Book Seeks Answers to 1967 Israeli Attack On U.S. Spy Ship

Miami Herald ^ | July 14, 2002 | Elinor Brecher

[gdani]

What really happened to the United States spy ship Liberty during the Six Day War?

Federal bankruptcy Judge A. Jay Cristol never gave it much thought until he started dabbling in international studies at the University of Miami in 1986.

One of his professors suggested that as a former U.S. Navy lawyer and combat flier, Cristol might be ideally suited to write about the tragic incident 19 years earlier, when an Israeli fighter jet attacked the Liberty in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula.

[spqrzilla9]

It is not the website of the survivors. It is the website of a particular 'survivor' who has written a book that contains his version of the attack. However, as has been described, his version doesn't pan out.

[Rebelo3]

Well, I've read a lot of conflicting material and it's difficult to know what the truth is. I read Bamford's book to learn about the Gulf of Tonkin incident. He presented what I consider the government's cover story. I read a report on the incident at MACV-J2 in the Fall of '65. It was short and simple. For background; the USS Maddox was collecting signal intelligence along the coast of North Vietnam at the same time the CIA was conducting secret raids on cosatal targets. In his book, McNamara says there was no connection between the raids and the Maddox. HAH! There's no way the CIA would opperate without NSA support. The intell folks on the Maddox intercepted a msg from three NVN PT boats which was interpreted as "prepare for attack", or something like that. The PT boats headed for the Maddox, and when they within range, the Maddox opened fire and called in navy air. Someone at a higher level read the msg and said it meant to be prepard in case of attack. Maybe it something like battle stations or general quarters. It appears that they were simply investigating the Maddox. And of course as we all know, the second attack which was the basis of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution which got us into the war, never happened. At that point in the war, it hard to believe that the North Vietnamese would attack US ships. My point here is that we are lied to so much it's hard to know what to believe. The philosophy at work is the idea that truth is subjective, it's all in your head. The late CIA Director William Colby put it this way: "...truth is in the mind of the beholder; If you affect what he thinks, that's the truth." So, "they" fill our head with false perceptions, and thus we live in a fog of lies.

[LarryLied]

You posted the same anti-Bush stuff in reply #114 on this thread and it is no longer there. How many times are you going to tell us about the Bush family helping Adolf Hitler? And why?

[NoLongerLurker]

...attempting to paint the Bush family as Nazi sympathizers...

Other than the fact that the Bush/Walker banks were among the largest American financeers of Nazi Germany's heavy industry, transportation, etc., and Prescott Bush was almost indicted during WWII for giving aid and comfort to the enemy (he escaped indictment only because he agree to turn in his confederates) we'd all agree that they were a really swell bunch of people.

[LarryLied]

So why doesn't Loftus go after this family?

They aren't the only ones either. Germany traded with everyone.

The answer to my question is, of course, that Loftus has a political agenda. Seaching for Nazis in the U.S. government in the 1980s, trashing Bush and trying to spring Pollard from prison. Give me a break.

[rmlew]

Oh yes, that's it. (sarcasm)
There are two options:
1. Israel wants to take over 5/8s of the world and destroy the US fleet.
2. A misdentification occured.

Most people would go with the explanation of the US and Israeli governments. Of course there are those who do believe that Jews want to take over teh world, facts be damned.

[rmlew]

I know the rhetoric of someone who made up his mind and will spin any facts when I see it.

[rmlew]

My old man was in the Navy for twenty years and I never saw an American ship that wasn't plainly marked or not flying the American flag.

Did you ever pay attention to CIA ships operating in waters that the US Navy banned US ships from operating in?

[Eustace]

Can't say that I did.

Are You saying the USS Liberty was an enemy to Israel?

[dennisw]

You posted the same anti-Bush stuff in reply #114 on this thread and it is no longer there. How many times are you going to tell us about the Bush family helping Adolf Hitler? And why?



------> Most amusing coming from you who repost the same material countless times in your efforts to defame Jews or Israel.

------>I was not aware it was deleted. But since you are, then you now know what the truth is on this subject. I can freep mail it to you with more detail or we can continue the argument in Boca Raton at the freeper get together. But you would not have the guts to show.

---->Your choice wil be to stay uninformed and not debate it.

[dennisw]

and Prescott Bush was almost indicted during WWII for giving aid and comfort to the enemy (he escaped indictment only because he agree to turn in his confederates) we'd all agree that they were a really swell bunch of people.

----> The above a matter of historical record. 3 firms were too cozy with the Germans. Were trading with the enemy. They were firms that Prescott had large ownership in.....was a director in some.
This did not stop me from voting for GWBush. Mr. Lied thinks it would.

[rmlew]

Are You saying the USS Liberty was an enemy to Israel?
I think it is clear that the Israelis thought it was. The conspiracist say that Israel knew the identity or at least owner of the ship. The rest of us believe the US and Israeli governments and believe that this was due to misidentification.

Frankly, this could have been avoided if the captain of the Liberty had identified the ship when challanged, instead of giving the same answer egyptian ships were using.

[SJackson]

Uhh, LL, what Dennis says about Prescot is fact. I hate to burst your conspiratorial world view, but it don’t mean nuttin. It’s no reflection on George Sr., he proved his bravery in that conflict. It’s no reflection on GWB. It’s no reflection on Christians. It’s no reflection on Republicans, or on conservatives. It’s no reflection on people from Maine, or Texans. And it’s no plot. And it’s not anti Bush, it’s not anti anything. . And you don’t have to go to hate sites to read about it, because noone cares. Means nothing. Your paranoia is a reflection of your world view.

[dennisw]

Mr. Lied is a master or paranoid conspiracy ramblings about Jews/Irsael. But goes into total denial when confronted with Prescott Bush firms trading w/ the enemy. Enemy being nazi Germany.

Lied can't handle the truth.

[jo6pac]

...the CIA would not have put a lightly armed ship in harms way in contravention to the orders of the local Navy Brass.

Huh? Please elaborate.

[jo6pac]

It is not the website of the survivors. It is the website of a particular 'survivor' who has written a book that contains his version of the attack. However, as has been described, his version doesn't pan out.

This website is run with the advice and consent of the survivors.

Here's what they say:

U.S.S. LIBERTY VETERANS ASSOCIATION

June 1, 2002

President George W. Bush
Commander in Chief, White House, Washington D.C.

Dear Mr. President,

Saturday, June 8, 2002 marks the 35th anniversary of probably the most shameful day in American history. That day America's banner and honor was treacherously trashed by our so-called ally, Israel. Thirty four Americans were brutally slaughtered, 172 wounded, including myself, and America's most sophisticated intelligence ship was so badly damaged it had to be scrapped. Israel deliberately attacked America's virtually unarmed USS LIBERTY in international waters, knowing full well our identity, in an assault that lasted as long as the attack on Pearl Harbor.

On that bright, sunny infamous day, the LIBERTY had a large American flag flapping in the wind and 10' high I.D. markings on her hull which were clearly visible during the full six hours (6:00 A.M. to 12:00 Noon) that low flying, slow moving, propeller recons distinctly marked with Star of Davids reconnoitered our ship. Overheard radio transmission of the pilots confirmed that the Israel had positively identified the LIBERTY as American.

Suddenly at 2:00 p.m., the government of Israel put a knife in the back of America. In a diabolic attempt at deception, the Israelis began the attack with unmarked jet fighters using rockets, cannons, and napalm on our unprotected ship. Then three motor torpedo boats arrived on the scene and fired 6 torpedoes at us, one hitting its mark, midship's on the starboard side, instantly blowing to bits 25 of America's finest young men. The torpedo gunmen shot at our firefighters and stretcher bear- ers, using us as target practice, maiming and murdering as many of America's sons as they could.

The captain ordered us to prepare to abandon ship as the ship was in grave danger of sinking from a torpedo hit that left a 40' x 40' hole in her. There were only 3 life rafts left that they hadn't already destroyed. We put them over the side to put as many wounded in as possible. The torpedo boats machine gunned the life rafts and sank two of them and took one aboard their boat -- no survivors were to be taken! Helicopters were overhead to board our ship with Israeli commandos at the ready to finish us off.

Responding to a S.O.S. from the LIBERTY, the USS SARATOGA launched their jets approximately 15 minutes into the vicious Israeli attack. Within minutes after the launch, incredibly and inexplicably, Washington shamefully and unconscionably recalled the jets, abandoning helpless American sailors under fire, and subjecting them to an additional two hours of barbaric Israeli bombardment and butchery.

Fortuitously when the Israelis picked up an invalid message that U.S. help was on the way, Israeli reluctantly was forced to terminate its ongoing assault. Without that break, I would not be alive writing this letter.

Ironically help did not arrive until 18 hours after the attack when it was only 15 minutes away. When an American rescue ship finally arrived, what they found was shocking, the LIBERTY was in shambles, death on the water. There were 821 rocket and cannon holes in her hull, thousands of 50 caliber armor piercing bullets riddling her skin, a tunnel size torpedo cavity in her broad side, and the residue of napalm that had been dropped to burn us up. Blood and body parts were strewn across the deck. A sad, outrageous story, but unfortunately true.

The crew of the most decorated naval ship in American history was ordered to remain silent under threat of court martial, imprisonment or worse, and we all knew what worst meant. The U.S. government has never challenged the obviously phony Israeli excuse of "mistaken identity" nor have they attempted to expose the dishonorable cover up that continues to date. Truth and America's honor were ignominiously sacrificed to provide cover for Israel's transparent lies and despicable act of perfidy.

Israel's premeditated, sneak attack on the USS LIBERTY was a direct attack on America. The disgraceful refusal of unpatriotic American governmental officials of dubious allegiance to defend America and come to the aid of brave Americans under attack can only be characterized as treasonous.

Mr. President, on behalf of the courageous crew of the USS LIBERTY, dead and alive, I respectfully request that you commission a presidential panel to finally investigate the attack and cover-up of the USS LIBERTY, and report the truth to American people.

Thank you, Mr. President. God bless you! God bless America!

Respectfully,

Phillip F. Tourney,
President USS LIBERTY Veterans Association

[Middle Man]

I don't "seem to respect" the Spotlight and I never heard of Willis Carto. I just bothered to research the claims made about this new book more than you did. I also pointed out you are dead-wrong about the Liberty survivors unanimously thinking Israel was not at fault.

It was when I called you on it that the little cuckoo popped out of the middle of your forehead and started singing.

[SJackson]

I don't "seem to respect" the Spotlight and I never heard of Willis Carto. I just bothered to research the claims made about this new book more than you did. I also pointed out you are dead-wrong about the Liberty survivors unanimously thinking Israel was not at fault.
It was when I called you on it that the little cuckoo popped out of the middle of your forehead and started singing.

Excuse me, reread the threat. Or read it a first time (a good idea before posting sometimes). I never anything like that. Most of the survivors I’ve read about think it was a deliberate attack by Israel.

You commented in 17 that the statement "[Cristol] says 'virulently anti-Semitic organizations' like the Liberty Lobby continue to 'fan the fires' about the Liberty to smear Israel..." somehow disqualifies the author and his impartiality.

I pointed out to you in 21, with a link to the survivors site, that the survivors themselves say essentially the same thing, and are embarrassed by and disclaim the support of white supremacist and hate groups.

You responded to that with a link in 26 (not pulled due to any complaint by me, I’d like to see that garbage stay up, but I understand FR’s policy) to none other than a hate site.

You respond to a factual statement about the survivors embarassement by white supremacist support for their cause with a link to a hate site. And in you opinion I’m cuckoo? Funny.

[rmlew]

The US Sixth Fleet moved west of Cyprus on June 4th. The Liberty was ordered by the NSA to ignore this order.
that is what put them at risk.

The US is also at fault for refusing Israels request to have a naval attache for the conflict which would have allowed co-ordination. Instead the US refused and told Israel that there would be no American ships in the area!

[NoLongerLurker]

The Bush family, for at least three generations, has had such a long, deceptive and often corrupt history that I could not bring myself to vote for "W" in 2000 in spite of being a life-long registered Republican. Basically, IMHO, they don't care what they do or how they make their money.