Oct. 20, 2000
The man who made the
decision to refuel American
warships off the coastline of
Yemen told Congress he
knew it was dangerous, but
believed the other options were just as risky if not
more so.
Charles Sherrill covered that story and
reports from our Washington Bureau.
The decision to refuel in the port of Aden was made
about two years ago by a Marine Corps general who
retired from the service this summer. He says he made
what he felt was the best choice at the time, though he
admits it amounted to choosing the lesser of several
evils.
In the aftermath of the apparent terrorist bombing that
killed 17 sailors and injured dozens of others aboard
the USS Cole, the former commander of American
forces in the Persian Gulf told the Senate Armed
Services Committee he accepts full responsibility.
"THE REFUELING OF THAT SHIP IN ADEN
WAS MY DECISION. I WANT TO BE CLEAR. I
PASS THAT BUCK ON TO NOBODY."
General Anthony Zinni said he recognized the risk:
"THEY HAVE A SITUATION THERE AS A
RESULT OF THIS CIVIL WAR THAT THEIR
SECURITY FORCES, THEIR MILITARY ARE
REALLY VERY, VERY POOR."
He described the Yemeni coastline as a sieve for
terrorists raising the obvious question from the
committee chairman.
"WHY YEMEN?"
Partly because of geography and partly because other
options were no better, in the General's judgment.
"ADEN NEVER HAD A SPECIFIC TERRORIST
THREAT. ALL THE OTHER PORTS THAT HAVE
BEEN MENTIONED HERE THAT WE SHOULD
HAVE CONSIDERED AS OPTIONS HAVE HAD
SPECIFIC TERRORIST THREATS. AND WE'VE
HAD TO EMERGENCY SORTE OUT OF
THEM."
Zinni said terrorist rat's nests are scattered throughout
the middle east:
"WE DON'T NEED YEMEN TO BECOME
ANOTHER ONE. THEY'RE TRYING TO NOT
DO THAT. WE NEED TO PROVIDE EVERY
INCENTIVE TO MAKE SURE THEY DON'T."
Refueling American ships there is an obvious incentive.
But were American lives jeopardized just to curry
favor with Yemen:
"ABSOLUTELY NOT."
Why not refuel them at sea?
"REASON TELLS ME THAT THAT WOULD
PROBABLY BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
GIVEN THE RESOURCES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE."
Zinni said risk avoidance is at best a temporary refuge:
"I WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT TERRORISTS
WILL FIND ANOTHER WAY."
The general said terrorists are sure to raise the stakes
at some point by using chemical, biological or even a
nuclear weapon. He said the United States is woefully
unprepared for such an attack.
