'Reflections by a Former US Marine on the Mavi Marmara'

From On Cowardice and Violence by Ken O'Keefe

... I remember being asked during the TJP Human Shield Action to Iraq  if I was a pacifist, I responded with a quote from Gandhi by  saying I am not a passive anything.  To the contrary I believe in  action, and I also believe in self-defence, 100 per cent, without  reservation.  I would be incapable of standing by while a tyrant  murders my family, and the attack on the Mavi Marmara was like an  attack on my Palestinian family.  I am proud to have stood  shoulder to shoulder with those who refused to let a rogue Israeli  military exert their will without a fight.

And yes, we fought.

When I was asked, in the event of an Israeli attack on the Mavi  Marmara, would I use the camera, or would I defend the ship?  I  enthusiastically committed to defence of the ship.  Although I am  also a huge supporter of non-violence, in fact I believe  non-violence must always be the first option.  Nonetheless I  joined the defence of the Mavi Mamara understanding that  violence could be used against us and that we may very well be  compelled to use violence in self defence.  

I said this straight to Israeli agents, probably of Mossad or Shin  Bet, and I say it again now, on the morning of the attack I was  directly involved in the disarming of two Israeli Commandos.  This  was a forcible, non-negotiable, separation of weapons from  commandos who had already murdered two brothers that I had seen  that day.  One brother with a bullet entering dead center in his  forehead, in what appeared to be an execution.

I knew the commandos were murdering when I removed a 9mm pistol from one of  them.  I had that gun in my hands and as an ex-US Marine with training in the use of guns it was completely within my power to  use that gun on the commando who may have been the murderer of one  of my brothers.  But that is not what I, nor any other defender of  the ship did.  I took that weapon away, removed the bullets,  proper lead bullets, separated them from the weapon and hid the  gun.  I did this in the hopes that we would repel the attack and  submit this weapon as evidence in a criminal trial against Israeli  authorities for mass murder.  I also helped to physically separate one commando from his assault  rifle, which another brother apparently threw into the sea.

I and hundreds of others know the truth that makes a mockery of the  brave and moral Israeli military.  We had in our full possession, three completely disarmed and helpless commandos.  These boys were at our mercy, they were out of reach of their fellow murderers,  inside the ship and surrounded by 100 or more men.  I looked into  the eyes of all three of these boys and I can tell you they had  the fear of God in them.  They looked at us as if we were them,  and I have no doubt they did not believe there was any way they  would survive that day.  They looked like frightened children in  the face of an abusive father.  

But they did not face an enemy as ruthless as they.  Instead the  woman provided basic first aid, and ultimately they were released,  battered and bruised for sure, but alive.  Able to live another  day.  Able to feel the sun over head and the embrace of loved  ones.  Unlike those they murdered.  Despite mourning the loss of  our brothers, feeling rage towards these boys, we let them go. ...

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