ABU DHABI — Nearly six years after its attack by Al Qaida, the USS Cole
has returned to the Gulf region.
The guided missile destroyer docked in Bahrain for its first Gulf port
call since 2000. On Sept. 27, the USS Cole anchored in Manama, the first
port in the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations.
On Oct. 12, 2000, the USS Cole was struck by a suicide boat in Aden,
Yemen. Seventeen sailors were killed in the Al Qaida strike, and the Cole
required four years of repair.
"The Cole being here is a very historical moment," USS Cole chief Cmdr.
Brad Roberson said.
Roberson said many sailors sought to be deployed aboard the refurbished
Cole. He said the ship has revised its security procedures to prevent the
approach of unidentified vessels.
"Our sense of awareness and alertness to respond has greatly increased,"
Roberson said.
Officials said the USS Cole did not have immediate plans to return to
Aden. The U.S. Navy has been working with Yemeni authorities to improve port
security.
Officials said the USS Cole has been conducting maritime security
operations in the Gulf since June 2006. They said the operations proceeded
without incident.
