The Attack on the Liberty

James Scott's "The Attack on the Liberty" presents a detailed investigation into one of the most controversial incidents of the Six-Day War: the June 8, 1967 assault on the USS Liberty by Israeli forces. The book attempts to shed light on an event that has remained contentious for decades, examining the attack that killed 34 American servicemen and wounded 171 others aboard the intelligence-gathering ship in international waters off the coast of Egypt.

Scott, whose father was a survivor of the attack, brings both personal connection and investigative rigor to this work. The book draws extensively from declassified documents, survivor testimonies, military records, and official investigations to construct a narrative of what transpired on that June day. The author challenges the official explanations provided by both Israeli and American governments, which characterized the incident as a case of mistaken identity during the fog of war.

The narrative begins by establishing context, describing the USS Liberty's mission as a signals intelligence vessel monitoring communications during the Arab-Israeli conflict. Scott details the ship's position in international waters, its clear American markings, and the weather conditions on the day of the attack, which he describes as exceptionally clear. These details form the foundation for his argument that the assault could not have been accidental.

The book provides a comprehensive account of the attack itself, describing how Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats engaged the Liberty over an extended period. Scott documents the various phases of the assault, including air strikes with rockets and napalm, followed by torpedo attacks from naval vessels. The author pays particular attention to the crew's attempts to signal their identity and call for help, as well as the reported jamming of American distress frequencies.

A significant portion of the work examines the immediate aftermath and the official investigations that followed. Scott scrutinizes the inquiries conducted by both the American and Israeli governments, questioning their scope, methodology, and conclusions. He highlights what he presents as inconsistencies in official accounts and explores why certain lines of investigation were reportedly curtailed or left unexplored.

The author also examines the political context surrounding the incident, including the relationship between the United States and Israel during the Cold War era. Scott explores theories about potential motivations for the attack, though these remain among the most disputed aspects of the book. He presents survivor accounts and documentary evidence while attempting to piece together what might have driven the incident.

One of the book's strengths lies in its extensive use of firsthand accounts from Liberty survivors. Scott interviewed numerous crew members and incorporates their perspectives throughout the narrative, providing human dimension to the technical and political aspects of the story. These testimonies offer insight into the experience of those aboard the ship and their subsequent struggles to have their accounts officially recognized.

The work also addresses the long-term impact on survivors and their families, as well as their efforts to seek official acknowledgment of what they believe truly occurred. Scott documents the various attempts by veterans and their advocates to reopen investigations and challenge official conclusions about the nature of the attack.

From a research standpoint, the book demonstrates thorough documentation, with extensive endnotes and references to primary sources. Scott's methodology involves cross-referencing multiple accounts and examining declassified materials that became available in the decades following the incident. This approach provides readers with a detailed evidentiary foundation, though critics have questioned some of the author's interpretations of this evidence.

The book has generated significant discussion and debate since its publication. Supporters praise it as a necessary corrective to official narratives, while critics argue that it relies too heavily on circumstantial evidence and gives insufficient weight to alternative explanations. The work has nonetheless contributed to ongoing discourse about the incident and has prompted calls for further declassification of relevant documents.

"The Attack on the Liberty" serves as both a historical investigation and a memorial to those who died or were wounded in the incident. Whether readers find Scott's conclusions persuasive may depend on their evaluation of the evidence presented and their views on the various theories surrounding the event. The book remains a significant contribution to the literature on this controversial episode, offering a detailed compilation of survivor accounts and declassified materials that continue to fuel debate about what happened in the Mediterranean Sea on that June day in 1967.