USS Liberty: A Memo, Thirteen Reports, & a Letter

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. An unredacted copy of a partially declassified CIA memorandum to the DCI (OLC 77-5124/1; Executive Registry 77-9493/5) with the subject line "Response to Senator James Abourezk on the USS Liberty Incident (S)" and dated 10 Feb 1978 (hereafter "the 1978 memo"). A partially redacted copy of the 1978 memo is attached to this request.

2. An unredacted copy of each of twelve reports mentioned in numbered section 4 of the 1978 memo, which describes the requested documents as follows: "... an examination of NFAC files has identified ten reports predating 21 June 1967 and two reports dated after 21 June 1967 which were not surfaced during the initial FOIA search but were located as a result of a special search for the Senator. Most of the ten documents are Middle East situation reports which mention the Liberty incident among other matters. The two post-21 June finds are both summaries of earlier information and were prepared for Congressional briefings."

3. An unredacted copy of an additional report mentioned in numbered section 4 of the 1978 memo, which describes the requested document as follows: "... there is another issue concerning the one report identified to the FOIA requestor early-on but withheld under the exemptions to the FOIA ... It is a sensitive analysis which CIA made based on DoD source information."

4. An unredacted copy of a letter mentioned in numbered section 6 of the 1978 memo, which describes the requested document as follows: "This letter describes all twelve of the recently discovered papers on the Liberty and informs him [i.e. Sen. Abourezk] of the action we are taking with the SSCI on the one sensitive analytical document."

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. I am an independent researcher and journalist. My previous work on this subject led to the adoption of a resolution, which I authored, at the American Legion's 2017 national convention. That resolution is published on pages 124-5 of US House of Representatives Document 115–91 and my work was featured in the August 30, 2017, print and online edition of Seattle Weekly.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Michelle Kinnucan

To Whom It May Concern:

This is an amendment of my unacknowledged FOIA request submitted to your agency on 31 May 2020. Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. An unredacted copy of a partially declassified CIA memorandum to the DCI (OLC 77-5124/1; Executive Registry 77-9493/5) with the subject line "Response to Senator James Abourezk on the USS Liberty Incident (S)" and dated 10 Feb 1978 (hereafter "the 1978 memo"). A partially redacted copy of the 1978 memo is attached to this request.

2. An unredacted copy of each of twelve reports mentioned in numbered section 4 of the 1978 memo, which describes the requested documents as follows: "... an examination of NFAC files has identified ten reports predating 21 June 1967 and two reports dated after 21 June 1967 which were not surfaced during the initial FOIA search but were located as a result of a special search for the Senator. Most of the ten documents are Middle East situation reports which mention the Liberty incident among other matters. The two post-21 June finds are both summaries of earlier information and were prepared for Congressional briefings."

3. An unredacted copy of an additional report mentioned in numbered section 4 of the 1978 memo, which describes the requested document as follows: "... there is another issue concerning the one report identified to the FOIA requestor early-on but withheld under the exemptions to the FOIA ... It is a sensitive analysis which CIA made based on DoD source information."

4. An unredacted copy of a letter mentioned in numbered section 6 of the 1978 memo, which describes the requested document as follows: "This letter describes all twelve of the recently discovered papers on the Liberty and informs him [i.e. Sen. Abourezk] of the action we are taking with the SSCI on the one sensitive analytical document."

5. An unredacted copy of a 1967 CIA "Information Report" with the subject line "PROSPECTS FOR POLITICAL AMBITIONS OF MOSHE DAYAN/ATTACK ON USS LIBERTY ORDERED" (see FOIA Doc. No. 0001359157 and attached).

6. An unredacted copy of any and all records pertaining to the response, analysis, evaluation of, and/or decision not to evaluate, the 1967 CIA "Information Report" referenced in paragraph 5 above.

7. An unredacted copy of any and all unreleased records pertaining to "the possible role of Moshe Dayan" in the attack on the USS Liberty. A 05 Aug 1981 letter (CREST Doc. No CIA-RDP86M00886R001500080033-5; see attached) from CIA Information and Privacy Coordinator John E. Bacon indicates that, at that time, the CIA possessed "further information" the agency was unlikely to release.

The requested records will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. I am an independent researcher and journalist. My previous work on this subject led to the adoption of a resolution, which I authored, at the American Legion's 2017 national convention. That resolution is published on pages 124-5 of US House of Representatives Document 115-91 and my work was featured in the August 30, 2017, print and online edition of Seattle Weekly.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.

I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Michelle Kinnucan

Re: Ref. F-2020-01511

Dear Mr. Lilly:

Your agency's acknowledgement letter, dated June 3, 2020, was not made available to me until June 19, 2020. Prior to that, on June 17, 2020, I submitted an amended request to your agency. Has that request been received?

Sincerely,

Michelle Kinnucan

Subj: Change of Address
Re: FOIA Case Ref. F-2020-01511

To Whom It May Concern:

On August 27, 2020, I sent a notice of change of address to your agency via USPS first-class, certified mail. Please direct all future correspondence to me at the address indicated in that notice.

Best wishes,

Michelle Kinnucan