On June 8, 1967, the USS Liberty was attacked by the Israeli Air Force. 34 sailors (I WAS one at that time (was not on board the Liberty) were killed. 174 were wounded. Israel claimed it was an accident. There is ample forensic evidence and testimony to the contrary. As per usual, our government (with LBJ fresh off his successful cover up of Kennedy’s killers, leading the charge) did it’s best to obfuscate the truth.
57 years later, common sense and a modicum of IQ dictate that I support Israel in it’s fight against our common enemy.......”radical Islamists”. That said, I still hold Israel responsible for slaying 34 of my fellow sailors and will to my last day/breath.
‘67 Israeli attack on USS Liberty ordered by LBJ.. in an effort to promote regime change in Egypt...- Blood in the Water: How the US and Israel Conspired to Ambush the USS Liberty” by Joan Mellen ..
The day of the attack was “a beautiful day,” recalled Lt. Cmdr. David Edwin Lewis, the Liberty’s chief intelligence officer.. Israeli planes had flown over the Liberty nine times prior to the strike, including once that was so close that sailors were able to see and wave to the pilots, Lewis said. It was apparent that Israel knew who the Liberty was.
Adm. Lawrence R. Geis, the Sixth Fleet’s carrier division commander,.. the Fleet had twice launched relief aircraft to the Liberty and that each time they had been recalled by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.
When Geis challenged the second recall, Johnson came on the phone himself, the admiral told Lewis, who remembered Geis quoting the President saying that “I don’t give a damn if the ship sinks and all the Americans are killed..
Johnson had decided to destabilize Egyptian President Gamal Abel Nasser by blaming Egypt for the attack.
Leftys loved them some Israel when it was was run by Socalist Laubor.