April 28, 2008
Second Convicted USS Cole Bomber, Fahd Al-Quso, Also Free In Yemen
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Suicide bombers attacked the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen on October 12, 2000, killing seventeen US sailors and injuring forty-nine others. Two convicted masterminds of the terror plot escaped twice and now both are free in Yemen with the Yemeni government's approval.
Jawa earlier reported the release of Jamal al-Badawi on October 16, 2007. Now Newsweek reports that the US believes Fahd al-Quso is also free in Yemen. Both al-Quso and al-Badawi escaped from Yemeni jail in 2003. They were indicted in absentia in the US. The pair was charged with 50 offenses each including conspiracy to murder and the murder of U.S. nationals; conspiracy to murder, the murder and attempted murder of U.S. military personnel aboard the USS Cole and the USS The Sullivans; and providing material support to the al Qaeda terrorist organization.
Both later were "recaptured" in Yemen in 2004. A Yemeni court sentenced Al-Quso to ten years in connectionwith the Cole bombing and Al-Badawi was sentenced to death, which was later reduced to 15 years. Both escaped jail in 2006 and al-Quso remains free. President Saleh said at the time that he was in contact with all the escapees. Al-Badawi surrendered in October 2007 and was given loose house arrest. After strong US protests, al-Badawi was returned to jail, at least for a day where he was seen by US officials. When FBI Director inquired as to al-Badawi's status during a recent visit with Yemeni President Saleh, "Saleh gave no clear answers about the suspect, Jamal al-Badawi, leaving Mueller 'angry and very frustrated', said one (Newsweek) source, who added that he's rarely seen the normally taciturn FBI director so upset." Newsweek also notes, "U.S. officials only recently learned that another indicted Cole bomber, Fahed al-Quso, broke out of a Yemeni jail along with Badawi two years ago and remains a free man."
In January, Jawa was honored to publish a letter from Gary Swenchonis to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Gary is the father of Gary Swenchonis Jr. who was killed aboard the USS Cole. Mr. Swenchonis asked President Saleh to imprison his son's killers according to the Yemeni court's verdict. Apparently Saleh has greater loyalty to the these terrorists than to the US or to the concept of justice.
