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"A Brutal Ambush At Sea" - The Spin Begins
From ynetnews.com
Ron Ben Yishai recounts bloody clash aboard Gaza-bound vessel: The lacking crowd-dispersal means, the brutal violence of ‘peace activists,’ and the attempt to bring down an IDF helicopter
Ron Ben-Yishai
Our Navy commandoes fell right into the hands of the Gaza mission members. A few minutes before the takeover attempt aboard the Marmara got underway, the operation commander was told that 20 people were waiting on the deck where a helicopter was to deploy the first team of the elite Flotilla 13 unit. The original plan was to disembark on the top deck, and from there rush to the vessel’s bridge and order the Marmara’s captain to stop.
Officials estimated that passengers will show slight resistance, and possibly minor violence; for that reason, the operation’s commander decided to bring the helicopter directly above the top deck. The first rope that soldiers used in order to descend down to the ship was wrested away by activists, most of them Turks, and tied to an antenna with the hopes of bringing the chopper down. However, Flotilla 13 fighters decided to carry on.
Navy commandoes slid down to the vessel one by one, yet then the unexpected occurred: The passengers that awaited them on the deck pulled out bats, clubs, and slingshots with glass marbles, assaulting each soldier as he disembarked. The fighters were nabbed one by one and were beaten up badly, yet they attempted to fight back.
However, to their misfortune, they were only equipped with paintball rifles used to disperse minor protests, such as the ones held in Bilin. The paintballs obviously made no impression on the activists, who kept on beating the troops up and even attempted to wrest away their weapons.
One soldier who came to the aid of a comrade was captured by the rioters and sustained severe blows. The commandoes were equipped with handguns but were told they should only use them in the face of life-threatening situations. When they came down from the chopper, they kept on shouting to each other “don’t shoot, don’t shoot,” even though they sustained numerous blows.
‘I saw the tip of a rifle’
The Navy commandoes were prepared to mostly encounter political activists seeking to hold a protest, rather than trained street fighters. The soldiers were told they were to verbally convince activists who offer resistance to give up, and only then use paintballs. They were permitted to use their handguns only under extreme circumstances.
The planned rush towards the vessel’s bridge became impossible, even when a second chopper was brought in with another crew of soldiers. “Throw stun grenades,” shouted Flotilla 13’s commander who monitored the operation. The Navy chief was not too far, on board a speedboat belonging to Flotilla 13, along with forces who attempted to climb into the back of the ship.
The forces hurled stun grenades, yet the rioters on the top deck, whose number swelled up to 30 by that time, kept on beating up about 30 commandoes who kept gliding their way one by one from the helicopter. At one point, the attackers nabbed one commando, wrested away his handgun, and threw him down from the top deck to the lower deck, 30 feet below. The soldier sustained a serious head wound and lost his consciousness.
Only after this injury did Flotilla 13 troops ask for permission to use live fire. The commander approved it: You can go ahead and fire. The soldiers pulled out their handguns and started shooting at the rioters’ legs, a move that ultimately neutralized them. Meanwhile, the rioters started to fire back at the commandoes.
“I saw the tip of a rifle sticking out of the stairwell,” one commando said. “He fired at us and we fired back. We didn’t see if we hit him. We looked for him later but couldn’t find him.” Two soldiers sustained gunshot wounds to their knee and stomach after rioters apparently fired at them using guns wrested away from troops.
2 errors
During the commotion, another commando was stabbed with a knife. In a later search aboard the Marmara, soldiers found caches of bats, clubs, knives, and slingshots used by the rioters ahead of the IDF takeover. It appeared the activists were well prepared for a fight.
Some passengers on the ship stood at the back and pounded the soldiers’ hands as they attempted to climb on board. Only after a 30-minute shootout and brutal assaults using clubs and knifes did commandoes manage to reach the bridge and take over the Marmara.
It appears that the error in planning the operation was the estimate that passengers were indeed political activists and members of humanitarian groups who seek a political provocation, but would not resort to brutal violence. The soldiers thought they will encounter Bilin-style violence; instead, they got Bangkok. The forces that disembarked from the helicopters were few; just dozens of troops – not enough to contend with the large group awaiting them.
The second error was that commanders did not address seriously enough the fact that a group of men were expecting the soldiers on the top deck. Had they addressed this more seriously, they may have hurled tear-gas grenades and smoke grenades from the helicopter to create a screen that would have enabled them to carry out their mission, without the fighters falling right into the hands of the rioters, who severely assaulted them.
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I know my history and my feet are firmly on the ground. I am not defending U.S. foreign policy. I am describing my view of our policy reality. And I am voicing my opinion that despite our Governemnt's flaws, and even crimes, we are infinitely more moral than any county based on the morality taught by islam.
Key Question: What would happen if Iran had the advanced nuclear capability and Israel had none? Pretty simple...
If you think any country in the Mid-East really gives a crap anout the Palestinians then I submit you are clueless. Cute bullet points "Uncle Remus" but they scream uninformed goof-ball. Folks like you have smug answers unless you ever have to get your hands dirty in the real world. The real answer to my question is Iran would kill millions of innocent people without a second thought.
"The real answer to my question is Iran would kill millions of innocent people without a second thought."
Ya I heard something like that happened in iraq. I think it was 3 million people. But I guess if someone killed everyone in an average sized city in the US you'd be worried about keeping your reputation as a harmless person squeeky clean.
Let's see. What happened on the road out of baghdad. Oh ya "coalition" gang bangers set up dozens of tanks helicopters, bradleys, machine gun nests and killed anyone trying to use that road to flee. Those were citizens, non combatants.
So who needs nuclear weapons to kill millions of innoncent people. Sanctimony seems to be getting the job done but why are the coalition able to employ sanctimony and the iran is not? Because we are only told what justifies the sanctimony. Not the whole story. Not a realistic assesment. Just the parts that make us witness and justify the one sided brutality right.
+ 500
Two groups of people hate each other and want the same real estate. I can't see peace anytime soon.
Maybe just let them fight it out is best. Winner takes all.
Tyler, sometimes I think you just like to throw a match and see what gets fired up.
There are a few issues in this world where few, if any minds, will ever be changed and dialogue will always deteriorate into cross heaped abuse. Israel/Palestine is one, as is gold, Birthers, Truthers, Bilderbergs and the Fed. One, maybe two, pertain to finance. Finance is good. Your blog, but finance is good.
+1. This was a bullshit post Tyler and worse, you let it get out of control with not only over anti-semitism (as in Jooooos-not as in disagreeing with Israel policy) but also in the use of the words nigga", etc. You should be ashamed of yourself. You need to step up a bit. You are like the pitcher who was ready to make it to the major league and then gave up 16 runs in 1 and 1/3 innings. You shot yourself in the foot and in more private places.
+2. Look at the main page of ZH, it is all devoted to bashing the crap out of Israel and this is not the first time. Someone has an agenda? Just a bit. Playing to ZH's members most of whom need to adress some of their personal prejudices and biases.
It is funny how facts lumped in with racism. Trying to paint a picture of anti-semitism is not fair either. People should be based on their actions alone. It is nothing short of fact to state that the United States has a very cozy relationship with Israel and have always been staunch defenders of their statehood. It would also be silly not to take notice of prominent positions that those of Jewish faith hold in corporate America & government and if you think that has no bearing I cannot agree. Politics will always be politics and I am not familiar with any former Egyptian American former Fed chiefs or Chiefs of Staff.
I will also state that this is the most controversial topic I have seen in Zero Hedge history and being that this is a finance based site I cannot say I am surprised. The bottom line is both sides in this ongoing conflict are wrong and the U.S. needs to back off. And before you call me an anti-semite let me state my girlfriend is of the Jewish faith and I light the Menorah with her and then we set up my Christmas tree during the holidays.
That was a great reply JM. I look forward to seeing your thoughtful comments in the future.
Nietzsche observed that State is the name of the coldest of all cold monsters. The Marmara Massacre shows how the state of Israel exemplifies this truth.
I see this as progress. Turks and Greeks were on the same mission!
These boards just prove why that part of the world will always be fucked up.
A bunch of whining jews and muslims just bitching back and forth. Almost 400 comments of cry babies insulting eachother.
Grow up.
Absolutey amazing how Zero Hedge seems to attract every Israeli basher out there. Any time there is some conversation over Jewry or Israel the members reveal their identity in a most telling fashion.
What is it about ZH exactly? Can it be that the majority of the members here belong to the left of center ideology in America, the home of the most vocal anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish Americans despite the fact that Jews comprise the biggest liberal minority and the biggest support for Obama after the African-Americans. No, that cannot be, must be the cut and dry reporting that makes the situation so easy to understand even a 2 year old can decipher it. Obviously Israel is at fault, they always are, why even bother investigating the facts?
How about we stick to financial matters instead of exposing the ugliness of the members here?
There is nothing offensive about arkady's views so the 2 junks are out of line in my opinion. arkady: I think what you hear on this subject on ZH is a concentration in relatively young people from New York City; not all obviously, but a lot. And that demographic knows money handling but is as sheltered and spoiled as the baby boom generation. Plus they read the New York Times. Just give them a decade or two. Plenty of ZH readers support Israel.
ZH readers are perhaps less prone to swallowing Main Stream News Propaganda and US Political propaganda which is immorally one-sided in favor of Zionists. We bash any people who invade and conquer other people's unjustly.....like ourselves in Iraq, Vietnam, etc.
Like I said, case in point...
Time to stop giving Israel $90 billion a year... for what? So they can slaughter Palestinians? 911 was all because we let them kill Arabs unchecked. What is there about 150 U.N. resolutions against Israel? When we will put a stop to it?
I look forward to the day your wife wears a burkha.
+ 700
Yeah, it would be great if America joins Europe later this century in having a Muslim majority...
The US will have pushed up its ponzi scheme way before what you say happens.
Emitting credits and receiving wealth in exchange, no payback.
Show me a source please that proves we give Israel 90 billion a year? While you are it, just for levity show me how much we give to Egypt.
If you can't, how about STFU?
+100000
Warsaw, 1943
Waffen SS-Brigadenfuhrer Jurgen Stroop today defended the use of "limited force" by his troops as they participated in an operation to restore the peace in sections of Warsaw overnight.
Stroop, who replaced SS-Oberführer Ferdinand von Sammern-Frankenegg in April, strongly refuted claims that the 2 battalions of Waffen-SS engaged in systematic attacks on civilians.
"It's all very well to repeat these baseless allegations that are circulated by terrorist sympathisers: our men went in to help restore order and were met by terrible violence from sections of the community who are linked to al Qaeda... oops... I mean Irgun Zvai Leumi - the Jewish terrorist organisation. What do you expect our men to do in the face of terrorist violence?"
Stroop insisted that his men - including several batteries of artillery - were sent in with orders to "engage in gentle persuasion and dialogue" with a view to ending the uprising in the ghetto, which is now in its fifth week.
"To be frank, these people bring it on themselves," said Stroop, "Our lads try to negotiate and end to this drama, and they are met with people who throw stones at them."
Elsewhere, Reich administrators promised "Swift, decisive action" to try to bring a halt to the recent spate of suffocations at detention centres at Auschwitz, Belzec and Bergen-Belsen - which have been the subject of conspiracy-theorising by enemies of the Reich.
The suffocations - some of which bear the tell-tale pathology of cyanide poisoning - are "the unfortunate result of respirator malfunctions", according to an anonymous source with intimate knowledge of the operations. "All this talk of 'Vernichtungslager' this, 'Death Camp' that... it's a distraction that prevents our brave men from defending the values that represent our way of life."
Sources close to SS_Brigadenfuhrer Stroop deny claims that he has plans to build a wall to enclose the entire Jewish section of Warsaw.
Cheerio
GT
PS What would FOX, CBS and so forth be saying if it was an IRANIAN new story defending IRANIAN attacks on a US-flagged vessel in international waters?
Just askin'.
I see little thinking here. Everybody already had their side picked and they can do no wrong and the other side can do no right.
There is still room to display huge stupidity and escalate this thing into a much bigger problem.
Most of the comments are just completely and utterly ignorant.
Here is a video of IDF warning the ship that they are entering a blockade.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6jDIQr59Sk&feature=player_embedded
Guess what? The Turkish ship responded that they were planning to BREAK the blockade, this whole argument about int'l waters is bogus, under international law Israel acted accordingly. Anyone stating this was illegal just does not know shit, including our illustrious host.
Tyler has previously posted links to significant geo-political events that could potentially affect the markets and the economy and yet you seem to only complain about it when Israel is involved. You of course always have the option of not reading ZH and fucking off
Who cares, dude? The point is whether this is going to affect the markets. If not, why not. If so, how?
I think the crux of the matter is Israelis/Jews/Zionists (whatever they call themselves) can't take criticism. Welcome to the real world fella's - where everyone is fair game. Your period of immunity has come to an end.
The other 5 ships stood down, this one did not. They were more interested in confrontation than aid. I am not saying that the Israeli response was appropriate, but aid would have been delivered thru other means.
With regard to the "crux of the matter" - it is simply that Israel has neighbors that want her destroyed. That is not an excuse for its behavior but it does deserve some recognition. TIf the Palestinians were smart, they would immediately recognize Israel's right to exist and stage day after day of peaceful protests all throughout the West Bank, Gaza and western cities (protests that include woman and children). Within a year, they will win the hearts and minds of the west and within 3 years will have a independent state. Follow the path of Martin Luther King or Ghandi - not Yassar Arafat
Too bad a sizable portion of Palestinians actively want to eliminate Israel and the majority of the rest would not care if all Israelis were killed. That is why no Palestinian leader wants to recognize Israel. When Ehud Barak was PM he offered 95% of what the PLO wanted. When you have nothing and you are offered 95% most of us would grab it, too bad the Middle Eastern mindset is different (not wrong, different).
Most of us trust our neighbors but lock our doors. Why on earth would Israel ever agree to a peace plan without secure borders? Israel built a border fence that the PLO despises, Israelis love it not for the demarcation but rather the near elimination of Hamas & PLO terror attacks.
Not saying I have a solution but it has to be one where Israelis feel safe and the majority of Palestinians will actively reject terror. It would be interesting if Hamas in Gaza adopted a Ghandi like approach but they won't since Hamas wants Israel destroyed.
That is the point. It is not within their realm of understanding. It is an "eye for an eye" culture where as "western" culture is "turn the other cheek". No separation of church and state promotes intolerance, violence, suppression etc. Everything else is just bullshit.
You all Palestinian lover's just don't get it! Israel is right. Always. Always right...always always.
..always always always always...
do you get it yet??
infallible... always right...
..like God... like Israel ... always right... because its run by God... not people..
GOD... Israel is run by God..
God cannot be wrong... God=Israel
Israel is right..
always always always always...
right?
All you otherwise intelligent dipshits know Egypt is blockading Gaza, too, right?
Are they Zionists as well?
Hey, what happened to my pleasant blue avatar? A bag now?
The first stage is dehumanization........
Mubarek recieves $2billion/year from USA, dummy. they like the money
ok, that's cool
"The forces hurled stun grenades, yet the rioters on the top deck, whose number swelled up to 30 by that time, kept on beating up about 30 commandoes who kept gliding their way one by one from the helicopter."
Wait, wtf? 30 commandoes cannot control 30 rioters with stun grenades' backing up?
It was a stupid military operation. Any idiot could have seen it was a no win situation. And any idiot would have guessed the people on board the ships would put up a fight. And any idiot could see that once the Israelis launched the raids that the world would rise up against them, because, half the UNs budget goes to attacking Israel. Give them an excuse and it's party time at the UN. Anyway, there's got to be a better way of enforcing a naval blockage than trying to board boats full of angry Muslims itching for a fight and looking to provoke an international incident. Israelis fell into the trap.
+ 800 I.K.
Fell right into the trap. Propaganda 101.
I saw lots of references to "International Law", "Maritime Law", "UN" etc. above. OUR enemies don't play by UN rules.
Where's the outrage for the 40+ S Korean sailors killed by Dear Leader Kim Il Jong?
muslims don't Surf!
I admired and respected Israel and the Israelis for many years for their tenacious pursuit of self-preservation while still maintaining the moral high ground. I don't remember when I stopped admiring and respecting them. But I know I don't any more.
Probably the most emotional bunch of comments I've ever read. This whole situation will be solved real soon, when they run out of water.
What I find interesting at the moment is how there was a vote on Sunday in the U.N. about sanctioning nukes in the Middle east that specifically targeted Israel, which America voted for in an apparent reneging of an agreement between USA and Israel since 1969, that was reported to have outraged the Israelis. Netanyahu's scheduled meeting with Obama was scuttled the next day over an incident initiated by the Israelis well in advance of what would be necessary for the blockade otherwise.
The Nuke vote is more important than a few casualties and bad press, so I think one might be the catalyst for the other as a type of smokescreen.
but that's just me.
Actually, now that I have commented on this thread off and on for hours, I appreciate ZH even more.
A little acrimonius debate is healthy! Thomas Jefferson himself recommended a Revolution every now and then.
I don't have a problem with anyone disagreeing with me. I argue politics with anyone! No problem.
This "Israel takes over the boats" business will disappear in days.
Business as usual. Keep moving along, nothing to see here... What are the futures saying now re tomorrow? Buy gold. When Katla or Laki blow, some food in storage and gold as well will be smart.
Israel? Maybe we should cut 'em off. And let them go at it with their neighbors. Lots of risks. But, those among us who say we should not be "over there" have a really good point. The Israelis and teh Palestinians hate each other and yet want the same piece of land. Maybe they should FIGHT for it, and the winner takes all.
Won't make me cry if some Islamic Radicals get cleaned out if Israel wins. If Israel loses, well maybe the Rothschilds get bitch slapped, who cares.
Time to move on..., to Absinthe!
http://www.ifamericansknew.org/cur_sit/corrie.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8558701.stm
http://rachelcorriefoundation.org/
http://www.rachelcorrie.org/
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/05/31/israel-murders-at-least-16-human-rights-activists-on-route-to-gaza-on-the-open-sea/
Please make up some more statistics for me. The U.S. follows rules of engagement that cost our troops their lives. The towel heads clear minefields with women and children and start fire-fights from areas meant to result in civilian deaths. But I communicate with a New York Times liberal robot. muslims don't Surf pal.
There is an emormous opportunity for Turkey play a much more important role in the world, at the expense of Israel. If Edrogan plays this right, he will send naval ships to accompany the next boat to Gaza, Turkey is on the Security Council now and of course a NATO member, and the US needs Turkish airbases to supply Iraq and Iran. Turkey a European country, a military ally, and has 75 million people, compared to 7.5 Israelis.
We should accpet the the Turkish/Brasilian offer proposed for Iran. This is the perfect opportunity for Obama and the US to cut Israel loose and show the wolrd that we learned our mistakes from Iraq, there will be no more wars instigated by AIPAC (Iran). Israel needs to play politics according to its weight and size, not pretend they are the US.
You might not understand the Israel mindset. Their back are to an ocean and they consider themselves the Chosen people. Many people believe the End of Days scenario centers on what is now known as Turkey. I don't think Israel will back down one bit from Turkey. Why do we easily fear every dip-shit terrorist that makes a bad video but not fear an increasingly agitated, nuclear armed Israel? Bad .. Very bad...
I fully agree, but that is the opportunity for Turkey, if Israel fires on a Turkish ship, they are attacking a NATO country, and American must come to the aid of NATO, basic premise of the treaty. If Edrogan places this chess game right, who is going to say he is wrong sending peace protesters and food to Gaza, all the Europeans will back him. NATO trumps Israel, checkmate, no matter how the NYT spins it, and they will spin baby spin, just you wait.
Turkey is becoming less secular by the day. It is only a matter of time before the Islamist take em over. They will exit Nato. When people who run a country care more about their religion than their children, their future is doomed.
I like Mike Rupperts assesment of the situation. Israel basically wants to provoke an attack from Hizbollah or Hamas so that they can attack Iran. Two Israeli nuke subs are now conveniently placed in the Persian Gulf to do just that. But so far nobody has taken the bait -- thank god for that!
Politics aside, it's Piracy and should be treated as such under law.
Israel and the Palestinians can never live in peace. No fence can keep them from fighting. So why not buy the Palestinains an equivalent area somewhere else and move them? There's plenty of good unused land in Africa and South America, where they can have their country.
It's crazy to force religious zealots to live side by side. It won't work in Palestine, just like it won't work in Iraq. They all need a buffer from each other. The alternative is the war goes on for a few thousand more years. Each passing generation will have better weapons and more hatred to use them.