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| Middle East |
| Hero or Goat -- IDF Arrests Rifleman in ISM/terrorist shooting |
| 2004-01-01 |
| I got into a huge, hairy argument with some LGFers over this matter when I said the man who shot the ISM guy was a hero. Some of them were saying they didn’t want someone like this sharpshooter defending them, that the IDF has standards, and this rifleman did not live up to those standards. So, what do you all think. Was the rifleman a hero or a goat? An Israeli soldier has been arrested after admitting he shot a British peace activist in the head, leaving him in a vegetative state. The Israeli military said on Wednesday that the soldier had been accused of gunning down 22-year-old Tom Hurndall following an inquiry demanded by the student’s family and the British Foreign Office. Good shot, baby. Mr Hurndall was shot eight months ago in a Palestinian refugee camp in the Gaza Strip as he tried to help children out of the path of an Israeli tank. Guess trhe man cares more for children than the ’Palestinians’ he professes to front for. The Israeli army claimed the man they shot was wearing camouflage and was carrying a gun, a claim denied by Mr Hurndall’s family. In my book, he was helping a known terroist group; he may as well painted a target on his head. The Foreign Office pressed for a full criminal investigation. Mr Hurndall’s family said the army’s initial report on the shooting was a "straightforward fabrication". "We absolutely knew from our own investigation that Tom was not carrying a gun and that the army’s initial investigation was an attempt to blame him," said Mr Hurndall’s sister, Sophie. "I’m relieved they’ve finally admitted the truth, but the Israeli military does not have a good track record of holding soldiers to account . . ." Well, you haven’t admitted the whole truth. Tom Hudnell was a terrorist supporting toady, and therefore a terrorist himself. Mr Hurndall is in a vegetative state in a London hospital with a large part of his brain shot away. His family says it is still considering whether to seek a court order to shut off his life support. He can’t hurt anyone now and he can’t help the ’Palestinians’. Doesn’t matter to me much what they do. The detained soldier, who has not been named, is a member of the Bedouin Patrol Battalion. A military statement said he had been arrested after admitting he had falsely claimed to have shot at a man with a pistol. We have got to get away from this concept of prosecuting riflemen who make mistakes. Granted it was one hell of a shot that removed Hudnell from concious thought, but I think the soldier who did this should not be prosecuted for the shooting What do you think? Hero or goat? The military said that under interrogation the soldier admitted that Mr Hurndall was not carrying a gun and that he had opened fire "in proximity to an unarmed civilian in order to deter him". |
| Posted by:badanov |
| #7 Who was it stated two essential rules of survival? 1) Don't throw rocks at guys with guns. 2) Don't stand next to someone throwing rocks at guys with guns. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-1-1 7:28:26 PM |
| #6 Its interesting to note that a member of the Bedouin Patrol Battalion is almost certainly an arab and moslem. The news reports don't name him. I understand the bedouin loathe the palestians and are supporters of Israel. This of course is not newsworthy. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2004-1-1 4:14:26 PM |
| #5 The "evil" side of me says, "From what range?" :P (did the soldier make the shot) while the "nice" part of me says that while the Hurndalls don't have a case, falsely claiming that your target was armed does indeed count as a valid charge ... |
| Posted by: Lu Baihu 2004-1-1 1:19:22 PM |
| #4 I'm with Frank on this one. We'll never know whether there was a terrorist shooting from the childrens positions because the Paleos will never admit to it and Isreals word is worth shit to most of the planet. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-1-1 12:51:56 PM |
| #3 Whatever may be the outcome (I hope nothing more than a disciplinary sanction), at least it shows IDF's ethic is in no way comparable with PA "security force" 's. Their soldiers are accountable for their act : this is the difference between a western regular army, and a rag-tag third-world militia; the double-standards of blaming israeli, while excusing paleos for their lynching, use of civilians as cover, internal gunbattles,... is even more patent. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-1-1 12:51:50 PM |
| #2 Note to ISM and Mr. Hurndall's family: If you willingly place your pointy little head in the line of fire to prevent action against rock and molotov throwing and gun/anti-tank shooting bastards, you've already made the decision to terminate life support. I don't want the IDF to indiscriminately fire into civilians, and have not seen any fair evidence (Paleo/ISM liars don't count) that that has happened. The shooter doesn't deserve a medal nor rebuke. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-1-1 11:05:49 AM |
| #1 Kinda of like the peace activist who donated her body to the IDF for tread lubricant outside Arafart's compund in Ramalah. Guess what?? You give aid and comfort to the enemy you become.....the enemy. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2004-1-1 10:50:02 AM |