It can’t even protect itself. A reader points out three examples:

1. June 8, 1967 – The U.S.S. Liberty. A reconnaissance ship operating in international waters was bombed and strafed by air and sea forces of the Israeli military killing 34 American sailors and Marines and wounded over 170 more of the crew. Instead of defending the ship and crew, the captains of the aircraft carriers, America and Saratoga obeyed their superior officers’ unlawful order and recalled the fighter aircraft that were launched to repel the attack on the Liberty. These “guardians of American freedom” failed in their oath to the U.S. Constitution and to the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). They were more concerned with their personal careers then protecting the sons and the property of the American people.

2. January 23, 1968 – USS Pueblo. A reconnaissance ship smaller than the U.S.S. Liberty was captured in an act of piracy by North Korean naval forces when operating in international waters off the eastern coast of North Korea. The Pueblo radioed a call for help but the U.S. Navy failed to launch a rescue mission to defend the ship. One sailor died and the crew was held in a North Korean Prison for 11 months. However the navy’s greatest humiliation is the fact the North Koreans still have the Pueblo tied up to a dock in their capital city of Pyongyang. They use it as a propaganda museum to extol the greatness of their “dear leader”.

3. October 12, 2000 – The U.S.S. Cole. The Yemeni government refused to provide security for U.S. Navy warships that dock in Aden harbor for refueling. Given there was no security within the harbor, you would think the captain of the Cole would take basic protective measures but for some unknown reason he did not. Worse, a DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) analyst had tried to warn the Navy of a threatened attack, but his warnings went unheeded. Seventeen sailors were killed and 39 were wounded during the bombing.

There is also the USS Stark incident in 1987. And then, of course, there is Pearl Harbor.

Thanks to C.S.

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