Posted on 04/14/2002 3:51:31 PM PDT by ex-Texan
Sign Petition to Request Full Congressional Investigation of Attack on USS Liberty
To: US Citizens
View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition
Whereas, on June 8, 1967, the U.S.S. Liberty - while operating in international waters in the Eastern Mediterranean - was the target of an attack by Israel's war planes and torpedo boats; and
Whereas, this attack killed 34 members of the Liberty's crew and wounded 172 others, in addition to causing extensive damage to the ship; and
Whereas, the Congress of the United States has investigated every other incident of this kind; and
Whereas, the Congress of the United States has never conducted an investigation into the attack on the U.S.S. Liberty; now therefore be it
Resolved, That the Congress of the United States should immediately undertake and conduct a complete and comprehensive public Congressional investigation of the June 8, 1967 attack on the U.S.S. Liberty.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
Click Here to sign petition:
_____________
Posted in Memory of my High School Friend Phil Tiedke who was a Navy Seal Team Member when he was killed:
CT3 Philippe Charles Tiedtke, USN, 914 32 84
Born 17 October 1944, Santa Cruz, California
Active duty since 2 September 1964
Parents: Mr. & Mrs. Arthur L. Tiedtke, Modesto, CA
Died in Research Section
I have written many letters to members of congress, in both the House and Senate since 1967 asking for answers on this attack on an American ship and my interest has nothing to do with your characterization of those who raise this issue as "anti-semite."
Do you really believe that a continuous assault that took place over two hours was an "innocent, but tragic mistake?"
I do not know what happened that day and there has been a conspicuous absence of any disussion in the media, either broadcast or written or from any branch of government. Perhaps you have some insight into what happened and would factually share that information with this forum.
I believe that would be more informative than following the often used practice of "branding" everyone who raises a subject that causes you some discomfort! I anxiously await you factual information (with references).
You got something to say...by all means say it ..but first pull yer head outta Arafat's arse so we can all understand you....please...
Warmest Regards.
They have Identity Politics and Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals down pat.
Sec. of Defense at the time, Robert McNamara is still living. He was with LBJ when the American fighters were recalled. Has anyone asked him why the decision was made to recall them? Time is running out on this one.
This decision cost 20 additional lives (at least).
If that were the only motive, they wouldn't be. But I don't believe that the people pushing so hard have such pure motives.
If you want to know the answer as to why those Americans were killed, there are 2 or 3 theories that are all somewhat credible and highly detailed. Read them.
There is no way another hearing on this issue is going to answer the question with any more certainty than advanced by those theories. Knowing this, why the demand for more hearings except to harangue Israel? And why harangue Israel now over this? All the people involved are very old or dead. The relationship between our countries has changed. The people have changed. Their society and their geopolitical position has changed.
We no longer curse Japan for Pearl Harbor, why continue to curse Israel for the Liberty? We don't want Germany cursing us for Dresden, or Japan for Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or Vietnam for Mai Lai. Now that Israel has paid reparations and apologized, a very real sign of contrition, it's time to forgive. If we cannot forgive, we cannot expect forgiveness ourselves.
Nevertheless, there are those who refuse to understand this point of view and continue to press for something that is impossible to ascertain. I won't call them (all) anti-semites, but they have at least a very strange point of view with highly unrealistic expectations -- that's very suspicious in my view.
But he did tell Congress on July 26, 1967: “It was the conclusion of the investigatory body, headed by an admiral of the Navy in whom we have great confidence, that the attack was not intentional.”
In 1987, McNamara repeated his belief that the attack was a mistake, telling a caller on the “Larry King Show” that he had seen nothing in the 20 years since to change his mind that there had been no “coverup.”
So, either you will take McNamara at face value, or you will accuse him of covering it up. If he is covering it up, I think it's highly unlikely you will turn him now.
If the USA was spying on Israel, and this spying was causing the Egyptians to learn about Israeli troop movements, then McNamara could very well have realized that the attack, while a serious affront, was at least justified from the Israeli point of view.
Further, if we in turn attacked Israel, that would have been the defeat of Israel to the Arabs, and Israel was just beginning to become the lynchpin in our containment policy during the cold war. From that vantage point, destroying Israel would have been against our interests.
Yes, we should have intervened to save our men. Yes, we should have shot down the Israeli planes and sank their submarine. I can't really say why we didn't, but I try to think it all the way through. Expediency is sometimes American policy, despite our professions otherwise. Hence, our support of Arafat despite his murder of American diplomats in Khartoum, his order to murder Americans on the Achille Lauro (Mr. Klinghoffer), and his work to murder other Americans in Europe and in Israel.
So, it appears that even if the air attack was a mistake, by the time such a mistake was realized, the return fire from the Liberty upon the Israel gunboats forced the the Israelis to launch torpedos.
Just a theory, mind you... I don't know all the facts. Anyway, the testimony is now presented on this thread for those who are interested.
1503 One MTB returned to ship and signaled [sic], “Do you need help.”
Commanding officer directed that, “Negative” be sent in reply.
The difference is that when those others attacked they did not proclaim it to be an accident and attempt to suggest that they were our friends. They were our enemies. If Israel is guilty it should confess. If it is innocent, then it has done what is needed, or at least all that can be asked of it. Friendly fire with apologies and reparations is one thing. Cynical deceit, arrogance and treachery is another. The families of the servicemen who died that day deserve to know which of those two possibilities explain the tragedy of the Liberty.
Because the U.S.had betrayed the Jews before by not bombing the camps and turning away Jewish refugees and allowing millions to die.
It won't happen again. Could you imagine the U.S. turning away jews today? Even the people who, like you, want to reopen old wounds wouldn't dare. If you can get over your ridiculous self pity over an incident that happened so long ago, try thinking about the here and now. Israel is fighting for its life and there's nothing you or the anti-semites can do to dissolve the union between the two countries.
Soon, mark my words, U.S. and Israeli troops will be rolling side by side toward Baghdad and Damascus. The U.S. has no choice but to side with its only true friend -- a friend that knows the local terrain and where to call down the air strikes. Instead of trying to bring up the Liberty, be glad you have a partner that knows which enemies to hit when. Honesty is the essence of friendship and Sharon is being honest.
How naive. Why are so many fooled, are are willing to be fooled by such nonsense. It is Arafat's GIFT to the Arabs to stop America's was on Iraq by unleashing an unprecedented wave of suicide bombers--knowing full well what the Israeli response would be. Why do you think Prince Abdullah suddenly came out with his "peace" plan right after this wave. And the hugs and kisses for Iraq by the supposed-foe Saudis and Kuwaitis at the Arab "Summit". Our enemies who murdered our loved one on Sept. 11th have found our achillies heel and are trying to exploit it to their greatest abilities to stop the "War on Terror" cold.
Only America is choosing to stop its war to waste time on this one. But their delaying tactics will not last long. This "tension" between us and our one true M.E. ally is but a ruse, for the President knows full well he need only lean on Israel long enough for our Iraqi war to begin. Once begun, Israel will be given free rein.
They key question is does Bush have what it takes to take on the entire Arab enemy, from Arafat to Abdullah. We will see. So far, not too encouraging. But I have faith in our President.
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