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The Truth about the USS Liberty
College Voice of Connecticut College | Will be Nov. 1st | Yoni Freeman

Posted on 10/30/2002 3:37:06 PM PST by yonif

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To: Ciots
"masters"
"inner party"

Come on, Adolf, dispense with the code words.
21 posted on 10/30/2002 5:46:01 PM PST by gcruse
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To: yonif
The type of weapon used was napalm, the wrong kind of weapon to use if one wanted to sink the ship...

Thase napalm fires sure make big holes. Right on the waterline, like a torpedo that fails to explode.


22 posted on 10/30/2002 5:47:24 PM PST by archy
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To: Jefferson C. Davis
One of the reasons it causes nasty flame wars is that people frequently post nonsense like this post. The version of the attack presented here is simply a pack of barefaced lies. I can think of no kinder way to describe it.

Were you there? I'm not meaning to question your evaluation, only wondering if your assessment is based on firsthand knowledge.

-archy-/-

23 posted on 10/30/2002 5:51:56 PM PST by archy
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To: D-fendr
Why would they want to thwart US communications intelligence gathering?

There was considerably more going on in the area than *just* communications gathering. The alert flight of aircraft from the carriers USS America and USS Saratoga responding to the attack on the Liberty on the orders of Rear Admiral Lawrence Geis were recalled because higher command believed that they were armed with nuclear weapons. Geis is reported to have later claimed that the order recalling the alert aircraft flight from the carrier came directly from Secretary of Defense MacNamara. Subsequent flights were also cancelled, and assistance did not reach the wounded aboard the Liberty for 16 hours, though the Sixth Fleet was less than 300 miles away, and it appears that the Israeli attack was photographed and filmed from US submarine USS Amberjack, SS522 and/or possibly also at least two other US submarines operating in the area.

-archy-/-

24 posted on 10/30/2002 6:08:37 PM PST by archy
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To: D-fendr
Why would they want to thwart US communications intelligence gathering?

There was considerably more going on in the area than *just* communications gathering. The alert flight of aircraft from the carriers USS America and USS Saratoga responding to the attack on the Liberty on the orders of Rear Admiral Lawrence Geis were recalled because higher command believed that they were armed with nuclear weapons. Geis is reported to have later claimed that the order recalling the alert aircraft flight from the carrier came directly from Secretary of Defense MacNamara. Subsequent flights were also cancelled, and assistance did not reach the wounded aboard the Liberty for 16 hours, though the Sixth Fleet was less than 300 miles away, and it appears that the Israeli attack was photographed and filmed from US submarine USS Amberjack, SS522 and/or possibly also at least two other US submarines operating in the area.

-archy-/-

25 posted on 10/30/2002 6:09:37 PM PST by archy
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To: D-fendr
Why would they want to thwart US communications intelligence gathering?

There was considerably more going on in the area than *just* communications gathering. The alert flight of aircraft from the carriers USS America and USS Saratoga responding to the attack on the Liberty on the orders of Rear Admiral Lawrence Geis were recalled because higher command believed that they were armed with nuclear weapons. Geis is reported to have later claimed that the order recalling the alert aircraft flight from the carrier came directly from Secretary of Defense MacNamara. Subsequent flights were also cancelled, and assistance did not reach the wounded aboard the Liberty for 16 hours, though the Sixth Fleet was less than 300 miles away, and it appears that the Israeli attack was photographed and filmed from US submarine USS Amberjack, SS522 and/or possibly also at least two other US submarines operating in the area.

-archy-/-

26 posted on 10/30/2002 6:10:12 PM PST by archy
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To: yonif
As it happens, I am strongly pro-Israel.

Nevertheless, I believe that the preponderance of the evidence suggests that Israel deliberately attacked "The Liberty."

They did so because Lyndon Johnson lied about where the ship was and because Lyndon Johnson was using the ship to gather information that might have caused the U.S. to undermine Israel's self-defense at a crucial time, when its very existence was at stake. In other words, they did it because they had to, to ensure their own survival.

Sometimes our political leaders send American troops into harm's way for very questionable or immoral purposes. The troops have no choice but to obey orders and go. That was true of clinton's immoral attack on Yugoslavia. I believe it was also true of Lyndon Johnson's plan to use information gathered by the Liberty to undermine Israel's self-defensive war.

The result was tragic. It's hard not to feel divided about this. On the one hand, Israel acted to defend its very existence. On the other hand, they killed American troops unprepared to defend themselves, with whom they were not at war. I blame Lyndon Johnson, who in the end was indeed forced to join Israel in covering up what happened, because it was as potentially damaging to him as it was to Israel.

I'm sorry that left-wing anti-semitic fools are putting this story to such shameful use. But it doesn't help to paper over what actually happened.
27 posted on 10/30/2002 6:41:33 PM PST by Cicero
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To: Jefferson C. Davis
This is not a "version" of the attack. It simply dicusses the facts, as they are summarized in the final paragraphs. Fact, the ship didn't sink, it went to a near port. Fact, napalm was used. Fact, US Ambassador to UN said no ships in 400 mile radius (Liberty was in there). Fact, Israel was at war with Egypt and as there was an understanding there were no US Ships in the vacinity it simply thought it was an Egyptian ship. These are facts.
28 posted on 10/30/2002 7:19:57 PM PST by yonif
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To: OReilly
Israel did apologize for the mistaken and tragic event.
29 posted on 10/30/2002 7:20:55 PM PST by yonif
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To: OReilly
They don't deny the truth. They did fire upon the ship, but in a mode of where they didn't know it was American.
30 posted on 10/30/2002 7:22:38 PM PST by yonif
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To: yonif
Yoni,
It is great to see a Conservative Jew outspoen at ConnColl!
I was at Conncoll in 1995-96 for Freshman Year. (I helped found the Hillel and was the rep for Student Council.)I see that it is as liberal as ever.

I tried to be active, but it was difficult. The College Republicans was run by a pro-Choice "fiscal moderate" (see RINO) who made it clear that they would only campaign for Bill Weld and that if anyone else were the nominee, she would not vote for him. I was pushed out for being too conservative.

Later I wrote some pro-life articles for the paper. For my efforts someone drew a swastika on my dormroom door. (I guess they noticed the Mezzuzah.)

Do you know professor William Frasure? He was my advisor and one of the few conservatives I know.
I'm sure Professor Brooks has been helpful. Is he still the Hillel advisor? Is he still a peacenik on Israel? (Can you say hi for me?)
I see you have a new president, presumably Jewish. See if you can't get him to make a statement. Is he as liberal as Claire Gaudiani was?

31 posted on 10/30/2002 7:24:52 PM PST by rmlew
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To: home educate
The same reason that a few right-wing anti-semites do.
Communist want to destroy Israel. Spreading disinformation to drive a wedge between the US and Israel would help.
32 posted on 10/30/2002 7:26:10 PM PST by rmlew
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To: OReilly
In addition both US and Israeli investigations conclude these facts. 8 administrations have agreed to Congressional and independent findings that said it was a tragic mistake.

Comeon, how many times did the US make such mistakes like in 1991 when they killed British soldiers on APCs cause they mistook them for Iraqis?
33 posted on 10/30/2002 7:26:14 PM PST by yonif
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To: MadJack
The lies I hear are that the USS Libery was "listening in" on Israeli soldiers committing "war crimes" by executing Egyptian POWs.

If it was an effort to cover up these "crimes" why was the Liberty attacked with napalm and not iron bombs? why was the Liberty not sunk? Why were there survivors? The only reason Israel attacked it was because it thought it was Egyptian ship and it went over to it to cripple it, as it did to the Liberty.
34 posted on 10/30/2002 7:29:14 PM PST by yonif
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To: Rebelbase
I think you might find him at Liberty Forum.LOL
35 posted on 10/30/2002 7:54:27 PM PST by seeker41
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To: yonif
Even if you accept that the INITIAL atack on the U.S.S. Liberty was a mistake (a big if), there remains the question of subsequent attacks on the ship and crew. At a later point, you have an obviously devastated ship aflame and adrift -- and scarcely a threat to anyone. Yet, when Israeli torpedo boats had the opportunity to inspect the ship at very close range and to observe that it was indeed a U.S. ship (Old Glory was still flying) what did they do? They shot and tried to sink the goddamn lifeboats!

Admiral Wheeler thought the attack was deliberate. Dean Rusk thought the attack was deliberate. And, most importantly, the crew of the Liberty thought (and still thinks) that the attack was deliberate. I choose to believe the statements of our patriotic servicemen who served on the Liberty over all the post-hoc rationalizations and cover stories that have emerged since those dark days in 1967.
36 posted on 10/30/2002 8:32:53 PM PST by hanuman
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To: Jefferson C. Davis
One of the reasons it causes nasty flame wars is that people frequently post nonsense like this post.

How do you know that? You joined FR just today.

Have you been banned, Mr. Davis?

37 posted on 10/30/2002 8:50:24 PM PST by TopQuark
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To: hanuman
To anyone else:

C.I.A. report June 13, 1967 no malice; attack a mistake

U.S. Navy Court of Inquiry June 18, 1967 mistaken identity

Report by Clark Clifford July 18, 1967 no evidence ship was known to be American

Senate Select Committee on Intelligence 1979/1981 no merit to claims attack was intentional

National Security Agency 1981 Mistaken identity

House Armed Services Cmtee 1991/1992 No support for claims attack was intentional

About the boats:

• There are also indications that Mr. Painter will claim on camera that when the USS Liberty put life rafts in the water these were machine-gunned by Israeli torpedo boats, which if true could well be a violation of the laws of war.

If Mr. Painter does indeed level this charge in the documentary he is contradicting both his own sworn testimony before the Court of Inquiry, and that of his Captain. The Court’s opening question to Lt. Painter, after name, rank and organization, was:

On 8 June 1967, at about 1400 hours, an incident occurred aboard the USS Liberty in which the vessel was attacked. Would you please relate to this Court of Inquiry what you recall concerning that incident?

Nowhere in his response did Lt. Painter mention anything about Israeli attacks on life rafts in the water. On the contrary, he testified that most of the life rafts had been damaged and set alight during the prior jet attacks on the ship, and that he and his crew pushed many of these burning life rafts overboard:

At this time [after the torpedo attack], the DC central passed the word to prepare to abandon ship. We then filed out to our life rafts which were no longer with us because they had been strafed and most of them were burned, so we knocked most of them over the side... All during this time in Repair Three, my men were fighting fires and knocking burning life rafts, etc.

What possible reason could Lt. Painter have had for omitting in his testimony the charge which he now makes, that Israel attacked the Liberty’s life boats after they were put in the water? Or does he claim that he did testify to this before the Court of Inquiry but that his testimony was tampered with? Does he therefore charge that even the US Navy is part of an alleged coverup?

Whatever the reason for the divergence between Mr. Painter’s present claims and his testimony, Captain McGonagle also never mentioned any attack on life boats during his testimony. On the contrary, he testified that after the torpedo attack some crewmen mistakenly put life boats in the water, and that he ordered them to stop because the ship was in no danger of sinking:

No bodies were noted in the vicinity of the ship following the explosion. Several life rafts, however, were released and placed into the water by various crew members whom I was unable to communicate with prior to their placing the boats in the water. They exercised their initiative on the scene, and no fault can be found with their estimate, not having the information that I had. When the messenger was sent to tell them to leave the lifeboats alone, that the ship was in no danger of sinking at that time, but that the lifeboats might be needed at a later time, no additional lifeboats were placed in the water.

Does it seem reasonable that Cdr. McGonagle, having mentioned in his testimony the placing of the life boats in the water, would somehow forget to tell the Court of Inquiry that these life boats were then attacked by Israel? I researched this answer on various media-watch dog websites.

38 posted on 10/30/2002 9:11:36 PM PST by yonif
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To: yonif
well,there we go again,i`m not going to post pictures like before,but you left few inconvenient items out.

1- israeli recon planes came to take a look at the ship uss liberty .(picture available,taken from the ship.)

2-torpedoe boats came over and circle the ship,(us flag clearly seen)(picture of boats available,taken from the ship)

3-after all that recon from the air and water then came the fighter bombers,(not only napalm but cannon fire against the liberty,(us flag clearly seen at the mast)and the torpedoe boats also did attack with torpedoes and machine gun against the ship,( a picture posted by a fellow freeper shows the torpedoe damage at water level.

39 posted on 10/30/2002 9:35:42 PM PST by green team 1999
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To: green team 1999
Post links to the pictures and then I will reply.
40 posted on 10/30/2002 9:43:26 PM PST by yonif
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