Article

2003-09-25 Middle East

Israeli pilots refuse to fly "assassination" missions

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Posted by Steve White 2003-09-25 12:20:22 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Isreal really should put a reward out on some of these guys. I bet at least one Paleo will turn a Hamas leader in for several million dollars.

Posted by Charles 2003-9-25 2:51:14 AM|| 2003-9-25 2:51:14 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Imagine a group of 27 splodey dopes sending a similar letter to Arafat & Yassin:
"We refuse to take part in attacks in civilian population centers. We are opposed to carrying out illegal & immoral attacks."

Nahh, that'll never happen.

Posted by Rafael 2003-9-25 5:02:08 AM|| 2003-9-25 5:02:08 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 JPost - IAF officials Thursday suspended at least nine active pilots who signed a letter refusing to carry out targeted assassinations and other operations in the Palestinian territories.

The other signatories are reservists, and their fate has yet to be determined.

Posted by Frank G 2003-9-25 10:03:45 AM|| 2003-9-25 10:03:45 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 It's sometimes hard to see their work âup closeâ and I can sympathize if they get squeamish after viewing the devastation. I have seen some of our pilots get sick after they see the affects of a bomb (it ainât pretty). This is especially true if there is âcollateralâ damage. We are especially careful (to a fault) about targeting populated areas, but I have never seen an enemy that stands out in the open (ok shoot at me). The Serbs used to âcommandeerâ Kosovar houses and park tank inside them, no telling what happened to the family that once occupied it. The Iraqis, Syrian, Hamas, and Paleos have all hidden weapons and personnel within restricted areas (mosques, hospitals, and school). It's RARE that we would target in that situation but the Isralis might have differnt ROEs. However I feel that maybe these pilots have a political agenda? They could simply refuse to fly and not sign a letter to that affect (same results). Not sure because I have never met an Israeli pilot, are they political?

Posted by Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2003-9-25 1:26:15 PM|| 2003-9-25 1:26:15 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 Cyber Sarge: "I have never met an Israeli pilot, are they political?"

Sarge, all Israelis are political, all the time. Active duty military are not allowed to make public political statements. So the public letter is a violation of orders from that point of view. The refusal to fly these mission is another issue.

Most Israeli military units have people from all the political parties. One of the far left parties is encouraging solders to refuse service in the territories, and tries to help them with the legal problems that result from refusing orders.

I served in the reserves in the Gaza strip. I was in an tank unit. In Gaza we did some foot patrols and a lot of jeep patrols and road blocks. We always had one or two guys with a problem doing this duty. It was handled in the company. They would be given jobs like guarding our base, or kitchen duty. That worked out, but would obviously be a problem if it got to be too many guys.

There have always been some refusals to server throughout the fight against the Intifada. Some have come from officers in highly regarded units, like reserve paratroop units.

Posted by MattJ 2003-9-26 11:42:04 AM|| 2003-9-26 11:42:04 AM|| Front Page Top

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