Operation Cyanide: Why The Bombing Of The USS Liberty Nearly Caused World War III

by Peter Hounam

The USS Liberty was attacked by unmarked planes and torpedo boats in international waters during the Six Day War between Israel and the Arab States. The attack on the surveillance ship lasted 75 minutes -- 34 men died and 172 were injured. Initially it was thought that either Egypt or the U.S.S.R. was responsible, but astonishingly Israel, the U.S.'s closest ally, said that the planes and boats belonged to them, and that they mistook the ship for an Egyptian vessel -- despite the prominently displayed Stars and Stripes. This hard-hitting investigation shows that on that day in 1967, the world came closer to all-out nuclear war than ever before -- this incident made the Cuban Missile Crisis seem tame by comparison. Peter Hounam reveals that the attack was part of a clandestine plan between the US and Israel known as "Operation Cyanide," designed to ensure victory for Israel in the Middle East. By blaming the attack on the Arab world, retaliation on a grand scale would be justified. A massive cover-up has endured to this day -- the attack on the Liberty remains the only maritime incident that has not been investigated by Congress. But many survivors and senior government officials say that the attack was no accident, including Secretary of State at the time, Dean Rusk. Based on interviews with ex-government officers and the examination of official documents, this book answers the following Why did the White House call back rescue planes from helping the Liberty -- twice? What was the CIA's role in this attack? Did LBJ know in advance about the attack? Why did the U.S. government accept Israel's explanation? This book will shock any reader interested in Middle-East affairs, as it shows that the U.S. was prepared to -sacrifice its men and risk nuclear war to ensure victory for Israel.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Middle East

288 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2003

Reviews

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow...

I was well aware of the Israeli attack on the U.S.S. Liberty in 1967, but never knew the details. The U.S. and Israel governments swept this incident so far under the rugh that they pretty much don't even acknowledge it happened.

It's not plausable to me that a professional air force the likes of the IAF could mistake a prim U.S. Navy intelligence ship for an Egyptian tramp steamer for two-hours of sustained attack. Thirty-four sailors were killed, and it's a wonder the ship didn't sink.

The author has a theory the incident was a set up -- a pretext to allow the U.S. to attack Egypt in conjunction with the Israelies. I don't know if I'd go that far, but this is an amzaing read to learn what the sailors went through, and how the survivors were shunted aside in later years.

The book does prove that the official explanations are a sham. This was no accident. We only can guess at the real purpose.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discounting the irritating editorial gaff of stating that the USS Liberty was armed with "50mm machine guns" instead of the proper .50 cal (12.7mm)this book makes the case for a far more ominous scenario behind the attack on the USS Liberty in June 1967. The Machiavellian possibilities are enough to make your head spin.

[Bill Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hounam provides a detailed account of the sinking of the USS Liberty by Israeli forces. Through numerous interviews of those involved, he sifts out less well known facts. He then assembles these into possible scenarios that might explain why it happened.

Many of the events have not been acknowledged by the government. While it was attributed to mistaken identity by the Israeli forcess, first accounts demonstrate that this was not the case. When carrier planes were dispatched to aid the Liberty, they were called back for no apparent reason.

It appears that a U.S. submarine had been shadowing the Liberty and there is evidence it was the Polaris sub USS Andrew Jackson carrying nuclear weapons. Moreover, planes carrying nuclear weapons were launched toward Cairo, with the apparent objective of destroying Cairo West military airport.

A number of operation names appear tha have never been explained, including the Forty Committee, Room 303 and Frontlet 615.

A likely explanation is that there was collusion between Israel and the U.S. in the initiation of war against Nassar of Egypt, with the Israeli objective of gaining land and U.S. objective of deposing Nassar. It appears that the Liberty was to be a sacrifice with the appearance of the Egyptians destroying the ship, providing an excuse for the U.S. to step in. The concern was that the Russians were going to cross the canal to help the Egyptians.

The U.S. bombing of the Soviet merchant ship Turkestan in Vietnamese waters has uncanny parallels with the Liberty affair.

The author states that in the 1950's, the U.S. was actively considering a 'preventative' nuclear strike against Russia. By the late 1960's, the tactical use of nuclear weapons by the US was considered an option open to the President. Reviewing a 1996 discussion with Robert McNamara, the notes that McNamara showed that the Six-Day War was seen in Washington administration as a success in 'hobbling the Soviets', and that saving Israel from destruction was not even listed as a factor.

[Dan Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

ridiculous