U.S. Navy ships in the Middle East all put to sea after the Oct. 12
bombing of the U.S.S. Cole and have remained there for almost two months.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark told reporters
that force protection is increasing but he would not specify what new
measures being taken.
"I think our measures were unclassified and out in the open. I think they
can't be that way. We have to have responses that we know that our enemy
doesn't," Clark said.
"I'm not sure we'll ever talk about it. Part of our
job is making this difficult, is not exposing everything that we are going
to do in the open press."
Two days after the bombing of the USS Cole, Clark sent a classified
message to every commander saying the Navy would not wait for complete
investigations before tightening security. He asked for their help in
finding ways to limit potential attackers' access and support.
Clark said one idea under consideration was standardized force protection
plans. Now, every commander can determine what measures to take to protect
his crew, balancing the risk against the desire not to offend the host
country.
Moreover, Clark said the Navy was beginning to negotiate agreements with
host countries to increase the security perimeter around U.S. vessels in
foreign ports to create "standoff."
The bombers of the Cole were able to nestle alongside the destroyer before
detonating their bomb.
The Pentagon would not say how many and what Navy and Coast Guard forces
would be going or where exactly they were heading or what equipment they
would be taking, citing security concerns.
Vice Adm. Charles Moore requested added port security after the bombing in
Aden, Yemen, killed 19 and injured 39. The Cole was refueling at
the time.
The new forces will arrive "within weeks," said Lt. Col David LaPan, a
Pentagon spokesman.
The damaged Cole is expected to arrive in Pascagoula, Miss., for repairs
next week.
The Navy investigation into the Cole bombing, focusing particularly on
whether the captain and crew followed proper force protection procedures,
should be completed next week and forwarded to U.S. Atlantic Fleet
headquarters in Norfolk, Va. for review, Clark said.
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