JUSTICE FOR COLE VICTIMS? – AT 4:41 P.M. ET:  The attack on the USS Cole in a harbor in Yemen occurred more than 10 years ago.  Some 17 American sailors were killed, and 40 wounded.  Now there may be justice for the families of the victims: 

The Defense Department announced Wednesday that it is seeking the death penalty against a Guantanamo Bay detainee in connection with the USS Cole bombing in Yemen more than a decade ago.

Military prosecutors have re-filed terrorism and murder charges against Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, of Saudi Arabia, the first case to move forward since President Obama ordered military trials to resume at Guantanamo Bay. The charges allege that Al-Nashiri led the planning and preparation for the USS Cole attack that blew a hole in the ship, killing 17 sailors and wounding another 40.

Al-Nashiri was first charged in 2008, but those charges were later withdrawn after President Obama took office, as his administration undertook a sweeping review of the Guantanamo Bay detention program. Al-Nashiri had been waterboarded during the Bush administration.

The Defense Department said Wednesday that the suspect will now be charged with a number of severe counts, including murder in violation of the law of war, terrorism and attempted murder.
The charges are referred to the Convening Authority for Military Commissions, which presides over the war crimes tribunals at the U.S. base in Cuba.

The USS Cole case had already been designated for a military trial by Attorney General Eric Holder in November 2009. But because the process stalled for political reasons, it took more than 17 months for the case to move forward.

COMMENT:  It's about time.  After the Cole attack there was a spate of stories about how the American ambassador to Yemen was blocking a full probe in order to avoid hurting our relations with Yemen.  Now, maybe, there'll be some justice.

We're fortunate that this bird will be tried before a military tribunal, whose members will understand the brutality of the attack on the Cole, which almost sank the ship.

April 20, 2011