USS Liberty

New Findings Reveal Israel and U.S. Covered Up Deliberate Israeli Attack on U.S. Navy Ship in 1967

Chief Attorney to Original Navy Court of
Inquiry Breaks 3 Decades of Silence;
Exposes Cover-up by Johnson White House

34 Americans Killed, 172 Injured in
Israeli “Act of War” on June 8th, 1967

Washington DC. (October 22, 2003) A new report released today by former officials from the highest level of the military and government reveals that Israel “committed acts of murder against American servicemen and an act of war against the United States” when it deliberately attacked the USS Liberty and killed 34 American crewmembers in 1967. (See the Findings of the Independent Commission of Inquiry).

In addition, the Chief Attorney to the original 1967 Navy Court of Inquiry has stated in a sworn affidavit that then-President Johnson and then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara ordered the Court of Inquiry to cover up the attack by presenting it as a mistake. (See the Sworn Affidavit of Ward Boston)

Implications for All “The American People”

On October 22, 2003, senior military officials gathered on Capitol Hill to ask for a new and honest naval inquiry into the 1967 attack, as well as why the US government cover-up followed.

“The men of the USS Liberty were representing the U.S. They were attacked for over 2 hours by Israeli Air Force and Navy units with 70% American casualties and the eventual loss of our best intelligence ship,” said Admiral Thomas Moorer, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. “These sailors and marines were entitled to our best defense. We gave them no defense. The findings of this commission are irrefutable. Every other attack on a ship in our history has been investigated by our Congress except this one.”

“Nor has Congress ever investigated the recall by the White House of U.S. Navy aircraft sent to rescue the Liberty while the ship was still under attack,” he added. “The White House cancellation of the Navy’s attempt to rescue the Liberty is the most disgraceful thing I have witnessed in my entire military career.”

“Why would our government put Israel’s interests ahead of our own? Does it continue to do so? This is an important issue that should be investigated by an independent, fully empowered commission of the American government. Our own Independent Commission of Inquiry findings have grave implications for our national security and for the American people. In order to confront this problem, the American people and our elected officers will need to overcome their fear of the pro-Israel lobby in the United States,” Moorer continued.

Compelled to “Share the Truth”

In his sworn testimony, Captain Ward Boston, Counsel to the original 1967 U.S. Navy Court of Inquiry’s investigation into the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, says the attack was deliberate but that the Court was ordered to cover it up by the Johnson White House.

Boston states that, “For more than 30 years I have remained silent on the topic of the USS Liberty. I am a military man and when orders come in from the Secretary of Defense and President of the United States, I follow them.

”However, recent attempts to rewrite history compel me to share the truth� 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� Contrary to the misinformation presented by Cristol and others, it is important for the American people to know that it is clear that Israel is responsible for deliberately attacking an American ship and murdering American sailors.”

About the USS Liberty

The USS Liberty was an unarmed American navy ship that was attacked for two hours by Israeli planes and torpedo boats on June 8, 1967. 34 American sailors were killed and 172 injured that day, a casualty rate of 70%. This is among the highest casualty rates ever inflicted upon a U.S. naval vessel.

Today’s findings reveal that Israel thwarted attempts to rescue the ship and its crew. Attacking Israeli aircraft jammed all five American emergency radio channels. In addition, Israeli torpedo boats machine-gunned at close range the life rafts that had been lowered to rescue the most-seriously wounded sailors and marines.

Immediately following the attack, the ship’s survivors were threatened with “court martial, imprisonment or worse” if they did not remain silent. However, as time has passed, many have stepped forward to say that the attack was undeniably deliberate and that justice must be served. Despite numerous attempts to be heard, no previous inquiry has taken public testimony from surviving crewmembers.