One Day In September

Terrorist attacks have increased over the last twenty years, but one of the most remembered is the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. It happened on September 11, 2001; and is commonly referred to as 9/11. Americans grow up learning details about 9/11; but rarely do we learn about a personal experience. In Adam Mayblum’s email “The Price We Pay,” he tells the story of what happened to him, and others around him on the day of September 11, 2001. Mayblum explains in paragraph ten “If you want to kill us, leave us alone because we will do it by ourselves. If you want to make us stronger, attack and we unite.” He made an excellent point with that statement, because he is right. He provides us with imagery, thoughts on terrorism, and strong use of emotions throughout the story that brings us a very well written narrative.

The Munich massacre occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, where members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually murdered by Black September, a Palestinian terrorist organisation. By the end of the agonising ordeal, 11 Israeli athletes and coaches had been killed, and one German police officer. Consequently, the “Operation Wrath of God” was carried out in order to assassinate the individuals involved in the massacre, in which five of the eight members of the terrorist group were killed. The remaining three members were captured, and later released by West Germany after the hijacking by Black September of a Lufthansa airliner. The aftermath of the terrorist attack consisted of several short and long term impacts, including the effects on the Olympic Games, the world’s view on security and the victims’ families.

Israel has used tactics to defend itself, and to get the international “right to exist”. Israel has used security tactics to feel safe, but these tactics are endangering the civil and human rights of the citizens of Israel. “...No country has a recognized God-given or otherwise right to exist, only responsibilities under international law and moral responsibilities…”

Chapter three of Eyal Press’ Beautiful Souls follows Avner Wishnitzer, an Israeli combat soldier serving in the occupied territories during the Second Intifada. In the 6-Day War of 1967, Israel captured the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and has since kept the land under an Israeli military occupation. In 1987 to 1991, a Palestinian uprising involving resistance and civil disobedience, known as the First Intifada, occurred in the occupied territories. Consequently, Israel deployed many soldiers into the occupied territories, and an estimated 1,674 people were killed in total. The Second Intifada, a much more violent Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories, transpired from 2000 until 2005. In response, Israel enacted Operation Defensive Shield, a large-scale military operation, in 2002 to stop the terrorist attacks and suicide bombings of the Second Intifada. An approximate 4,426 people were killed in the Second Intifada. Avner Wishnitzer’s public refusal to serve in the occupied territories was worth getting kicked out of Sayeret Matkal and being disgraced by Israeli society because it made people question the occupation and the treatment towards Palestinians. Even if Avner had been my father, I would have condoned his choices because I could create my own reputation in the military. Additionally, the current controversy over the Israeli occupation legitimizes his stance and actions for many Israeli citizens.

The Massacre occurred on September 5th, the eleventh day of the 1972 Olympics. Eight Palestinian Terrorists that belonged to the group Black september killed two Israeli athletes and took another nine hostage. The terrorists did this because Israel has Arabs in their prisons. They wanted Israel to “release over 230 Arab prisoners being held in Israeli jails and two German terrorists” (History). The Olympics did not have very good security during this time so this made it easy for the terrorists to carry out their plan. Israel did not want any negotiations to be made however, German authorities tried to make many with the terrorists. “The terrorists demanded transportation to Cairo following more than twelve hours of unsuccessful negotiations. Authorities led the terrorists to believe they would comply while in truth they were planning to ambush them at the airport” (NPS).The ambush did not go as planned. The authorities thought that there were only five terrorists although there were eight. The rescue failed for a few reasons. First, “the German snipers that were chosen had no sharpshooting experience and had no communication with each other. [...] Second, the police were

I do not think that the film is a movie with a message of absolution of the IDF participants in the massacre. I believe that the film simply focuses on the Israelis who served in Lebanon and the guilt that they feel for having participated. However, I do not think that they necessarily feel sorry for what they did. The film is about Ari Folman trying to recover his lost memories of the massacre. Throughout the film, he discovers that he does not remember the event because he feels guilty. The victims in this film are the Israeli soldiers. I think the film mostly criticizes those in the top ranks of the IDF and how they do not care enough about their soldiers to tell them exactly what they are getting themselves into. For instance, many times in the film soldiers will shoot recklessly because that is what they were told to do.

During the 1972 Olympic Games, eight Palestinian terrorists, from the organization Black September, killed two members of the Israeli Olympic team and took nine others hostage.

"9 Israelis on Olympic Team Killed With 4 Arab Captors As Police Fight Band That Disrupted Munich Games," screamed the headline of the front page of The New York Times. The attack occurred during the wee hours of September 5, 1972, but news of the crisis, although widespread on television sets across the world, would not reach The New York Times until September 6. When it did reach the papers, it was clear that something had gone wrong. Very wrong. The New York Times first reported this event as a mind-boggling screw-up, and in the days that followed, reported on the manner in which the international community retaliated. In

Four Days in September captured the experience of Brazil during the 1960's very well. Mostly because the entire film was based on an actual event, but even relating it to Veloso's memoir and the music during that time it holds up to be pretty accurate. However, for entertainment purposes, or just that Bruno Barreto felt the need to, certain things in the film were left out. Things such as other social classes and the music scene in Brazil.

On Friday, July 22, there was a shooting in Munich, Germany, leaving nine dead and sixteen wounded. The one responsible for this tragedy is an eighteen year old German-Iranian. Most of the victims that were killed were children, and this, among other terror attacks that have happened recently, has put the entire continent of Europe on high alert. The shooter started at a McDonald’s, and then he made his way to a street mall that is across the street from the site of the 1972 Olympics. Police suspected there might be up to three shooters on the loose, so they put the city on virtual lockdown. A superfluity of people were running away from the mall, going toward any home they could see, so they could find shelter. Security was increased throughout

A little after 4 a.m. on September fifth, as the Israeli athletes slept, eight members of the Black September jumped over the six-foot high fence that encircled the Olympic Village. The terrorists headed straight for 31 Connollystrasse, the building where the Israeli team was staying. Around 4:30 a.m., the terrorists entered the building. They rounded up the occupants of Apartment one and then Apartment three. Several of the Israelis fought back and two of them were killed. A several others were able to escape out windows. Nine were taken hostage (Rosenberg). In another apartment, they captured the Israeli wrestlers and weightlifters Eliezer Halfin, Yossef Romano, Mark Slavin, David Berger, and Zeev Friedman. When the fearless Israelis fought back, the Black September opened fire, killing Romano and one other person (Olympics Massacre). Once the team was taken hostage, the Palestinians dropped a list of demands out the window. In return for the hostages, the terrorists demanded 234 prisoners released from Israeli prisons and two from German prisons by 9 a.m. (Rosenberg).

Militaries, intelligence analysts, and policy makers have had to face complex and delicate problems like issues of surprise attacks in their respective countries. Such rare occurrences are particularly true for nations like Israel, as demonstrated in 1973 during the Yom Kippur War. It was on October 6, 1973, the “Day of Atonement” for Jews locally called Yom Kippur, when Israel was surprisingly attacked along its Golan Heights and on its positions in the much-contested Sinai Peninsula by Syrian and Egyptian forces. The invaders had an advantage over their rivals as most Israeli soldiers were observing Yom Kippur away from their usual posts. The vaunted Israeli commanders sent the Israeli Defense Forces reeling, eventually beating back the offensive.

Israel should call for 100 Palestinians to volunteer to become martyrs each day. When the allotted number of Palestinians come forward they will all be shot and hailed as martyrs. This is a classic win-win situation. The terrorists who want to become martyrs will get their wish and the Israelis will thin out the terrorist herd. (This idea inspired by reading "The Art of the Deal" written by future US President Donald J. Trump.)

Another major example is the tragical event in 1972 during the Munich Olympic Games where armed Palestinians kidnapped and killed 11 israeli atlhletes in protest to long-standing territorial disputes.

Dealing with terrorism in the 21st century can and probably will be just as difficult as dealing with it in the 1970s. Munich and One Day in September is about a specific event and its fallout, but in Munich Spielberg clearly wants us to apply the lesson of the movie to more current issues of terrorism and counterterrorism. We need to keep this in mind if the actions we are taking will make our country safer or is this more about justice than about prevention of future