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The Liberty Incident: 1967 Israeli Atack on the U.S. Navy Spy Ship Hardcover – June 1, 2002
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A former naval aviator provides a page-turning, minute-by-minute account of the battering suffered by the U.S. Navys intelligence ship, USS Liberty
Includes diagrams, maps, and photographs, including images taken by the gun cameras of participating Israeli aircraft
On June 8, 1967, at the height of the Six-Day War between Israel and its Arab neighbors, Israeli air and naval forces attacked the USS Liberty, an intelligence-collection ship in the service of Israels closest ally, while that vessel steamed in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula. The Israelis killed 34 Americans, wounded 171, and nearly sank the ship. Dozens of theories exist about what happened that day. Official inquiries conducted in both the United States and Israel attributed the event to faulty communications and tragic error, but survivors remain outspoken and not alone in their belief that the Israelis acted deliberately.
Federal judge and former naval aviator A. Jay Cristol places the incident in its proper context. The Israeli strike, he argues, can only be understood in light of the Cold War, the outbreak of war in the Middle East, interservice rivalry within the Israeli Defense Forces, and the chaos of an operational environment. That both the United States and Israel kept much of the data concerning the incident classified for more than ten years served only to fuel the fires of intrigue and charges of conspiracy to cover up the truth, but since the incident significant portions of most of the official inquiries have now been declassified. Cristol draws on these, documents recently obtained by him through the Freedom of Information Act, and extensive oral history interviews to deliver the most comprehensive treatment of the episode that threatened to ruin Israels relations with the United States and has served as a nagging source of suspicion for so many years.
- Print length295 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBrassey's Inc
- Publication dateJune 1, 2002
- Dimensions6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches
- ISBN-10157488414X
- ISBN-13978-1574884142
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Customers find the book provides a comprehensive review of the facts and events. They appreciate the thorough research and analysis, including a critique of conspiracy theories. The writing style is well-written and easy to read, making it a great read.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book provides a comprehensive review of the facts and well-researched analysis. They appreciate the detailed examination, including critiques of conspiracy theories. The book is described as an interesting treatise on what happened, with good analysis and documentation.
"...the end, I felt that Judge Cristol wrote an excellent, well researched book on the topic. I hade some lingering doubts, but those were dispelled...." Read more
"...Far more than the book being a uniquely detailed account of the event it places a harsh light on the conspiracy theory folks whether they are..." Read more
"Excellent historical facts, but too many names and acrynoms to remember when reading...." Read more
"I found Judge Cristol's book comprehensive and convincing...." Read more
Customers like the writing quality. They say it's well-written, easy to read, and a great read.
"...It's marvelously well written, too." Read more
"...a great read-- which should become a major motion picture!" Read more
"...Good organization and sequencing of chapters, well-written." Read more
"Ease of Reading..." Read more
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- Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2003I am a former Cryptologic Technician (76-80) and served with personnel who were aboard USS Liberty when she was attacked. I have read most of the mainstream books and articles about the attack and had the opportunity to read some classified reports while in the Navy.
While Ennis makes a powerful emotional argument that he and his shipmates were the victims of a premeditated attack, his information is based on hearsay and incomplete information. It did not convince me that the attack was intentional. Bamfords work is flawed by his misquotations and mistatements and while he has written some interesting stuff about the NSA, he comes to the Liberty investigation late and with his mind already made up.
Judge Cristol's book is very well researched and documented, since it was derived from his Doctoral Disseration, where shoddy research is not tolerated. It does require some flipping back and forth between the text and the notes, but any reader who truly wants to understand what happened on the June 8, 1967, should be willing to do that. Unless, of course, they have already reached a conclusion.
This isn't fiction. It can be dense, but at the end, I felt that Judge Cristol wrote an excellent, well researched book on the topic. I hade some lingering doubts, but those were dispelled. Some people claim the book attacks other points of view. It does not attack, but does refute, with facts, other points of view where, in Cristol's judgement, those points of view are not based in fact.
The arguments over the attack on USS Liberty will continue for years. While I agree that this has been thorougly investigated by the CIA, NSA, JCS and Congress, if it takes a full Congressional investigation to put this into the past, then I am fine with it.
Mark
- Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2003A sad incident - not a conspiracy, December 17, 2003
As a USNA graduate I left active duty in 1965. The attack on the Liberty took place two years later. Over the years I have read many articles on the incident and have been well aware that though inquiry after inquiry has concluded that the attack was a true friendly fire incident the conspiracy theorists still abound. The tragedy of the attack is only exceeded by the viciousness of the theorists. Judge Cristol does a singularly thorough job of tracing the affair from start to finish. While the account is somewhat repetitious I can see why this could not be avoided as Judge Cristol presents the chilling narrative as a seasoned lawyer presenting evidence, tying all pieces back to the whole.
To discredit Judge Cristols's effort one has also to believe that not only was the nations political leaders dishonest and in collusion with Israel but that many senior Navy leaders, all with unblemished records in peace and war, joined in the criminal collusion.
Perhaps even more telling is that Judge Cristol fully explores possible motives and in no way can any reasonable motive be attached to the multiple Israeli mistakes or to the U. S. Navy's absolute inability to effectively communicate with one of it's ships that had been sent into harms way.
Far more than the book being a uniquely detailed account of the event it places a harsh light on the conspiracy theory folks whether they are enamored with the "Grassy knoll" theory of the Kennedy assignation or the nonsense that Israel knew about 911 before it occurred and then worked with the Bush administration to cause the loss of the shuttle Columbia to mask activity concerning Iraq.
Judge Cristol can not cure irrational paranoia but his excellent effort exposes it for what it is.
- Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2014In 1967 the Israeli Air force and the Israeli Navy attacked a U.S. Navy vessel killing more than thirty American sailors. The Israeli government claimed it was an innocent mistake and that they confused the American ship with an Egyptian Navy vessel. One of the officers who was on the ship write a book about the attack which was highly critical of the Israeli government.
This writer attempts to explain away the attack and exonerate the Israelis. Here is the problem: The USS Liberty was flying a large American flag...the good old red white and blue. The American flag looks nothing like the Egyptian flag. Egyptian ships are marked in arabic. U.S. ships are clearly marked with numbers. These numbers were clearly visible to attacking aircraft and to the Israeli Patrol Torpedo boats that fired multiple torpedoes into the U.S. ship in two separate attacks.
The USS Liberty did not carry Naval canons, or deck mounted torpedo tubes...all of which is plainly visible at a considerable distance. It did not carry a deck mounted missle battery, also plainly visible at a distance. In other words, the U.S. ship posed no threats to Israeli aircraft or navy vessels. If the Israeli's thought there was something suspicious, they could safely approach without attacking.
Although the author correctly debunks a number of myths surrounding the attack, he fails in exonerating the Israelis. Had it happened anywhere else in the world, we would have retaliated promptly. American politics being what it is, we did nothing.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2014Excellent historical facts, but too many names and acrynoms to remember when reading.
It did not address the rumor that Lyndon Johnson wanted the Liberty sank so he could blame Egypt.
Overall - contents 5 star; ease of reading - 3 star..
Top reviews from other countries
BERNACCHIA GIULIOReviewed in Italy on July 7, 20145.0 out of 5 stars The definitive account
The title says it all. Only facts and common sense. No silly theories, veiled racism, just the hard facts.
Only for those who are really interested in truth. All others need not apply.



