The retired naval officer who commanded the USS Cole when it was hit by terrorists nine years ago today says that act of war was indicative of what was to come from al-Qaeda in the coming years.
Kirk Lippold was the commander officer of the Cole when it was attacked by al-Qaeda terrorists on October 12, 2000, while at anchor in the Yemeni port of Aden to obtain fuel. Seventeen of his sailors were killed in the attack when a small boat was able to get close enough to the ship and two suicide bombers detonated an explosive device on its hull. Thirty-seven others were injured in the blast. On the anniversary of the attack, Cdr. Lippold says the nation needs to pause and reflect. "When you look at it, the attack on the USS Cole was really the first strong signal that al-Qaeda was intent for larger things for our nation," says Lippold. "It was clearly an act of war. "[And] because of the disconnect between the outgoing Clinton administration and the incoming Bush administration, nothing was done," he shares, "and tragically, the nation paid a terrible price on 9/11." Lippold says a day does not go by without him thinking about those 17 sailors who perished that morning.
If you believe OneNewsNow.com is an important source for Christian news, please consider a small tax-deductible gift for this service.
