The consequence of ignoring history

To the Editor:

Paul Findley, a U.S. Representative from Illinois from 1961 to 1983 wrote this article in my American Free Press dated Aug. 20, 2007.

The day we failed to defend our Navy ship, Liberty, June 8, 1967, was the day we surrendered sovereignty to Israel.

In the greatest service of his long public life, former President Jimmy Carter warned of the gave consequences of America's phenomenal subservience to Israel. In his latest book and recent lectures, he focuses on Israel's cruel occupation, made possible by massive and unconditional U.S. support, has subjected the Palestinian people to terrible suffering for 40 long years.

America's support of Israel's brutality was the main motivation for 9-11. Nine-eleven would not have happened if any U.S. President in the last 40 years had refused to finance Israel's humiliation and destruction of Palestine.

Michael Scheuer, CIA analyst, now consultant to CBS news, recently told a congressional committee that "our unqualified support of Israel was the main reason for 9/11. Marine General Anthony Zinni, President Bush's first special envoy to the Middle East, has stated that the U.S. invaded Iraq for Israel and oil.

How did Israel gain this influence?

It all started 40 years ago. On June 8, 1967 the U.S. Commander in Chief, President Lyndon B. Johnson, turned his back on the crew of the U.S. Navy ship, the USS Liberty, despite the fact that the ship was under deadly assault by Israel's air and sea forces. The Israelis were engaged in an ugly scheme to lure America into their war against Arab states so they tried to destroy the Liberty and its entire crew, then pin the blame on the Arabs. An SOS was sent to the Navy carrier nearby but President Johnson canceled the attempt to go to the aid of the U.S. ship being attacked. He said, "I don't care if the ship sinks. I am not going to embarrass an ally.

Bruce Switzer

Libby