Same tone and attitude on the 'speak your brains' phone-in on five live this morning. campbell being very challenging to any caller who dared to dispute the official line, yet noticeably uncritical of any of the propoganda that was being parroted about why the act of piracy was somehow justifiable.
Two points. First, for unarmed men to try to repel armed solders storming an aid vessel is an act of heroism. Second, to quote today's Guardian leader column:
They were lost on the way to a team-building exercise. Middle of the Med? Oops, we should be in Epping Forest.
It's bollocks, of course, and you have outlined one of the reasons it's bollocks. But something being bollocks doesn't stop it being a rationale of the right.I can't see the "modernising" influence, myself.
And the commandos did! So why aren't you condemning them for there premeditated action? Idiot.
They were being boarded by commandos in the high seas. Let me quote the Guardian again,to see if it sinks in:
Ah, ok, I did wonder.
Ah, ok, I did wonder.
Avaaz have a petition on the go too:-
http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_flotilla_3/?cl=590359456&v=6404
I'll sign that, too. Take that, Netanyahu!
Except that they have to blockade from their own national waters, i.e. at the six mile limit, as they're not allowed to set a blockade in international waters, so they've shot themselves in the foot by not waiting for the flotilla to enter Israeli waters.
Some other pneumatic non-lethal firearm perhaps?
I'll wait until more facts are known on this but the 10 dead sure as fuck weren't shot with paint balls.
Otherwise, I agree with the Guardian extract that the troops should never have boarded in the first place. But once they did, attacking them with poles and knives was a stupid thing to do. There were no injuries (tiiao) on any of the other 5 ships stormed which begs the question, was the Marmara crewed by a group of particularly 'up-for-it' protestors. Some of the footage being shown this morning would certainly suggest so. One soldier is thrown overboard, and there are reports of Israeli soldiers with knife and machete wounds.
Now if you stab an armed soldier, you are going to get shot.
Some other pneumatic non-lethal firearm perhaps?
I'll wait until more facts are known on this but the 10 dead sure as fuck weren't shot with paint balls.
Otherwise, I agree with the Guardian extract that the troops should never have boarded in the first place. But once they did, attacking them with poles and knives was a stupid thing to do. There were no injuries (tiiao) on any of the other 5 ships stormed which begs the question, was the Marmara crewed by a group of particularly 'up-for-it' protestors. Some of the footage being shown this morning would certainly suggest so. One soldier is thrown overboard, loads get kickings, and there are reports of Israeli soldiers with knife and machete wounds.
