2000 — Oct 12, Suicide Terrorism, USS Cole Bombed, Port of Aden, Yemen — 17
–17 Arlington National Cemetery. USS Cole page.
–17 BBC. “USS Cole bombing suspect faces Guantanamo tribunal.” 11-9-2011.
–17 Navy Times (Larter). “After 15 years, USS Cole crew reflects on terror attack.” 10-12-2015.
–17 U.S. Navy. USS Cole Memorial.
Narrative Information
9/11 Memorial.org: “Nearly one year before the attacks of 9/11, the U.S. Navy ship Cole, located off the coast of Yemen, was attacked by suicide bombers. The attack was later attributed to a cell within the al-Qaeda network; it had been supervised by Osama bin Laden. The Cole bombing alerted Americans of the reality of terrorism, though, even when the connection to al-Qaeda was established, the threat represented by the al-Qaeda network remained generally underestimated.” (9/11 Memorial.org. USS Cole Bombing.)
Arlington National Cemetery: “The Navy has provided these names of the killed in the attack on the USS Cole:
Chief Petty Officer Richard Costelow, Morrisville, Penn.
Signalman Seaman Recruit Cheron Luis Gunn, Rex, Georgia.
Seaman James Rodrick McDaniels, Norfolk, Virginia.
Seaman Recruit Lakiba Nicole Palmer, San Diego, California.
Operations Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Lamont Saunders, Ringgold, Virginia.
Ensign Andrew Triplett, Macon, Mississippi.
Seaman Apprentice Craig Bryan Wibberley, Williamsport, MD.
Hull Maintenance Technician 3rd Class, Kenneth Eugene Clodfelter, Mechanicsville, VA.
Mess Management Specialist Seaman Lakeina Monique Francis, Woodleaf, NC.
Information Systems Technician Seaman Timothy Lee Gauna, Rice, Texas
Engineman 2nd Class Mark Ian Nieto, Fond du Lac, Wisc.
Electronics Warfare Technician 3rd Class Ronald Scott Owens, Vero Beach, Florida.
Engineman Fireman Joshua Langdon Parlett, Churchville, MD
Fireman Apprentice Patrick Howard Roy, Cornwall on Hudson, NY
Electronics Warfare Technician 2nd Class Kevin Shawn Rux, Portland, No. Dakota.
Mess Management Specialist 3rd Class Ronchester Mananga Santiago, Kingsville, Texas
Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis Jr., Rockport, Texas
(Arlington National Cemetery. USS Cole page.)
BBC: “The main suspect in the bombing of the American warship, the USS Cole, has appeared before a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay. Saudi-born Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri is alleged to have organised the attack in 2000, which killed 17 US sailors. If found guilty he could face the death penalty.
“Mr. al-Nashiri, 46, has been in US custody since 2002 and is known to have been subjected to water boarding and mock executions. After nine years in detention, the tribunal hearing is the first time he has appeared in public to hear the allegations against him.
“Military courts. Facing charges of murder in violation of the law of war, Mr. al-Nashiri did not enter a plea at the first session of the military tribunal. He said he wanted to continue to be represented by his appointed legal team. ‘At this moment these lawyers are doing the right job,’ he said. Reporters at the scene say Mr. al-Nashiri, who remained unshackled through the proceedings, appeared engaged, even smiling, as he responded to the judge’s questions. But he declined an offer to exchange his white prisoner’s uniform for civilian attire in future court sessions. Mr. al-Nashiri also told the court he would be attending all the court sessions, even though he has the choice not to.
“The judge tentatively set the trial date for November 2012. This date could be pushed back by months or years, especially as his lawyers try to challenge any statements Mr. al-Nashiri made as a result of torture. ‘By torturing Mr. al-Nashiri and subjecting him to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, the United States has forfeited its right to try him and certainly to kill him,’ his legal team wrote in one motion. ‘Through the infliction of physical and psychological abuse the government has essentially already killed a man it seized almost 10 years ago.’
“The USS Cole was attacked by al-Qaeda in the Yemeni port of Aden on 12 October 2000. The vessel, a destroyer, was rammed by a small craft laden with explosives, which blew a huge hole in the side. In addition to the 17 sailors killed, 40 were wounded.
“’Flawed proceedings.’ The hearing at Guantanamo Bay marks the resumption of military trials there, which President Barack Obama has tried to stop. There had been a freeze on new cases from January 2009, but Mr. Obama announced in March this year that the tribunals would resume. He had tried but failed to get agreement on alternative ways to deal with the most high-profile US terror suspects held at Guantanamo.
“Mr. al-Nashiri’s case was about to be heard when the freeze was announced. The proceedings were broadcast to the families of those killed in the USS Cole attack and to journalists for the first time. Prosecutors say the military commissions at Guantanamo represent a fair balance between protecting America and opening proceedings to the public. However, Mr. al-Nashiri’s defence team say the system is completely flawed, following revelations in a US congressional report that he was subjected to water boarding and mock executions.” (BBC. “USS Cole bombing suspect faces Guantanamo tribunal.” 11-9-2011.)
Sources
9/11 Memorial.org. USS Cole Bombing. Accessed 11-15-2015 at: http://www.911memorial.org/uss-cole-bombing
Arlington National Cemetery. USS Cole page. Accessed 11-15-2015 at: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/usscole-main.htm
BBC. “USS Cole bombing suspect faces Guantanamo tribunal.” 11-9-2011. Accessed 11-15-2011 at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15650831
Navy Times (David Larter). “After 15 years, USS Cole crew reflects on terror attack.” 10-12-2015. Accessed 11-15-2015 at: http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2015/10/11/cole-peterschmidt-parlier-carlson-2000-terror-attack/73607718/
United States Navy. USS Cole Memorial. Accessed 11-15-2015 at: http://www.public.navy.mil/surflant/ddg67/Pages/Memorial.aspx
Additional Reading
United States Department of Defense. DoD USS Cole Commission Report Executive Summary. 1-9-2001. Accessed 11-15-2015 at: http://www.dod.mil/pubs/cole20010109.html