Customer Reviews

Assault On The Liberty: The True Story Of The Israeli Attack On An American Intelligence Ship

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

"Attack on the Liberty" is a riveting first hand account of the brutal attack on a United States Navy ship, cruising in international waters, by air and navel forces of the State of Israel. Apologists for the Israelis have fabricated various fanciful theories ranging from the attack being a "tragic accident" to such bizarre notions as the Liberty actively spying for the Egyptians, against the Israelis - thus "justifying" the attack.

This first hand account, written by the United States Naval officer who was the officer of the deck on the Liberty during the attack, provides a gripping narrative of the events that led to the deaths of 34 Americans and the wounding of 171 more (including the author). It is a fact-rich retelling of the events. The author provides extensive details, with citations to specific documentary records and specific witnesses, unlike the apologists for the Israelis, who almost uniformly cite anonymous or confidential "sources."

Mr. Ennes provides a moment by moment description of the attack, its brutality, and its effects on himself and his shipmates. His detailed first hand account of the repeated Israeli reconnaissance, flights prior to the attack, their careful jamming of the Liberty's radio frequencies during the attack, the obvious and prominently displayed American flag on the ship, and the conduct of the Israeli torpedo boat crews in machine-gunning of the ship's life rafts, leads to the inescapable conclusion that the attack was deliberate and premeditated.

The book also deals with the efforts by the United States government to cover-up the culpability of the Israeli government in the attack. This is compelling reading for anyone interested in this shameful chapter in American history.

This riveting book reads like a thriller, but it is, unfortunatley non-fiction.

The author offers eyewitness testimony and supporting documentation to the unbelievable-- a serious attempt to murder American servicemen, by an "ally."

In 1967, the USS LIberty, while in international waters, was bombed, torpedoed, and napalmed by Israel, and her life rafts machine gunned. This though she was clearly flying American colors, and was signalling "US Navy ship."

The survivors, repeated requests for a Senate investigation, have been stalled, refused, obfuscated, and labelled "anti-Jewish" for over 30 years. The "anti-Jewish" claims hang false, as some of the killed and injured Americans were Jewish.

Israel has repeatedly asserted that the attack was a mistake. Let's have that investigation, and settle the matter, once and for all. Where's the harm to knowing the truth?

"Assault on the Liberty," is a thought-provoking book that deserves to be read by all interested in understanding the truth. Author James M. Ennes Jr., provides a detailed and painstaking analysis of a tragic event. To this end, he quite properly sets in perspective the often too-glibly-taken conclusion that the attack on the USS Liberty was an accident. There is no doubt that the author is honest and patriotic. He answered the nation's call to duty...he was on the Liberty...he was wounded and he witnessed the death of American sailors. Highly recommended.

Bert Ruiz

A FIRSTHAND account of what actually went down on the 1967 Israeli MASSACRE of the US Liberty. An immediate cover-up ensues BY THE US! The victims become the guilty. Simply outrageous. Yet we come one step closer to the truth. Who do you think is pulling the US strings? The almighty Israel Lobby. I suppose now I'll become brandished an anti-Semite for mentioning a simple truth. Decide for yourselves.

This is a compelling, documented and authoritative account, told by an eyewitness of the murderous Israeli attack, on June 8, 1967, on the USS Liberty. Every American should read this book and demand that the Israelis responsible for this deliberate assault, which took the lives of 34 brave Americans and wounded 172 others, be brought to the bar of justice. The truth is the Israelis were looking to sink the Liberty and to blame it on the Egyptians. There has been a cover-up. Thanks to Lt. James M. Ennes, and the other Liberty survivors, and their faithful supporters, however, the fight for justice goes on. To begin your education about the Liberty, buy and read this book, and get active. Remember the Liberty!

After I spoke to two veterans and had several correspondence with a couple of those on the pro-Israeli side of the attack, some points:

1: The key to understanding the attack will be the NSA spy plane transcripts/recordings, which haven't been divulged yet. I think the survivors want them released. Consistently the pro-Israeli argument never even refers to the existence of these records, so I suspect these NSA records might be the key.

2: I understand the pro-Israeli interests lying about this attack to protect the essential US support of Israel, but several go over the line, such as when a rabbi at a Naval base had the book removed from a base exchange after he called it and its author anti-semetic.

3: The motivation to dismiss the Liberty attack as an accident is overwhelming on the Jewish side, with seemingly no one on the pro-Israeli side offering even question as to whether the Liberty was known to be a US ship before the attack.

4: To be clear, no investigation has actually been done on this matter, despite the pro-Israeli interests claiming several have. No interviews by an official investigation body were ever done. The only statements taken were during the US Navy inquiry, and it was made clear that the survivors could not give statements on the attack itself when that inquiry was done, so even the Naval inquiry never qualified as an investigation. A true investigation by Congress is necessary. This is the only major naval military incident in which an investigation hasn't been done.

Suggestion to readers who want to get active in the issue:
Read the facts, ask Congress for an investigation, put up a website, spread the word, support the Liberty library and memorial, but don't entertain pro-Israeli arguments, unless you want endless circular debates over whether black-is-white or day-is-night. Using these futile debates to wear down and obfuscate those supporting the survivors seems like their tactic. The facts, except the essential NSA records which still need to be released, have been clearly stated so I suggest not entertaining the fire from those who support the Israeli side, as they seem to relish and identify themselves as their role as aggitator.

I was on the deck when the attack started and in the engine room when the torpedo hit. This is a true and accurate account of the attack. Through the accounts in this book I relived a time that should never have happened. Thanks to Mr. Ennes for telling a story that needed to be told and a story that still needs a proper ending.

After studying photographs of the damage to the Liberty for over two years I can say Mr. Ennes' desription of the devastation caused by the air attack is accurate. It refutes Israeli claims that it was a cursory 12-14 minute attack carried out by only 4 aircraft and no more than 6 strafing runs. The photos reveal that most of the damage to Liberty, with the exception of the torpedo strike, was caused by rocket fire from the aircraft. The scores of hits to the superstructure and hull from almost every conceivable angle attest to a much more punishing and methodical attack which would have required many more aircraft and strafing runs and much more time to complete. The tremendious extent of the damage supports survivor's statements that the air attack lasted 25-30 minutes casting very serious doubt over the "accident" explanation for the attack. The jets flying at a typical cruising speed of 500mph would have consumed about 10gal/min of fuel. In 25-30 minutes they would have each burned 1,500 to 2,000lbs of fuel. The pilots wouldn't have used so much fuel over the target unless they planned for it from the beginning.

I was in the US Navy and stationed on board the USS Arcturus during the late sixties. A member of the crew from the decommissioned USS Liberty was transferred to this ship. One night, after a few too many drinks, he told me a wild and, at that time, unbelievable story about what had really happened when the Isrealis attacked the USS Liberty while it was steaming in international waters during broad daylight while flying a very large US Flag. I had read the official account in TIME Magazine and thought that he was a liar. Reading this book made me realize that TIME Magazine and the US Government were the liars! If I knew the where abouts of my old shipmate, I would call him on the telephone and ask his forgiveness for thinking that he was the liar. Maybe TIME Magazine was duped into lying to the public, but they printed lies and I believed them at the time.

After more than thirty years of following political intrigues, and the lies that shroud the machinations of politicians, it is my opinion that the Isrealis planned the attack on the USS Liberty with the intention of sinking it, with all hands on board being lost. Since it was off the coast of Eygpt, and we were not on friendly terms with that country at that time, the sinking could be blamed on Egypt. With there being no survivors to disput the story, the American public would be outraged against the Arabs. Then, Isreal, being our good ally, would help The US seek revenge against Egypt and it's Arabic allies. That way, they would not have to be the aggressors in the Six Day War, which they were after the sinking of the Liberty did not actully take place as planned.

Since reading the book, I have aquired the video tape of the twenty year reunion of the USS Liberty survivors. The many interviews, especially the one by the ex Chief of Naval Operations, only confirm the legitimacy of this well documented book.

After I spoke to two veterans and had several correspondence with a couple of those on the pro-Israeli side of the attack, some points:

1: The key to understanding the attack will be the NSA spy plane transcripts/recordings, which haven't been divulged yet. I think the survivors want them released. Consistently the pro-Israeli argument never even refers to the existence of these records, so I suspect these NSA records might be the key. Don't be confused though; the ADL and others refer to "NSA transcripts" recently released[on the NSA website in 2003]...but these [Israeli helicopter pilot] "NSA transcripts" were never the relevant "NSA transcripts" [of the actual attacking planes and boats] that the survivors were and are still calling to be released.

2: I understand the pro-Israeli interests lying about this attack to protect the essential US support of Israel, but several go over the line, such as when a rabbi at a Naval base had the book removed from a base exchange after he called it and its author anti-semetic.

3: The motivation to dismiss the Liberty attack as an accident is overwhelming on the Jewish side, with seemingly no one on the pro-Israeli side offering even question as to whether the Liberty was known to be a US ship before the attack.

4: To be clear, no investigation has actually been done on this matter, despite the pro-Israeli interests claiming several have. No interviews by an official investigation body were ever done. The only statements taken were during the US Navy inquiry, and it was made clear that the survivors could not give statements on the attack itself when that inquiry was done, so even the Naval inquiry never qualified as an investigation. A true investigation by Congress is necessary. This is the only major naval military incident in which an investigation hasn't been done.

Suggestion to readers who want to get active in the issue:
Read the facts, ask Congress for an investigation, put up a website, spread the word, support the Liberty library and memorial, but don't entertain pro-Israeli arguments, unless you want endless circular debates over whether black-is-white or day-is-night. Using these futile debates to wear down and obfuscate those supporting the survivors seems like their tactic. The facts, except the essential NSA records which still need to be released, have been clearly stated so I suggest not entertaining the fire from those who support the Israeli side, as they seem to relish and identify themselves as their role as aggitator.