This is my bonus post for the Munich Olympics Massacre Blogburst
Others in the blogburst may mention the film One Day in September, but I'll recommend it too. It's very well done and more edge-on-the-seat gripping than nearly any Hollywood thriller. It goes into more detail on the screw-ups alluded to below. And it ends with an open question of conspiracy, that I dare to question even further.
Some of the terrorists survived the failed rescue operation and were held in German custody. Less than two months later a Lufthansa jet was hijacked with a demand to release the terrorists, and the Germans caved in to the demand. The circumstances of the hijacking were mysterious, suggesting that it might have been a face-saving set-up for Germany to get rid of the terrorists, in exchange for not having any more terror attacks on its soil. Very disturbing. The film leaves this hanging out there, implying the Germans caved and denied justice. That's quite possible. On the other hand, I don't recall the Israelis making too much of a public fuss about this and Israel has since assassinated most of the terrorists (only 1 survives and he was interviewed for the film). That makes me wonder if Germany did a two-legged deal. The obvious one with the terrorists (we'll let you go, just leave us alone) and the other one with Israel (we'll let them out of jail, you can eliminate them yourself). I can't help but think that the justice Israel obtained was more of a deterrent, and, yes, more satisfying than if those guys went to a European prison. Not to mention taking away a potential pretext for another outrage.
Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at September 05, 2002 06:27 AMIn my recollection (which is admittedly rather hazy), the film actually suggested there was serious evidence that there was such a deal.The hijacked plane was sparsely filled, and completely empty of women or children. In the interview, the last remaining terrorist was somewhat coy, but certainly didn't deny it.
Posted by: Moe Freedman on September 5, 2002 01:05 PMI watched the Documentary again last night. Here is the actual wording:
(Narrator)Michael Douglas: The circumstances behind the hijacking have long been thought suspicious. Why were only twelve passengers aboard such a large plane? Why no women or children? Why such haste in agreeing to the hijackers demands? For the first time, one of the Palestinians involved has revealed that the entire affair was a setup, organized by the German government in collusion with the terrorists. The Germans thought that in this way they would prevent future terror attacks on their country, and dispose the evidence of their failure that day in September.
The two Germans that were being interviewed agreed that that was no doubt the truth.