What a cluster goat screw by the IDF. I expexted better operational tactics from them.
The IDF should have fabricated a ship-disabling mini-homing torpedo for these contingencies. It would go for the propellers, and instead of expolosives it would unspool clouds of thin kevlar and wire lines to foul the props and stop the ships.
The IDF pioneered UAVs with mini missiles that only destroy one car without breaking windows across the street. You would think they would have had a technical answer for these ships, short of the FUBAR spectacle of boarding them with commandos, on film.
There are already mini-torpedos used as decoys and for other special purposes. These can be used as the existing chassis. Only the homing method and payload would have to be changed.
But when a Palestinian blows him/herself up killing dozens of Israelis...*crickets*
Are you assuming a full and unbiased reporting of all the relevant facts?
This sounds like a staged event and a PR spin from beginning to end.
Now, I’m not saying you’re wrong. But knowing how the state-run mediots spin stories like these, it has all the makings of a fabricated incident to further isolate Israel and demonize her national defense.
The IDF did not screw up. Look at how the articles about the “attack” are worded.
The IDF boarded the ship and were fired upon. It was not “attacked”.
IDF went in in darkness and surprised the ships by boarding outside Israeli territorial waters. They went for all film and video crews but a Turkish crew evaded them and sent out the footage
The PR ripple would have been much lower the way you say to do it. But perhaps Israel wanted this to be public and in your face. Right now the US is really backstabbing Israel by trying to force them into a UN nuclear inspection regime. Where the UN gets to proclaim that since Israel won’t open up for inspection then Iran is perfectly justified in seeking nuclear weapons. Not that Israel has ever admitted having nukes nor has it ever joined the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty which Iran has joined.
Israel just might be getting ready to do anything and welcome anything.
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India, Israel and Pakistan
Three states—India, Israel, and Pakistan—have declined to sign the Nuclear Non Proliferation treaty. India and Pakistan are confirmed nuclear powers, and Israel has a long-standing policy of deliberate ambiguity (see List of countries with nuclear weapons). These countries argue that the NPT creates a club of “nuclear haves” and a larger group of “nuclear have-nots” by restricting the legal possession of nuclear weapons to those states that tested them before 1967, but the treaty never explains on what ethical grounds such a distinction is valid.
I am sure Israelis have considered using the “technological” solution to disabling of the ships, but there are more pressing PR, political and practical issues they were taking into account:
1. Disabling ships and setting them adrift would not solve the PR issues, as the world media would superimpose the pictures of “helpless” ships adrift at the sea with the “hungry, helpless” Palestinian children waiting for the “medical and food aid” presumably on those ships.
2. Some “neutral” countries’ ships could - under “UN supervision” and media spotlight - try to “escort” the immobile ships to their intended destination, with IDF no longer being able to board them, redirect them and inspect the contents of “aid”. The resulting blockade and standoff would be a real PR disaster for Israel, “denying food and medicine” to Gaza children... Hamas would be shown distributing food and money to the impoverished families, just as Hezbollah was during Lebanon crisis.
3. Most importantly, the confrontation at this time, as a result of clear and planned provocation of “peaceful pro-Palestinian activists”, forces Obama administration to take sides and a clear and unambiguous stand regarding Israel vs Hamas, a-Q and their terrorist actions...
It’s a “You are either with us or against us” question shoved directly in Obama’s face, just as he is at his weakest “popularity” point, particularly with many Jews in the U.S. Also a pretty good opprtunity and reason for Netanyahu to “excuse” himself from a planned meeting with Obama. Not a bad timing...
Disabling them, then towing them to Ashdod would have been a good alternative, but at some point you're going to have to board. And if the Hamas supporters wanted this to happen, it would have happened.