Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 1972 Munich Olympics/One Day in September

This is topic 1972 Munich Olympics/One Day in September in forum Film-Yak at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mike Heenan (Member # 392) on 02-13-2005, 06:36 PM:

I just watched the documentary One Day in September which I thought was great but had flaws here and there. I was wondering how they could track down the remaining terrorist as the other 2 that survived were later assassinated by the Mossad. Does anyone know any stories behind this?

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 02-13-2005, 08:13 PM:

I don't know how they tracked them down, but it is well known that the Mossad created several special commando units dedicated to "surgically" take out the surviving terrorists and other key figures involved in the planning of the attack.
Sources vary, but it is believed that they hit between 12 and 20 over the next 9 years or so. They found them in hiding in Paris, Rome, Athens and Cyprus. If I recall correctly, one of the Munich terrorists was shot outside his apartment in Rome. Another was blown up in his apartment in Beirut. Later prime minister Ehud Barak led three teams in an operation when, 007 style, they landed in Beirut on rafts in the middle of the night, allegedly dressed up as Arab women with hand grenades in their bras, hit three apartments, then disappeared into the night in getaway boats. But they also accidentally hit a Moroccan waiter in Lillehammer (Norway), who they had mistaken for one of the planners behind the attack.

Posted by David Buckley (Member # 2600) on 02-13-2005, 11:40 PM:

quote: Michael Schaffer
But they also accidentally hit a Moroccan waiter in Lillehammer (Norway), who they had mistaken for one of the planners behind the attack.

Don't think "accidentally" is quite the right word there - they didnt aim for person A and erroneously hit person B. They cold bloodely murdered the waiter, who had no role in the events that Mossad were revenging for.

I'd like to think that these days such operations wouldn't be allowed by host governments, but one never knows. its not so long ago that the French government did something murdourous in our front lawn, we got the buggers responsible, jailed them, and through enourmous diplomatic pressure applied by the French, they eventually returned to France in short order.

http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Childrens/NZDisasters/RainbowWarrior.asp

Content not pasted as this is a permanent link, and will be there long after film-tech is dead and buried.

Posted by Will Kutler (Member # 770) on 02-14-2005, 12:13 AM:

Israeli Intelligance is something that has a 100 + year history, starting with Jewish emigration from Eastern Europe in the latter 19th Century. This also included active history during both World Wars.

Israeli Intelligence relied on what they call "huminit" or human resources over complete dependance on technology. One effective tool is that Jews throughout the Diaspora (dispersion) have integrated into their various societies...hence Jews the world over could be regarded on for help. Israeli intelligence agents were noted for using their brains and creativity to handle their assignments.

Another reason for the success of Israeli Intelligance (especially during the Isser Harrel years) was that the names of ALL intelligence officers (including the heads) are state secrets. And the heads of intelligence are answerable only to the Prime Minister, w/o any outside political influence. It is also illegal in Israel for jurnalists to pulbish the names or phtos of agents.

There are several excellent books about the beginnings of Israeli intelligence:

Shield of David by Yigal Allon

Just about all the intelligence officers involved in the Eichmann abduction have written books, and all were the literally the backbone of Mossad and Shin Bet for decades. All are now famous for many of their legendary operations which could put James Bond to shame. Some have lived honorable lives, while others became embroiled in notorious scandal.

The legendary head of Mossad-Shin Bet, Isser Harrel wrote his book "The House on Garabaldi Street" in the 1970's. It was not until the 1990's that the other members of the team started to write theirs. But by then most were long retired and family, friends and eventually the public had by then put the pieces of the puzzle together and figured out who they were...so the game was up...30 yrs after the kidnapping.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 02-14-2005, 04:50 AM:

That's a great puff piece about the Mossad. Thank you. Is this the first installement in a series about secret services? "Next week: the KGB".
But what does it have to do with the Munich massacre?

David: accidentally is probably not the right word here. But apparently they shot the waiter because they mistook him for somebody else, not because they thought he was somehow involved. That doesn't excuse it though.
I don't think they operated with the blessing of the respective "host" governments. They just did it. But I can understand that nobody really wanted to blame them, after what had happened. But it is a very complex and problematic subject.
Didn't the Mossad also get in trouble in NZ not long ago?

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 02-14-2005, 08:11 AM:

Yes - two Mossad agents apparently broke the 11th commandment while trying to obtain NZ passports. Link to BBC News Online story from 29 September covering their release from jail in NZ and subsequent deportation.

Posted by Michael Schaffer (Member # 1204) on 02-14-2005, 08:37 AM:

What is the 11th commandment? Thou shalt not travel with fake passports?

Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 02-14-2005, 08:44 AM:

Thou shalt not get caught.