Hanging on to the flotilla myth
It is possible for intelligent people to disagree over the way Israel stopped the flotilla that set out for Gaza from Turkey last month. Even after what we have learned about the “humanitarians” on board in the past two weeks — that many were in reality thugs lying in wait to ambush Israeli commandos — it is still possible to contend that Israeli military planners and commanders were unprepared for what their troops found when they tried to board the Turkish ships. Their unpreparedness, in turn, led to an overreaction by the commandos who, caught off guard, ended up killing nine thugs.
I, personally, don’t dispute the Israelis’ tactics, I’m merely saying that among smart people it’s possible to disagree over whether Israel used just enough force, or too much.
But what can no longer be disputed is the character of those onboard the flotilla. …