USS Cole Victim's Father Writes Yemen's Prez

In October 2000, 17 American sailors died aboard the USS Cole from a suicide attack in Yemen's Aden harbor and, to date, there has been no reasonable punishment for the perpetrators of the heinous act of terror.

Fireman Gary Graham Swenchonis, 26, was one of the sailors who died. Gary Swenchonis Sr., the father of Fireman Swenchonis, has now written a letter to President Saleh of Yemen expressing his outrage at justice denied. Here's an excerpt:

You never even denounced that horrible tragedy, nor did anyone in your government. On the contrary, your government hindered the investigation at every turn. But then, so did our own; US Ambassador Bodine continually obstructed the FBI’s investigation.

When the trials were held in Yemen, the resulting sentences were a mockery of justice considering the heinous crime and multiple loss of life. Then those sentences were reduced upon appeal. Now it is my understanding that one or more of the killers recently received a conditional pardon from you. This is despicable sir!

But we expected no less from you or your government from the beginning. We pleaded with our government to have the killers extradited for trial to another country where the government is not in league with terrorists. I want you to know that I am doing everything in my power to see to it that Yemen is placed on the United States list of countries that "Support and Sanction Terrorists Acts."

Jane Novak of the Armies of Liberation and The Jawa Report was asked by Gary Swenchonis Sr. to publish the letter to assure the widest possible readership.

See Jane's post here. Go visit and leave a comment showing your support. If you have a blog, see if you can mention the letter. The Yemeni government needs to be put in the spotlight.