The Reverend Ed Hird, Rector of St. Simon’s Anglican Church in Canada recently wrote: “Many people around us have given up on a search for truth. It just seems too costly, too frustrating, and too ethereal. Many fear that the truth, if we can ever find it, will trap us with rules and regulations, turning us into slaves. Many years ago, the world’s most famous human being said: ‘You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free…’ a radical claim indeed.

The Roman governor Pontius Pilate replied to this claim by cynically saying: ‘What is truth?’ He was probably so used to politicians lying and being lied to, that truth had become a meaningless commodity. All of us crave for politicians that will tell us the truth and stop lying to us. It is so easy to dismiss such yearnings as naïve fantasies. Yet if no one can be trusted in our society, then the foundations of our democratic culture are indeed fragile. True democracy is based on the gift of freedom, and the gift of freedom comes from the knowledge of truth. “You shall know the truth” means that truth is attainable, truth is knowledge, truth matters. “The truth shall set you free” means that truth is not abstract and irrelevant, but powerful and liberating. Truth changes everything. Lies kill everything.”

And republican Senator Chuck Hagel, of Nebraska recently said on the eve of his resignation from public office: “The political reality is that… the Jewish lobby intimidates a lot of people up here.” Hagel then related a meeting he had in New York with a group of supporters of Israel who are pushing the U.S. to attack Iran. When Hagel said it hadn’t worked out that well in Iraq, a couple of members of the group said he wasn’t supportive enough of Israel. Hagel spoke firmly: “Let me clear something up here if there’s any doubt in your mind. I’m a U.S. Senator. I’m not an Israeli senator. I’m a U.S. Senator. I support Israel… But my first interest is I take an oath to the constitution of the United States. Not to a president, not to a party, not to Israel. Gee.”

And Philip Weiss of Mondoweiss recently wrote: “Those who choose to join the Jewish people will enrich us with their ideas, energy and passion. And born Jews who choose to embrace their Judaism in an open marketplace also will enrich Jewish life. It is time to embrace the America in which we live.”

Aye, every fiber in my body tells me John McCain is a sneaky, deceitful (lying), unprincipled human being; unworthy of holding public office, much less the oval office! I say this because: 1. He has a long history of patronizing AIPAC when voting on issues involving Israel (as evidenced by the ex-democratic, independent party senator from Connecticut accompanying a republican candidate for president on his trips to the Middle East), and 2. Because of the things his fellow prison inmates had to say about his conduct while a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and 3. Because of his public comments after reading Judge A. Jay Cristol’ thesis entitled, “The Liberty Incident;” wherein this former naval reserve officer absolves Israel of guilt in its June 8, 1967 attack on the US intelligence ship, USS Liberty (AGTR-5), and 4. Because John McCain elected to not reply to my letter of December 28, 2002 admonishing him for turning his back on the cries of USS Liberty survivors who have been abused

and betrayed by their country for nigh on forty years.

(Note: See a copy of my letter to John McCain which includes the text of his (patronizing) letter to Judge A. Jay Cristol, author of ‘The Liberty Incident’ here):

——————–

December 28, 2002

Dear Senator:

I have read your review of “The Liberty Incident” and am appalled that you, of all people could say: “After years of research for this book, Judge A. Jay Cristol has reached a similar conclusion to one my father reached in his June 18, 1967, endorsement of the findings of the court of inquiry. I commend Judge Cristol for his thoroughness and fairness and I commend this work. Senator John McCain.”

I say this because US Navy officers, including Captains and Admirals should be the last people on earth (unless they have a self-serving political agenda) to fall prey to such dupery… especially when it involves those brave young uniformed warriors who ‘we the people’ of this great country depend on to protect our freedoms… Shame on you, Senator… I am appalled at your unwillingness to look for and expose truth!

Surely you can see from the enclosed e-mail that I am not as inclined to be swindled by ideologically inspired zealots as you are. You see identifying the design, model, type and origin of ships and aircraft was my job in the navy. As a Quartermaster/Signalman I was schooled in and worked hard at it full time- and I can tell you that I know of no one that had as much experience or was as good at ship/aircraft identification as I was. NO ONE… Not even veteran ship Captains or Admirals… And all those whom I worked with in the navy knew it… including the now deceased ex-Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral William M. Fechteler. I was his Chief Signalman and Signal officer prior to and during the recapture of the Philippine Islands in WWII… Just how you can be led to believe such politically inspired bullshit is beyond me!

Senator, do what you can to right this terrible wrong carried out against the Liberty crew and the American people now… Before it’s too late! Don’t let your conscience become as burdened with guilt as Captain William L. McGonagle’s was when he died… While he felt a need to speak out about it before he died, and he did, he still departed this world with a confused heavy heart. He knew he had betrayed his shipmates but it was too late for him to set things straight… Oh, what a terrible burden to carry with you to your grave!

Call on your colleagues in congress to appoint a ‘special prosecutor’ to look for the naked truth NOW… Not for the sake of punishing Israel but for mitigating the agony and defending the honor of the United States Navy and all those who were killed, injured and betrayed that day… and for the the sake of a proud nation that stands ready everyday to sacrifice its blood for freedom and truth…

You’ll be amazed at what you learn… I’ll bet my life on it!

There is little doubt Senator John McCain felt Judge Cristol’ book, ‘The Liberty Incident’ provided him an excellent opportunity to defend the actions taken by his father on June 18, 1967; when he, Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., Commander Naval Forces Europe announced to the press on the president’s orders that a US Naval Court of Inquiry found the attack on the USS Liberty to be an accident… Note: By any criteria embodied in the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) – this was an unlawful order and should not have been obeyed… PERIOD!

The fact that Admiral John S. McCain felt a need to lie to the American people and those under his command (including USS Liberty survivors) to appease a conscienceless traitor; Lyndon Baines Johnson boggles my mind…. never, ever would senior officers whom I served with in the navy before, during and after WWII betray their shipmates or countrymen to accommodate the selfish interests of a crooked commander-in-chief. Aye, there are fundamental principles of honor, duty, sacrifice and loyalty among men of the sea that are sacrosanct or inviolable… a standard of conduct and or code of ethics that transcends (all) others!

William Hughes, a prominent Baltimore attorney, former city solicitor, champion of the underdog and gifted American writer described the nature of John McCain’s personality best when he said in an editorial he wrote for Baltimore Indy Media on July 10, 2004 … For a copy of “Liberty Cover-up and John McCain’s Conscience” by William Hughes go to:

(http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/7539/index.php

This is the best narration of the source and dangers inherent in narrow interest’s rule you will ever read. So, if you really care about your children and your country and want both to survive lawmaker’s unethical relationship with corrupt (narrow) interests you’ll go to this website and read every single word of it… and you’ll then print out a copy for an occasional reminder of what could have, should have, might have been… The ugly truth is war disfigures, maims and kills… just how many of us it maims and kills in this world depend on what objective minded peace loving people in (this) country do about it today!

Indeed, I too have read Judge Cristol’s long-winded thesis entitled, “The Liberty Incident,” and in the end am persuaded it is not only a sinful distortion of truth but his conclusions are the work of a prejudiced American Jew going to great lengths to discredit the experience and wisdom of experienced seamen who know the truth. I say, ‘know the truth’ because there are some things in life that come from years of experience and sacrifice on the navigation and signal bridge of warships at sea that leave no doubt about the intentions of the Israeli military forces attacking USS Liberty , June 8, 1967. And such is also the case with others who would attempt to malign and discredit the much talked-about recollection of events in paperback and hardcover book form entitled, “Israeli Assault on USS Liberty” by James M. Ennes, Jr.; especially when they pretend to have inside knowledge of the attack but avoid interviewing (all) who were brutalized in the attack - (or) refuse to undergo a polygraph examination with USS Liberty survivors and their shipmates in search of truth!

Old sea-going sailors with much more experience in the art and science of ship/aircraft identification on the bridge of warships in all kinds of weather in combat and peacetime conditions than twenty Judge Cristol’ feel his conclusions as set forth in “The Liberty Incident” are the work of a neophyte, a prejudiced ideologue (or), are a colloquy of lies. We see it as a polished, albeit shameless attempt to discredit a conflux of wounded voices in order to cover the hides of those ordering the attack… Such behavior is so foreign and unbecoming an American citizen and retired US Naval Reserve officer that it leaves many of us questioning the measure and state of his experience/loyalty!

And lastly, USS Liberty survivors and the writer of this essay stand ready to defend our claim that the attack (was deliberate) while undergoing a polygraph examination on primetime network television with Senator John S. McCain III, Judge A. Jay Cristol- and any other Israeli apologists to find and disclose the truth. It’s high time media and lawmaker’s come clean with the American people and those who were killed and wounded that day. So I beg of you, Senator to encourage Judge A. Jay Cristol and any other Israeli apologists to join us in this effort… And let all who witness the results of our polygraph examination feel the ‘beef’ in your bid for the presidency!

In fact, I am so convinced the three Americans I talk about in this essay would fail the one question central to the people’s need for the polygraph test… (I. e) “Do you honestly believe the Israeli Assault on USS Liberty (AGTR-5), June 8, 1967 was a case of mistaken identity?”

We can only hope and pray there is enough patriotism left in the heart and soul of a corrupt (spineless) * congress to search for its version of ‘truth’ before USS Liberty survivors and their shipmates die. Indeed, if John McCain has true/unmixed fidelity, backbone, courage and integrity he will put his own selfish ‘vote-hungry’ mania aside long enough to insist congress search for and disclose the USS Liberty (American) truth… his sworn oath of allegiance to THIS country when taking office and human dignity demand it.

@ “Of four former NSA/CIA seniors with inside knowledge, none was aware of any agency official who dissented from the position that the attack was deliberate.” - Naval Institute Proceedings

*Considered by many to be one of the most corrupt institutions in the industrialized world!

An old sailor,

US Navy (Retired)

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

My fellow Americans, I sit here at 3:00 am with my heart racing and my hands shaking and I ask that you please take a moment to read my letter. I ask not that you read it for my sake, but rather for your own and for your children and grandchildren.

JUNE 8, 1967, during the Six Day War, we came as close to a nuclear war than anytime in history and it scares me to death as it should you. For the benefit of those who do not know what happened (the result of a deliberate campaign of cover-up and censorship by a Zionist-owned media in America) I will give you a quick history lesson. It all started on a beautiful bright, sunny day 40 years ago. Our ship, the USS LIBERTY, was sailing off the coast of Sinai, doing 5 knots. The LIBERTY was the most sophisticated intelligence gathering platform in the world at that time. We were in international waters gathering intelligence, plucking it from the air, which we had every right to do. We were doing what our government ordered us to do.

Early in the morning we began to see Israeli aircraft coming very close to our ship, some so close we could see the pilots waving at us. As we waved back we could clearly see the Star of David on the aircraft. This went on for many hours. Our flag was flying (as always) GTR-5 was painted on both sides of her bow and “USS LIBERTY” was clearly painted on her stern. There could be no mistake as to who we were. Israel knew we were American and we knew we had been identified as American and friendly as the Israelis themselves have since admitted. They plotted us on their war table and made positive ID of our ship as the LIBERTY. The crew all knew the war was still ongoing and we all took comfort in the fact that our Israeli ‘friends’ had come to visit us. It made all of us feel safer, just in case one of the Arab combatants got spunky and came after us as we all knew Israel would be there to protect their American friends and allies.

We had been on station for approximately 7 to 8 hours. Suddenly, at 2:00 all hell broke loose. We were being attacked by jet aircraft. On their first pass they took out our 4 fifty-caliber machine guns, all of our antennae and our moon dish. Everything we had to communicate with was destroyed. They continued their air assault for about 30 minutes using rockets, canons and napalm which they dropped on the bridge to try and burn us alive. Fifteen minutes into their vicious attack Terry Halbadier got an antenna to work and we began broadcasting “under attack, under attack by unknown jet aircraft.” The jets were unmarked, hiding the identity of our attackers. The USS SARATOGA, commanded by Captain Tully, sent aircraft to our aid only to have them recalled by voice from Secretary of Defense Robert MacNamara. Again, Captain Tully ordered rescue aircraft to come to our aid. Then, President Lyndon Johnson got on the phone and ordered the recall himself, saying “I don’t give a God damn if every man on board that ship dies, I will not embarrass our ally, Israel.”

Now, if we didn’t know who was attacking us until much later into the attack how did the poll cat Johnson know it was the Israelis that were attacking us? The reason is simple–we were set up by our own government as pawns to let Israel have her way with us. Why else would our government recall the life-saving aircraft when we were still under attack?

When the jets got through with us they sent the torpedo boats, three of them. Then and only then did we become aware of who was attacking us. We could see their flags on their boats with the Star of David on them. We were horrified that our so-called ‘ally’ was doing this to us. The word went out we were under attack by Israeli torpedo boats. This was picked up as far away as Vietnam and many other listening posts around the world. Still no help from our government. We were on our own.

The torpedo boats fired five torpedoes at us, one hitting its mark midships, instantly slaughtering 25 American sons. The torpedo boats kept up the attack, I guess, until they ran out of ammunition, shooting at our boilers, firefighters, stretcher bearers, anything that moved. The captain ordered us to prepare to abandon ship.

We put over 3 life rafts, all that remained that would float. We were going to put our most severely wounded men in them. The Israelis would have none of that and shot two of them out of the water and took one aboard their boat as a trophy.

The torpedo boats left and then came Israeli helicopters with armed troops, ready to board our ship and finish us off. They hovered over us like vultures ready for the kill and suddenly they left. We found out later that they left because they knew we had gotten messages out that it was Israel doing the murdering not any Arab state.

When all was said and done in this almost two hour attack, 34 men were murdered, 174 were wounded. There were over 821 canon and rocket holes in our ship. Thousands of 50 caliber armor piercing bullets riddled her skin and there was a 40 x 40 foot torpedo hole in her side. The LIBERTY was the most heavily damaged ship in modern history including WWII.

We did not receive any help from our government for 18 hours after the attack when help was only 15 - 20 minutes away. Why was our government willing to sacrifice 294 American sailors, marines and the finest intelligence ship in the world? That’s what we all were wondering. A few days later, Admiral Isaac Kidd came aboard our ship and ordered every crewman never to speak a word about what happened to us to other crewmen, parents, family, no one under penalty of prison or worse and we all knew what worse meant.

We took the ship to Malta. The dead were removed from the torpedo space and the ship was repaired and painted to look brand new, as if nothing had ever happened.

I stayed silent for many years. I was so afraid to say anything as was the rest of the crew. In about 1983-1984 I read a book called “Assault on the Liberty” by James Ennes Jr., an intelligence officer onboard when we were attacked. I began asking questions of the navy, congress, anyone I could write to find out answers to a simple question - why our government went along with the cover-up as it is still doing today. The standard answer you get from congress is there have already been many investigations which is a bold face lie and I have told them that. All you have to do is check the congressional record and you will see there has never been any investigation except for the sham Board of Inquiry which was a white wash and only took 6 days to complete. Isaac Kidd signed off on it as did Captain Ward Boston, Admiral John McCain Jr. and President Lyndon Johnson all in a matter of 10 days. The conclusion? Mistaken identity!! Captain Boston has recanted what was in the Board of Inquiry as a pack of lies. He was ordered to sign off by none other than Admiral John McCain Jr., Senator McCain’s father.

The fact is we were set up to sink fast, blame it on Egypt and bring the U.S. into the war. This was the deal made by our government and the Israeli Government. This government will not help us get the truth out. They are knee-deep in bed with the Israeli Lobby, AIPAC and every other Israeli interest out there. Our elected officials sold us out then and they are still selling us out now. Israel is committing war crimes on Americans and our government could care less. This country is not “We the Government” it is “We the People” and if we don’t take our government back soon it is nobody’s fault but our own.

What I found out later is our government was 120 seconds away from dropping nuclear bombs on Cairo, Egypt and they would have if the LIBERTY would have sunk. The LIBERTY staying afloat was an act of God. He kept us afloat to tell you the truth. If our government would have nuked Cairo you can bet the Soviet Union would have retaliated in kind on the American people. This was a pact with the devil with only the greater interest of Israel in mind.

My fellow Americans, look what is going on in the Middle East today. It all goes back to the Six Day War 40 years ago. We need you to email your representatives in Congress and demand an investigation into the attack on the LIBERTY. Remember, they work for us, we don’t work for them. As futile as it may seem, we must at least TRY to take our country back from Israel before it is too late, if indeed it is not already.

Miracles have hinged on smaller odds than this. Look at what happened to us 40 years ago–we should have been dead, sunk to the bottom of the sea and yet we stayed afloat, as I said, by the hand of God. It was a miracle. Remember, Israel didn’t just attack the LIBERTY, she attacked America with our government’s help, and remember, as the old saying goes, ‘A leopard does not change its spots’. What this gang of criminals has done once it will do again, and this time, chances are that we will not be as lucky as we were 40 years ago. Despite all the propaganda we hear, Israel is not our friend. No friend treats us as she has. She would just as soon slit our throats as look at us, and this is not a theory, it is a fact proven by history.

Phillip F. Tourney, Survivor June 8, 1967

tonktime5@yahoo.com

For 40 years and counting, the brave survivors (and their families) of the USS Liberty have tried telling the world what happened to them on June 8^th, 1967 when the state of Israel attacked the United States ship for over an hour with as many as 1,000 rockets, tens of thousands of armor-piercing rounds and 5 torpedoes. For the most part, the American press has yawned and decided to cover the latest Hollywood scandal or some other nonsense that has absolutely no bearing on the more important issues facing the American people.

The live, two-hour call-in program will appear every Saturday from 10 am to 12 pm CST and will be hosted by Phil Tourney, survivor of the Liberty and 3-time president of the Liberty Veteran’s Association and Mark Glenn, contributing editor for American Free Press newspaper. The weekly program, in addition to discussing the event taking place 40 years ago, will also be an in-depth analysis of current political events that have as their origin the fact that a United States ship was attacked in an act of premeditated war and was not rectified. Appearances by many of the other survivors of the Liberty will also be a regular theme, talking about what they went through that day and what has happened to them personally since that time.

2008 Mark Glenn

Correspondent and Contributing Editor, American Free Press Newspaper

nomorewarsforisrael@gmail.com

8th in the USS LIBERTY Series: “It Was God That Kept Us Alive”

Eileen Fleming

On January 12, 2008, this civilian journalist “on a mission from God” [Jake Blues/John Belushi] once again phoned a few of the USS LIBERTY survivors and also Robert Hart, who on that day in infamy, June 8, 1967 was a CT/Communications Technician 2nd Class Petty Officer working for the Director of Naval Security Group Europe (DIRNAVSECGRUEUR) in London. DIRNAVSECGRUEUR was the Intelligence support for the Four Star Commander in Chief of US Naval Forces Europe (CINCUSNAVEUR).

Hart quipped, “During the attack on the LIBERTY, I was in the control center of the DIRNAVSECGRUEUR, a part of the Commander of Chief in Europe who was Admiral McCain-you know the Senator’s father? I wouldn’t buy a used car from either of them!”

Hart then went serious and choked up, “Two of my friends were killed that day. They were both CT’s and the CT spaces took the direct hit from the torpedo [that immediately killed 25 servicemen]. Smitty had an English wife and an eighteen month old baby and they were neighbors and friends. Warren Hershey was a drinking buddy of mine.

“I was in the Control Center when the LIBERTY was attacked and read all the messages from the USA to Europe. I knew the 6th Fleet was sending help and it was called back! I knew all about the LIBERTY calling for support that was held back! That is what sticks in my jaw. I was and remain dumbfounded and upset to this very day.

“I am also sure it is a part of the USA government cover-up the way they gave McGonagle his Medal of Honor in a shipyard and not at the White House.”

Captain William L. McGonagle’s Congressional Medal of Honor reads:

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to Captain William L. McGoanagle, United States Navy for service as set forth in the following:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sailing in international waters, the Liberty was attacked without warning by jet fighter aircraft and motor torpedo boats which inflicted many casualties among the crew and caused extreme damage to the ship. Although severely wounded during the first air attack, Capt. McGonagle remained at his battle station on the badly damaged bridge and, with full knowledge of the seriousness of his wounds, subordinated his own welfare to the safety and survival of his command.

Steadfastly refusing any treatment which would take him away from his post, he calmly continued to exercise firm command of his ship. Despite continuous exposure to fire, he maneuvered his ship, directed its defense, supervised the control of flooding and fire, and saw to the care of the casualties. Captain McGonagle’s extraordinary valor under these conditions inspired the surviving members of the Liberty’s crew, many of them seriously wounded, to heroic efforts to overcome the battle damage and keep the ship afloat. Subsequent to the attack, although in great pain and weak from the loss of blood, Captain McGonagle remained at his battle station and continued to command his ship for more than 17 hours. It was only after rendezvous with a U.S. destroyer that he relinquished personal control of the Liberty and permitted himself to be removed from the bridge. Even then, he refused much needed medical attention until convinced that the seriously wounded among his crew had been treated. Captain McGonagle’s superb professionalism, courageous fighting spirit, and valiant leadership saved his ship and many lives. His actions sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/wlmcgon.htm

The Captain died on March 3, 1999, but the support from his troops never has. On April 10, 1999 the ambushed crew saluted its Captain by writing:

“…Yesterday, the faithful survivors brought their long-dead comrades at Arlington National Cemetery the body of their captain — a reunion of seamen eternally bound by one of the most bloody and bizarre peacetime encounters in U.S. naval history.

“Captain William L. McGonagle won the Medal of Honor for valiantly commanding the USS Liberty when the American spy ship was attacked by Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats in the Mediterranean during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

“Thirty-four U.S. sailors were killed, and 171, including McGonagle, were wounded, among the crew of 300. [Other sources site 174 and 297] Thirteen of the dead — including the remains of six in the mass grave at the bottom of the hill — were buried at Arlington .

“The Israelis later apologized. But Liberty survivors, and some former U.S. officials, believe the attack was deliberate, staged to conceal Israel’s pending seizure of the Golan Heights, which occurred shortly thereafter.” [IBID]

In an email from USS LIBERTY survivor and author of ASSAULT ON THE LIBERTY, James E. Ennes, wrote on January 13, 2008: “I’m not at all sure that is the reason. We may never know the reason. The US was aware of Israeli plans to seize the Golan and was urging them not to do that. It could well have been fear that we had learned of the massacre of Egyptians POWs at El Arish or it could have been the massacre that morning of UN peacekeepers at Gaza .”

“…In December 1964, the Liberty was put to work as a spy ship. Three years later, with McGonagle now in command, it was hurried to the eastern Mediterranean, where the Arab-Israeli war had erupted. Despite the deep concerns of McGonagle and his crew about their proximity to the war, the ship, armed only with a few .50-caliber machine guns, began a slow patrol 12 miles off Gaza.

“The Liberty, code-named “Rockstar,” had been denied the protection of a destroyer by superiors who said it was “not a reasonable subject for attack,”…about 2 p.m., after being buzzed by Israeli scout planes, the ship suddenly was assailed by Israeli jets firing rockets and dropping napalm.

“Liberty sailors were gunned down as they scrambled for cover. The machine gun crews were tossed into the air like dolls. Flaming napalm blanketed parts of the ship. Sailors radioed frantically: ‘Any station, this is Rockstar. We are under attack.’

“Then, after several passes by the jets, the torpedo boats arrived. After several misses, one struck home, blasting a 40-foot-wide hole below decks and killing 25 men almost instantly. All the while, McGonagle, his right leg riddled with shrapnel, maintained command, hollering orders…

“In one of the most controversial events in U.S. military history, the lightly armed Liberty was attacked by Israeli planes, three torpedo boats and helicopters and was bombed with napalm, torpedoed and shelled on June 8, 1967, while sailing in international waters in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

“Of the 294 men aboard the Liberty, 34 were killed and 171, including Captain McGonagle, were wounded. Though the captain managed to dodge four of five torpedoes, one struck, smashing a 40-foot hole in the ship’s side.” [IBID]

In an email from Jim Ennes: “The updated wounded count is 174 and three more Purple Hearts have been awarded since the 171 number was reported…I don’t think he dodged anything. I think they simply missed. A 450 foot ship moving at five knots doesn’t do much dodging.”

“A total of 821 rocket and machine-gun holes were later counted in Liberty ’s hull. Captain McGonagle had shrapnel wounds in his leg. The attack, which occurred during the Six-Day War between Israel and Arab states, was blamed by the Israelis on a mistaken identification…

“The events, shrouded in tragedy and conflict, have never been resolved. Many of those aboard the Liberty, as well as many senior U.S. officials have taken issue with the Israeli version of events. Some have accused both the U.S. and Israeli governments of concealing vital information about the incident…

“… McGonagle…held his silence for years, torn by loyalty to the Navy and love for his crew and his ship. But even he, in recent years, came to conclude the attack was deliberate…”For many years I have wanted to believe that the attack on the Liberty was pure error,” Captain McGonagle said. But “it appears to me that it was not a pure case of mistaken identity. It was, on the other hand, gross incompetence and aggravated dereliction of duty on the part of many officers and men…”[IBID]

This civilian journalist and patriotic American also contends that a total lack of respect for the troops and a blatant cover-up was instituted when the American government ordered traumatized men to never speak the truth of their experiences to family, friends and media and also threatened them with court martial and worse if they did.

This civilian journalist and patriotic American also contends that the down low way of ‘honoring’ Captain McGonagle with the highest award the USA can give a service men is another nail in the coffin of the American Government’s lack of support for our troops and is a vile, revolting, repugnant, loathsome and treasonous display of not representing we the people.

Medals of Honor are media events presented in the White House by the President, but Captain McGonagle’s was ‘awarded’ “in a dark hall in the Naval Shipyard by a low level Secretary of the Navy,” Dr. Richard Kiepfer informed me during a January 12, 2008, phone call.

On January 13, 2008, in an email to me Jim Ennes also wrote: “Admiral Moorer told me that he was asked to present it as then-Chief of Naval Operations. He protested strongly that it should be presented by the President. He was unable to make that happen, but did manage to get it kicked up to the Secretary of the Navy.”

Kiepfer replied to that comment by stating, “I remember that when I learned who was presenting the highest medal the USA has without even a Cabinet person, or Congressperson in attendance, just a low level secretary of the Navy I thought, who the hell is that? My father was retired Navy and he said it was a slap in the face. My father and I accompanied the Captain, his wife and children to the event. I remember that McGonagle had to make all the reservations for the dinner the night before.”

“Medal of Honor winners and their guests are traditionally treated by the United States to a luxurious dinner at a first class restaurant. Captain and Mrs. McGonagle were put up at the Shoreham Hotel…In keeping with the spirit of the affair…someone failed to notify the restaurant…The next morning Navy Secretary Paul Ignatius presented McGonagle’s medal in a modest ceremony two miles from the White House. It was done with a minimum of fanfare and almost no publicity at all. It was done while the President was in the White House. And it was done within hours of a White House ceremony in which the President awarded medals to a pair of Vietnam heroes.” [James E. Ennes, ASSAULT ON THE LIBERTY, pages 194-195]

Phil Tourney, another LIBERTY survivor and the former President of the USS LIBERTY Vets Association also spoke to me on the phone and clued me in, “The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest award the USA can give service men. The point is the citation to McGonagle doesn’t even mention the fact of who did the attack on the LIBERTY! I got the Bronze Star with Combat V for valor for the LIBERTY that says all this heroic stuff I did, but there is no mention of who did the attack! This is not the usual way these citations read! I received the Vietnam Service Medal and that states I was in the Republic of Vietnam, but no mention in my Bronze Star that I was attacked by Israel aboard the LIBERTY. Every Purple Heart award states who did the attack; who wounded you…In fact, there are guys that got their discharge papers-you know the DD214’s-And there is no mention at all that they had ever been on the LIBERTY! 99% of the time the recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor is presented by the President of the United States , but McGonagle’s was presented in a Navy shipyard by an undersecretary of the Navy.”

Dr. Kiepfer ended our phone conversation by bringing me full circle when he remarked, “Admiral McCain did say he wanted all the citations to state we were attacked by the Israeli Navy and Air Force. But I still wouldn’t buy a used car from either of the McCain’s or Hillary Clinton!”

January 16, 2008 © Copyright Eileen Fleming, Reporter and Editor http://www.wearewideawake.org/ Author KEEP HOPE ALIVE and Memoirs of a Nice Irish American Girl’s’ Life in Occupied Territory, Producer “30 Minutes With Vanunu.” Permission is granted for reprint in print, email, blog, or web media if this credit is attached and the title remains unchanged.

–Only in Solidarity do “we have it in our power to begin the world again.”-Tom Paine

http://www.wearewideawake.org/

No one cried when our sailors died

Proud men serving on the liberty

A US Flag was flyin high

They were floatin without motion

In the Straight of Sinai

Oh yea…oh yea…

Our friends circled us early that mornin’

Old Jim Ennis saw the white of their teeth

No one knew what was about to go down

They started droppin bombs on our brave men….

WE ALL THOUGHT ISRAEL WAS OUR FRIEND!!

(Chorus)

Cover it up with your biggest blanket

You couldn’t sink her so now we can see

Cover it up with your biggest blanket

You couldn’t sink our Liberty

(v2)

They started with rockets and machine gun fire

oh the 2nd round they let the napalm down

That wasn’t enough to sink our Liberty

So They brought torpedo boats to give it a go

oh yea….oh yea….

Now 34 men lay dead or dyin

They drop life boats and began to row

No one knew what was about to go down

They started droppin bombs on running men

WE ALL THOUGHT ISRAEL WAS OUR FRIEND!!!

(Chorus)

Cover it up with your biggest blanket

You couldn’t sink her so now we can see

Cover it up with your biggest blanket

You couldn’t sink our Liberty

Cover it up….co…ver…it…up

You couldn’t sink our Liberty

Cover it up…co..ver…it…up

You couldn’t sink our liberty!

J. Passwaters