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Posted on 07/09/2003 11:57:21 AM PDT by yonif
Transcripts of tapes released by the US National Security Agency appear to confirm Israel's contention once and for all that the sinking of the USS Liberty off the coast of the Gaza Strip by Israeli jets in June 1967 was an accident.
Thirty-four Americans were killed and 171 injured in the attack on the US naval ship. Israel has always said it attacked what it thought was an Egyptian supply ship bringing supplies to Egyptian troops that Israel was battling.
But Israel's detractors have continued to insist over the years that Israel deliberately targeted the ship, fearing the Americans were spying on them during the Six Day War.
On a tape recorded by an American spy plane in the area, an Israeli ground controller is heard communicating with Israeli rescue helicopter pilots sent in after the attack, who identified the ship as an Egyptian vessel.
"For your information, it is apparently an Arab ship." "Roger." "It is an Egyptian supply ship." "Roger."
Miami Judge Jay Cristol, who persuaded the NSA to release the classified tapes and has researched the Liberty incident for years, told CNN that they show the attack was an accident.
"I don't think there's any question that anyone who reads these tapes would be absolutely convinced that there was the fog of war out there," Cristol told CNN.
The Israelis later in the tape sound confused and concerned. The pilots are ordered to check the survivors' nationality.
"If they speak Arabic, Egyptians, you're taking them to Al Arish. If they speak English, non-Egyptians, you're taking them to Lod. Is that clear?" "Roger."
One of the Israeli helicopter pilots is heard telling ground control that he saw an American flag and is then ordered to return and check again, suggesting they were surprised that the ship could be American vessel.
Israel has released its own recordings of conversations in the past, which it said supported its version of events. Conspiracy theorists said Israel doctored the tapes.
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I agree with you 100%, Quatermass. Having read the book,Attack on the USS Liberty one cannot come to any conclusion otherwise.
- the attack lasted for several hours - the US Flag was clearly visible - this was still not enough, since after some US sailors took to life rafts, they were strafed with machine gun fire from hi-speed torpedo craft
- there was a US carrier nearby, but Robert (the "whiz" kid from the Vietnam disaster) McNamara specifically ordered the fighters to return to the carrier! - then the final insult when LBJ refused to grant the courageous Captain of the USS Liberty a Congressional Medal of Honor - all because of sick politics.
This was a stain on Israel and American politicians. A sad moment indeed. There were even Jewish American sailors who perished or were wounded on the ship.
We should put this moment behind us (after clearing the air) and ensure that something like this does not happen again.
It was very hard reading that book.
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