Wednesday, June 8, 2011

USS Liberty

June 8, 1967:
The USS Liberty incident was an attack on a United States Navy technical research ship, USS Liberty, by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy torpedo boats, on June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War. The combined air and sea attack killed 34 crew members (naval officers, seamen, two Marines, and one civilian), wounded 170 crew members, and severely damaged the ship. At the time, the ship was in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula, about 25.5 nmi (29.3 mi; 47.2 km) northwest from the Egyptian city of Arish.
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. Most survivors, in addition to some U.S. diplomats and intelligence officials involved in the incident, continue to dispute these official findings, saying the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty was not a mistake, and it remains "the only maritime incident in U.S. history where [U.S.] military forces were killed that was never investigated by the [U.S.] Congress."
Israel is quite the ally.  With friends like these, who needs enemies?  Seriously, who can make the case that Israel looks out for Israel?  I think the U.S. should look out for the U.S.  When it is beneficial to assist Israel, or when it is the right thing to assist Israel, we should do it, but unceasing support for all of Israel's actions is foolhardy, and only people who love Israel more than the United States, or loony religious fanatics hoping for the End Times will support the settlers in Palestine.  Actually, people who love Israel, and want it to remain a democracy, will not support the settlers.

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