E1888 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 11, 2004
confused the USS Liberty with the El Quseir, fighters were launched from the aircraft car- guished naval career of Admiral Thomas H.
an Egyptian ship allegedly firing upon its riers America and Saratoga while the Liberty Moorer spanned 41 years. Following his
forces in the Sinai. But there was no Egyp- was under attack. However, they were quick- Graduation from the Naval Academy in 1933,
tian naval bombardment that day; nor did ly recalled by the White House. This is the he became a Navy pilot, a war hero, and a
the El Quseir (an unarmed 1920s-era horse only instance in American naval history ship’s captain. On December 7, 1941, as a
carrier out of service in Alexandria) bear any where a rescue mission was cancelled when naval aviator, Lieutenant Moorer was one of
resemblance to the Liberty. an American ship was under attack. the first pilots off the ground following the
6. Isn’t it difficult to identify a ship if 13. Why would Israel have deliberately at- attack on Pearl Harbor. A hero of the Battle
you’re in an airplane? In 1967, the USS Lib- tacked an American ship? Israel’s motive for of Midway, his numerous decorations for
erty was the most sophisticated intelligence launching the attack has never been deter- valor during WWII include the Silver Star
ship in the world, with dozens of large anten- mined with certainty. This is why an impar- and Purple Heart. In 1957, Moorer was pro-
nas, including a large moon-bounce ‘‘sat- tial investigation is critical. One hypothesis moted to the rank of Admiral. In 1965, he
ellite-dish’’ mounted on a tall structure near is that Israel intended to sink the ship (with broke new ground, becoming the only Amer-
the stern. It may have been one of the most no survivors) and blame Egypt because this ican admiral to have ever commanded both
easily identifiable ships of any navy in the might have brought the United States into our Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. He later
world. With a displacement of 10,000 tons, it the 1967 war. Another hypothesis is that the served as Chief of Naval Operations, and
was four times the size of the antique Egyp- Liberty was gathering intelligence about ac- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The F–
tian transport it is claimed to have resem- tivities that Israel did not want revealed. 14 Tomcat, the Navy’s main fighter for many
bled. Freshly painted, the Liberty carried Examples might include the massacre of years, was named for Admiral Moorer. Since
large white identification numbers on its Egyptian prisoners of war that was then oc- his retirement in 1974, Admiral Moorer has
bow. Egyptian hull numbers are painted curring in the Sinai, as well as Israel’s im- served on the boards of many American cor-
black. pending invasion of Syria. porations, and is a tireless advocate for
7. Doesn’t Israel say that the Liberty flew 14. Has the incident been investigated in American veterans. Working with Admiral
no flag? According to American survivors, a the past? Some people say that there have Arleigh Burke (CNO), Admiral Moorer was
5-by-8 feet American flag was hoisted early been ‘‘thirteen official investigations’’ all instrumental in establishing the United
that morning and was flying all day until it concluding the attack was a case of mis- States Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Ave-
was shot away by attacking aircraft. Within taken identity. Several were conducted by nue in Washington, D.C. He is currently
several minutes, it was replaced by the giant Israel. Upon examination, however, every Chairman of the Liberty Alliance, an organi-
7-by-13 feet holiday ensign, which flew for one is based upon the conclusions of the zation dedicated to obtaining an honest in-
the duration of the attack. original 1967 U.S. Navy Court of Inquiry, vestigation of Israel’s attack on the USS Lib-
8. Could Israel have thought the ship was which accepted the Israeli version, but which erty and the official cover-up that followed.
in a war zone, acting suspiciously? According has been exposed and discredited by its chief General of Marines Raymond G. Davis
to surviving crewmembers, Israeli reconnais- (MOH), former Assistant Commandant of the
attorney as a cover-up.
sance aircraft closely studied the Liberty 15. Did the surviving crewmembers testify Marine Corps—General Davis, one of Amer-
over an eight-hour period prior to the at- ica’s most decorated heroes, passed away on
in the other investigations? In not one of
tack, one flying within two hundred feet of September 3, 2003. As a combat veteran of
these ‘‘investigations’’ were any of the Lib-
the ship. At all times the Liberty was a clear- three wars and a dedicated member of the
erty’s surviving crewmembers permitted to
ly marked American ship in international Marine Corps for 34 years, General Davis re-
publicly testify.
waters, proceeding at a speed of only 5 knots. ceived the Congressional Medal of Honor—
16. Why would the White House prevent the
9. What was the weather like the day of the the nation’s highest award for valor—as well
rescue of an American ship? This is, perhaps,
attack? Weather reports confirm that it was as the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Service
the most disturbing question arising out of
a clear day with unlimited visibility. The Medals, two Silver Stars, two Legion of
Israel’s attack. It is why there needs to be a
Israeli reconnaissance planes could have Merit awards, the Bronze Star, and the Pur-
thorough investigation of the actions taken
seen the Liberty’s crew sunbathing on the ple Heart. General Davis was renowned for
by the White House and the Secretary of De-
upper decks just before the attack. The flag his exploits in the Pacific during WWII, as a
fense. Why did they order the recall of the
was flying in a 12-knot breeze for most of the battalion and regimental commander during
planes that had been sent to rescue the Lib-
afternoon. the Korean War, and as Commanding Gen-
erty? Why did they order that the survivors
10. Doesn’t Israel say they ended the at- eral of the 3rd Marine Division in Viet Nam.
be silenced and the true facts be withheld
tack the minute they saw someone hoist an Attaining four-star rank in 1971, Davis
from the American people?
American flag? The Israeli attack by com- 17. What kind of investigation are you call- served as Assistant Commandant of the
bined air and naval forces spanned two ing for? We are calling for a new Court of In- Corps before retiring in 1972. A strong pro-
hours—as long as the attack on Pearl Har- quiry by the Department of the Navy, with ponent of veterans’ issues, General Davis
bor. The air attack alone lasted approxi- congressional oversight, to take public testi- served as chairman of the advisory board to
mately 25 minutes: consisting of more than mony from surviving crewmembers and oth- the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Wash-
30 sorties by approximately 12 separate erwise thoroughly examine the cir- ington, D.C., dedicated in 1995. Prior to his
planes using napalm, cannon, and rockets cumstances of the attack. death, General Davis served as Vice Chair-
which left 821 holes in the ship. Following 18. Why are you calling for a naval—and man of the Liberty Alliance and was a prin-
the air attack, three Israeli motor torpedo not a congressional—investigation? We be- cipal member of the Commission of Inquiry
boats torpedoed the ship, causing a 40′ x 40′ lieve this would remove the inquiry from the into the cover-up of the attack on the USS
wide hole in her hull, and machine-gunning political pressures traditionally exerted by Liberty.
firefighters and stretcher-bearers attempting Rear Admiral Merlin Staring, former
special interest groups upon individual con-
to save their ship and crew. More than 3,000 Judge Advocate General of the Navy—Merlin
gressional offices. Fundraising and election
machine-gun bullet holes were later counted Staring’s distinguished naval career, which
pressures have prevented an honest inves-
on the Liberty’s hull. After the attack was spanned nearly 25 years, began as an ensign
tigation from being conducted for the past 36
thought to have ended, three life rafts were in December 1941. Among his numerous deco-
years.
lowered into the water to rescue the most se- rations, Admiral Staring was awarded the
19. Why is this significant for the Amer-
riously wounded. The Israeli torpedo boats Navy Distinguished Service Medal. In June
ican people 36 years later? We have a duty to
returned and machine-gunned these life rafts of 1967, Staring served as Staff Legal Officer
the crew of the USS Liberty, while the sur-
at close range. This was followed by the ap- to Admiral John S. McCain, Jr., the Com-
vivors are still alive to testify, and while the
proach of two large Israeli Army assault hel- mander-in-chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe
perpetrators can be brought to justice. Fur-
icopters filled with armed commandos car- (CINCUSNAVEUR) in London, which encom-
thermore, any policies that paralyze our
rying what appeared to be explosive satchels passed the Mediterranean, and was assigned
elected leadership to the extent they become
(they departed after hovering over the ship to review the record of the Navy Court of In-
unable or unwilling to protect Americans
for several minutes, making no attempt to quiry’s investigation into the Israeli attack
and American interests, endangers not only
communicate). on the USS Liberty. Admiral Staring later
the safety of all Americans but also the na-
11. Did the Liberty send out a distress sig- served as the Navy’s legal advisor to Secre-
tional security of the United States.
nal when it was under attack? Throughout taries of the Navy Paul R. Ignatius and John
20. Doesn’t America have a special rela-
the air attack, the Liberty’s radio operators H. Chafee. Attaining the rank of Rear Admi-
tionship with Israel? No nation or people
found it difficult to transmit a distress sig- ral in 1972, he was appointed Judge Advocate
should be above the law; nor should Amer-
nal because the attacking Israeli aircraft General of the Navy—the Navy’s chief attor-
ican interests be subordinated to the inter-
jammed all five of the Liberty’s American, ney—a position he held through 1975. Cur-
ests of any foreign nation. Those Israelis re-
not Egyptian, emergency radio channels. rently, Admiral Staring is Treasurer and a
sponsible for ordering the attack and the re-
However, a call for help did reach the U.S. director of the Liberty Alliance.
sulting murder of American sailors must be
Navy command in the Mediterranean. Ambassador James Akins, former U.S. Am-
held accountable for their actions.
12. What was the American response time? bassador to Saudi Arabia—James Akins
Although American carrier-based air support THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INQUIRY served his country for 25 years as a distin-
was only 40 minutes away, help did not reach Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, former Chair- guished member of the diplomatic corps.
the USS Liberty for seventeen hours. Navy man, Joint Chiefs of Staff—The distin- From 1963–1965, he served as an attache at
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