I don’t see this ending any time soon, and if anyone has some answers to basic questions, I would love it:
1.) Why is the Israeli government simultaneously reporting that they knew all sorts of terrorists and unseemly types were on the ships but that their troops were unprepared for resistance? And since they have them all in custody, who exactly are the unseemly types?
2.) Why on earth did they send in commandos armed only with paintballs, as I have read somewhere. Does that make sense to anyone? Even on guard duty at the front gate of my barracks in Germany in the early 90’s, I carried live ammo, even if it had tape over it. But paintball guns on a commando raid? Seriously, wtf?
3.) Why did they attempt to go in at night via helicopter 70 miles out at sea, rather than use a more traditional manner of boarding during daylight hours and in Israeli water so there could be no questions about the legitimacy of the boarding?
If anything, I think the biggest hit to Israel is regarding the competence of her military and government. For the life of me, I do not understand why even rabidly pro-Israel supporters can not recognize what a disaster this is and will continue to be. The Netanyahu government has shot itself in the head, and now appears to be reloading. Has everyone gone mad?
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Simple Questions Regarding the Flotilla
John Cole has a few,
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"2.) Why on earth did they send in commandos armed only with paintballs, as I have read somewhere. Does that make sense to anyone? Even on guard duty at the front gate of my barracks in Germany in the early 90’s, I carried live ammo, even if it had tape over it. But paintball guns on a commando raid? Seriously, wtf?"
It is far more common for U.S. military personnel on guard duty who deal with civilians to carry unloaded guns than you would expect. This was apparently often done when activated national guardsmen provided security as airports after 9-11, for example.
Paintballs sounds like sending riot troops out with water canons and rubber bullets. (FWIW, I don't know if the statement is actually true.)
"3.) Why did they attempt to go in at night via helicopter 70 miles out at sea, rather than use a more traditional manner of boarding during daylight hours and in Israeli water so there could be no questions about the legitimacy of the boarding?"
Soldiers like night attacks because they have night vision goggles and are trained to be awake then, but the targets of the mission don't have night vision goggles and tend to be groggy and compliant and less competent. U.S. troops do the same thing in Afghanistan.
This doesn't make it good policy, but the Israelis are certainly not alone in it.
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