Israel to conduct killings in the us

January 16, 2003 11:49 AM

From UPI: Israel is embarking upon a more aggressive approach to the war on terror that will include staging targeted killings in the United States and other friendly countries, former Israeli intelligence officials told United Press International. I am so NOT trolling. I am simply curious to see what MeFi users have to say about this interesting news item.
posted by pejamo (36 comments total)

I am so NOT trolling.

Yes, but UPI is.
posted by four panels at 11:50 AM on January 16, 2003

Where is Israel and why are they interested in this?
posted by Postroad at 11:53 AM on January 16, 2003

Nazis! (Godwin sets new land-speed record)
Ona more serious note, the best intentions can never counter-trollify an I/P thread.

MeFi-Mayhem to follow:
posted by BentPenguin at 11:53 AM on January 16, 2003

?
posted by Postroad at 11:54 AM on January 16, 2003

Since we're on the topic of interesting news items (and since I think this thread is doomed), I'm curious to see what MeFi users have to say about this interesting news item from CNN:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- U.N. weapons inspectors Thursday found a number of empty chemical warheads and another one that is still being evaluated, and the warheads are in "excellent condition," according to a U.N. spokesman.
***
Inspectors also visited private homes for the first time Thursday, as the chief U.N. inspector described the situation in Iraq as "very tense and very dangerous."
posted by pardonyou? at 11:55 AM on January 16, 2003

I know, I know - to protest the trolling is to risk being called one. I just found this to be a chilling story that stretched credulity to the limits and wanted to know if others have the same reaction.
posted by pejamo at 11:57 AM on January 16, 2003

How do they know its a chemical warhead if it's empty? Maybe it was a Jello Pudding warhead.
posted by bondcliff at 11:59 AM on January 16, 2003

pardonyou - is there any doubt that Saddam is sandbagging some pretty nasty stuff. I don't think so. So, what are we going to do about?
posted by pejamo at 12:00 PM on January 16, 2003

Looks like they got their smoking gun. Good thing we started moving all those troops over to the Middle East so many months ago. Boy, that George Bush must be psychic or something.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 12:00 PM on January 16, 2003

Like death-by-Predator launched missle in the middle of the Yemeni Desert is any different?
posted by BentPenguin at 12:00 PM on January 16, 2003

"...I'm curious to see what MeFi users have to say about this interesting news..."

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

Heh. Kidding.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:00 PM on January 16, 2003

Its a ll a setup to xfer Saddam to the Noriega Suite in the Sudan (although lately they're talking about exiling him to Saudi Arabia, which I would think is way too close for comfort, though he'd make a great neighbor for Idi Amin
posted by BentPenguin at 12:03 PM on January 16, 2003

MetaFilter: So NOT trolling
posted by quonsar at 12:13 PM on January 16, 2003

pardonyou - is there any doubt that Saddam is sandbagging some pretty nasty stuff. I don't think so.

I don't think so, either. But a lot of people (including here) have been oddly willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

So, what are we going to do about?

Question of the year.
posted by pardonyou? at 12:17 PM on January 16, 2003

But what does this have to do with Israelites in space?
posted by blue_beetle at 12:27 PM on January 16, 2003

How do they know its a chemical warhead if it's empty? Maybe it was a Jello Pudding warhead.

As for me, I welcome the arrival of our Bill Cosby clone overlords.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 12:27 PM on January 16, 2003

"...I'm curious to see what MeFi users have to say about this interesting news..."

storm in a teacup.
posted by stbalbach at 12:43 PM on January 16, 2003

From bbc: "The chief Iraqi liaison officer, General Hossam Mohammed Amin - who had earlier praised the inspectors - declared they were making "a storm in a teacup" over the find at the Ukhaider depot."

stbalbach: storm in a teacup.

Wow. It appears "stbalbach" is actually chief Iraqi liaison officer General Hossam Mohammed Amin. Welcome, General Amin!
posted by pardonyou? at 12:52 PM on January 16, 2003

Since it's OK for us to kill terrorists in other countries, obviously it will be just fine for the Israelis to kill terrorists here. Unless this is one of those "do as I say, not as I do" things.

Bart: "Don't do what Donny Don't does"...They could have made this clearer.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:57 PM on January 16, 2003

Mossad will probably be better at it than the FBI/CIA, though.
posted by carter at 1:19 PM on January 16, 2003

Since it's OK for us to kill terrorists in other countries, obviously it will be just fine for the Israelis to kill terrorists here.

And since Al-Qaeda calls U.S. imperialism terrorism, that must make it okay for them to kill U.S. Citizens.

Oh. Wait.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 1:25 PM on January 16, 2003

And since Al-Qaeda calls U.S. imperialism terrorism, that must make it okay for them to kill U.S. Citizens.

It's not so much what you call it, but what it is. Oh, that's right, it's all morally relative.
posted by pardonyou? at 1:39 PM on January 16, 2003

An FBI spokesman also declined to comment, saying: "This is a policy matter. We only enforce federal laws."

Is assasination a local matter then?
posted by Ogre Lawless at 1:43 PM on January 16, 2003

Christ almighty. Isn't it obvious that the Mossad will be working on behalf of the CIA? The CIA can't assassinate foreign nationals on US soil, much less US citizens, even if they have proof that the suspects are involved in terrorism. The Mossad can and they will because without US money Israel would've disappeared a long time ago. Even if Israel and its intelligence/diplomacy agencies didn't want to assissinate terror suspects on US soil, our federal government holds such sway over Israel's future that they could be forced to do unsavory things or face the Arab world without US support.

As far as the morals involved, I don't care. As far as it's interesting, it's no more interesting than reports of the US training Osama bin Laden in the 80's or reports that the bomb factory that the US in destroyed in '98 was actually a pharma factory.
posted by chris0495 at 2:43 PM on January 16, 2003

Chris0495 - I think you've nailed it, and I was wondering when someone would see it my way. The mossad hits will be sanctioned by the CIA, and probably CIA directed.

Call me naive, but I can't recall any other time in history when the US Government was involved in domestic assassinations. Foreign soil hits, yes. But not here. Even the Rosenbergs stood trial, at least. Am I wrong? So, where are the militias?! I mean, christ, people came out of the wood work to protest Ruby Ridge and Waco as examples Government overstepping its authority. Where is the indignation? We're talking about secret hit squads operating on our soil!

Sorry, I'm a little freaked-out. And I can't believe the American Right is lay back, close its eyes and "think of England" as it were.
posted by pejamo at 4:10 PM on January 16, 2003

I say it's time to cut Israel loose (I can't believe I agree with Pat Buchanan on anything, but I do on this).
posted by moonbiter at 5:54 PM on January 16, 2003

www.jinsa.org think wolfowitz has his hands in this b***S**T too? why is this man the under secretary of defense? if there is anyone that should be on a watch list.... its this character and his sidekick richard perle.
posted by specialk420 at 6:04 PM on January 16, 2003

Israel may be our ally in the war on terror. We are not Israel’s ally in its war on the Palestinians. Our commitment is to Israel’s security, not its settlements, which are the cause of the intifada. (from moonbiter's link)

If the US is committed to Israel's security, it can't very well cut it loose. Israel could halt all settlement construction and pull out of Gaza and the West Bank and they'd still have a serious problem with terrorism and they'd still need us. Could you clarify what you agree with?
posted by swerve at 6:11 PM on January 16, 2003

... If Israeli politicians can stand up to Sharon, why cannot U.S. presidents? If members of the Knesset can refuse to follow the suicidal path of Sharon & Netanyahu, why is Congress so cowardly?

America should not kowtow to Israel. This includes not allowing them to get away with any assassination plots on our soil, which last I checked in this country was considered murder in all 50 states.
posted by moonbiter at 7:32 PM on January 16, 2003

I can easily forsee some kind of Watergate scandel erupting because of this. I mean, having a military force come into the U.S. and assassinate people might get messy. What happens when local law enforcement attempts to investigate an obvious murder of a U.S. citizen and is politely told to "just ignore it" by the C.I.A.? The U.S. loves a good cover-up.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:37 PM on January 16, 2003

You people are delusional. This article is highly suspect, and it is in no one's interest for Israel to start assassinating people on American soil.
posted by chaz at 10:33 PM on January 16, 2003

it is in no one's interest for Israel to start assassinating people on American soil.

Who knows, it might be in the US government's best interest. Just an idea.
posted by Orb at 10:57 PM on January 16, 2003

"Call me naive, but I can't recall any other time in history when the US Government was involved in domestic assassinations..."

I can't verify anything, of course (ain't it always the way) but COINTELPRO came very close to it. Someone with more knowledge might be able to dig something up.
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 3:03 AM on January 17, 2003

Assassination squads have never operated on US soil? Forgive me for thinking you naive. Here's a partial list:

JFK
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bobby Kennedy
Malcolm X (although he was probably killed by the Nation of Islam, the information that convinced NoI that Malcolm needed to be killed was supplied by government agents that had infiltrated the Nation and was not at all accurate)
How many Black Panthers?
How many AIM members?

If Bush had been DCI before the Civil War (yes I know there was no CIA back then) then the Civil War would've been avoided because he would've killed Jefferson Davis, John Calhoun and whoever else was crucial to the "states rights" movement. (Of course, that assumes he'd be on the side of the federal government, not the south)
posted by chris0495 at 5:15 AM on January 17, 2003

Least interesting thread on Israel, ever.
posted by ParisParamus at 5:23 AM on January 17, 2003

Our relationship with Isreal is proof that the US is not an empire. No empire would allow a client state to push it around like this.

from moonbiter's link: "But now the price of the Israeli connection has begun to rise. U.S. weapons technology given to Israel has been sold to China. Only direct U.S. intervention prevented Israel from selling Beijing AWACS technology. The Patriot missile, the Phoenix air-to-air missile, the Lavi fighter, based on the F-16, have all been sold to Beijing."

What a great ally!
posted by homunculus at 6:01 PM on January 18, 2003