Israel's Air-Force pilots say why they could not obey illegal orders
VERY interesting read. Those are some brave pilots.
'We're air force pilots, not mafia. We don't take revenge'
Israel's F-16 and Black Hawk refuseniks say why they could not obey illegal orders and kill innocent Palestinians
For two months, a rebel group of Israeli Black Hawk helicopter and F-16 fighter pilots has been denounced as traitors for saying they will no longer bomb Palestinian cities.
Until now they have maintained a resolute silence on their motives, preferring to limit their criticism of Ariel Sharon's war to a letter signed by 27 reserve and active duty pilots refusing to carry out what they described as illegal orders, and denouncing the occupation as eating at the moral fabric of Israel.
Now, having been thrown out of the air force, they are talking publicly about what brought members of the most revered branch of the Israeli military to make an unprecedented challenge to the handling of the conflict with the Palestinians.
Re: Israel's Air-Force pilots say why they could not obey illegal orders
quote:
Originally posted by habsfan
VERY interesting read. Those are some brave pilots.
'We're air force pilots, not mafia. We don't take revenge'
Israel's F-16 and Black Hawk refuseniks say why they could not obey illegal orders and kill innocent Palestinians
For two months, a rebel group of Israeli Black Hawk helicopter and F-16 fighter pilots has been denounced as traitors for saying they will no longer bomb Palestinian cities.
Until now they have maintained a resolute silence on their motives, preferring to limit their criticism of Ariel Sharon's war to a letter signed by 27 reserve and active duty pilots refusing to carry out what they described as illegal orders, and denouncing the occupation as eating at the moral fabric of Israel.
Now, having been thrown out of the air force, they are talking publicly about what brought members of the most revered branch of the Israeli military to make an unprecedented challenge to the handling of the conflict with the Palestinians.
Registered: Aug 2003
Location: F1 2008 Red Bull Racing/BMW Sauber
In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, For then it cost nothing to be a patriot.
Mark Twain
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Jan-15-2005 22:23
Trancer-X
mutatis mutandis
Registered: Jul 2001
Location: Shambhala
nice quote!
quote:
Originally posted by ogvh5150
In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated, and scorned. When his cause succeeds however, the timid join him, For then it cost nothing to be a patriot.
Mark Twain
Had the British won, our founding fathers would all have been convicted of high treason!
I sincerely doubt that they fought for our independence just so that the later generations could grow to be subservient.
Jan-15-2005 23:03
Fir3start3r
Armin Acolyte
Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
I wonder, had the tables been turned, if the same decision would have been made...
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The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."
Jan-15-2005 23:28
Dervish
Your opinion matters.
Registered: Dec 2003
Location:
It's good to hear. Really good to hear. This is exactly the kind of thing that needs to happen to bridge the gap between the two parties. But in the current climate it is possible that it could be used to widen the gap with headlines or public opinion says things like "even some israeli pilots won't continue the genocide".
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If you can read this, I'm seriously fucking bored.
Jan-15-2005 23:45
Cyrus King
Anti NeoCon Addict
Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Toronto
quote:
Originally posted by Fir3start3r
I wonder, had the tables been turned, if the same decision would have been made...
And there you go implying that arabs could be inherantly evil
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Jan-16-2005 03:05
George Smiley
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Jan 2004
Location: 9 Bywater Street, Chelsea, London
Quite an old story but...
Jan-16-2005 05:57
Sunsnail
Global Moderator
Registered: Sep 2004
Location:
interesting
Jan-16-2005 06:03
zig
Supreme tranceaddict
Registered: Dec 2004
Location: Dublin,Ireland
quote:
Originally posted by Fir3start3r
I wonder, had the tables been turned, if the same decision would have been made...
That is indeed an interesting point to make..but you will never find out as we are all aware that Palastine does not possess F-16 fighter jets Blackhawk helicopters or any of the arrey of weaponry at isreals disposal nor do they recieve billions of dollars yearly from the US to pursue further military objectives.
But what i find most interesting from your comment..and it got me thinking..imagine the scenario if Palestine had an equal strength military to the Isrealis..i would imagine that would make Isreali arrogence just a little bit more tolerable as their citizens would also witness whole towns being layed to waste and Palestinians occupying some of their territories.
As regards the pilots..i wonder how easy they have found it outside of the military..as regards getting jobs and general hostility towards them..
Jan-16-2005 14:46
Fir3start3r
Armin Acolyte
Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
quote:
Originally posted by Cyrus King
And there you go implying that arabs could be inherantly evil
Actually I wasn't implying anything; that would your own biasing doing the assuming there...
It was, in fact, a simple question.
___________________
"...End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path...one that we all must take.
The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all change to silver glass...and then you see it...
...white shores...and beyond...the far green country under a swift sunrise."
Jan-16-2005 17:26
Cyrus King
Anti NeoCon Addict
Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Toronto
quote:
Originally posted by Fir3start3r
Actually I wasn't implying anything; that would your own biasing doing the assuming there...
It was, in fact, a simple question.
Stop with the bullshit explanation. Your question was simple and implied.
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"This place isn't big enough for me to blow it up."
-MARCO V