USS Liberty: The Fix Was In Before The Blood Was Dry
Before the blood was dry on the deck of the USS Liberty, long before any Sixth Fleet ships arrived to assist us, and very long before the US government investigated the attack, then-Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY) took to the floor of the Senate to declare the attack to be a “tragic error.”
by Joe Meadors
One of the proud members of the 535 strong “Conditionally Patriotic American Caucus” in Congress, Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY) took to the floor of the Senate on June 8, 1967, while the blood on the USS Liberty was still wet and before any rescue ships from the Sixth Fleet had arrived to help us.
He was obviously expressing the sentiments of every then-serving and current Member of Congress since none have disavowed his comment.
To be clear, this is not under “Extension of Remarks” where a Member of the “CPA Caucus” can “mail it in.”
Javits actually made these comments on the floor of the US Senate:
Senator Jacob Javits (R-NY); Courtesy Wikipedia
“I wish to make some remarks in connection with the situation in the Mideast which is now approaching a new phase in which the policy of the United States will be critically important. Before I make those remarks I wish to join with all of my fellow Americans in expressing deep sorrow over the tragic error which resulted in the bombing of a U.S. Navy communications ship off of Sinai this morning, with a reported loss of four American lives and 53 wounded.
“The Government of Israel has already stated that this was an erroneous attack by Israel forces. The Government of Israel has apologized. I am sure that it will do everything that one would expect by way ofcompensation and other appropriate measures.
“The incident is one of those tragic fallouts of the dreadful situation in the Middle East, and the terrible pressure placed on pilots and naval people in that Area.
“Mr. President, I must say that it is a great tribute to the valor of the troops of Israel that this morning I have heard Senator after Senator say that while they were terribly dismayed and saddened by this accident, they understood how it could take place under the terrible stress which the forces of Israel have been under in these last few weeks.”
Source: Vol. 113 of the Congressional Record, 90th Congress, 1st Session, page 15261 (Senate, June 8, 1967)
In case you missed it, when the USS Liberty was attacked while steaming independently in international waters on a lawful mission, a United States Senator praises not the crew of the virtually unarmed USS Liberty who acted heroically to prevent the ship from sinking from a large torpedo hole in its side, but the forces who attacked the USS Liberty when he says that it is, “a great tribute to the valor of the troops of Israel.”
Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind that after the US government finally completely investigates the attack on the USS Liberty that the sentiments of the currently serving members of the “Conditionally Patriotic American Caucus” in Congress will closely resemble the sentiments of Senator Javits?
Dare they say anything else and get re-elected?
He was aboard the USS Liberty when the ship was attacked by the Israeli Defense Forces in 1967 and has been in the forefront of the effort to ensure the US government finally investigates the attack.He also participated in Freedom Flotilla I in 2010 whose goal was to break the blockade of Gaza only to be brutally attacked by the IDF who killed 9 human rights activists on the MV Mavi Marmara.
The death of one American citizen on the Mavi Marmara elicited nary a peep of outrage or condemnation from the State Department.This follows the outrageous precedent the State Department initiated when 34 Americans were killed on the USS Liberty which was followed by silence from the State Department.Meadors is an eye-witness to and a victim of this policy.
Meadors has also participated in Freedom Flotillas II, III and IV in the effort to break the immoral blockade of Gaza.
His background gives him a unique perspective as an American citizen when it comes to issues involving the Middle East.
He will be sharing that perspective in his articles for The Arab Daily News.
He can be reached at joe@ussliberty.com.
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