****NOTE****: All of the videos about this event are still not released. As more is released, we’ll update accordingly.
RESPONSE:
Simply put, what happened on the Mavi Marmara was a TRAP.
What you see in this video are out-of-control activists that were NOT interested in non-violent, passive resistance.
They used metal bars, chains, stun grenades, slingshots, gas masks, knives, weapons wrestled from commandos, and had tried to tie off the rope to the ship, perhaps in an attempt to cause a crash.
Once they made the decision to engage violently, the results are their own making, and they should not have any right to be seen as victims, but as aggressors.
Regardless of Israel’s history of overly punitive restrictions on the flow of aid into Gaza, all of the arguments used to justify the violence against the raid havenotacknowledged the long history of arms smuggling, suicide bombing, rocket supplies, mechanical equipment, and as evidenced in this case- violent attacks for propaganda’s sake.
It leaves Israel overly, but justifiably, Paranoid.
FOLLOW-UP:
One of these things is not like the other, one of these things is not the same…
5 of the 6 vessels seemed to use non-violent, passive resistance with relatively no incident.
The actions of those on 1 ship, the Mavi Marmara, acted with violent pre-meditation.
This is a very sick and deranged theatrical display.
When violently attacking a superior military force, you must know the result of that attack will not end well, and your ONLY intent is to use the resulting bloodshed as a PR campaign to further incite violence and propaganda against Israel.
What may have originally been an attempt to highlight what some people see as an unfair situation in Gaza, turned into a planned confrontation for the cameras by those on-board whose hatred of Israel overpowers the “non-violence” rhetoric.
This comes down to intent and evidence.
Clearly, the group that attacked the Israeli commandos were prepared for a fight.
Why would the Israelis even bring paintball guns if they were simply intending to kill people?
After a violent mob began attacking the commandos, the internationally recognized rules of engagement authorizes the use of deadly force.
UNCOVERS:
You don’t have to be a supporter of Israel’s policies to recognize that there was a group on-board this vessel that had the intent to harm anyone who came on-board.
Was the plan was poorly-executed? Yes
Should they have gone down closer to land, or used ships to block them, or launched a PR offensive against this flotilla in the first place? Maybe
Israel needs to get better at preventing criticism. Each soldier should have a helmet-cam, and they should get an Al Jezeera crew to accompany them from the planning stage through completion.
You can argue the policy, you can resist peacefully, you can highlight hypocrisy, but please don’t equivocate peaceful resistance with armed conflict.
Z SIDE POINTS:
People want to justify the violent actions of these few people on the deck of the ship by saying that it was a reaction to blockades, humanitarian aid, Gaza, Palestinian territories, or statehood.
Exploiting the deaths of those involved, by proxy of the result of staged provoked violence, isn’t justification, it is praising suicide.
As you can tell, I don’t hide the fact that I am both a Liberal and Zionistic. Let’s not do what the FOX crowd does and conflate criticism with a lack of support.
Just as I spoke against policies under George W. Bush, I will speak out against Israeli policies I disagree with, or actions that I find abhorrent and/or counter-productive to long-term stability in the region.
But what’s really going on in this situation is the group on this ship that set out to act violently, with what appears to be a reckless disregard for themselves or others, and then afterwords act as if they are innocent.
These trouble makers were looking for a fight, some may have wanted to become martyrs for their cause, while the majority of others on these ships were trying to be passively resistant, albeit inciting a ‘situation’ to begin with.
Look, most other countries know that Israel always takes the most reactionary position when confronted in any way. Clearly, this group knew that and proceeded anyway to get partisan attention the their cause. Israel falls for it every time, unfortunately.
Putting that aside, from the perspective of the Commandos, if I am part of the second wave of guys going onto this ship, and I see my first-wave buddies getting beaten by a mob of people with pipes, thrown overboard, slingshots, they are getting stabbed, calling for help, etc., I am taking those threats out. No question.
When Republicans say, “CONSERVATIVE“, think “CORPORATE“.
Uppity Judges want to protect individual liberties from the control of big-money elites.
Corporate Judges want to protect billion-dollar corporations, wealthy political candidates, extremist churches, and homophobes.
You choose.
FOLLOW-UP:
Look, the Republicans have no interest in anyone who doesn’t agree with them. When Judicial Activism is in their favor, like Bush v. Gore, or unlimited campaign contributions by transnational corporations, or
When activists like Scalia, Thomas, Alito, Chief Justice Roberts, or former Chief Justice Rehnquist laid down the MOST extremist activist decisions, there was not a peep from the Republican party.
But when Liberal Judges defend the middle-class, the least among us, or the protections afforded to all of us in the Constitution, they are Uppity Activist Judges.
UNCOVERS:
The GOP should just change their name to the Hypocrisy Party and be done with it. Their arguments at this point are tired and transparent. The drive-by politics that they engage in is not meant to be serious or constructive, it is about insuring their anti-democratic legacy.
When all is said and done, ‘Individual Liberty and Constitutional protections, NOT Corporate rule‘ should be the message of the Democratic Party.
Under this activist, conservative Supreme Court, Citibank, Citgo, and Toyota have the same rights as you do! Can you believe that?
FOLLOW-UP:
Businesses SHOULDNOT have the same rights as citizens. The likely result of this decision is the complete sale of our Government (even more than it is now) to Corporations, Special Interest Groups, and Lobbyists.
The terrible Dread Scott decision, in 1857, said that people were property. This Citizens United decision says that property are people.
These corporations and special interest groups are not human beings, they can be owned by foreign governments, don’t get sick, and don’t die.
Corporations are artificial creations by government. They operate by the rules that ‘We The People’ decide, not the other way around.
The American people should be up in arms over this decision.
UNCOVERS:
People over company. We are a Government of the people. The concept of ‘Activist court decision’ and ’Conservative’ should be emphasized.
Entrepreneur, Technology Evangelist, BreakBumper.TV, Netcaster, Geek, Writer, Tech Dad, New Media, Disney, Political Junkie, Gadgets, idea guy, giver of hugs, & lover of Hazelnut Coffee-mate, 日本語
Zev Mo Green- Best described as a Technology Evangelist, Zev Mo is involved in several social media start-ups, social media architect, and Podcast Host at Break Bumper Studios. Shows include: Dads On Tech, New Media Brief, The Roadmap, This week in Education, Mouseketweeter, and others. Have an idea, let's talk!
Zev is an 'idea-developer' and Technology Evangelist, creating engineering, social media, and productivity solutions. In addition to Dads on Tech, Zev Mo Tech Blog, Mouseketweeter, New Media Brief, Social Mobile, GoFamous, StrongDems, and Think Tank, he is also a Network Intelligence Officer for the City of New York, a life-member of the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a husband, and a father of two boys. You can read more at zevmo.me.
Israeli Blockade and Mavi Marmara Flotilla Raid
June 3rd, 2010****NOTE****: All of the videos about this event are still not released. As more is released, we’ll update accordingly.
RESPONSE:
Simply put, what happened on the Mavi Marmara was a TRAP.
What you see in this video are out-of-control activists that were NOT interested in non-violent, passive resistance.
They used metal bars, chains, stun grenades, slingshots, gas masks, knives, weapons wrestled from commandos, and had tried to tie off the rope to the ship, perhaps in an attempt to cause a crash.
Once they made the decision to engage violently, the results are their own making, and they should not have any right to be seen as victims, but as aggressors.
Regardless of Israel’s history of overly punitive restrictions on the flow of aid into Gaza, all of the arguments used to justify the violence against the raid have not acknowledged the long history of arms smuggling, suicide bombing, rocket supplies, mechanical equipment, and as evidenced in this case- violent attacks for propaganda’s sake.
It leaves Israel overly, but justifiably, Paranoid.
FOLLOW-UP:
One of these things is not like the other, one of these things is not the same…
5 of the 6 vessels seemed to use non-violent, passive resistance with relatively no incident.
The actions of those on 1 ship, the Mavi Marmara, acted with violent pre-meditation.
This is a very sick and deranged theatrical display.
When violently attacking a superior military force, you must know the result of that attack will not end well, and your ONLY intent is to use the resulting bloodshed as a PR campaign to further incite violence and propaganda against Israel.
What may have originally been an attempt to highlight what some people see as an unfair situation in Gaza, turned into a planned confrontation for the cameras by those on-board whose hatred of Israel overpowers the “non-violence” rhetoric.
This comes down to intent and evidence.
Clearly, the group that attacked the Israeli commandos were prepared for a fight.
Why would the Israelis even bring paintball guns if they were simply intending to kill people?
After a violent mob began attacking the commandos, the internationally recognized rules of engagement authorizes the use of deadly force.
UNCOVERS:
You don’t have to be a supporter of Israel’s policies to recognize that there was a group on-board this vessel that had the intent to harm anyone who came on-board.
Was the plan was poorly-executed? Yes
Should they have gone down closer to land, or used ships to block them, or launched a PR offensive against this flotilla in the first place? Maybe
Israel needs to get better at preventing criticism. Each soldier should have a helmet-cam, and they should get an Al Jezeera crew to accompany them from the planning stage through completion.
You can argue the policy, you can resist peacefully, you can highlight hypocrisy, but please don’t equivocate peaceful resistance with armed conflict.
Z SIDE POINTS:
People want to justify the violent actions of these few people on the deck of the ship by saying that it was a reaction to blockades, humanitarian aid, Gaza, Palestinian territories, or statehood.
Exploiting the deaths of those involved, by proxy of the result of staged provoked violence, isn’t justification, it is praising suicide.
As you can tell, I don’t hide the fact that I am both a Liberal and Zionistic. Let’s not do what the FOX crowd does and conflate criticism with a lack of support.
Just as I spoke against policies under George W. Bush, I will speak out against Israeli policies I disagree with, or actions that I find abhorrent and/or counter-productive to long-term stability in the region.
But what’s really going on in this situation is the group on this ship that set out to act violently, with what appears to be a reckless disregard for themselves or others, and then afterwords act as if they are innocent.
These trouble makers were looking for a fight, some may have wanted to become martyrs for their cause, while the majority of others on these ships were trying to be passively resistant, albeit inciting a ‘situation’ to begin with.
Look, most other countries know that Israel always takes the most reactionary position when confronted in any way. Clearly, this group knew that and proceeded anyway to get partisan attention the their cause. Israel falls for it every time, unfortunately.
Putting that aside, from the perspective of the Commandos, if I am part of the second wave of guys going onto this ship, and I see my first-wave buddies getting beaten by a mob of people with pipes, thrown overboard, slingshots, they are getting stabbed, calling for help, etc., I am taking those threats out. No question.
Additional Videos:
Attack Timeline: How Gaza Freedom Flotilla was raided by Israeli commandos
Both sides of Flotilla story
Is Israel’s blockade legal?
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Posted in Commentary, Offense
Tags: activist confrontation deadly force gas masks gaza Israel Israeli commandos israelis marmara mavi metal bars military force paintball guns passive resistance policy pr campaign rules of engagement stun grenades