Great battles of history -- 56 years ago today the U.S. Sixth Fleet launched a nuclear first strike against the Russian air base at Cairo West in retaliation for the sinking of the USS Liberty with no survivors. Three minutes short of target the flight was recalled. As it had turned out, the spy ship wasn't sunk, only disabled, there were survivors, and the attackers had not been Egyptian but Israeli. Within hours the SAC crews, prepared to deliver hydrogen warheads to the Soviet homeland, were ordered to stand down. We all, East and West, owe a great deal to the heroism of the crew of the Liberty, who managed to restore communications and get messages out while still under fire from sea and air, and keep their vessel afloat. Otherwise I might not be here to type this, or you to read it.