Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsFriendly Fire and Unfriendly Reviews
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2008
I found Judge Cristol's book comprehensive and convincing. I have seen any number of messages on the internet which attempt to dissuade me from this view but none are very convincing. They all refer indirectly to things they have heard from key government officials without quoting them or providing the names of those making the alleged statements.
Judge Cristol tells you what he learned in his many interviews, names his sources, and quotes from them. Also, he has published, online, many of the documents he relied on and transcripts of some of his interviews.
He sets forth a fascinating story of blunders on the part of both the US Navy, and of the Israeli Air Force and Navy that resulted in a terrible tragedy.
For example: The US Navy Department sent a message to the USS Liberty to stay at least 100 miles off the coastline. It went astray and didn't get to the Liberty until after the incident.
The US Navy Department told the Israelis that it had no ship within 100 miles of the coastline.
I grieve for those who were killed and wounded but placing blame where none is due won't help. This is not the first instance of "friendly fire" and won't be the last.
Why is it still in the news after these many years? Likely because the Islamists want to keep it there. The WRMEA magazine that is published by the American Educational Trust, a Saudi vehicle, publishes a new story about it frequently and has a whole section devoted to it on its website. Some writers for WRMEA,, I understand, also write for the Arab News. Other anti-Zionists bring it up often. James Bamford livened up two of his exceedingly boring books about the NSA and perhaps sold a few more of them by a paragraph or two with bold allegations on the Liberty Incident in each of them, blaming the Israelis, that had little support.
Cristol, in addition to being a Federal Bankruptcy Judge is a Navy Reserve Pilot and I think his flying experience helped him. He commenced writing about the Liberty to fulfill the requirements for a dissertation. It was worth publishing.
