US Expert John Spencer Slams Documentary Claims on IDF Targeting
US military expert John Spencer slammed the documentary "The Subjection" in a Channel 14 interview, calling its claims on IDF targeting and AI "one of the biggest lies."
US urban warfare expert and retired Army Colonel John Spencer sharply criticized the documentary film "The Subjection" during an interview with Channel 14, calling its claims about IDF targeting procedures "one of the biggest lies." Spencer, who has visited Israel eight times since the October 7 massacre to examine military protocols, stated that the film presents a distorted picture of operational decision-making.
Debunking Targeting Claims
Addressing a specific allegation in the documentary regarding an approval for a strike anticipated to cause around 500 civilian casualties, Spencer rejected the portrayal outright. "This is one of the biggest lies, but it also makes people believe that this would be the decision, right? 500 people for this target? That is complete ignorance," he said.
Spencer emphasized that his extensive field research allowed him to observe actual procedures firsthand. "What this film doesn't do is show the entire process. There is not a single person in a single intelligence unit making the decision... There is legal consultation, there are steps for damage minimization that no other military takes."
Artificial Intelligence in Warfare
The documentary also alleges that the IDF relies heavily on autonomous artificial intelligence for lethal targeting decisions. Spencer flatly denied this claim, distinguishing between intelligence gathering and human execution.
"The idea that computers and artificial intelligence make the decisions to kill, that is a lie. There is always a human. In fact, there are more people in the IDF's processes than in other militaries."
Concluding his remarks, Spencer maintained that the Israeli military operates with unprecedented safeguards. "After all my research trips, examining these processes directly, the IDF takes more measures to protect civilians than any army in the history of warfare," he stated.
