Times headline reads "Hezbollah fury as USS Cole dispatched to Lebanon".
Lebanon’s militant Shia Hezbollah today accused the United States of escalating tensions in the Middle East by dispatching warships to patrol the Lebanese coastline.
“We are facing an American threat against Lebanon,” said Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah MP. “It is clear this threat and intimidation will not affect us.”
His comments came a day after US officials confirmed that the USS Cole, a guided missile destroyer, has been deployed to the eastern Mediterranean as a show of support for the troubled Western-backed Lebanese Government.
The USS Cole is accompanied by two refuelling ships. But it could soon be joined by the US Navy’s Nassau battle group, consisting of six ships including amphibious troop carriers, which is scheduled to sail to the eastern Mediterranean soon.
How awesome is this news to know the USS Cole is one of those ships. If you remember the USS Cole, a guided missile destroyer, suffered a suicide bomb attack on October 12, 2000 while on a fuel stop in the Yemeni port of Aden.
Seventeen U.S. sailors were killed and forty-nine injured that day. Al-Qaeda terrorists carried out that attack and presently those responsible are being coddled by President Saleh of Yemen. See Jane's excellent post: The USS Cole Bombing in Yemen: What We Know Today
The Times piece also gives tidbits of Lebanese newpaper headlines:
Lebanese newspapers saw the naval movements as a harbinger of more trouble and possible war. “The USS Cole is heading to Lebanon: The worst is looming,” ran a headline in the Saudi-owned Ash-Sharq al-Awsat.
“American repeats its 1982 adventure,” headlined the pro-opposition daily Al-Akhbar, referring to the deployment of US navy ships and Marines in the wake of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon.
I am damn proud of our U.S. Military and all are in my thoughts and prayers every day. Right now though I am especially proud of those aboard the USS Cole. Who would of thought the beautiful guided missle destroyer ship would garner that kind of reaction! Awesome!
Thanks to desertdweller for the tip.
Crossposted at My Pet Jawa
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