By means of deception, thou shall wage war
When Steven Spielberg's upcoming 'Munich' is released this December, cinemagoers will get an insider's view of the shadowy Israeli intelligence agency known as the Mossad. But who are they, really?
The Mossad was officially formed in 1949, but it can trace its roots directly to ancient times. It claims lineage from the spies of Gideon in the Bible.
Israel and its citizens are regular targets of terrorism. Hence, the Mossad is always busy, as evidenced in its original motto: "By means of deception, thou shall wage war."
Among its well-known operations are the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, the rescue of hostages in Entebbe, and of course, the hunting down of terrorists behind the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre, which will be portrayed in Spielberg's film.
The status of the Mossad in the intelligence community is legendary, and it is frequently cited as the most feared organization on the planet. More than any other agency, it employs extensive use of assassination, sabotage and psychological warfare.
Many governments around the world are deeply uncomfortable with their methods. In 2004, New Zealand arrested two Mossad agents who were attempting to procure New Zealand passports. Diplomatic ties between New Zealand and Israel sunk to an all-time low. As you can imagine, it would look very bad if a Mossad agent was to enter a country like Malaysia, using a reputable New Zealand passport, in order to kill somebody.
This controversy, one among many, has served to reinforce Mossad’s image as a dangerous maverick that puts itself above the law. Mossad, on the other hand, sees its role as nothing but patriotic: the defense of the modern state of Israel by any means necessary.
Comments
Am curious, what roles exactly did the Mossad have in Entebbe? If I'm not mistaken, was'nt Entebbe a Sayeret Matkal operation?
And, what is the reputation of the other, more established intelligence agencies/organisations, as in the CIA or the SIS. Is this reputation of ruthlessness and disregard for conventions strictly unique to the Mossad?
Posted by: yiliang | August 8, 2005 02:00 PM
Before Sayeret Matkal ever landed, the Mossad was already hard at work pinpointing enemy positions and destroying telephone lines to prevent enemy reinforcements.
The Mossad is the only agency in the world to regularly commit assassinations and sabotage inside friendly countries without informing their governments.
Posted by: John Ling | August 8, 2005 02:06 PM
I see.
How consistent and/or strenuous has diplomatic opposition been to the Mossad, or Israel in light of Mossad operations?
To what extent do Western powers turn a blind eye to Israel, and the conduct of the Mossad?
Posted by: yiliang | August 8, 2005 02:31 PM
If you study the history of the UN, you will notice that a remarkably large number of Resolutions have been undertaken to condemn Israeli actions. This is due, in part, to diplomatic disapproval of the Mossad.
But as you realize, the effectiveness of these resolutions have been nullified by the support of Israel by the United States.
Posted by: John Ling | August 8, 2005 02:38 PM
Thanks for your previous replies, very interestingly informative, if I may say so.
This then raises a question with a (possibly) very obvious answer. Why does the US back Israel to such an extent, what exactly does America gain from such a political friendship?
Posted by: yiliang | August 8, 2005 02:48 PM
Well, this is something that many people find difficult to understand.
It's best to go back to the beginning. There was, and still is, a great deal of guilt on the part of the United States for failing to prevent the Holocaust. Had the United States entered World War Two earlier, more could have been done to prevent this atrocity.
This is why America supported the birth of Israel. President Harry Truman recognized it only several minutes after statehood had been declared.
In many ways, Americans in general share a lot in common with the Israelis. Both are great lovers of free enterprise and self-improvement, and both profess to have liberal democracies born out of great religious influence. The American dollar is inscribed with 'In God We Trust', while the Israelis sport the biblical Star of David as their insignia.
However, most importantly, Americans see themselves as kindred spirits with the Zionists. The Americans were oppressed prospectors who came to a New World for a better life. This is similar to the early emigration of European Jews to Palestine.
Last but not least, the Americans are deeply affected by Israel's early struggle to fight off overwhelming odds and survive. It is quite similar to how American guerillas fought for independence against the vastly superior British army.
So, yes, there is great mutual respect and admiration between the two countries. An emotional and spiritual bond, if you will.
But there is also a practical aspect. Israel is the only liberal democracy in the region. This is a way for the United States to keep the Arab world under watch.
Posted by: John Ling | August 8, 2005 03:19 PM