USS Liberty after attack, 9 June 1967 of the year.
US conservative press, Commenting on the effects of the Israeli-Russian after cooling IL-20 tragedy, He prefers not to comment on the incident with the Russian reconnaissance aircraft. Overseas media generally adhere to a neutral position, limited repeated submissions of the parties. The death of IL-20, rather accepted, as an accident or unfavorable circumstances.
However, there were also those publications, that because death 15 Russian officers reminded the Jewish state events 8 June 1967 year in the Eastern Mediterranean, when the victim of the alleged erroneous actions of the Israeli Air Force pilots began to scout ship of the US Navy USS Liberty ("Freedom" - Lane. from English.), which led to the deaths of a large number of American sailors.
At the expiration of almost 50 years of investigative journalist Joseph Lentini, Having examined the circumstances of the extremely brutal attack, He made a sensational conclusion to the modern world: «Israel has specifically attacked America». He did not rule out such a development, and an independent Jewish newspaper Haaretz, which resulted in the views of historians Michael Oren. «attempts to explain, Why Tel Aviv was interested in the attack on the USS, so far we have not been successful», - forced to acknowledge the historian.
Oren met with former US Ambassador to Lebanon Dwight Porter, who spoke about the intercepted conversation between the air of the Air Staff of Israel and the pilot, who was ordered to sink the USS Liberty. This dialogue is recorded and transcribed spy plane US National Security Agency, patrol near the incident.
According to Porter, the then Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan personally ordered the attack ship, on one of his assistants spoke strongly against, stated: "This is pure murder". Then the pilot, seeing before him "Freedom" with the Stars and Stripes, transferred to the headquarters of the Air Force, the IDF following message:
"It's an American ship. You still order, us to destroy it?».
"Yes, follow orders ".
The pilot was in obvious confusion:
"But it's an American ship - I see the flag!»
"Never mind, delete it immediately ".
The American ship USS was attacked not only the aircraft, but torpedo boats IDF. The attack occurred in the 47,2 km from the Egyptian city of Arish, ie in international waters north of the Sinai Peninsula. On deck were bombed with napalm.
As a result of the Israeli attack killed 34 US troops, and 171 was injured.
survivors told, Israelis were finished even people, who were in the water.
In spite of all the desperate efforts of the attacking side, "Liberty" is still not sunk. All this is happening against the background of a victorious for the Jewish state, the Six Day War. Tel Aviv immediately apologized for the "friendly fire" and after years of trading families of the victims paid compensation amounting to $ 6 million.
US officers, watching the progress of the investigation, called Washington's policy treachery, as the "friendly fire" is always the result of the chaos of the war, When in the limited space may be, as enemies, and allies. And then in the clear sea sighting and beaten on the cynical lone ship, which went on the air and said to belong to the United States.
Immediately catches the eye, White House, The Pentagon and the US intelligence community did not begin to aggravate relations with the Jewish state. One side, Washington called the incident a mistake, but on the other - still considered the question of the punishment Israel. At least, in the first days after the attack on the "Freedom" party were nervous and looking for a quick way out of the political deadlock. Indirectly, this correspondence says the Israeli embassy in the United States and the Foreign Ministry leadership in Tel Aviv. The staff of the diplomatic mission offered to repent and immediately punish guilty.
"In a difficult situation there is only one way to mitigate the consequences for us. It is necessary to be able to announce the US government today, that we intend to pursue people for this disaster. We need to publicize it in Israel immediately ".
"For obvious reasons, it is imperative, to our application for the perpetrators to prosecute was made public before the, repeat, before publication of the American report. Our only chance to get out of the crisis - to punish someone for negligence ".
"This issue has become a malignant wound, which entails a serious danger to our relations at all levels ".
I.e Americans could not understand, that the attack on the ship USS Liberty was deliberate. By the way, 4 July 1967 USS Liberty, the captain was invited to the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, on the occasion of Independence Day. This was done with the aim of reconciliation, and, to call the incident closed. However, there was a discomfiture, has become a joke. the question, when the "Freedom" will return to the United States, Captain replied ingenuously: «renovated, if, of course, Jewish planes again will not make the ship a sieve, in spite of the Stars and Stripes».
Michael Oren, by the way, also no doubt, the Israeli Air Force knew, that in front of them an American ship. Too many documents testify to this. He collected all possible causes, which could lead to a tragedy of the USS Liberty.
Initially three independent version was made, Why Tel Aviv, knowing, that before them superpowers ship, still gave the command to destroy:
- there is an opinion, that the sailors "Freedom" saw the massacre of Israeli soldiers on the Egyptian prisoners of war;
- someone is sure, USS Liberty that experts sniff of the works for the construction of the Dimona nuclear reactor;
- the ship's crew became aware of the preparation of the IDF to seize the Golan Heights.
Consequently, experts have not confirmed or, or considered them insufficient for a political decision on the destruction of the "Freedom". Well, Israel would not bomb because such details of his powerful ally. Then emerged the fourth version, which he hastened Oren called the suggestion of conspiracy theories.
breakwater, between Tel Aviv and Moscow had a secret agreement. That is, the state of Israel was a "double bottom". And the crew of the USS Liberty happened to witness some joint actions, let us say, Jewish and Soviet experts during the transfer of nuclear technology or equipment. However, the Chinese also could be related to the atomic bomb Israel, because of secret documents speak of a certain relationship "rotten trade" and a blow to the "Freedom".
And the most likely version could be relevant to the Americans themselves, or rather the representatives of the US nuclear business, who categorically do not want lights up. That is, the sailors of "Freedom" saw, or could see what, that they do not need to know. curiously: recently authoritative Adam Raza historian, author of "The Battle of the atomic bomb", I made a request to the Israel State Archives of Materials, one way or another connected with the USS Liberty affair.
In this way, the story of the bombing of the "Freedom" may well be linked to the illicit transfer of nuclear technology to Israel by America. Indirectly, This is indicated by joint efforts of the two states of "zeroing" Consequences of the Catastrophe.
The United States government called the attack the Jewish pilots tragic mistake, despite the evidence of survivors of the USS Liberty sailors strike. It was ignored even reasoned conclusions of a number of high-ranking officials of the State Department and the White House, proves the opposite. Developments 8 June 1967 year became the only one in the history of the US maritime incidents, in which US troops were killed, and which have not been investigated by the US Congress.
