Attack one American and you attack all Americans was once proclaimed by President Clinton. More recently, an Assistant Secretary for State proclaimed that the U. S. government always protects its citizens. President Johnson, during the Tonkin Gulf fiasco, stated, To any armed attack upon our forces, we shall reply. These are damned lies and meaningless words. These words were not true in 1967 (when Israel deliberately attacked the USS LIBERTY, killing 34 and wounding 174) and unfortunately, and in spite of these beautiful words, they are not even true today. Moreover, there is no such thing as justice. On that June day in 1967, the weather was beautiful... Clear and sunny, visibility unlimited... the LIBERTY, an elaborate state-of-the art intelligence gathering platform, was in international waters off the Gaza strip and was flying the Stars and Stripes. Israeli reconnaissance planes flew overhead for hours. Pilots and ships crew waved to each other. Then, inexplicably, unmarked aircraft began attacking the ship. The defenseless LIBERTY radioed for help. Two aircraft carriers in the Med responded by launching fighter aircraft. Unbelievably, they were recalled by the White House. RADM Geis, then commanding the carriers in the Sixth Fleet, called Washington personally to confirm the order. SecDef McNamara came on the line, then President Johnson. Johnson indicated to Geis that the aircraft were to be returned, that he would not have his allies embarrassed, and that he didnt care who was killed or what was done to the ship. (LBJs previous Gulf-of-Tonkin comment that we would reply went by the wayside.) Geis, like any good sailor, recalled the aircraft. gidusko/index.htm
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 23:05:04 +0000
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