Blue Star Chronicles

In October 2000, the American Naval vessel, the USS Cole was bombed in Yemen. Seventeen American sailors died and 52 were injured. In one of the most, if not “the” most, despicable acts I’ve ever seen a U.S. President do - Barack Obama dropped the charges against the only man in custody and charged with the bombing.

Rahim al-Nashiri
USS Cole Bombing Mastermind

Okay, he didn’t actually drop the charges. He issued an executive order on his first day in office ordering the suspension of all military prosecutions of Guantanamo Bay detainees, until he can review each case. The Judge, over the Judge, in charge of al-Nashiri’s case dropped the charges to be in compliance with Obama’s executive order.

Almost nine years after the bombing of our military ship, and the deaths of some of America’s finest citizens, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri may never be brought to justice. No matter what they are telling us, there is a chance he will never be tried.

When it comes to all-thing international in this new administration, America brings retribution down upon itself. We all know we deserve it, don’t we? No doubt the feeling is, Americans offended Islam and so, though as egregious as the bombing was, America is more egregious.

The Commander of the USS Cole at the time of the bombing, now-retired Commander Kirk Lippold, made this comment:

We shouldn’t make policy decisions based on human rights and legal advocacy groups,” retired US navy Commander Kirk Lippold said in a telephone interview.

We should consider what is best for the American people, which is not to jeopardize those who are fighting the war on terror - or even more adversely impact the families who have already suffered losses as a result of the war.

These are weighty words. We need not to read them and move on. We need to read them and get mad.

Last week, Judge James Pohl, the military judge preparing to try al-Nashiri, denied Obama’s executive order and refused to halt the proceedings. Judge Pohl said the request to halt the trial was “unpersuasive,” and the trial would go forward. Some of us stood up and cheered.

Now, the Honorable Susan J. Crawford has upheld Obama’s order and dropped the charges against al-Nashiri “without prejudice,” - which means new charges can be brought against him at a later time.

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said al-Nashiri will remain in prison for the time being. What the heck does that mean? I don’t feel any better … do you? Do we think, that Obama will think, that al-Nashiri will now be held at Gitmo with absolutely no charges against him - indefinitely?

The Honorable Susan J. Crawford is the “convening authority” “who approves charges against persons determined to be alien, unlawful enemy combatants….” She was appointed to the position by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. She obviously does not have the authority to undo Obama’s Executive Order, and we really cannot expect her to make a protest stand here, and obviously she can over-rule Judge Pohl. There is only one person to blame and that is Barack Obama.

I continue to believe that Judge Pohl is a hero, and by putting al-Nashiri on trial, after six plus years of incarceration, and no one else suspected of doing what al-Nashiri is accused of doing, a trial would see that justice is done. It’s not like we have a bevy of known Cole bombers out there.

Nine months before the USS Cole was bombed, al-Nashiri directed an attempted bombing of the USS The Sullivans. The boat carrying the bombs to the ship was overload and the boat sank. Nine months later, we know the story.

USS Cole - Photos