this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2023
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NonCredibleDefense
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I live in Malta, where this happened. AMA.
Whats inside the little chocolate marbles that share your namesake?
Maltese people.
Did anyone get punished?
Edit. Did anyone besides the original terrorist get punished?
Lolno. The prime minister at the time who made the decision to call the Egyptians in for no valid reason (and refused help from France, the UK, and US) allegedly wanted to resign, because it turns out the Egyptian commandos were only interested in getting the terrorists and actually gave zero shits about saving lives.
Anyway, the suckups in government ended up convincing him to stay in power.
Was there any claimed justification at all for refusing help from France, the UK, and US, or did the prime minister clam up real tight after the fiasco?
Officially? No justification that makes sense.
In reality, Malta in the 80s was trying to balance things between the west and other countries like China, Libya, and the kind of countries where you're not allowed to criticise the government.
The government was EXTREMELY corrupt (still is, just less so now), so it would have probably been easier for local politicians to arrange side deals with similarly corrupt countries.
Did the general public support the unit, or did everyone agree that they fucked up?
I'd say 50-50, population-wise. The hardcore labour party supporters (government at the time) won't admit that anything bad ever happened while they were in power.
Everyone else knows it's one of the biggest avoidable disasters to ever happen on our tiny island.