Comments on: Sami Jamil Jadallah – Should the United States Worry About "Zionists" as Fifth Column? Yes. http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/05/11/should-the-united-states-worry-about-zionists-as-fifth-column-yes/ Free Minds for a Free Palestine Sun, 21 Mar 2010 19:34:06 +0300 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: LanceThruster http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/05/11/should-the-united-states-worry-about-zionists-as-fifth-column-yes/#comment-174 LanceThruster Mon, 12 May 2008 21:26:10 +0000 http://palestinethinktank.com/?p=280#comment-174 I would suggest taking those assertions to the forum at www.ussliberty.org and seeing if they hold up under scrutiny. I thought it was pretty much established that the facts do not support the mistaken identity claim and that Israel tried as hard as they could to murder any and all surviving witnesses. James Ennes, USS Liberty crewmember and author of "Assault on the Liberty" also has the details on the US response to the attack as well as the investigation whitewash. I would suggest taking those assertions to the forum at http://www.ussliberty.org and seeing if they hold up under scrutiny. I thought it was pretty much established that the facts do not support the mistaken identity claim and that Israel tried as hard as they could to murder any and all surviving witnesses. James Ennes, USS Liberty crewmember and author of "Assault on the Liberty" also has the details on the US response to the attack as well as the investigation whitewash.

]]> By: Montag http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/05/11/should-the-united-states-worry-about-zionists-as-fifth-column-yes/#comment-171 Montag Mon, 12 May 2008 19:07:21 +0000 http://palestinethinktank.com/?p=280#comment-171 Sadly, there is more heat than light in this polemic. On the U.S.S. Liberty Imbroglio, Admiral McCain was NOT the Sixth Fleet Commander, but Commander in Chief Naval Forces, Europe. Vice Admiral William I. Martin was Sixth Fleet Commander. Martin on his own initiative ordered the planes launched to protect the ship and Martin, on his own intitiative, ordered the planes recalled when he received a radio message from the U.S. Naval Attache at the Embassy in Israel that the Israelis had informed him of the attack and that they now realized that the ship was U.S. Since the ship was no longer in danger and there was no longer a compelling reason to insert neutral warplanes into a war zone, Vice Admiral Martin prudently ordered the planes recalled. Only then did he receive a signal from Secretary of Defense McNamara ordering a recall, which Martin replied had already been initiated. No further attacks occurred upon the ship after the planes were recalled. Indeed, since the attacks only lasted 42 minutes and the Sixth Fleet was 400 miles away, it would have been impossible for them to render any aid during the attacks. Within months of this fiasco the Israelis lost two of their own warships with their entire crews due to gross stupidity--the destroyer Elat and the submarine Dakar. Since the Israeli Navy desperately needed to book an accomplishment during the Six Day War, and the Arab Navies were unwilling to leave port due to Israeli air supremacy, it's entirely plausible that they mistakenly attacked the Liberty because they were unwilling to look a gift horse in the mouth. It must be admitted that their failure to sink such a slow and marginally armed target displayed a remarkable degree of incompetence. If the attack itself was incompetent, then it stands to reason that the decision to attack was as well. Sadly, there is more heat than light in this polemic. On the U.S.S. Liberty Imbroglio, Admiral McCain was NOT the Sixth Fleet Commander, but Commander in Chief Naval Forces, Europe. Vice Admiral William I. Martin was Sixth Fleet Commander. Martin on his own initiative ordered the planes launched to protect the ship and Martin, on his own intitiative, ordered the planes recalled when he received a radio message from the U.S. Naval Attache at the Embassy in Israel that the Israelis had informed him of the attack and that they now realized that the ship was U.S. Since the ship was no longer in danger and there was no longer a compelling reason to insert neutral warplanes into a war zone, Vice Admiral Martin prudently ordered the planes recalled. Only then did he receive a signal from Secretary of Defense McNamara ordering a recall, which Martin replied had already been initiated. No further attacks occurred upon the ship after the planes were recalled. Indeed, since the attacks only lasted 42 minutes and the Sixth Fleet was 400 miles away, it would have been impossible for them to render any aid during the attacks.

Within months of this fiasco the Israelis lost two of their own warships with their entire crews due to gross stupidity–the destroyer Elat and the submarine Dakar. Since the Israeli Navy desperately needed to book an accomplishment during the Six Day War, and the Arab Navies were unwilling to leave port due to Israeli air supremacy, it's entirely plausible that they mistakenly attacked the Liberty because they were unwilling to look a gift horse in the mouth. It must be admitted that their failure to sink such a slow and marginally armed target displayed a remarkable degree of incompetence. If the attack itself was incompetent, then it stands to reason that the decision to attack was as well.

]]> By: LanceThruster http://palestinethinktank.com/2008/05/11/should-the-united-states-worry-about-zionists-as-fifth-column-yes/#comment-167 LanceThruster Mon, 12 May 2008 17:17:09 +0000 http://palestinethinktank.com/?p=280#comment-167 Sometimes I think the very act of stridently denying there's anything to the notion and castigating anyone who even brings it up is proof in and of itself of the forces at work. If there was nothing to uncover, there wouldn't be such consternation over examining the facts. Great piece, Sami. Keep up the excellent work! Thanks for posting it Haitham. Sometimes I think the very act of stridently denying there's anything to the notion and castigating anyone who even brings it up is proof in and of itself of the forces at work. If there was nothing to uncover, there wouldn't be such consternation over examining the facts.

Great piece, Sami. Keep up the excellent work! Thanks for posting it Haitham.

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