Israeli Torpedo Boat Allegedly Displays USS Liberty Life Raft as War Trophy
"It is my understanding if that machine gun fire severed the line that was holding one of those life rafts. The torpedo boat came in, picked it up, plainly labeled US Navy. Can't be proven, I'd have no idea, but I heard a rumor that that life raft and the ship's wheel from the torpedo boat that fired the fatal torpedo are in the Israeli Naval War Museum at Haifa as trophies of war."
About this episode
Tucker Carlson interviews Bryce Lockwood, a Marine Corps intelligence specialist and Russian linguist who survived the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty that killed 34 Americans and wounded 174. Lockwood provides detailed firsthand testimony of the June 8, 1967 incident in which Israeli aircraft and torpedo boats attacked the clearly marked American intelligence ship in international waters during the Six-Day War. He describes being trapped below decks as a torpedo struck, pulling wounded sailors through flooding compartments, and witnessing Israeli forces machine-gun life rafts and jam distress frequencies in what he characterizes as deliberate violations of international law. Most significantly, Lockwood recounts testimony from Admiral Lawrence Geis stating that President Lyndon Johnson personally ordered rescue aircraft recalled, saying he would not embarrass his allies, despite the attackers using unmarked planes. Lockwood argues this proves Johnson had foreknowledge and the attack was a false flag operation intended to sink the ship with no survivors and blame Egypt to draw America into war. He describes Israeli helicopters loaded with armed troops approaching the crippled vessel, which he believes were preparing to board and eliminate witnesses. Lockwood criticizes Congress's 59-year failure to investigate, cites a 2005 claim by an AIPAC official that he could secure 70 Senate signatures in 24 hours, and notes that Congressman Thomas Massie faced political retaliation after calling for an investigation. The interview provides extensive detail on the attack sequence, rescue operations, and Lockwood's decades of silence before reconnecting with fellow survivors in the 1980s.
Key takeaways
- Bryce Lockwood claims President Johnson personally ordered rescue aircraft to stand down during the Israeli attack, proving foreknowledge of the operation.
- The USS Liberty suffered 826 aircraft cannon strikes and 3,100 machine gun rounds, with Israeli forces machine-gunning life rafts and jamming distress calls.
- Lockwood states Israeli helicopters with armed commandos approached the ship, which he believes were preparing to board and kill all survivors.
- The attack killed 34 Americans including intelligence personnel trapped in flooding compartments below decks when a torpedo struck.
- Lockwood argues the attack was a false flag operation to sink the ship, blame Egypt, and draw America into the Six-Day War on Israel's side.
- A senior AIPAC official allegedly bragged in 2005 he could secure 70 Senate signatures within 24 hours, illustrating foreign lobbying influence.
- Congress has failed to investigate the Liberty attack for 59 years despite Constitutional authority over acts of piracy and offenses against international law.