Comments on: Leave No Man Behind?

By: I'm Arab

I'm Arab — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

I’m an arab, and even I’d rather die than be kidnapped by any of them.

Since they’ve let Gilad free, he said in his interview that Hamas treated him “OK”. I wonder if he was just saying so out of fear because at the time of the interview, he was still being held. But if they did treat him “OK,” then Insh’Allah (pardon me – it just comes natural) your other soldiers are still [alive] and being treated at least “OK” and you will see them again soon someday.

By: True Yerushalmi

True Yerushalmi — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

No price is too high for the return of a fellow Jew. I believe that we should give them back as many prisoners as they want in exchange for someone like Shalit… but I would personally infect each one of them with a lethal virus before releasing them back to their terrorist-loving brethren. The price for giving the world the plague of terrorism is to die at the hands of a terrorist plague.

And of course the easiest way to force them to come to the table to negotiate the swap is by killing one Hamasnik a day until the leaders agree. Give them a month, then up it to two a day. (We can let them off without any killings on Shabbath, to teach them respect for OUR calendar.) After a second month, go to three a day. And so on. At the end of a year we’d have eliminated over 2,000 of the bastards, and if they still didn’t want to release Gilad by then, I imagine that public support for Hamas would start to wane… especially when the Arabs see a dozen idiots in black masks being shot down like pigeons every day.

By: Here in HP, a Highland Park, New Jersey blog » Weekly Review with Snapdragon

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

[...] Israeli: Leave No Man Behind? On other Israeli soldiers left [...]

By: Nobody

Nobody — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

There’s also a rumor that soldiers have had these orders for some time already. I also heard that they were in effect at the time of Shalit’s kidnapping, and that when he was led away on his own two feet by Hamas, other IDF soldiers had him in their sights but hesitated at the last moment instead of shooting him.

By: LB

LB — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Garnel – I agree. Seems to have worked for the U.S. in Iraq.

Jack – I think people realize they are giving, and sacrificing (potentially their lives) for something they believe in. Of course, there is the relationship between comradery and troop motivation, as well. The people have the soldiers’ backs – yes, but people are pretty cynical about the government, they know the odds of getting out alive are not high. With regards to negotiations, there is a petition many soldiers (reservists?) have signed calling not to release terrorists for their release if they are ever captured.

Nobody – precisely. That culture is too pervasive, it is a serious problem and I’m planning on writing about it soon. Regarding shooting fellow soldiers in such an event – there was a rumor during Cast Lead that such a directive was, in fact, issued.

M – it should, but it doesn’t seem to have done much in the way of releasing anyone.

By: M

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

It is clear from the last 15+ years that Israel’s soldiers will not be rescued if they are captured. There will be a public debate and outcry and a political push, however, Israel will do nothing. The political figures have not done nearly enough for Shalit. What are they afraid of other than their reputations? Have the enemy’s methods become more sophisticated? Perhaps. But this should just push Israel to figure out new ways to help itself and its soldiers.

By: Nobody

Nobody — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

That’s what people believe already, and they’ve believed it for a long time.

I would say to any of my friends entering the army now that I’d prefer they die than be captured, and that if I were in the army, I would personally shoot my own fellow soldiers rather than allow them to be captured by the enemy.

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Nobody,

G-d forbid people truly believe that. The day that the army stops believing that the gov’t and country have their back is the day it all falls apart.

By: Nobody

Nobody — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Rescue missions are for frayers!

By: Garnel Ironheart

Garnel Ironheart — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

If Israel were to have the exactly opposite policy, then it would be better protecting its soldiers.
The Arabs know they can grab a guy, kill him secretly and then drag out “negotiations” for years in order to get 100′s of theirs released in return for the body.
If the Israeli government were to turn around and say “No negotiations, no deals” they would have no benefit from the kidnappings.