USS LIBERTY: REMEMBERANCE MESSAGE

07. Jun, 2009 Print This Article! 0 Comments

REMEMBERED

A Special Rememberance

Message

USS LIBERTY

By Elias Farhud

June 8, 2009

Today, June 8^th 2009 is the “42nd Anniversary” of the

attack on the USS Liberty.

It is appropriate that we all pause today to remember and record the 42 years struggle by the Survivors of the attack on the U.S.S. Liberty for justice and ponder the US government’s denial of the truth about the attack and to observe a moment of silence for the 34 sailors who died and the 171 wounded on June 8, 1967, aboard the USS Liberty that was patrolling in international waters of the Mediterranean when Israeli planes and torpedo boats attacked the ship.

June 8, 1967, will remain a day of infamy in the United States because it was the first time in US history that the US NAVY was delayed from coming to the aid of an American Ship under attack. Although, planes were launched from the USS SARATOGA, they were re-called back by the then, Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, (who is still alive) and President Johnson. Despite a near-universal consensus that the Israeli attack was made with full knowledge that USS Liberty was a US Navy ship, the cover-up of this fact by the US Government continues to this day.

Though some officials individually have characterize the attack as deliberate, the USG have never sought prosecution of the guilty parties or otherwise attempted to seek justice for the victims. Though they never formally accepted the Israeli explanation that it was an accident, they never pressed for a full investigation either. They simply allowed those responsible literally to get away with murder.

In recent years, others have come forth stating the attack was deliberate. They have asked that a new Court of Inquiry be convened by the Department of the Navy, operating with Congressional oversight, to thoroughly investigate the attack on the USS Liberty, which is the only way justice can be rendered to the survivors.

Admiral Moorer and his distinguished colleagues have called for June 8th to be known as “USS Liberty Remembrance Day, in order to commemorate the Liberty’s heroic crew”.

“I ask for your support in opening a new Court of Inquiry, he said, so that the survivors who have been denied justice for 42 years will have their voices recorded and Americans will know what these heroes endured.”

“Might this June 8^th 2009 see justice begin to be served by entering into the Congressional Record: USS Liberty Remembrance Day.”

At last, with the new Obama Adminstration ‘s promises of Hope and Change, there is a glimmer of Hope that a historic injustice will be overturned, or at least begin to be addressed. “Israel’s assumption that they could continue bullying the US is long overdue a reality check.”

In the week of the Anniversary of the USS Liberty bombing by Israel, it may be salient to remember how that incident sums up Israel’s blatantly cynical attitude to the US to this day and the huge sums the American taxpayer gives to this wealthy State.

In an ongoing effort to reveal the truth about the attack, the USS Liberty Veterans Association has filed with the Secretary of the Army in the manner prescribed by law a detailed, fully documented Report of War Crimes describing the circumstances of the attack on their ship and evidence that it was a crime under international law. In accordance with international law and treaties, the United States is obligated to investigate the allegations. So far, the United States Government has declined even to acknowledge that the report has been filed. The full text of the report can be found at:

http://www.gtr5.com/evidence/warcrimes.pdf

What you can do?

You are encouraged by the President of the Veteran’s Association to participate by joining the survivors of the Liberty and others in Washington, DC , TODAY; by writing Letters to the Editors to your local newspaper; by encouraging Radio and TV hosts to discuss the issue with or without survivors; by disseminating information about the Liberty case and notifying others in your community and encouraging them to participate; by airing relevant films in your community and on community TV; by calling and writing to President Obama, Senators, Congressmen, Newspapers, Neighbors,

et al. Even if we cannot effect a Congressional Investigation, we

can at least bring our Congress’s appalling negligence to public attention.

Phil Tourney, who was on USS Liberty, and is obviously an interested commentator, postulates a very reasonable and credible answer to “why” Liberty was attacked.

Phil Tourney’s speech, USS Liberty survivor, at the No More wars for Israel

The Liberty Hour hosted by Phillip Tourney is one of the top rated shows on RBN and several AM and FM stations through out the USA. The show call in number is 1800 313 9443 (1100 EST 0800 PST republicbroadcasting .org. email: tonktime5@yahoo.com ) for those who might want to participate.

People need to know that Israel not only defies international law and restricts the rights of Palestinians and non-Jewish citizens and maintains a brutal military occupation of almost 4 million Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem It refuses to co-operatate in the UN investigation for war crimes of its latest three-week attack on Gaza five months ago, it has also denied Survivors of USS Liberty their rightful honour and justice for 42 years.

The Israelis do what they want regardless of international law and they use US as their cover and protection. American presidents and the American Congress need to put the United States first. The Israeli right-wing were big supporters of the neo-zionist philosophy and were Bush’s biggest supporters outside of Texas.

Now Netanyahu comes to push for war with Iran.

Somebody needs to ask the question- Is this state of permanent war with the Arab world in US interest or in Israel’s interest? I SAY IT ISN’T. And I suspect a lot of clear-thinking Americans, Jews and Israelis agree with me and to that end today we stand in solidarity with the American people and the Survivors of the USS Liberty.

Elias Farhoud, Editor, intifada-palestine.com

References & Source:

Now there are three equally riveting books and videos titled:

ATTACK ON THE LIBERTY by Aegean Park Press

THE ATTACK ON THE LIBERTY by James Scott, Simon and Schuster

ASSAULT ON THE LIBERTY by James Ennes, Random House

** To visit the original USS Liberty memorial web site and database, please CLICK HERE.

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