The Foreign Service Journal, October 2009

shameful treatment of the survivors, and America’s relations with Israel. Scott vividly reminds us of the undisputed facts of the case: • The Sixth Fleet had been or- dered out of the eastern Mediter- ranean shortly before the attack, but the warning never reached the Lib- erty , a World War II-era cargo ship converted to an easily recognizable in- telligence collector. Unarmed save for four .50-caliber machine guns, she flew the American flag, with interna- tionally registered hull markings sev- eral feet high. • On the morning of June 8, 1967, Israeli jets repeatedly circled the ship, which was in international waters off Gaza. They attacked at 2 p.m., drop- ping napalm and leaving 821 cannon and rocket holes, as well as damage from machine guns and shrapnel. A surface-launched torpedo blasted a hole 24 by 39 feet in the unarmored hull. • The attack killed 34 Americans and wounded 171, many seriously — more than two-thirds of the crew, by far the heaviest loss to a U.S. ship since World War II. • Two protective aircraft carrier missions were launched, only to be re- called on direct orders from Washing- ton. Seventeen hours passed before help arrived. • President Lyndon Johnson’s sen- ior advisers were deeply divided on how to respond, but he accepted Is- rael’s apology for a tragic mistake and reparations. The survivors were or- dered to remain silent. There was no Israeli investigation, and no Israelis were punished. Nor was there a con- gressional investigation. The conduct and findings of a very brief Naval Court of Inquiry have been sharply criticized by key participants. • The ship’s captain kept his heavily damaged, partially flooded ship afloat despite the death or wounding of most of the crew, his own concussion and multiple wounds. He was awarded the Medal of Honor, but it was not pre- sented by the president, or even con- ferred in the White House, as is customary. Instead, he received it at the Washington Navy Yard without a press release or press coverage. The Secretary of the Navy made the pres- entation, and the chief of naval opera- tions, who read the citation, later called it “a backhanded slap in the face.” Scott’s careful examination of thou- sands of Israeli and American docu- ments, many declassified only recently, indicates that Israel was aware of the ship’s nationality both before and dur- ing the attack. More significant from both domestic and international rela- tions perspectives are the sometimes questionable actions subsequent U.S. administrations have taken to prevent attention to the attack, and thereby dis- courage criticism of Israel. Efforts by the survivors to generate a full-scale in- vestigation have been totally ignored. Many countries pay very careful at- tention to our close ties to Israel, which they correctly perceive as hav- ing a significant impact on our rela- tions with them. Attack on the Liberty presents compelling information about a painful aspect of that relationship, without any provocative finger-point- ing. It fully merits a careful reading. ■ Edward Peck, a retired FSO, was chief of mission in Mauritania and Iraq and also served in Morocco, Algeria, Tun- isia and Egypt, among many other as- signments. Ambassador Peck has lec- tured at FSI and other U.S. govern- ment institutions and does other public speaking and writing. Resident in Maryland, he travels extensively in the Middle East. 66 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / O C T O B E R 2 0 0 9 B O O K S Although Scott is the son of a surviving Liberty officer, his coverage of the incident is refreshingly non-polemical. Dear Readers: In order to produce a high- quality product, the FSJ depends on the revenue it earns from advertisisng. You can help with this. Please let us know the names of companies that have provided god service to you — a hotel, insurance company, auto dealership, or other concern. A referral from our readers is the best entrée! Ed Miltenberger Advertising & Circulation Manager Tel: (202) 944-5507 E-mail: miltenberger@afsa.org You Are Our Eyes & Ears!