via IDF Facebook Page.
A special IDF committee has concluded that Lt. Hadar Goldin was killed in combat in Gaza on Friday. May his memory be a blessing.This is cryptic as hell.
Was he killed in the ambush? Was he kidnapped and later killed by his Hamas kidnappers? I don't know but the Israeli people will probably be asking the same questions. More to come.
The whole mess was because he and 2 more soldiers died from a suicide bomber attack. Basically, it took time to identify the bodyparts, and Hamas got his hands on something (probably a boot which has a dogtag in it).
ReplyDeleteHannibal Directive/Protocol
ReplyDeleteThe Hannibal Directive activates extreme measures to prevent the live prisoner or the soldier's body be taken by the enemy to be used in negotiations. Israel paid a high price every time bodies of soldiers, or prisoners were returned. In the last exchange Israel released 1027 Palestinian prisoners (mostly terrorists and convicted murderers) for one soldier held captive for 5 years (Gilad Shalit). We do not want to let the price escalate and it is bad form to negotiate with terrorists.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the Lt.Hadar Goldin action the Air Foce bombed the area with 2000lb bombs, to "prevent the terrorists taking the prisoner/body away". It may be that also cost the soldier's life. I, personally, agree with this decision, in the context of the broad view of the whole war and the decades old conflict with the Palestinians - in spite if the fact that we Israelis value human life and the life of our soldiers
Vietnam war saw Aircraft that could not be recovered and units over run being fired upon by US Forces.
ReplyDeleteThe Vietnamese at least were reasonably civilized and sane.
Had this policy been implemented there would have been fewer US POW's to negotiate for.
But the effect on morale would have been a mission kill.
Against the Islamic forces, being captured for a trade is one thing, being captured for a snuff video is entirely different.
The IDF trooper may just rather have himself and his captors killed rather than be used against his own people.
I say here from the safety of my keyboard I personally would rather die than surrender to any Islamic forces.
I believe were I in actual danger of capture I would recall the video's and feel the same way.
Having to kill my own to prevent them being captured would sure as hell make me a cold blooded soldier, not one to take any prisoners.
Payback would indeed be a motherfucker.