georgephillip
Diamond Member
- Thread starter
- #21
Do you think Dean Rusk knew about Operation Northwoods?"Both the Israeli and U.S. governments conducted inquiries and issued reports that concluded the attack was a mistake due to Israeli confusion about the identity of the USS Liberty."
"In May 1968, the Israeli government paid US$3,323,500 as full payment to the families of the 34 men killed in the attack. In March 1969, Israel paid a further $3,566,457 in compensation to the men who had been wounded. On 18 December 1980, it agreed to pay $6 million as settlement for the U.S. claim of $7,644,146 for material damage to the Liberty itself.
Purportedly, on December 17, 1987, the issue was officially closed by the two governments through an exchange of diplomatic notes."
Are there unresolved questions about this incident? Yes, absolutely. I believe Congress should have investigated. Do I believe that Israel--after being practically given a state-of-the-art military courtesy of the US of A maliciously murdered, with the full knowledge of both Israeli and American leadership, with implications that LBJ himself was involved in the cover-up?
No. Your thread belongs in conspiracy theory.
"Washington, June 10, 1967.
"The Secretary of State presents his compliments to His Excellency the Ambassador of Israel and has the honor to refer to the Ambassador's Note of June 10, 1967 concerning the attack by Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats on the United States naval vessel U.S.S. Liberty,
"In these circumstances, the later military attack by Israeli aircraft on the U.S.S. Liberty is quite literally incomprehensible.
"As a minimum, the attack must be condemned as an act of military recklessness reflecting wanton disregard for human life.
"The subsequent attack by Israeli torpedo boats, substantially after the vessel was or should have been identified by Israeli military forces, manifests the same reckless disregard for human life. . . . The U.S.S. Liberty was peacefully engaged, posed no threat whatsoever to the torpedo boats, and obviously carried no armament affording it a combat capability.
"It could and should have been scrutinized visually at close range before torpedoes were fired.
". . . the Secretary of State wishes to make clear that the United States Government expects the Government of Israel also to take the disciplinary measures which international law requires in the event of wrongful conduct by the military personnel of a State."
"There has been no statement in the last thirty-eight years by the United States government reversing or amending this formal position."
USS Liberty Memorial: Summary of Events