From Jane co-blogger at MPJ..here.
Snippet
Murdered USS Cole Sailor's Dad Writes Yemen's President
President Saleh,by Gary G. Swenchonis, Sr.and Family..
It has been over seven years now since our son and his mates were brutally murdered in your country on October 12, 2000 when terrorists attacked the USS Cole and murdered 17 innocent young sailors and injured 39 more. Let me begin by thanking all the Yemenis who called us at our home and sent letters of condolence. The kindness, compassion, warmth and sympathy expressed in those calls and letters comforted us and gave us a strength that we carry with us today. Unfortunately we never received a letter of condolence from you or your government sir.
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!
Please read the rest at above link at MPJ...Jane included on the bottom of the post this....
""""Note: Petty Officer Gary G. Swenchonis, Jr. and 16 other Americans on the USS Cole were murdered by two Yemeni al Qaeda operatives while the ship was anchored in Yemeni waters. Several suspected in the plot were never charged. Those convicted received light sentences, have escaped from Yemeni jails, or have had their sentences commuted. It is unclear if a single suspect remains in jail today. For more about the USS Cole Bombing see The USS Cole Bombing in Yemen: What We Know Today.""
""Since Gary doesn't have a blog, he asked me to post this for him in order to get this out to as wide an audience as possible. Jane"""
Mr. Swenchonis, yes indeed we will post it. God Bless you and your family and the other families that were affected by this horrific event including the Yemeni people who try to speak out but are repeatedly silenced.
For Yemen happenings not written in "history" books please visit Janes blog Armies of Liberation
2 comments:
All I could think of when I read this letter is that this family can find no closure without justice. The US should be seeking it on the behalf of all of our sailors. God bless these families.
God bless this family. Yemen and the US need to get with the program. Enough is enough.
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