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The Munich Olympics Security Failures and Responses

The 1972 Munich Olympics saw one of the most devastating terrorist attacks on German soil. During the games, a group from the Palestinian Liberation Organization accessed apartment buildings where Israeli athletes killed 11 of them. The Munich Olympics exposed security failures that necessitated responses from both Germany and Israel to combating terrorism. 

Security failures exposed at the Munich Olympics included sluggishness to response, negotiation mismanagement, and a lack of security detail. The Israeli neglected to input a security detail for the athletes in the apartments they resided, leaving them vulnerable and open to attacks from their enemies. On the other hand, German police failed to heed warnings of imminent Palestinian terrorist attacks on the Israeli athletes leading to a slow response to the massacre team at the games (Borden, 2015). Consequently, the German police mishandled the hostage negotiation leaving the Israeli athletes tortured and mutilated. Eventually, 11 Israeli nationals lost their lives, prompting a response from both Germany and Israel.

The Israeli government responded with force to the terrorist attack.  Under orders from the Israeli Prime Minister, there was an earmarked assassination strategy. The operation targeted all complicit organizers and artisans of the attack (Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2019). Although it cut through to top Palestinian government officials, the operation was scrapped off after an accidental killing of an innocent.  

On the contrary, Germany sought more long-term interventions for the terrorist attack.  A trained counterterrorism unit was formed that was granted autonomous national ascendancy (Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2019). The paramilitary contingent established an effort to curb terrorism in the region and country at large.

The 1972 Munich Olympics exposed security failures to unthinkable measures that necessitated responses towards curbing terrorism. As Israel sought to avenge their massacred athletes, Germany sought to protect its people and allies from future threats. Such responses are needed to this day in combating emerging terror threats across the world.