The Liberty Incident

Central Intelligence Agency Reports 1967

The Central Intelligence Agency completed an Intelligence Memorandum titled The Attack on the USS Liberty on 13 Jun 1967. It was declassified with redactions on 31 Aug. 1977. It was fully declassified on January 12, 2004 in Foreign Relations of The United States, Vol. XIX, document number 284, page 469. On page 4, in paragraph 5, the report concludes that the Liberty could easily be mistaken for the Egyptian transport El Quesir.

The Intelligence Memorandum reflects the time the attack began at 3:05 PM (Sinai time) 8:05 AM (Washington time). The preparer apparently was not aware that while Washington was on daylight savings time, the Sinai was not. There is usually a seven hour difference between Washington and Sinai time but on 8 Jun 1967, there was only a six hour difference. This author has pointed out this discrepancy to the CIA but they have not taken corrective action. The Washington times in the Memorandum are correct but the Sinai times are all one hour late.

A CIA Intelligence Memorandum dated 21 Jun 1967 remained classified until declassified in full on January 12, 1004 in Foreign Relations of The United States, Vol. XIX, where it appears as document number 317on page 537.

Both the fully declassified Memorandum of 13 June 1967 and the fully declassified Memorandum of 21 June 1967 are reproduced below. Footnote 1 of the 13 June 1967 Memorandum indicates the 13 June 1967 CIA Intelligence Memorandum was sent to LBJ by W.W. Rostow on 13 June 1967 at 12:45 PM.

 

Download Memorandum of 13 June 1967 and Memorandum of 21 June 1967

 

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