USS Liberty Veteran's Assn Announces War Crimes Charges filed against Israel

USS Liberty Veteran’s Association Announces War Crime Charges Filed Against Israel

(Washington, DC) - Friday, June 10 at 1:00 pm, Hotel Washington, 515 15th.St NW, Washington Room 11th floor (hit R for roof in elevator),

Moe Shafer, board member of the USS Liberty Veterans Association and Rear Admiral Merlin Staring, USN, Ret., Former Judge Advocate General of the Navy who was involved with the initial Court of Inquiry investigating the attack in 1967 will present details of the “Report of War Crimes” brief filed on behalf of the USS Liberty Veteran’s Association concerning the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty.

The “Report” was filed with by James R. Gotcher, General Legal Counsel, USS - LVA, with the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon on June 8, the 38th anniversary of the attack on the USS Liberty.

For a complete copy of the brief go to to
http://www.usslibertyinquiry.com/Report/Report.pdf
for a PDF version of the Report, or
http://www.usslibertyinquiry.com/Report/Report.htm
for an HTML version of the Report.

By establishing prima facie evidence that Israel committed war crimes the Secretary of Defense under existing Dept. Of Defense directives is obligated to initiate an inquiry into the commission of war crimes, an investigation that should have been carried out 38 years ago. Gotcher was an Air Force intelligence officer in Vietnam in 1967 and is one of three intelligence officers who were in different parts of the world at the time. Independent of each other they signed sworn affidavits that they saw intelligence messages saying the USS Liberty was under attack by Israeli aircraft in the Mediterranean. Moe was a 3rd class communications technician on the USS Liberty and survivor of a torpedo attack that killed 25 of his ship mates in the part of the ship where he was stationed.

Captain Ward Boston, a JAG (Naval Legal) Officer involved with the initial inquiry and retired FBI agent examined the original copy of the Court of Inquiry record released under the Freedom of Information Act and declared it a fraud. “It is not the record I certified and submitted in 1967,” says Captain Boston. Lloyd Painter, Officer of the Deck on the USS Liberty and retired secret service agent of 24 years testified that his statement mentioned in the report, “that the Israeli torpedo boat crews machine gunned the USS Liberty inflatable life boats” was removed from the final report that was submitted in 1967.

Immediately following the press conference there will be a panel discussion at the Washington Moderator Gary Powers, Jr.

Panelists:
* Joseph Lentini - Will present a brief history of the ship and the attack; recent events re. political and military issues and what is wrong with the Israeli story as it has evolved over the years.He is a career Public Servant, presently a GS-14 level staff member of the Environmental Protection Agency. Recently honored by the Navy and the National Security Agency (NSA) for training efforts related to establishment of a Cryptologic Military History Program. He was a crew member of the USS Liberty and wounded during the attack.
* Ken Halliwell - Will analyze the gun camera photos and illustrate why they are fraudulent. Semi-retired telecommunications and information systems engineer. He worked for ATT & Lucent Technologies for 15 years. Former Communications Technician with Naval Security Group 1968 - 1974.
* Ernie Gallo - Will cover the following topics: Ward Boston's affidavit which identifies the beginning of a cover up Recently declassified cable from McCain to SECNAV The Jan 04 State Dept Discussion Panel Current FOIA researchCompleted a 30 year career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Following his CIA career worked GTE, TriCorps, and British Aerospace Enterprises. He is a member of: the Elks; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Naval Cryptographic Veterans Association; and the Cold War Veterans. Served on the USS Liberty during the attack.The USS Liberty Veterans Association are hosting their 38th reunion in DC. There will be a memorial service on June 8th at Arlington National Cemetery where 11 crew members are buried; a meeting of the crew on June 10th ; Memorial Plaque Dedication at the US Navy Memorial on June 11th followed by a banquet on the evening of the 11th.

For More Information Call
For Immediate Release
Gary Brummett
President, USS Liberty Veterans Association
318-464-0496 cell
318-858-2258 H
Garywbrummett@aol.com
Direct line to Washington Room, June 10
202-638-5900 ext 3142
www.ussliberty.org
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