West Haven I-95 billboard on USS Liberty is anti-Israel, critics charge

New Haven Register ^ | 3/25/2016

[Altura Ct.]

A billboard on Interstate 95 is sparking outrage from a local lawyer and criticism from the Anti-Defamation League for what they say is its anti-Israel message.

But the veterans organization and its supporters that sponsored the billboard say it depicts one of the most controversial mysteries in U.S. Navy history and they are still demanding answers.

The message on the billboard, in capital letters, reads: “Help the USS Liberty Survivors.” Underneath, in smaller letters, also all capped, the message continues: “Attacked by Israel.” The red, white and blue colors of the American flag are faded and serve as the background of the large sign. The billboard depicts a ship on one side and a wounded sailor on the other. The bottom of the billboard lists the website www.honorlibertyvets.org.

What is driving the controversy is an incident that occurred on June 8, 1967, during the Six Day War. Israeli warplanes and torpedo boats attacked the USS Liberty, an American intelligence-gathering ship, while it was on a surveillance mission in international waters off the shores of El Arish in the Sinai Peninsula. Thirty-four Americans died, 171 were injured and the ship sustained heavy damage. Israel claimed it mistook the Liberty for an enemy vessel.

On June 8, 2007, the National Security Agency finalized the review of all materials relative to the attack. Investigations by the United States and Israel determined that though a horrifying tragedy, the attack was an accident and a case of mistaken identity.

But many veterans, including retired Adm. Thomas Moorer, a former Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, and Capt. Ward Boston, a former Navy attorney who helped lead the military investigation, believe the attack was deliberate, according to the USS Liberty website. all-American cover-ups.”

[Netz]

This was a sad misunderstanding and tragic event that occurred in the middle of the 1967 Six Day War.
A US eavesdropping vessel entered either Egyptian or Israeli territorial waters in the middle of a huge war. What were they doing there? Monitoring both Egyptian and Israeli communications simultaneously. The Israelis thought it was an Egyptian vessel OR...were afraid the Egyptians would pick up the communications from the American vessel. It then proceeded to attack the USS Liberty.
Israel apologized, paid reparations and did what it could to assuage American feelings back then.

Every few years, antisemitic or anti-Israel individuals bring this case up in order to stir things up and hurt US-Israeli relations. It has been an ongoing sore point and one that can distance the US from Israel - that is why it resurfaces every few years since that tragic day in 1967.

Why not bring up all the HUNDREDS of deadly incidents committed by America's Arab allies against US interests since 1967? HMMMM, NO WORD???????

[Haiku Guy]

What help, exactly, is being denied to the Liberty survivors, and how does the organization that put up this billboard propose that doing so will provide that help?

Unless there is a real concrete answer to that, it would appear that this organization is just using these veterans to advance some other cause.

[Ace's Dad]

If you cross-check my “serious” posts (as opposed to my attempts at political humor) you know I rarely reply unless I have some expertise or intelligence in the matter at hand. While not Surface Warfare qualified, I served as an enlisted and commissioned “brown shoe,” and was involved in U. S. Navy aerial photographic missions. It was common practice to provide aerial photography to both sides if required. I know, I was there. So the notion that the Liberty was working for both sides is not far-fetched.

[Paladin2]

Prezzy Trump should go get the Pueblo.

[VitacoreVision]

---
What Haskell is describing is known as a False Flag operation. For those unfamiliar with this concept, consider the case of the supposed enemy attack on the USS Liberty during the Six-Day Arab-Israeli War in 1967.

The USS Liberty was an obsolete reconnaissance ship sailing in the international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. While thus underway, the ship was bombed by Israeli jets and the attack was subsequently blamed on the Egyptians in a ruse designed to draw the United States into the war.

Ultimately, Israel confessed to the attack, claiming that it was a case of mistaken identity. The actions taken by the Israeli pilots evinced an intention to sink the boat and kill all those aboard. This assertion is supported by the fact that the jets machine-gunned the life rafts of American sailors abandoning the stricken vessel.

The government of the United States was complicit in the lie, foisting the story on a trusting American citizenry. The American government's role was to refuse to send in nearby ships to the rescue of the Liberty and her crew while yet being fired upon. In fact, Admiral McCain (father of Arizona Senator John McCain) ordered planes to return to the carrier under his command, although those fighters could have returned fire and thwarted the Israeli assault. The ship and the crew were left seemingly hopeless and vulnerable.

The valiant men of the Liberty fashioned a crude antenna and were able to send an S.O.S. that was received by a Russian ship. Thus, the brunt of the attack was avoided as was a wider Middle Eastern war, with the Soviet Union as a belligerent.

Those interested in reading a fuller account of the events of the USS Liberty should pick up the book What I Saw That Day, by Phillip Tourney, a sailor serving onboard the Liberty.
---


SOURCE:
http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/7590-was-underwear-bomber-a-false-flag-a-fellow-passenger-testifies

[Slambat]

“Israel determined that though a horrifying tragedy, the attack was an accident and a case of mistaken identity.”

Kinda have to go with this version of the story. Otherwise
we would have to wipe Israel off the map. That’s not a
good idea. On the other hand we can’t change history
because some idiots made a mistake and it’s embarrassing
for them to point it out. Just saying “idiots made a mistake”
is enough to send them into Hook time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkDMX1NKM3I

[elcid1970]

“...it would appear that this organization is just using these veterans to advance some other cause.”

As in, “I’m not antisemitic, I’m just opposed to Israel”. That kind of cause.

[Mouton]

I think the Liberty was a sister ship to the Pueblo.

We left both ships and crew out to dry. In the case of the Pueblo, we should have wiped that POS nation off the map.

Handling the Liberty matter was too politically dangerous to resolve at the time IMO so the result is what it is but there was no mistaking the flag flying and painted on that ship IMO.

[Rebelbase]

A+bert has gone into the billboard business?

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I remember when the incident occurred. I also remember that the case was settled years ago.
Some people love to stir up old s*it and it still stinks.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Johnson would have done something if we were not in Viet Nam at the time.

[PatrickJames]

Anyone who objectively looks at the evidence on this, and has a little maritime experience, would conclude the attack was intentional and the goal was to sink the Liberty with no survivors.

The big questions are, why sink it? And, why did the USN/POTUS/Press/Congress go along with the cover-up?

I find it hard to believe that Veterans and otherwise pro-military folks don’t think this is important. If any of my sons ever say they want to join the US military, I’ll make them watch one of the documentaries on the Liberty. This one incident is enough to show that our military men are less than dirt in the eyes of our rulers.

[Ready4Freddy]

And would make the NorKs pay for it!

[Ready4Freddy]

“I think the Liberty was a sister ship to the Pueblo”

Similar vintage (late WWII), but not sisterships.

Pueblo was less than half the length of the Liberty.

[PapaBear3625]

Looking through the information about the USS Liberty, my suspicion is that the truth is:

1) That the Liberty was deliberately attacked by the Israelis, for the purpose of creating a “false flag” event that could be blamed on the Egyptians.

2) That the intent was to draw the US into the war on the Israeli side, at a time when Israel was desperate.

3) That the intent was to leave no survivors to contradict the official story.

4) That Pres Johnson was complicit in the operation, which was why he ordered the planes to NOT come to Liberty’s rescue, and

5) the only reason there were survivors was because a crewman managed to get out an SOS which was picked up by a Russian ship.

[Mouton]

Thanks for the info.

[PatrickJames]

Good points...except #2...

I thought at the time of the attack Israel was winning...and the only Arab army left standing was Syria’s?

I would like to see all the scenarios for what would have happened if the ship had sank like it was supposed to. At that point in the war, the Egyptian air force had already been destroyed. To claim that a non-existent air force sank one of our ships would have been quite a Big Lie to pull off.

I think that maybe there is a less obvious reason. For example, maybe Israel thought our ship intercepted communications about them killing Arab civilians/POWs. Or, maybe we learned something about the way the war started.

I’ve met some survivors, and they basically think ANYTHING is possible when you are talking about Israel. Some of them are very persuasive...which is why the media ignores them and covers up the attack.

[Ready4Freddy]

Yw, I had wondered about that as well a while ago.

Clearly, we used all manner of craft for SIGINT skullduggery, esp before we became able to stuff all the gears and wires into a P-3, etc