Posted on 09/25/2006 11:59:50 AM PDT by Asma Bint Marwan
Sept. 22 2000, bin Laden said he would attack U.S. ships - Oct 12 2000 he struck the USS Cole
The Galvin Opinion has compiled a series of resources that recount the events and political repercussions arising out of the Oct 12, 2000 attack on the USS Cole in Yemen. There has been some discussion on what the Bush Administration should have done about the Cole despite the fact that the attack occurred during the Clinton Administration. But, the information below shows how Osama bin Laden was identified as the prime suspect, very quickly, after the attack while the Clinton team was still in office.
Despite the fact that bin Laden had declared war on America in 1998 the Clinton Administration never countered that we were at war with terrorists. In a radio address on October 14, two days after the attacks, Bill Clinton said "even when America is not at war, the men and women of our military risk their lives every day." In an October 18 memorial service, Clinton only devoted one small paragraph to the terrorists. He never mentioned any grave threat by name, not even Osama bin Laden or Al Qaeda. In a "Meet the Press" interview just 3 days after the attack, National Security Advisor Sandy Berger did not even bring up Al Qaeda or the risk it posed to Americans. His neglect to address the subject of our biggest enemy came just one month before the 2000 election. Top officials like Madeleine Albright and William Cohen ignored Richard Clarke's calls for attacking Al Qaeda targets for fear of derailing the Arab-Israeli peace process and creating perceptions that America is indiscriminately bombing Muslims. All of this despite the fact there was a foiled attempt on 3 U.S. targets on January 3, 2000, including an attack on "The Sullivans" in, of all places, the port of Aden, Yemen.
In fact, the Clinton Administration should have had knowledge of bin Laden's desire to carry out attacks on American forces. Osama bin Laden and members of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad appeared in a Qatar TV tape on September 22, 2000 making specific threats to attack American ships. Osama bin Laden followed through on his promise on October 12, 2000, killing 17 Americans. . . . .
NYTimes - Oct 13 2000 - Blast Kills Sailors on U.S. Ship in Yemen In recent weeks, President Saddam Hussein of Iraq has also intensified his threats against the United States, Israel and Arab states like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Even as the Cole was struck, American intelligence officials had detected movement by one of Iraq's Republican Guard divisions west of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, though Mr. Cohen suggested the timing could be coincidental.
Oct 12 2000- Attorney General Janet Reno Briefing, "We will do everything we can."
Oct 12 2000 - Transcript of Albright remarks Q: Madame Secretary, I was reading the description of Yemen in our latest terrorist report, and I'm wondering why this country was ever taken off the terrorist list when there are groups like the Islamic Jihad; Hamas has an office there; Palestinian Islamic Jihad -- all of these apparently still have a presence there. Osama bin Laden has a presence there. Why was this country removed or not put back on the list of terrorist-sponsoring states when a country like North Korea, which has no terrorists, as far as I know, is still on the list?
Sec. Albright: Well, as you know, we're very careful in determining how that list is put together. And there are a variety of considerations in it, and we obviously felt that there was a reason to.
Oct 12 2000 - William Cohen's comments Several reporters questioned the decision to fuel the ship in Yemen, but [Admiral Vern] Clark said that refueling of U.S. ships in Aden began last year and that there had been three refueling operations since last May. He noted that the United States has been working for some time to improve its relations with Yemen.
Oct 14 - Clinton radio address: "We will do whatever it takes" "This tragic loss should remind us all that even when America is not at war, the men and women of our military risk their lives every day in places where comforts are few and dangers are many. No one should think for a moment that the strength of our military is less important in times of peace -- because the strength of our military is a major reason we are at peace. History will record our triumphs on the battlefield, but no one can ever write a full account of the wars never fought, the losses never suffered, the tears never shed because the men and women of our military were risking their lives for peace. We should never, ever forget that."
Oct 15 - Dennis Ross interview with Fox News Question: But is it not the case -- it's been well known in the intelligence community, it's been published all over the place -- hat there are a number of terrorist cells operating out of Aden, including one called "The Suicidals," that's operated by Osama bin Ladin[sic]. Correct?
[U.S. Special Middle East Coordinator] Dennis Ross: Well, I think what we have seen over the last several years is that Yemen has done a better job in trying to deal with the terrorist threat, and we've been building a relationship with them. But obviously, we have to get to the bottom of this. We don't know who's responsible, we have to have an investigation, and at that point we can draw the conclusions.
http://thomasgalvin.blogspot.com/2004/04/failing-uss-cole-galvin-opinion.html
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Why limit it to the USS Cole? LOL.
Welcome to FR
ping.
Bump.
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