The New York Times (International, Friday, July 16), in an effort to convince itself of its own misrepresentation of the Mavi Marva fiasco, has repeatedly referred to the event as, “a deadly Israeli raid”. That mischaracterization, by The Times, of the unfortunate confrontation has been printed several times over the last several weeks. Let me clarify the situation; what occurred was not a deadly raid. In truth it was Israeli forces enforcing a legal blockade, on international waters, of an enemy sworn to destroy the State of Israel. Israel’s actions constituted neither a raid nor the use of deadly force. However, when the thugs on board the vessel executed their well planned attack on the Israelis commandos legally boarding the ship, the Israelis responded by taking appropriate defensive measures. They, unlike their attackers, value life and yes they value their own lives more than that of their sworn enemies. Once again the truth has been victimized by a press Hell bent on supporting its own misguided political agenda – reasons for which I cannot fathom.