PM: Pilots' refusal reminds me of 1982 attempt to topple gov't

[Darranar]

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Friday condemned the
letter of refusal signed by 27 reserve Air Force
pilots, in which they stated that they would not
participate in operations in the West Bank and
Gaza Strip.

Speaking in a holiday interview
to Israel Radio, Sharon said
that the letter reminded him
that there had also been an
attempt to overthrow a
democratically-elected
government during the 1982
Lebanon War.

.................

Halutz told Haaretz on Wednesday night he
planned to treat the signatories "in the same
way as the IDF has dealt with refuseniks until
now. This method has proven itself."

He called the refusal to serve "the mother of
all dangers" to Israel.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/343998.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Mother of all dangers," huh? Maybe you should bulldoze their houses. After all, they're even more dangerous than suicide bombers if they're the mother of all dangers...

[bemildred]

1. Well it is an interesting choice of phrase.

You have to wonder if he's thinking of Saddam's coinage,
or it's just so mainstream now nobody cares.

Mr. Sharon's comparison is "interesting" too, in a number of
ways.

[Darranar]

2. What exactly happened...

in the incident he (Sharon) is refering to?

The Haaretz article wasn't very clear.

[bemildred]

3. From the story:

Sharon's comments were an
apparent reference to the decision to resign by
Amram Mitzna, who was commander of the IDF
Command College during the Lebanon War.

Mitzna cited the behavior of then defense
minister Sharon during the invasion of Israel's
northern neighbor, in particular regarding the
massacres in the Sabra and Shatila refugee
camps, as the reasons for his decision.

[Darranar]

4. How does a resignation indicate an attempt to overthrow...

a democratically-elected government? It's not like I understand Sharon most of the time, but generally I can vaguely see his chain of thought - but not here.

Is this just a very huge exxageration, or am I missing something?

[bemildred]

5. You expect logic and good sense?

This is politics, one calls things what one wishes other to
consider them. He calls it that because he wishes them to be
considered traitors.

[Darranar]

6. No, I don't...

but how even the farthest right in Israel can believe that, I have no idea. I mean, when it comes to nonsensical junk, this is the real deal.

[bemildred]

7. Certainly its nonsense.

People believe what they wish, not what they are
compelled to by logic or knowledge or good sense.
You can see that here every day.

These fellows have clearly made an act of conscience, which will
cost them, but it is also very dangerous to the GOI, others might
imitate it, thus one must expect a most vigorous effort to discredit
them, and logic will have nothing to do with it. It will be 100%
public relations and propaganda.

One might disagree with their decision while respecting them for
having the courage to follow their consciences, but I don't expect
to see much of that.

[Darranar]

8. True enough...

After all, 70% of Americans believe that Saddam was responsible for 9/11, according to a recent poll. I generally don't trust polls, but I do believe that in this case it may be fairly accurate.

[bemildred]

9. Indeed.

A good example.

[The Magistrate]

10. The Good Gen. Mitzna, Sir

Hoped his resignation would prompt a political crisis, leading to a no confidence vote in the Knesset. There was a tremendous storm in Israel in the wake of the killings in those camps. If recollection serves, at one sizeable protest in Israel, a Likudnik threw a hand grenade into the crowd, killing several.

[bemildred]

11. One assumes he meant to do damage.

Thanks for the details.

[The Magistrate]

13. Being Seperated From My Books Just Now, Sir

That is all that can be provided with certainty. It was an odd period, and deserves looking into.

"Overthrow" is certainly a false characterization, making it sound like a coup attempt or some suc, but that could be a translator's gaffe: attempts to break a government are a perfectly normal part of parliamentary systems

[Darranar]

14. I looked for a Hebrew version of this article...

to no avail, trying to clarify the quote about refuseniks being the mother of all dangers.

Has anyone found one? It would certainly be interesting to me to read sharon's quote in Hebrew, along with that of the other fellow, in case some of my thoughts concerning this article are indeed due to mistranslations.

[bemildred]

15. I thought most likely not an accident,

but certainly that is possible, I do understand
what you mean WRT parliamentary systems. One might
consider it a fortunate accident if one was opposed to
their actions. We can wait to see if some correction
is made.

[Darranar]

12. Okay...

Thanks for the details.

I still disagree with the comparison, though, because I doubt that the pilots think they have enough political clout to do anything of the sort.

[MariMayans]

16. killed Emil Grunsweig

They let the filth that threw that hand grenade out of jail last year.