[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 74 (Friday, June 7, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    ATTACK ON THE U.S.S. ``LIBERTY''

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                        HON. CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 6, 2002

  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I speak to commemorate and recognize the 
tragic attack that took place against the U.S.S. Liberty on June 8, 
1967. Although thirty-five years have come and gone since this historic 
event, the survivors of the U.S.S. Liberty are still struggling with 
the fact that their story has never been heard.
  While there has never been an official investigation into this event, 
we have learned from survivor accounts that for over 75 minutes the 
Israeli Defense Forces attacked the U.S.S. Liberty, killing 34 American 
soldiers and wounding an additional 172. With over 85% of the crew 
either dead or wounded, they somehow managed to keep the ship afloat 
after being hit by over 1000 rounds of rocket, cannon, machine gun, 
napalm hits, and even a direct hit from a torpedo.
  This unprovoked attack took place in international waters, and by a 
trusted ally. The only explanation given to the survivors and their 
families as to why this attack took place was that it was an accident 
and that their ship was not identified as being American, regardless of 
the fact that our flag was proudly flown throughout the attack. 
Unfortunately, that explanation is not good enough for those whose 
lives have been impacted by this attack, and it should not be good 
enough for the American people. Let's not wait another thirty-five 
years before we provide the survivors of the U.S.S. Liberty an official 
investigation into why this attack took place and allow them to tell 
their story. We owe them more than a debt of gratitude for their 
sacrifice; we owe them the truth.

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