Today is the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the USS Cole. The Global War on Terrorism didn’t start on 9/11/2001 as many seem to believe. It started long before that with attacks on American embassies in Africa, the first World Trade Center bombing, the bombing of the USS Cole on October 12, 2000 as well as other seemingly random attacks throughout the world. Read about what has happened with the USS Cole in the 10-years since it was attacked and see photos and a video below.
On October 12, 2000, while the USS Cole was docked for refueling in Aden, Yemen, it was approached by a rubber boat packed with explosives. The suicide bombers in the rubber boat detonated the explosives tearing a huge hole in the side of the ship, killing 17 Sailors and wounding at least 37 others. A memorial to the seventeen Sailors who were killed can be found here.
The ship, also known as DDG 67, was recommissioned in 2002 and just recently returned from a deployment to Yemen to her home port of Norfolk, Virginia. The crew and others gathered to remember the suicide attacks on the Cole earlier today.
“We lost 17 of our shipmates that terrible morning 10 years ago, but they were far more than just our sailors,” said Adm. J.C. Harvey Jr., commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “They were your fathers, your sons and daughters, your sisters and brothers. They coached Little League. They loved to work on cars. They ran track and played football. They acted in high school plays. They loved life, they loved living and they loved you.
“They were proud to serve,” he said. “… We remember them here in this special place, where we can keep them close.”
The U.S. Navy Sailors on the Cole worked for three days to save the ship and care for the injured. A testament to their courage and dedication is evidenced by the fact that the ship was saved, brought home and ‘healed’ to return to service. In addition, to the wounded who were rescued and brought home for treatment.
Most of the terrorists who have been linked to the attack on the USS Cole have been freed or are dead.
Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, known as al-Qaeda’s ‘maritime commander’ confessed to helping plot the Cole bombing, but charges against him were dropped as part of Barack Obama’s order to freeze military tribunals and his reformed military commission rules. He has still not gone to trial and there are no charges currently pending against him.
Jamal Mohammed Al-Badaw was found guilty and sentenced to death in a Yemeni court. He since escaped from prison, was recaptured and ultimately released for taking an oath to renounce terrorism. Fahd Quso was likewise found guilty, escaped, was recaptured and finally freed. He is rumored to have been killed in a drone attack on the Pakistan – Afghanistan border after rejoining the fight against our Soldiers. Maamoun Msouh was sentenced to eight-years in prison in Yemen for delivering money in preparation for the attack. Ali Mohamed Saleh and Murad al-Sirouri were both sentenced to five-years for forging documents for one of the suicide bombers. Mohammed Hamdi al-Ahdal (a.k.a. Abu Assem al-Makky) was sentenced to 18-years for his participation in the Cole attack as well as a 2001 gun-battle in Yemen.
Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi was said to have been al-Qaeda’s chief operative in Yemen. He was killed in 2002 when his car was hit by an air-to-ground hellfire missile.
The failure of the US to retaliate for the attacks on the USS Cole, the loss of life and limb, as well as the failure to even prosecute the perpetrators continues to be a sore point between the White House and the Pentagon and American people.
The USS Cole biography time-line:
- 28 February 1994-Keel Laid
- - Keel laid by Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc. Pascagoula, Mississippi.
- 10 February 1995- USS COLE Launched
- 08 June 1996- USS COLE Commissioned
- - USS COLE Commissioned in Port Everglades, Florida.
- - Ship Sponsor: Mrs. Lee Perry
- February 98 – September 98: Deployment to the Persian Gulf as part of the John C. Stennis Battle Group.
- August 00 – November 00: Deployment to the Mediterranean and Red Sea as part of the George Washington Battle Group
- 12 October 2000- USS COLE terrorist attack
- - While refueling in Aden Harbor, Yemen USS COLE was victim of terrorist attack. USS COLE was attacked on Port Mid-Ships by a small boat with explosives onboard. The result of which led to a 40 by 60 foot hole and the loss of 17 sailors.
- 31 October 2000: Ship begins return to United States onboard the Norwegian heavylift ship S.S. Blue Marlin.
- 19 April 2002- USS COLE Recommissioned in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
- November 03 – May 04 – USS COLE departs for first six-month deployment since recommissioning.
Watch the video below of the USS Cole 10th Anniversary ceremony. Today is also the anniversary of the Bali bombing – another terrorist attack – perpetrated on October 12, 2002.
USS Cole Anniversary
DDG 67 Has Been Recommissioned
and is Docked in Norfolk, Virginia – Video
