Sunday, February 08, 2015

Should the US consider a "Hannibal Directive" for US servicemen captured by ISIS?

Does this picture shock you?  Does it make you want to turn away?  Don't!  This is the reality that can't be swept away by the insignificant "debates" that the current administration takes joy in having.  This is an illustration of what the enemy has in store for every American and every ally we have.  A horrible, painful death.  Drink in the horror of it and understand the nature of the beast we face.

At the very top I don't want this to turn into a debate about whether or not the Hannibal Directive is real or not.  Its part of the lore of the Israeli Defense Force and Israel's enemies act as if it is an established part of Israeli doctrine.

A refresher via Wikipedia.
The Hannibal Directive (Hebrew: נוהל חניבעל‎) (or “Hannibal Procedure” or "Hannibal Protocol"[2]) is a secret directive of the Israel Defense Forces with the purpose of preventing Israeli soldiers being captured by enemy forces in the course of combat. Israel has with several notable exceptions adhered to the principle of not negotiating with what it considers terrorists and this especially in hostage situations. This policy led to some notable successes, such as Operation Entebbe but also to loss of human life, as in the Maalot Massacre. In cases where Israeli soldiers were captured and no military solution was found, Israel was forced to negotiate with the captors about an exchange of prisoners. On several occasions this led to a highly controversial release of hundreds or even thousands of convicted or suspected terrorists in Israeli captivity.
The order, drawn up in 1986 by a group of top Israeli officers, states that at the time of a capture the main mission becomes forcing the release of the captured soldiers from their captors, even if that means injury to Israeli soldiers.[3] It allows commanders to take whatever action is necessary, including endangering the life of a captured soldier, to foil the capture. However it does not allow for a soldier to be killed in order to prevent his capture, according to the IDF chief of staff, Benny Gantz.[1]
Fast forward to the situation we face today.

We have watched videos of ISIS beheading aid workers, journalists and people of all ages of different faiths (to include toddlers).  We've heard reports of women raped, young ones being sold into slavery if they're boys and girls as young as 9 years old married off to ISIS fighters.

Finally we saw a Jordanian pilot burned alive.

The longer this "action" lasts against ISIS the bigger the likelihood of a US service member becoming a captive. Even if it must remain secret is it time for the US to adopt such a directive?

Should the US destroy the enemy especially if it means that a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine is killed in order to prevent his capture?  Could such a move be considered merciful?