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What do you get when you ask your Congressional Delegation for a copy of the Congressional investigation of the attack on the USS Liberty?
### Key Points - It seems likely that there is no formal, standalone Congressional investigation report on the USS Liberty attack, based on available research. - You may receive copies of Congressional Record entries related to the incident, such as findings from an independent commission introduced on October 11, 2004. - The topic remains controversial, with survivors and groups calling for investigations, but no dedicated Congressional hearings have occurred. --- ### Background The USS Liberty was a U.S. Navy ship attacked by Israeli forces on June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, resulting in 34 American deaths and 171 injuries. This incident has been debated for decades, with questions about intent and the U.S. government's response. ### What You Might Get If you ask your Congressional Delegation for a "Congressional investigation" report, the evidence leans toward them informing you that no such formal report exists. However, they might provide related documents, such as: - Pages from the Congressional Record, like the entry from October 11, 2004 ([Congressional Record, Volume 150 Issue 130](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2004-10-11/html/CREC-2004-10-11-pt1-PgE1886-3.htm)), which includes findings from an Independent Commission of Inquiry. - References to other official reports, such as the Navy Court of Inquiry or NSA declassified documents, though these are not Congressional. This response reflects the complexity, as Congressional Delegations typically assist with accessing public records, but the lack of a dedicated investigation means the outcome depends on how the request is handled. --- --- ### Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Congressional Response to USS Liberty Investigation Requests This note provides a comprehensive examination of what one might expect when requesting a Congressional investigation report on the USS Liberty attack from their Congressional Delegation, based on historical records, official documents, and public discourse. The USS Liberty, a U.S. Navy technical research ship, was attacked by Israeli forces on June 8, 1967, during the Six-Day War, resulting in significant casualties and ongoing controversy. The question of whether a Congressional investigation exists and what might be provided in response to such a request is both historically and politically nuanced. #### Historical Context of the USS Liberty Incident The attack on the USS Liberty occurred in international waters, with the ship sustaining extensive damage and losing 34 crew members, while 171 were wounded. The incident has been the subject of multiple official inquiries, including a Navy Court of Inquiry and reports from the National Security Agency (NSA), but the focus here is on Congressional involvement. Survivors and advocacy groups, such as the USS Liberty Veterans Association, have long called for a thorough Congressional investigation, citing perceived cover-ups and unanswered questions about the attack's intent and the U.S. government's response. #### Existence of a Congressional Investigation Research suggests that there is no formal, standalone Congressional investigation report specifically focused on the USS Liberty attack. This conclusion is supported by multiple sources: - The Wikipedia page on the USS Liberty incident ([USS Liberty incident - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident)) notes that U.S. congressional investigations, such as the House Armed Services Committee's "Review of Department of Defense Worldwide Communications," were not dedicated to the attack but included related communications details. - The Jewish Virtual Library's summary of investigations ([Investigations of the Liberty Tragedy](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/investigations-of-the-liberty-tragedy)) lists ten U.S. investigations, but none are described as formal Congressional inquiries into the attack itself. - The USS Liberty Veterans Association's website ([USS Liberty Veterans Association |](https://ussliberty.org/)) and related articles, such as those on Military.com ([Liberty Survivors Invoke Benghazi, Demand Hearings | Military.com](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/06/07/liberty-survivors-invoke-benghazi.html)), highlight calls for Congressional hearings but confirm that none have been conducted. However, the Congressional Record contains references to the incident. Notably, on October 11, 2004, findings from an Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Israeli Attack on the USS Liberty were introduced by a member of Congress, as documented in the Congressional Record ([Congressional Record, Volume 150 Issue 130](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2004-10-11/html/CREC-2004-10-11-pt1-PgE1886-3.htm)). This entry, spanning pages E1886-E1889, includes detailed findings but is not a Congressional investigation; it is the introduction of an independent report into the record. #### What Might Be Provided by Congressional Delegation Given the absence of a formal Congressional investigation report, what one receives when asking their Congressional Delegation depends on standard procedures for handling constituent requests. Congressional Delegations can provide access to public Congressional documents, such as: - Copies of relevant Congressional Record pages, including the October 11, 2004, entry mentioned above, which includes the findings of the Independent Commission. This document, chaired by Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, details the attack's duration (2 hours total, with a 25-minute air attack), casualties (34 dead, 172 wounded, 70% casualty rate), and calls for further investigation. - References to other official reports, such as the Navy Court of Inquiry or NSA declassified documents, though these are not Congressional and may need to be accessed through other channels like the NSA's FOIA releases ([U.S.S. Liberty](https://www.nsa.gov/Helpful-Links/NSA-FOIA/Declassification-Transparency-Initiatives/Historical-Releases/USS-Liberty/)). If no specific document exists, the Delegation might inform the constituent that there is no Congressional investigation report, potentially directing them to public resources like GovInfo ([Congressional Reports | GovInfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/help/crpt)) for accessing Congressional committee reports or the Library of Congress for historical records ([Where can I find reports sent to Congress by executive branch agencies? - Ask a Librarian](https://ask.loc.gov/law/faq/342267)). #### Detailed Findings from the Congressional Record Entry The October 11, 2004, Congressional Record entry provides a detailed account of the Independent Commission's findings, which could be what is provided in response to a request. Below is a table summarizing key details from that document, as extracted from the browse: | **Finding/Detail** | **Description** | |---------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Date of Attack** | June 8, 1967 | | **Duration of Surveillance Before Attack** | 8 hours | | **Duration of Attack** | 2 hours (air and naval) | | **Air Attack Duration** | Approximately 25 minutes | | **Casualties** | 34 dead, 172 wounded, total crew 294 (casualty rate 70%) | | **Damage from Air Attack** | 821 holes in the ship, more than 100 rocket-size, 30 or more sorties by minimum 12 planes, jamming 5 emergency radio channels | | **Torpedo Boat Attack Details** | Fired torpedoes, machine-gunned firefighters and stretcher-bearers, machine-gunned 3 life rafts at close range | | **Evidence of Intent** | Compelling evidence of deliberate attempt to destroy ship and kill crew, supported by statements from Dean Rusk, George Ball, Richard Helms, William Odom, Bobby Ray Inman, Marshal Carter, Oliver Kirby, John Morrison, Dwight Porter | | **White House Action** | Recalled Sixth Fleet military rescue support during attack, never before in American naval history, supported by statements from Captain Joe Tully and Rear Admiral Lawrence Geis | | **Crew Threats** | Survivors threatened with "court-martial, imprisonment or worse" if they exposed truth, abandoned by government | | **Cover-Up** | White House deliberately covered up facts due to Israel's powerful supporters, no thorough Congressional investigation, supported by Rear Admiral Merlin Staring and Captain Ward Boston | | **Called Actions** | 1. New Court of Inquiry by Navy with Congressional oversight, public testimony from survivors, cooperation from NSA, CIA, military intelligence, determine Israel's motive <br> 2. Congressional investigation into White House and Defense Dept actions preventing rescue and covering up <br> 3. Proclaim June 8 as USS Liberty Remembrance Day annually | | **Captain Ward Boston's Statement** | Served as senior legal counsel for 1967 Navy Court of Inquiry, believed attack was deliberate, ordered by LBJ and Robert McNamara to conclude "mistaken identity" despite evidence, Israeli pilots aware ship was American, machine-gunned lifeboats (war crime) | | **Commonly Asked Questions Highlights** | Attack spanned 2 hours, air attack 25 minutes, over 3,000 machine-gun bullet holes, help delayed 17 hours, rescue mission cancelled by White House, possible motives include blaming Egypt or hiding intelligence on Egyptian POW massacre and Syria invasion | This table illustrates the depth of information in the Congressional Record, which could be provided, offering an unexpected level of detail about the attack and its aftermath, beyond what might be anticipated from a simple request. #### Public and Political Controversy The USS Liberty incident remains a sensitive and debated topic, with survivors and groups like the Veterans of Foreign Wars calling for investigations, as noted in X posts and articles ([r/AskHistorians on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ckmtaq/in_the_aftermath_of_israel_mistakenly_attacking/)). The lack of Congressional action has been compared to other incidents, such as Benghazi, highlighting perceived inconsistencies in Congressional oversight. This controversy underscores the complexity of the response, as Congressional Delegations may face pressure to address such requests diplomatically. #### Conclusion In summary, requesting a Congressional investigation report on the USS Liberty attack from your Congressional Delegation is likely to result in receiving copies of relevant Congressional Record entries, such as the October 11, 2004, findings, rather than a formal investigation report, as none exists. This response aligns with standard procedures for accessing public Congressional documents and reflects the historical reality that no dedicated Congressional investigation was conducted, despite ongoing calls for one. --- ### Key Citations - [Congressional Record, Volume 150 Issue 130, October 11, 2004](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2004-10-11/html/CREC-2004-10-11-pt1-PgE1886-3.htm) - [USS Liberty incident - Wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Liberty_incident) - [LIBERTY (U.S.S.) Congressional Record Index, 108th Congress](https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/congressional-record-index/108th-congress/2nd-session/liberty-u-s-s/154203) - [Investigations of the Liberty Tragedy, Jewish Virtual Library](https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/investigations-of-the-liberty-tragedy) - [U.S.S. Liberty NSA Historical Releases](https://www.nsa.gov/Helpful-Links/NSA-FOIA/Declassification-Transparency-Initiatives/Historical-Releases/USS-Liberty/) - [Congressional Reports on GovInfo](https://www.govinfo.gov/help/crpt) - [Where to find reports sent to Congress, Library of Congress](https://ask.loc.gov/law/faq/342267) - [Liberty Survivors Demand Hearings, Military.com](https://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/06/07/liberty-survivors-invoke-benghazi.html) - [r/AskHistorians discussion on USS Liberty](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1ckmtaq/in_the_aftermath_of_israel_mistakenly_attacking/)
