Comments on: Kid leaves West Point to emigrate to Israel and join elite forces there

By: Citizen

Citizen — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:12:01 +0000

Ah, I also have military experience, and I am also a lawyer, and I say what you miss
is the practical, that is, yes it’s true the cadet and grunt will fight and die as commanded, and the political reality has been, and is they will die for Israel.

By: homingpigeon

homingpigeon — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:52:00 +0000

A midshipman or cadet at one of the service academies may drop out during the first two years with no obligation. (In time of draft the status of the dropout becomes 1A). One who drops out during the third or fourth year incurs an obligation to serve in an enlisted status for a period of time equal to that spent at the academy. After graduation the commitment is for five years plus whatever time is spent in post graduate studies.

This fellow was free to go, but I hope he drops out of the IDF as well.

By: James

James — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:01:27 +0000

i meant school of the americas.. my mistake..

By: Danaa

Danaa — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:42:47 +0000

To me, Tzvi is more of a traitor than anything else. And a quitter to boot. He ups and leaves his country to fight for a taliban-like military in Israel (given what most “elite” units are engaged in) without a thought for the people who made the recommendations to get him into West Point (one has too get at least two recommendations to get in – and they have to be convincing). Does it mean he has been lying to his officers and classmates all this time about where his patriotism lies – or did he just had a conversion following enticements from this organization? I do wonder BTW how much he got in promises and cash from nefesh b’nefesh (isn’t that the T-shirt he is wearing?).

Anyways, I don’t see any dual loyalty here, just a single loyalty – and it’s not to the US. Since ours and israel’s interests are fast diverging, this may well mean that Tzvi will find himself fighting against the US one way or another in due course (I really believe that we are headed towards a major conflict with Israel). In the meantime he can train target shooting at palestinians.

By: VR

VR — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:09:53 +0000

Who knows how long my comment will “await moderation” under the “Clinton Minces Words” top post at this time. Perhaps it is because I implied that the judge who ruled in favor of the “Sephardic community” organization, that accepted an Ottoman deed of ownership that was previously rejected, might have been schmeared…

By: pineywoodslim

pineywoodslim — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:04:39 +0000

Well put. That sums it up better than I could.

By: pineywoodslim

pineywoodslim — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 03:03:12 +0000

“Every academy cadet and every boot camp grunt is preparing to fight wars for Israel.”

Well, in my military experience I would rephrase what you said–every military person is prepared to fight wherever the commanding officers tell them to. There is a distinction there with what you said.

By: VR

VR — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:58:31 +0000

syvanen, yes I see your post, but you may not be able to see mine. Mine have been sitting since a little before 11:00AM this morning “awaiting moderation” under the Russian Vote post…lol

By: syvanen

syvanen — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:31:45 +0000

testing. Is this accepting posts now.

By: pineywoodslim

pineywoodslim — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 00:58:02 +0000

I have always been led to believe that when entering the service academies, one signs a contract of enlistment in the armed forces.

This contract normally entails an agreement to serve in the US military for 4 years after graduation.

Now, while I have no doubt that there are more than a few who “wash out” in their first year or so, and who by mutual agreement are excused from their service obligation, I wonder what specifically was this young man’s escape from his contract?

Was he washed out due to some political beliefs, i.e., was there some mutual recognition that he was not fit to serve as an officer in the US military?

Or did he just renege on his obligation and flee to Israel? If that were true–and I have no idea if it is–he would be subject to court-martial if he ever returned to the US.

To speculate further, perhaps an influential politician was able to finagle a release from his military service contract.