How many people are going to understand the details? They are only going to see charges dropped.
Clodfelter’s father voiced the same fear. “That does concern me a great deal. I don’t know why it’s taken those people down at Guantanamo … so long to bring this to a climax. It just doesn’t make any sense why they’re waiting so long,” he said.
The story of the Cole is one of frustration. It happened three months before President Clinton left office and was then overshadowed by 9/11. The Clodfelters say both parties’ administrations failed the Cole families.
“Bush never took the time to meet us or question us orm you know, say he’s going to do what he can do,” Gloria Clodfelter told FOX News. “That he’d take care of this.”
And now the politics of Guantanamo are in play. Lippold says the rights of terrorists are being given more priority than the rights of his sailors who died as Americans for their country. “When you say ‘we need to treat detainees fairly,’ what about my crew?” he asked.
The Clodfelters buried their son more than once. The Navy kept finding more of his remains in the sea.
“A year later, they called again, and it’s just … why did they wait until something like that to call and tell this poor child that her husband’s remains are still …” Gloria paused and broke down sobbing. “I’m his mother, but his poor wife. She just went through hell.”
It may be procedural, I don’t know the law. But this tugs at my heart more than words can express.
Oh I know, this was badly handled. What a surprise, coming from a master statesman!