The 1972 Munich Olympics Hostage Crisis Essay - 2337 Words

September 5, 1972:Violence in the Village A Day That Changed Sports and Its Story in The New York Times 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†¦show more content†¦An article titled Gate-Crashing at Village Easy Despite the Guards states that, Anyone who wants to crash the Olympic Village badly enough, as Arab guerrillas did early this morning in search of Israeli athletes and officials, can succeed without difficulty. Additionally, The New York Times would report that the guerrillas snuck in weakly disguised as athletes armed with a cache of weapons in duffle bags. These men, as a diagram of the Olympic Village shows, did not have to go far to find the Israelis after easily entering the compound. Red Smith, sports editorialist, was livid at Olympic Organizers for their lack of attention to detail, and due to the fact that the Games continues until 4:00 PM on the day of the attacks. The men who run the Olympics are not evil men. Their shocking lack of awareness cant be due to callousness. He adds, It has to be stupidity. The New York Times put security under the microscope on day one of reporting the story, and would continue to do so for several days. Security was not the only problem under the microscope. sIn an article titled Head of U.N. Condemns Raid as a `Dastardly Act, The New York Times printed a quote blaming Arab nations for the attack. The quote and others like it seemed to suggest that if the Arab nations that harbor terrorists were more proactive in eliminating terrorism in their nations, then the whole conflict couldShow MoreRelatedThe World Shook With Terror1593 Words   |  7 Pageswith terror September 5, 1972, when a group of eight Palestinian terrorists killed two Israeli Olympic team members and took nine hostage, during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany. Prior to the hostage crisis, the games had run smoothly and were into their second week of competition. The games were used to present a new identity of democracy and optimism for Germany. This was the first-time Germany had been allowed to host the games since the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which still loomed in internationalRead More The Olympic Game s in Munich of 1972 Essay1617 Words   |  7 Pagespolitical, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas† (Advertising, Demonstrations, Propaganda* 98). This rule shows just what the Germans were hoping for, a peaceful, passive, war-free environment in which countries can get together and compete. Although we all know that quite the antithesis was upon the 1972 Olympics in Munich between September the fifth and September the sixth. 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Read MoreAspects of Crisis Management: An Examination603 Words   |  2 PagesAspects of Crisis Management: An Examination As weve seen throughout the history of humankind, crisis situations and other such disasters have long been a part of the human story and the human experience. One of the most defining incidences which helped to fine-tune some of the more pervasive strategies of the field and the techniques of professionals in crisis management was the terrorist attack during the Munich Olympics in 1972. During this time certain trends were in use and seen as prioritiesRead MoreThe Types Of Terrorism As Well As Types That Fill Our Society2343 Words   |  10 Pagesto start a war, sway politics/debates, gain advantage, or make money. 1972 Munich Olympics hostage crisis The Munich Olympics hostage crisis of 1972 was an attack during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. The attack was on eleven Israeli Olympic team members, they were taken hostage and then killed. This attack was done by the Palestinian group Black September. The goal of the group was to take the hostages and request the release of 234 prisoners jailed in Israel. Israel rejectedRead MoreBlack September1882 Words   |  8 PagesBlack September and fled the scene, two of them were caught and arrested in Egpyt. In December of 1971 they attempted to assassinate Zeid al Rifai, Jordan’s ambassador to London and former chief of the Jordanian royal court. In February of 1972 they sabatoged a gas and electric plant in west Germany. In May of 72 they hijacked a Belgian aircraft flying from Vienna to London. In September of 72 the group sent dozens of letter bombs from Amsterdam to Israeli diplomatic posts around the world