Remembering the U.S.S. Liberty

On June 8, 1967, the U.S.S. Liberty was attacked in the eastern Mediterranean, by Israeli military forces. The ship was in international waters, her nationality clearly marked. And yet our “greatest ally” struck it with enough force to kill 34 Liberty crew members and wound 173. The incident didn’t have any effect on U.S.-Israeli relations. In fact, the subject could not be openly discussed in this country for decades. Less than fours years after the assassination of John F. Kennedy- the only president who has ever challenged Zionism- the attack on the Liberty was quickly forgotten by the mainstream media and politicians of both parties. In 2003, retired Navy Capt. Ward Boston, an attorney who helped lead the military investigation of the Liberty incident, made a shocking allegation. Boston charged that President Lyndon Johnson and his defense secretary, Robert McNamara, had ordered that the inquiry conclude the incident was an accident. His sworn affidavit was released at a Capitol …