BBC - BBC Four Documentaries - Dead in the Water



	DEAD IN THE WATER Saturday 21 August 2004 7pm-8.10pm; rpt 1.50am-3am

	During the Six-Day War, Israel attacked and nearly sank the USS Liberty belonging to its closest ally, the USA. Thirty-four American servicemen were killed in the two-hour assault by Israeli warplanes and torpedo boats. Israel claimed that the whole affair had been a tragic accident based on mistaken identification of the ship. The American government accepted the explanation. For more than 30 years many people have disbelieved the official explanation but have been unable to rebut it convincingly. Now, Dead in the Water uses startling new evidence to reveal the truth behind the seemingly inexplicable attack. The film combines dramatic reconstruction of the events, with new access to former officers in the US and Israeli armed forces and intelligence services who have decided to give their own version of events. Interviews include President Lyndon Johnson's Secretary of Defence Robert McNamara, former head of the Israeli navy Admiral Shlomo Errell and members of the USS Liberty crew.


	JOHN HRANKOWSKI "It was a well co-ordinated attack" claims a USS Liberty veteran


	ADMIRAL SHLOMO ERELL The former head of Israel's navy maintains it "was a clear case of mistaken identity"



Divers investigate the torpedo wound to the USS Liberty
	External Links USS Liberty Comprehensive site run by two survivors with images and documents USS Liberty Another site, with info on the Dead in the Water video Attack on the USS Liberty Well-presented academic account of the conflicting arguments USS Liberty Photo Album Photos from the 60s and the crew's recent reunions The Six-Day War Overview from the American-Israeli Co-operative Enterprise The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites