(no subject)

[meanfreepath]

Why does Israel have to be put on the defensive internationally after its commandos use limited force in response to being attacked with potentially deadly weapons? Would anyone be complaining if the men and women of the US Navy were to use lethal force to defend themselves in the course of interdicting Somali pirates?

Comments

[rose_garden.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I hadn't heard about this at all before today--was it in the news because the ship was heading towards Gaza with clear plans to challenge the blockade? Or was it actually sitting in the Mediterranean trying to convince the Israelis to make an exception to (or drop) the blockade? I'm guessing it's the former?

Oh, I guess it left Cyprus yesterday, so "days" is an exaggeration. I heard about it on NPR while it was en route. I don't completely know the extent of the communication between the Marmara and the IDF prior to the helicopter boarding, but based on the IDF video I'm guessing the Marmara wasn't really interested in talking to the IDF.

[indecisionwins.livejournal.com]

based on the IDF video I'm guessing the Marmara wasn't really interested in talking to the IDF.

Interesting--but of course, beyond that video, it also sounds like the IDF/the Israeli government wasn't very interested in talking to the Marmara. And they're the ones with big guns...so if they don't want to be accused of overly aggressive use of those big guns, it seems like they have more of a responsibility to talk. The ship was just being peacefully provocative, as far as I can tell; the IDF was the one contemplating (and eventually taking) violent military action...

[meanfreepath.livejournal.com]

There was plenty of warning, I think, and no doubt that the Marmara was being provocative. There was no need for the people on board to try to seize the commandos as soon as they slid down there ropes, as is clearly evident from the videos.