| The attack that blew a gaping hole in the destroyer
USS Cole came after the Navy gave advance notice that the ship would be
visiting a port that has little U.S. oversight, in a country that is considered by
some a haven for terrorists. --Dave Moniz, USA TODAY, 10/12/00 |
Like the federal building in Oklahoma City, there are munitions experts who are wondering if the small tug that allegedly contained the explosives that allegedly blew a gaping, 40-ft. hole in the side of the USS Cole (DDG 67), a U.S. Navy destroyer, was indeed large enough to support the weight of those same explosives. An interesting thought, isn't it?
| Looking carefully at the damage (explosives was part of my job while a member of the 3rd Special Forces Group), if a rubber raft did indeed do this, it contained and ENORMOUS amount of explosives to achieve the level of damage inflicted upon the Navy ship. It seems more like some sort of missile, or perhaps a torpedo, although I doubt that. Sparrow, sidewinder etc. missiles can be launched from many, many miles away, sight unseen, and easily inflict the level of damage noted on this ship. F-14's specialize in this sort of attack. --A Former Insider |
Another anonymous source within the military establishment also shared with GiantKillers.Org the fact that the explosion penetrated approximately 9 inches of steel in order to rip the 40-foot hole you now see. According to him/her, an Op such as this would be entirely feasible using a low flying, rapid missile, such as the MM.40 Exocet Anti-ship missile.
A missile of this type could easily be launched from a ground vehicle, plane, or even a submarine, all of which would be far enough away to remain out of sight. In addition, the Exocet typically flies fast and low to the water to avoid radar.
This source also voiced reservations concerning the lack of proper security precautions on the part of Naval authorities. Given the fact that Yemen was not that long ago on the Department of State's terrorist list, SECURITY should have been the watch word of the day....
The other thing that bothered this particular source is the fact that refueling of a destroyer of this class is quite easily and usually done at sea (replenishment at sea). This is especially prudent when a port lies within what is considered hostile territory, and Yemen was considered that by recent security risk assessments. Despite the fact that Yemen was taken off of the State Department's terrorist list, it was still considered a terrorist hotbed.
This source finished by stating that Naval authorities should have also known better than to allow any boat not under its direct control, or one where a thorough inspection was NOT performed, to come within 100 yards of the vessel. This was clearly a mistake that resulted in the needless loss of 17 U.S. sailors and the injury of others.
In conclusion, DoD authorities should have known better than to take so many chances, whether or not it was this administration's desire not to insult Yemen authorities or not. They have a duty to the sailors and soldiers they command.
Perhaps this is what happens when a Commander in Chief is 1) inexperienced in military matters, 2) has an open and well known hostility toward Anything Military, 3) and that same C/C fails to respect military advisors who, incidently, were almost sure to have raised these and other concerns.
Am I suggesting that our Department of Defense is negligent or that someone inside the U.S. establishment was directly involved with this terrorist act? I cannot say, but there are those who believe that this is exactly the case. Personally, I have not yet made up my mind, but perhaps you will find the following messages/articles of interest.
| Remember, things are not always what they appear to be in this world, purely because we look through a dark glass always. |
Final Word: Perhaps if we, as a nation, were to 1) consider and pray to God who provides all power, and 2) mind our own business and stay out of others' affairs, things like this would not take place and the Middle East could decide their own fate without special interests insisting on their's. Is this not how World Wars begin? --Al Colombo
| Editor's Note: Permission is granted to reproduce this or any of the other articles and commentaries that appear on this web site, providing they appear in their entirety with the author's name, e-mail address, and www.GiantKillers.Org included. Thank you. --Al Colombo |
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