Probe of USS Cole Bombing Unravels

Washington Post ^ | May 4, 20008 | Craig Whitlock

[freerepublic_or_die]

Almost eight years after al-Qaeda nearly sank the USS Cole with an explosives-stuffed motorboat, killing 17 sailors, all the defendants convicted in the attack have escaped from prison or been freed by Yemeni officials.
Jamal al-Badawi, a Yemeni who helped organize the plot to bomb the Cole as it refueled in this Yemeni port on Oct. 12, 2000, has broken out of prison twice. He was recaptured both times, but then secretly released by the government last fall. Yemeni authorities jailed him again after receiving complaints from Washington. But U.S. officials have so little faith that he's still in his cell that they have demanded the right to perform random inspections.

Two suspects, described as the key organizers, were captured outside Yemen and are being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, beyond the jurisdiction of U.S. courts. Many details of their alleged involvement remain classified. It is unclear when -- or if -- they will be tried by the military.

The collapse of the Cole investigation offers a revealing case study of the U.S. government's failure to bring al-Qaeda operatives and their leaders to justice for some of the most devastating attacks on American targets over the past decade. A week after the Cole bombing, President Bill Clinton vowed to hunt down the plotters and promised, "Justice will prevail." In March 2002, President Bush said his administration was cooperating with Yemen to prevent it from becoming "a haven for terrorists." He added: "Every terrorist must be made to live as an international fugitive with no place to settle or organize, no place to hide, no governments to hide behind and not even a safe place to sleep."

[freerepublic_or_die]

To this day, al-Qaeda trumpets the attack on the Cole as one of its greatest military victories. It remains an improbable story: how two suicide bombers smiled and waved to unsuspecting U.S. sailors in Aden's harbor as they pulled their tiny fishing boat alongside the $1 billion destroyer and blew a gaping hole in its side.

Greatest of military victories? LOL. Sure it was a tragedy, but it doesn't speak much to consider it some sort of defining moment for these scum.

[pnh102]

... all the defendants convicted in the attack have escaped from prison or been freed by Yemeni officials.

Where are the seedy Mafia hitmen when you really need them?

[Typical_Whitey]

Another Clinton Fiasco that was not properly handled and left to the Bush Administration .... and should be trumpeted as one more reason we don’t need a Liberal in the WH.

[MarkL]

In March 2002, President Bush said his administration was cooperating with Yemen to prevent it from becoming "a haven for terrorists."

Too late by several decades...

Mark

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping.

[PGalt]

Thanks very much for posting.

Jihad Justice.

UNFREEKINBELIEVABLE.

[Does so]

But...but...they were brought to Justice!

[Joe Boucher]

“all the defendants convicted in the attack have escaped from prison or been freed by Yemeni officials”.
So, what the hell are we spending all that money on the C.I.A. for?
Go out and find these criminals and kill them.
If our vaunted C.I.A. isn’t up to the job (which I believe) then hire Moussad.

[blackdog]

Kill their relatives and loved ones, one by one until they are the last one standing. Then videotape the guy being fed to pigs and send it to Yemen’s media outlets.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Every time I read another installment of the “USS Cole bombers are free again” story, my disinformation radar goes off. It’s a heck of a lot easier for the US to arrange the death or transfer to Hotel Guantanamo of these guys when they’re NOT in Yemeni custody. Why would we want them in a Yemeni prison when we can’t do anything to them there? The Yemeni government can’t afford to execute them, since it would set off a round of terrorist attacks aimed at the Yemeni government.

[GovernmentShrinker]

ping to #10

[BuffaloJack]

Did anyone expect anything different?
How impartial can a muzzie be when judging other muzzies for crimes committed against non-muzzies.

[Joe Boucher]

I’ve been saying the same for years.
Take out these murdering pukes families including mothers, brothers fathers sisters wives and children. Hell, take out these turds dogs and cats and goldfish and make it public that this is what happens to those who are terrorists who mess with the U.S. and instantly all this b.s. will stop.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

one more reason we don’t need a Liberal in the WH.

Like we had a choice!

[nonliberal]

They would stop blowing us up if we just closed down Gitmo.

(/sarcasm off

[chainsaw]

hire Moussad.

You may not have to hire them. They would love to do the job free gratis.

[mkjessup]

But...but...they were brought to Justice!

Yeah, and they were assigned the usual accomodations, provided healthy enriched meals which help build terrorist bodies 13 ways, and given a complimentary DVD of 'Osama's Greatest Hits', and the how-to book 'A Terrorist Guide for Dummies, so simple even a terrorist Cave Man can do it!'.

Then they turned 'em loose.

[Constitutional Patriot]

“...they were brought to Justice!”

...it’s not justice for these guys unless it involves a hail of hot lead followed immediately by an eternal plunge into some very fiery depths...

[mcshot]

You nailed it Joe.
Now if the criminals can be nailed as the Bubba and OJ searches have slowed.

[bert]

.....Another Clinton Fiasco that was not properly handled ....

An explosive laden fishing boat is clearly a criminal matter. Had it been a Naval vessel, it would have been another matter and use of military counter force would have been quite justified.

Military used to counter such a criminal act might involve reducing forces in Hati hnding out food and clothing.