Saturday, June 8, 2019

Liberty at Fifty-two


It was a warm, clear mild summer day, exactly fifty-two years ago on, June 6, the sky was blue and the waters calm as the USS Liberty performed its responsibility on a reconnaissance cruise in the international waters of the Mediterranean. Captain McGonegle had every reason to relax and feel safe. A very large U.S. flag waved in the wind and we were not at war. Overhead jets of our long time friend and ally insured our protection.

Then suddenly, without warning, these friendly jets turned on the Liberty firing bullets and dropping bombs.  Torpedo boats fired rockets blowing a forty-foot hole into its side at the water line. When the captain ordered abandon ship, our so-called ally strafed our sailors in their life boats. Everything possible was done to sink the Liberty. When the attack was finally over, 34 US servicemen had been killed and 171 injured. Why the sudden attack? 

To stop messages from reaching the world that Israel was preparing to invade Syria and occupy the Golan Heights. . The enemy that day was not Russia, North Korea or Chine. Our enemy was long time friend, Israel.

I know it’s hard for most Americans to think that Israel would deliberately attack an American ship, but it is impossible to deny that that is exactly what happened.

Thomas Are
June 8, 2019