Great point. We have learned nothing from the Cole terrorism and the Navy since then is in horrible shape top to bottom.
Yemen was not a trusted alliance. Our ship should not have been there and had the State Dept and Pentagon processed Comms on time it would not have pulled in. Cole was at sea alone two days from others in the fleet. Very stupid policy. Otherwise it could have fueled at sea. Our Navy has used our more trusted alliance facilities and services for many decades. During Nam Perth Australia for example was a place our carriers and other ships went for emergency repairs. I’m also told it was a routine Liberty Port.