Did anyone catch this documentary Al Jazeera? I'm blown away by it...

[MrMickeysMom]

- The Day Israel attacked America http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/schedule.html

My husband already told me about the incident, since he found information sometime in the 90's questioning the cover up. I was less inclined to read the same news back then.

I searched through DU and want to thank JohnnyCanuck for posting about this documentary this past October. His post is found in the Foreign Affairs/Veterans' Group when it must have initially aired. He included more than I have about the viewing times. If Al Jazeera re-rain it this afternoon, you can bet it will be on again.

It's an investigation with interviews of the real people who served on the USS Liberty, a US Navy spy ship that was monitoring the conflict from the safety of international waters in the Mediterranean. Thirty-four US servicemen and civilian analysts were killed, another 171 were wounded. Israeli jet fighters hit the vessel with rockets, cannon fire and napalm before three Israeli torpedo boats moved in to launch a second more devastating attack. It's amazing that brave crew members were able to piece together communication during the assault that brought it to a halt. When Washington got word of this, the attack abruptly ended. Later, Israel apologised for what it claimed to be a tragic case of mistaken identity. It said that it had believed the ship to be hostile Egyptian naval vessel. US President Lyndon Johnson was privately furious but publicly the White House chose not to challenge the word of its closest Middle East ally and accepted that the attack had been a catastrophic accident.

There is an undoubtedly huge piece of history that Washington hushed the press over and swept under the rug. I recommend anyone who can view Al Jazeera see this thing.

I ask myself "What is this country willing to do to those in uniform to cover up an incident that would interfere with a re-election campaign?" Here's an example of LBJ's. The carelessness of lives in uniform being trumped by an election campaign is almost as nauseating as seeing children's lives being trumped by the NRA gun lobby.

Interestingly, LBJ must have had a conscience that began with what he knew about JFK's assassination, Vietnam, certainly this incident. Maybe the accumulated guilt is why he decided a year later not to run again. I always like to think of LBJ having a conscience, certainly all presidents since then.

[Electric Monk]

1. Here's a BBC documentary on the subject, available online

[MrMickeysMom]

2. Thanks, EM...

The link was expired on JohnnyCanuck's post. Not everybody can get AJ.

[oldandhappy]

3. I did not know this.

And I am less inclined to believe the official line.

[MrMickeysMom]

4. The more I educate myself, the less I am, too, O&H

[Scuba]

5. I have an acquaintance who was wounded during the attack on the Liberty. He stated ...

... that mistaken identity was virtually impossible, as the ship was clearly marked and flying the colors, which should have been easily seen by the low-flying planes that attacked.

[MrMickeysMom]

6. That appears so evident...

So, the fact that we have virtual media silence (except for the above CNN documentary and the newer Al Jazeera reporting) is nothing but troubling.

The supression only lasts so long. People should know. The double standards must cease.

[JonLP24]

7. Now it makes sense why Bush bombed them twice and wanted to bomb them a third

I mean what is they're afraid of? Al-Jazeera is remarkable for a government own press, especially one from an oppressive Wahabbi kingdom. Their press is more free than the people's freedom of expression. How does that happen? Why do they allow it? -- http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/10/qatar-under-spotlight-for-workers-rights-2013103133435476752.html

Some to the best in-depth reporting I have ever seen has come from Al-Jazeera and this is coming from press that is government owned. Wow.

[MrMickeysMom]

8. I never know how to assess our media, but this one is managed from NYC...

… which may still address little to your remark.

They, and BBC America have more sides around the table to discuss things internationally. But, some of the same people who were golden from the previous network to AJ have also joined AJ… Their calibre of reporting is right up there.

Thank goodness we have some media, but you have to have internet or cable. Meanwhile, we have the vicious Fox and softball PBS reporting.

[JonLP24]

9. I haven't read this one yet but I based my comment

more on the forced labor practices by US defense contractors (which I was aware of long before Al-Jazeera did its in-depth reporting on it) which I was basing my comment on.

I would never sell Frontline short though. As far as documentaries & in-depth reporting they're world class. Law & Disorder, the Coroner System, Flawed Forensics & the truth behind the scientific value behind them and experts who got people locked up over false forensic claims (I think he was a jaw or bite expert) who is still called into courtrooms as an expert witness to this day were all enough that had your blood boiling all the way through.

There Iraq & Afghanistan war coverage reported the truth of the war more than our own media did which is why Bush bombed them twice, he wanted to do it a third time but Colin Powell talked him out of it.

[cpwm17]

10. As far as I can tell, that was the worst unprovoked attack against the US

by another nation since Pearl Harbor, and the US embargo against Japan partly lead to that attack. Not that we are all that special either, since the US makes an art of attacking other nations without provocation.

It shouldn't be surprising that they would attack the US then since it wasn't all that long after the Lavon Affair:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavon_Affair

The Lavon Affair refers to a failed Israeli covert operation, code named Operation Susannah, conducted in Egypt in the Summer of 1954. As part of the false flag operation, a group of Egyptian Jews were recruited by Israeli military intelligence to plant bombs inside Egyptian, American and British-owned civilian targets, cinemas, libraries and American educational centers. The bombs were timed to detonate several hours after closing time. The attacks were to be blamed on the Muslim Brotherhood, Egyptian Communists, "unspecified malcontents" or "local nationalists" with the aim of creating a climate of sufficient violence and instability to induce the British government to retain its occupying troops in Egypt's Suez Canal zone.

[MrMickeysMom]

11. That would be about 13 years before

… which is saying, "it's a long season", yes?

I think you are right about it being the worst unprovoked attack since Pearl Harbor. The fact that the advice give to LBJ was to cover it up resulted in such a long cover up tells me who is in commander in chief. We quit having one after Kennedy.

[zeemike]

12. I have seen a documentary on it some time back.

But like everything in the media today, even if it gets covered by them it will be over and forgotten in a week unless a celeb does something crazy then much sooner.

But this may sound funny but when I ask myself why the only thing that makes sense is that they were testing the US to see just how "with them" they were...a loyalty if you will...if they covered and hushed it up then they knew the US was with them.

The other possibility is worse, they intended to sink the ship with all hands lost and blame it on the Arabs to draw us into the war...but failed to sink it and our government ether knew about it or was somehow blackmailed into covering it up.

There has been a lot of strange shit that happened in my life...but I suppose to the young who have known nothing else it seems normal.

[MrMickeysMom]

13. After that incident, the Israelis knew...

We were without a spine, due to a campaign process that's gotten nothing but worse returns ever since...

[alfredo]

14. I was in Asmara listening during the murders. I'm angry enough over Israel

doing the deed, but I'm even more angry and disappointed that our government sided with Israel and against our Sailors.

[johnnyreb]

15. I posted last August about meeting a Liberty veteran:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5389517

I bumped into a guy with a USS Liberty hat last week!

I was at a local hamburger joint in central South Carolina... local grease-pit, not a chain. There by the window was a big strapping older man with his wife. His hat looked like it had a service emblem... as I neared I saw "USS Liberty"! It was a clean crisp hat, blasting USS Liberty in vivid color. I put down my tray and we chatted. He was very grateful for the recognition, that someone knew. Actually I told him, I didn't "know". I knew the controversy, the allegations. But that there are entities on the internet that feebly attempt to sow doubt with admonitions about hearings and commissions and how you have to be a laughingstock to want to know American history. And while they're clearly disrupting, maybe their vast storehouse of arcane knowledge of American history has given them one or two points on this Liberty thing for all I know. But no, this sailor was there, it was deliberate, and is a continuing coverup. The disappointment and anger in his manner was penetrating. Just like the youtubes you can find of his shipmates speaking at their memorials. He recommends the book "Assault on the Liberty" by James Ennes. He also wrote down "Attack on the Liberty," with "John", but he didn't remember that author's name. It was quite an experience speaking with him over dripping cold hamburgers (we talked awhile).

[pinboy3niner]

16. Assault on the Liberty is an excellent account

I was given a copy in the mid-'80s by a Navy retiree who used to set up a daily protest display on the National Mall in D.C.

[MrMickeysMom]

31. I wonder, do you think it might be disrespectful for others to wear those hats?

I see it as a recognition, more than "Remember the Alamo", but perhaps only sailors should be entitled to wear it. I don't know… What do you think?

I'd wear one.

[johnnyreb]

35. I'm not the one to ask...

...second I don't know where to get them, third there's always someone who will take offense. I'd suggest anything but the hat, it looked very official. Fourth, I'm more of a 28 Pages person!

[MrMickeysMom]

40. N-a-a-a-ah..

Some guy in a cave on our payroll is gonna shut down our defense system? Hey! It could happen.

Thanks very much, johnnyreb.

[oberliner]

17. Some folks are very invested in perpetuating this bogus myth

Wonder why that is.

[cpwm17]

18. Myth: no: it was obviously a deliberate attack

making the US one of a number of nations victimized by Israel in that war. The Palestinians are still victimized by that war. Nobody on that ship believes it was not deliborate.

But the reason why it is still talked about (but not nearly enough) is because Israel gets way more support from the US than any other nation. But this is the same nation that conducted the worst unprovoked attack against the US than any other nation since Pearl Harbor, and it was covered up.

This, along with many other facts, show what a one-sided, dysfunctional relationship we have between these two nations, and it is good evidence of the corruption in Washington DC. Americans have a right to be upset.

[oberliner]

22. Israel apologized for the attack and paid large sums of money to compensate the victims.

Is there something else that needs to happen at this point?

The incident was 50 years ago.

Financial compensation has been made and the apology given and accepted.

[cpwm17]

27. They were caught so what else would Israel do then?

It still doesn't change that fact that they deliberately attacked a US ship in international waters and those sailors are all still murdered. The US cover-up of the attack was also rather bizarre.

Yes, that was quite a long time ago, but unfortunately Israel (and the US, though not allies) still likes to attack other nations without provocation. Also the US association with Israel is still one-sided with the US getting harmed in the relationship.

[oberliner]

28. What would you like to see happen now? What else do you want Israel to do?

It seems like you want the US to sever its association with Israel for many reasons, some of which are not related to this incident. Is that a fair statement?

[cpwm17]

29. Nothing can be done about this particular incident.

It's history now and those responsible are dead.

Yes, US close ties with Israel should be severed. That would be very much is our best interest.

[leftynyc]

20. You know exactly why

this incident - which has been investigated numerous times by both governments is continually brought up. That al jazeera is the latest to hurl the charge is hardly surprising to anyone with a brain (and always seems to come up when attention is turned to Islam). Let them have their outrage. They feed on it.

[Behind the Aegis]

37. You are so right.

They do feed on it. What is funny is how many slurp it up.

[azurnoir]

38. so you're saying al Jazeera America changed its schedule to show this program

to distract from events in France? Exactly how does that work?

[Behind the Aegis]

44. Did they?

I don't know, but what I do know is this aired in October of LAST year.

The Day Israel attacked America can be seen from Thursday, October 30, at the following times GMT: Thursday: 2000; Friday: 1200; Saturday: 0100; Sunday: 0600; Monday: 2000; Tuesday: 1200; Wednesday: 0100; Thursday: 0600.


Sorry, I forgot to include the link to the program info in my post. Here it is: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/specialseries/2014/10/day-israel-attacked-america-20141028144946266462.html

Maybe the BETTER question is why was this OP created?

I searched through DU and want to thank JohnnyCanuck for posting about this documentary this past October. His post is found in the Foreign Affairs/Veterans' Group when it must have initially aired. He included more than I have about the viewing times. If Al Jazeera re-rain it this afternoon, you can bet it will be on again.

2nd paragraph of the OP, posted on Tue Jan 13, 2015, 06:59 PM CST

[azurnoir]

45. Stations like al Jazeera America repeat their special frequently Current did it too

if distraction was the point they did one on the Qalandiya checkpoint that might have been even more so, most stations make their schedules in advance, so I seriously doubt this was anything special

[MrMickeysMom]

47. I created this thread because I caught the program this week...

Pretty radical, I know… even astounding, that a program, previously run might be repeated, and when seen also catches the attention of a new audience.

However, when avoiding the often seen uninteresting documentaries, I often turned to Current and after that, Al Jazeera TV. Both had many programs. Currents were award winning.

Think even further, good pieces about history should be informative and are certainly interesting. They provoke conversations… Hey… that's what we do on DU.

[Behind the Aegis]

48. What was "radical" was the timing.

Though, "radical" isn't the word I really think fits.

[MrMickeysMom]

49. How so?

[MrMickeysMom]

32. Some people think that non-existent weapons of mass destruction was bogus, too...

There were none. We went to war and as a result, know millions of people died needlessly more than 10 yrs later.

Then, there's the Israeli private "we didn't know" excuse in the face of knowing damned well who they were targeting. You don't fly the colors on the USS Liberty only to have the air strikes in full view of those colors attack anyway.

There's the "compensation" of $25,000 for the family of a slain soldier. This, after a full suppression of talking to anyone about the attack, after full suppression of the press having access to the story.

I wonder if you bothered to see this feature. There is no myth of what happened… only suppression of what happened and no respect for the families of those sailors, no compensation for the amount of pain and suffer for those sailors AND their families.

LBJ went to his grave probably regretting that he took the advise of his military advisors.

[oberliner]

33. So what now?

What do you think Israel ought to do?

[MrMickeysMom]

34. Wrong question...

The question should be, "What should the United States do about this cover up? What should the US do about the shut down of the press? What should the US do about the repair patch job of the USS Liberty in Malta before she returned ashore to look like she wasn't even touched?"

Well, think about it… What does a nation based on laws and evidence of suppression of the acts of war do? Do we at least reveal the facts 37 later? Do we officially apologize to the sailors who were under extreme pressure not to talk after this atrocity? Is there reparation to their families? And, after settling with Israel, who had the NERVE to bargain down the amount of money they owed for damages, do you demand their full payment and confession of this war crime?

I choose every one of these and more… I choose an official investigation. Our track record for full investigations tend to leave out solid testimony. I'd say get it ALL before all parties who are able to testify have died.

[oberliner]

36. That seems unlikely

Several government investigations have concluded that the attack was carried out in error.

[MrMickeysMom]

41. They may seem unlikely to the observer who casts these things off...

Do tell us about those "several government investigation"...

… and, you might well do that. But, if you follow the stories of the surviving sailors, the persons who've tried mostly in vain to expose the truth… If you think these stories don't fit your reality, let me point out one thing: In order to investigate something that intrinsically involves a government cover us OF a government operation, an objective goal would use a THIRD party to examine if there is more there.

A free press used to do this, but they were effectively blocked out in this matter. That is a fact.

Your criteria for "that seems unlikely" …. what is it? Is it, "I don't believe it"?

Should you ever be more likely to want to know, you have the same opportunity everyone else does to uncover these things. If you have no desire to know more than you want to know, then join some of these jokesters and find that little icons with tin foil or - roflmao.

[oberliner]

42. From Wikipedia

American inquiries, memoranda, records of testimony, and various reports involving or mentioning the Liberty attack include, but are not limited to, the following:

U.S. Naval Court of Inquiry of June 1967
Joint Chief of Staff's Report of June 1967.
CIA Intelligence Memorandums of June 1967
Clark Clifford Report of July 1967
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Testimony during hearings of the 1967 Foreign Aid Authorization bill, July 1967
House Armed Services Committee Investigation of 1971
The NSA History Report of 1981

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident#U.S._government_investigations

[pinboy3niner]

19. Capt. William McGonagle; Won Medal of Honor After Israelis Attacked Ship

March 11, 1999|JON THURBER | TIMES STAFF WRITER

When Navy Capt. William L. McGonagle received his Medal of Honor, it was not bestowed on him by the president, as is customary, or even presented at the White House. McGonagle, who died last week at 73, was given his award in the relative seclusion of a shipyard near Washington by the Navy secretary. For all of McGonagle's heroism, he was still part of an incident that the U.S. and Israeli governments would rather forget.

He was the captain of the Liberty.

...


http://articles.latimes.com/1999/mar/11/news/mn-16287

[KoKo]

25. That article is a good read for those who don't know the background.

[dilby]

21. I have heard every arguement on this and have yet to hear what was the benefit to Israel if it was

true to be a deliberate attack.

[Douglas Carpenter]

23. I suppose that is my thought too. I am never one to shy away from criticizing Israel - to put it

mildly. The whole thing does sound like a colossal fuck up. But I just cannot see how the incident benefited Israel.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

24. The friend of my enemy is my friend or the enemy of my friend is my friend or...never mind.

The middle east and its conflicts are a can of worms we should stay away from. And, if it wasn't for the oil, we would.

[Jim Beard]

26. Thank you for bring this back to my attention.

I bringing this back isn't hurtful to anyone.

[underpants]

30. +

[cali]

39. And the U.S. blew up and Iranian Civilian Jet in 1988, killing 290 including 66 children

The Navy Captain who shot it down says he mistook an Airbus for an F-14.

<snip>

after the 1988 incident, American officials told various lies and blamed the Iranian pilot. Not until eight years later did the U.S. government compensate the victims’ families, and even then expressed “deep regret,” not an apology.

<snip>

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/war_stories/2014/07/the_vincennes_downing_of_iran_air_flight_655_the_united_states_tried_to.html

I've never seen a logical explanation for why Israel would deliberately target the Liberty and I don't think there's a logical reason that the U.S. would deliberately target a civilian airliner.

[NuclearDem]

43. And then there was the USS Stark incident.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Stark_incident

Incidentally, the Stark incident was cited as a primary reason the Vincennes opened fire on 655.

[MrMickeysMom]

46. "I've never seen a logical explanation for why Israel would deliberately target the Liberty"...

Perhaps you'd have had an explanation, were there any investigation into it. That was hard to accomplish with a media black out from the moment the Liberty had been attacked and the subsequent cosmetic repair to the hull and the rest of the ship.