Justice for USS Cole Victims’ Families Remains Elusive

In the shadow of the tragic 9/11 attacks, there lies a forgotten incident that preceded it. It was the devastating attack on the USS Cole, an American naval ship, in the port of Aden, Yemen. This assault, carried out by the terrorist group al-Qaeda, claimed the lives of seventeen brave sailors. However, what is even more distressing is that justice for this heinous act has been elusive for over two decades. Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged mastermind behind the bombing, has yet to stand trial. Carol Rosenberg, a distinguished journalist from the New York Times, has been closely following this story throughout the long years of waiting. She sheds light on the plight of the victims’ families and the surviving crew members who continue to wait for their day in court. Rosenberg’s poignant words remind us that it has become “the longest-running death penalty case in the war against terrorism.”

The progress of Nashiri’s trial has been marred by the contentious issue of torture. After his capture in 2002, Nashiri spent four grueling years in CIA custody, including time at secret black site prisons, where he was subjected to torture. As a result, his confession was deemed unreliable and inadmissible by the judge. In yet another twist, the current judge overseeing the case will retire next month, marking the fourth judge to preside over this protracted trial. The once-filled courtroom, with its presence of grief-stricken relatives and survivors, has now dwindled to a mere two attendees during the latest hearings in June. Anton Gunn, who lost his brother Cherone in the bombing, expresses his frustration and longing for closure: “I’m a patient man. I just want to hear the details. I’m not even presuming guilt at this point. I want to get past the procedural motions of what’s admissible and what’s not admissible, this delay and that delay. Let’s get to the trial.” (Read the full story.)