USS Liberty veterans demand congressional investigation

[TheStripey1]

Does anyone have any information on this strange event from the Johnson administration?


USS Liberty veterans demand congressional investigation (http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/viewpoints/articles/0603liberty0603.html)

Jun. 3, 2007 12:00 AM

Conclusions submitted in October 2003 to the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Defense by the USS Liberty Veterans Association, Inc., in demanding a congressional investigation into the aborted rescue during the attack of the USS Liberty and subsequent alleged cover-up.

The group also calls for a new Naval Court of Inquiry and that June 8 be officially recognized as USS Liberty Remembrance Day.


1. That on June 8, 1967, after eight hours of aerial surveillance, Israel launched a two-hour air and naval attack against USS Liberty, the world's most sophisticated intelligence ship, inflicting 34 dead and 173 wounded American servicemen (a casualty rate of 70 percent, in a crew of 294);


2. That the Israeli air attack lasted approximately 25 minutes, during which time unmarked Israeli aircraft dropped napalm canisters on USS Liberty's bridge and fired 30mm cannons and rockets into our ship, causing 821 holes, more than 100 of which were rocket-size; survivors estimate 30 or more sorties were flown over the ship by a minimum of 12 attacking Israeli planes which were jamming all five American emergency radio channels;

3. That the torpedo boat attack involved not only the firing of torpedoes, but the machine-gunning of Liberty's firefighters and stretcher-bearers as they struggled to save their ship and crew; the Israeli torpedo boats later returned to machine-gun at close range three of the Liberty's life rafts that had been lowered into the water by survivors to rescue the most seriously wounded;

4. That there is compelling evidence that Israel's attack was a deliberate attempt to destroy an American ship and kill her entire crew; evidence of such intent is supported by statements from Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Undersecretary of State George Ball, former CIA Director Richard Helms, former NSA Directors Lt. Gen. William Odom, USA (Ret.), Adm. Bobby Ray Inman, USN (Ret.), and Marshal Carter; former NSA deputy directors Oliver Kirby and Maj. Gen. John Morrison, USAF (Ret.); and former Ambassador Dwight Porter, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon in 1967;

...snip

7. That although Liberty was saved from almost certain destruction through the heroic efforts of the ship's captain, William L. McGonagle (MOH), and his brave crew, surviving crewmembers were later threatened with "court-martial, imprisonment or worse" if they exposed the truth; and were abandoned by their own government;

...snip


12. That a danger to our national security exists whenever our elected officials are willing to subordinate American interests to those of any foreign nation, and specifically are unwilling to challenge Israel's interests when they conflict with American interests; this policy, evidenced by the failure to defend USS Liberty and the subsequent official cover-up of the Israeli attack, endangers the safety of Americans and the security of the United States.




More information: www.ussliberty.org

[PatrickHenry]

Strange indeed. But then, you must admit that the USA has a strange relationship with Israel.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=USS_Liberty
ASSOCIATED PRESS 10/22/03: (Toronto Star) WASHINGTON [1]

A former navy lawyer who helped lead the military investigation of the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty that killed 34 American servicemen says former president Lyndon Johnson and his defence secretary, Robert McNamara, ordered that the inquiry conclude the incident was an accident.
In a signed affidavit released at a Capitol Hill news conference, retired captain Ward Boston said Johnson and McNamara told those heading the navy's inquiry to "conclude that the attack was a case of 'mistaken identity' despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary."

By Nicholas M. Horrock, UPI Chief White House Correspondent, WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (UPI) [2]

A private commission headed by a former chief of naval operations, retired Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, made public an affidavit by retired Capt. Ward Boston, formerly of the judge advocate general's office and one of two senior naval officials investigating the attack.
"The evidence was clear. Both Admiral (Isaac) Kidd and I believed with certainty that this attack, which killed 34 America sailors and injured 172 others, was a deliberate effort to sink an American ship and murder its entire crew. I am certain that the Israeli pilots that undertook the attack as well as their superiors who had ordered the attack, were aware the ship was American."
Though Boston had made these charges informally, this was the first time a sworn affidavit supported them. Boston said he had been a serving naval officer and followed orders keeping quiet about his knowledge for 36 years. "I am outraged at the efforts of apologists for Israel in this country to claim this attack was a case of 'mistaken identity,'" he wrote. "In particular, the recent publication of Jay Cristol's book, the 'Liberty Incident,' twists the facts and misrepresents the views of those of us who investigated the attack. It is Cristol's insidious attempt to whitewash the facts that has pushed me to speak out." Cristol, a retired Navy pilot and member of judge advocate's office, published a book in 2002 that found the attack was accidental.

[TheStripey1]

very strange indeed... I wonder if that incident, or the ramifications surrounding it, had anything to do with Johnson deciding not to seek a second term.

[Newscaster]

No. Johnson's decision not to seek a second term stemmed from the Vietnam War and the high percentage of Americans who were against him. Not EVERYTHING involves the Israelis.

[PatrickHenry]

I agree, Newscaster. Johnson was profoundly depressed by his mistake in VietNam. He couldn't face the electorate over that issue. Most Americans weren't even aware of the Liberty attack.

[Labrocca]

So the Israelis made an attempt to destroy a US ship and get us fired up...nothing new imho. I don't put much past that nation. I don't put much past most nations. There is always something going on we don't know about and personally...I don't want to know. It's like asking me kid if he jerks off and demanding that he give me a complete schedule of his masterbation. Somethings are best left under the carpet.

Everyone has a dark secret I don't see why governments can't be the same.

[Newscaster]

I would not hold my breath until there is yet another probe into the USS Liberty issue. As I can determine, the only ones still bent out of shape over that tragic incident are those with an anti-Jewish agenda. The issue was settled between Tal Aviv and Washington a long time ago and I doubt if there are more than a handful of people who still remember it.
Whether you like the Israelis or not, they are still our strongest ally in the middle east and to keep harping on the Liberty will only serve to weaken the ties betwen the two countries. You obviously dont know or understand the ties between Washington and Tel Aviv nor are you aware of the level of cooperation between the two nations. To reopen Liberty would be as big a blunder as any made in the past by Bush and Company.

[PatrickHenry]

I would not hold my breath until there is yet another probe into the USS Liberty issue. As I can determine, the only ones still bent out of shape over that tragic incident are those with an anti-Jewish agenda. The issue was settled between Tal Aviv and Washington a long time ago and I doubt if there are more than a handful of people who still remember it.
Whether you like the Israelis or not, they are still our strongest ally in the middle east and to keep harping on the Liberty will only serve to weaken the ties betwen the two countries. You obviously dont know or understand the ties between Washington and Tel Aviv nor are you aware of the level of cooperation between the two nations. To reopen Liberty would be as big a blunder as any made in the past by Bush and Company.
The Israelis are not my allies. They are my enemies because of their disdain for justice. They are the allies of WASHINGTON, but those bastards don't represent me or take my side of virtually any issue. So I accuse both of them. :evil:

And this attack on the Liberty would be a long dead issue except for the fact that the survivors don't want to forget about it. It was THEIR friends and shipmates who were shot and killed. With no justice for them and no truth about the event. I don't blame them for not forgetting, and I don't call their agenda antiJewish. They are seeking justice. Who perpetrated that awful crime? :ponder:

[Newscaster]

Patrick....so, instead of spouting off about it......do something about it. Thats the way things get done. Get off your duff and do something and if you dont, then dont complain when things dont go your way.
But on this issue, I can almost guarantee you, nothing will be done about it, by you or anyone else.

[Uncle]

I would not hold my breath until there is yet another probe into the USS Liberty issue. As I can determine, the only ones still bent out of shape over that tragic incident are those with an anti-Jewish agenda. The issue was settled between Tal Aviv and Washington a long time ago and I doubt if there are more than a handful of people who still remember it.
Whether you like the Israelis or not, they are still our strongest ally in the middle east and to keep harping on the Liberty will only serve to weaken the ties betwen the two countries. You obviously dont know or understand the ties between Washington and Tel Aviv nor are you aware of the level of cooperation between the two nations. To reopen Liberty would be as big a blunder as any made in the past by Bush and Company.

Israel attacking the U.S., killing, (murdering) American servicemen should be forgiven and forgotten, while anything anti-jewish is (the holohoax) punishable for all eternity? You self righteous bastards who hate Jesus the Christ and are anti-Christian who call your sick selves "Gods Chosen"....

You mention "anti-jewish agenda" - DUH. You anti-Christians. You are better than us by what design? Your anti-Christ country attacked with intent to kill all the men on board of the U.S.S. Liberty. "Forgive and forget", you cowardly pussies say. But you never 'forgive and forget'. Your people are the devils advocate. Hell is here on earth and the jew is at the helm.

[Newscaster]

Uncle, Jews do not claim to be better than any group in this world but everyone once in a while, you will run across a non Jew who we are better than....namely, YOU. You are not worth much of anything. You have never lifted a finger to do anything for your country, you have dont nothing to better your own situation and you current position insociety is about as low as it can get.
Are Jews better than you? You bet your nasty little Nazi ass we are....all of us.

[Anti-Racism]

Can we get back on topic here, which is why did Israel attack a clearly-marked US ship and then try to cover it up?

[Newscaster]

Look at the Tillman "frindly fire" incident. Why was he shot but our own troops and then the brass attempted to cover it up. This kind of thing tragically happens all the time in combat, in training and other instances. Unless you have actually been in combat, you cannot undersatand the level of confusion that is present, even among the best, highest trained troops.
Now people have been stirring up the waters over the Liberty incident for decades. Yes, it was a tragic incident but Israel claims it was a communications foulup that caused it and the attack ended the moment they got the word it was an American ship. Now, lets face it guys, you cannot prove otherwise. And lets face the other important fact, Israel and the United States are the best of allies on and off the battlefield and even as tragic as the Liberty shooting was, we have still benefitted greatly from our relationship with Tel Aviv and we would be fools to screw that up, especially if the Middle East is important to Washington.
Yes men died on the Liberty but everytime there is a war, men die. If you dont want that to happen, find a way to settle national differences without guns. Do that and friendly fire or mistaken attacks or whatever, will be a thing of the past.