8 czerwca 1967 r. izraelskie siły zbrojne zaatakowały okręt amerykańskiej marynarki wojennej "USS Liberty". 34 amerykańskich marynarzy zostało zabitych, 172 zostało rannych. Współczynnik strat wyniósł 70 % i był jednym z najwyższych jakiego kiedykolwiek doświadczyła amerykańska marynarka wojenna. Po 50 latach od tego wydarzenia ogrom materiału dowodowego wskazuje na celowy, przeprowadzony z brutalną determinacją i cynizmem, atak sił Izraela na okręt obcego państwa, będącego sojusznikiem Izraela, znajdującego się na wodach międzynarodowych.
Przypadek "USS Liberty" intryguje nie tylko ze względu na atak jak wyżej - być może jeszcze bardziej frapuje skala tuszowania tego zdarzenia przez władze amerykańskie oraz ich niechęć do obiektywnego wyjaśnienia sprawy - pomimo upływu półwiecza od momentu zdarzenia jak wyżej. Widocznie jest jakaś siła, jakieś lobby stojące po złej stronie mocy - które nieustannie - nomen omen - torpeduje próby oficjalnego wyjaśnienia wszystkich okoliczności sprawy i ustalenia "jak to naprawdę było". Ciekawym, jaka to grupa nacisku może być zainteresowana "ukręcaniem łba sprawie"????? Zainteresowanych problemem odsyłam do podlinkowanych materiałów (artykuł, fim BBC) - które dostarczają klarownego przeglądu faktów dotyczących casusu "USS Liberty".

■What was Israel's explanation for the attack?
Israel claimed the attack was "a case of mistaken identity"; that they didn't know it was an American ship.
■Why would we question that explanation more than 30 years later?
The ship's survivors were afraid to speak out in the early years because of threats of "court martial, prison or worse" if they did not remain silent. However, as time passed, they have stepped forward to say the attack was deliberate.Recently, high government and military officials have suggested that not only was the attack deliberate, but that the US government covered-up the incident. Today, an Independent Commission of Inquiry has found that Israel committed "an act of war" against the United States (see Findings of Independent Commission).In addition, the Navy's chief attorney to the original 1967 military Court of Inquiry has issued a statement that orders to cover-up the incident were issued by President Lyndon Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara [see Statement of Captain Ward Boston, USN, JAG (Ret.)].
■Doesn't Israel say that the Liberty flew no flag?
According to American survivors, a 5-by-8 feet American flag was hoisted early that morning and was flying all day until it was shot away by attacking aircraft. Within several minutes, it was replaced by the giant 7-by-13 feet holiday ensign, which flew for the duration of the attack.
■What was the weather like the day of the attack?
Weather reports confirm that it was a clear day with unlimited visibility. The Israeli reconnaissance planes could have seen the Liberty's crew sunbathing on the upper decks just before the attack. The flag was flying in a 12-knot breeze for most of the afternoon.
■Doesn't Israel say they ended the attack the minute they saw someone hoist an American flag?
The Israeli attack by combined air and naval forces spanned two hours - as long as the attack on Pearl Harbor. The air attack alone lasted approximately 25 minutes: consisting of more than 30 sorties by approximately 12 separate planes using napalm, cannon, and rockets which left 821 holes in the ship. Following the air attack, three Israeli motor torpedo boats torpedoed the ship, causing a 40'x 40' wide hole in her hull, and machine-gunning firefighters and stretcher-bearers attempting to save their ship and crew. More than 3,000 machine-gun bullet holes were later counted on the Liberty's hull. After the attack was thought to have ended, three life rafts were lowered into the water to rescue the most seriously wounded. The Israeli torpedo boats returned and machine-gunned these life rafts at close range. This was followed by the approach of two large Israeli Army assault helicopters filled with armed commandos carrying what appeared to be explosive satchels (they departed after hovering over the ship for several minutes, making no attempt to communicate).
■What was the American response time?
Although American carrier-based air support was only 40 minutes away, help did not reach the USS Liberty for seventeen hours. Navy fighters were launched from the aircraft carriers America and Saratoga while the Libertywas under attack. However, they were quickly recalled by the White House. This is the only instance in American naval history where a rescue mission was cancelled when an American ship was under attack.
■Why would Israel have deliberately attacked an American ship?
Israel's motive for launching the attack has never been determined with certainty. This is why an impartial investigation is critical. One hypothesis is that Israel intended to sink the ship (with no survivors) and blame Egypt because this might have brought the United States into the 1967 war. Another hypothesis is that the Libertywas gathering intelligence about activities that Israel did not want revealed. Examples might include the massacre of Egyptian prisoners of war that was then occurring in the Sinai, as well as Israel's impending invasion of Syria.
■Why would the White House prevent the rescue of an American ship?
This is, perhaps, the most disturbing question arising out of Israel's attack. It is why there needs to be a thorough investigation of the actions taken by the White House and the Secretary of Defense. Why did they order the recall of the planes that had been sent to rescue the Liberty? Why did they order that the survivors be silenced and the true facts be withheld from the American people?

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