes with God’s covenant with man, even if it isn’t on our time schedule.
I have the utmost confidence Israel is going nowhere with or without anyone’s support. I choose to support her because I like the sure thing.
“Tisk, Tisk” for boarding ships in international waters. And the IDF claims ‘self defense.’ Ha!
You PJMers can rattle on at length about the ‘MSM’ and the ‘leftists,’ or whatever you choose to. The point is there are a great deal of media outlets (Spiegel, Le Monde, the Daily Telegraph, BBC – in fact, all of them) that corroborate such information – and that is, to restate for some of you out there – that these ships were in international waters.
That’s right, bint; the jihadi blockade runners were committing their vicious aggression against Israel in international waters. And the Israelis responded in a perfectly legal way, unlike the jihadi apes and pigs.
Remember Nicolae Ceauşescu, bint. A lot of apes and pigs will be following him.
Your point is of no relevance. It doesn’t matter that they were in international waters, (which by the way, nobody has ever tried to deny), what matters is that they were trying to run the blockade.
GOOD FOR ISRAEL!!!!!!!!!!
They knew this was not a peace mission but a mission of terrorist. I applaud the Israeli Military! Obama can go suck a lemon!
Carla: yes you are wrong…. I am not a lefty and not a hippy and in fact I vote republican and I voted for GWB…so there you have it… the Isralei government is a threat to our national security. period. you don’t have to be a lefty only to say this…
That sort of reasoning saw Czechoslovakia sacrificed to the Austrian Corporal when the Munich Pact was signed.
The fact that you are willing to lie about so many things, makes it hard to believe you when you claim to be a Republican.
Who was the Deputy Secretary of State when Colin Powell was the Secretary of State in the GWB administration? It seems to me that he said that Iran was a democracy.
The last time I checked, there are Republicans like that.
“Obama can act creatively and save the peace, or he can have a knee-jerk leftist reaction and watch the Middle East go to war.”
Or he can continue to talk NBA finals, golf, speculate about Lebron’s future, …
“49. miriam rove
Carla: yes you are wrong…. I am not a lefty and not a hippy and in fact I vote republican and I voted for GWB…so there you have it… the Isralei government is a threat to our national security. period. you don’t have to be a lefty only to say this…”
Ah, a Concerned Christian Conservative (TM). If you think Israel is the biggest threat to our national security, well, that alone makes you phenomenally stupid. But you claim you believed that and voted for Bush anyway? WTF were you smoking? I hope you don’t mean in 2004.
In fairness, I suppose you could be a RON PAUL!!!!!1111!!!! supporter…
Anyone who thinks one of the tiniest nations in the middle east, surrounded by sociopathic death cultists who have sworn to push it into the sea, is the biggest threat to our national security needs to get their head examined.
And anyone who believes this and currently supports the Republican party is deeply deluded about the political alignments in this country for the past decade.
I suspect that the extreme Left, including the current junta occupying Washington, are getting their SEIU/Mecha/NAMBLA/Brady Bunch/Demoncrap troops ready to support the coming nuclear attack by Iran, through mass murder and rape on potential Israel/America supporters on this side of the pond. America’s unorganized militia need to meet these Satans with gunfire and to restore legitimate government in the U.S., and subsequently execute every last one of these Fifth Columnists.
“…and that is, to restate for some of you out there – that these ships were in international waters.”
Yeah, so was the Japanese fleet at Midway, but we went ahead and sank it anyway.
What do these loony tunes think? That international waters are a kind of base in a game of tag?
Up here in Canada there is a show called Power Play with Tom Clark. An older gentleman, who was in the Reagan & Bush administrations, mentioned that 5 US Aircraft carrier groups are getting in position around Iran.
So, he said, watch his deeds moreso than listen to his words.
As for Gaza, as long as the Amalekites insist on a double standard, they are as ready to govern themselves at this time, as a corpse is ready to set the world’s fastest time for a triathlon.
miriam rove said, “look: you people can moan and graon all you wants…Israeli government is murderous. Period. it ia about time that we have a President who is dealing with Israleis they way they need to be dealt with… Israel is the biggest to out national security..”
—————————————–
Israel will be the biggest threat to our national security if it is annihilated by the Muslim thugs surrounding it. WHICH COUNTRY DO YOU THINK IS #2 ON THE MUSLIM EXTREMISTS’ LIST? FRANCE?
And Obama is going all Chamberlain, feeding the alligator and hoping it eats him last.
Israel has the right to defend itself. Period.
Ms. Rove said, “look: you people can moan and graon all you wants…Israeli government is murderous. Period. it ia about time that we have a President who is dealing with Israleis they way they need to be dealt with… Israel is the biggest to out national security..”
——————————————–
Israel will be a threat to our national security if it’s annihilated by the Muslim thugs surrounding it. Which country do you think is #2 on the terrorists’ list–Poland???
Geez!
This is Turkey’s deal. They have their own internal coup going on, and the Army has lost. So that means the Islamists won and they’re planning long term to outflank Iran, etc., to be the go-to Strong Man of the Caliphate
So one part of this piece of Islamit theater is about getting the current Israeli administration out of office.
Notice that Turkey & Israel are continuing to do business.
The second part is about sending a big message to the other wanna-be nations like Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. Turkey is running on the fumes of its former glory, just like Russia. That makes it very dangerous.
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2010/06/of-two-minds.html