Morning Wire: "The USS Cole: Al Qaeda’s Strike Before 9/11"

Date: October 11, 2025
Host: The Daily Wire (John Bickley & Georgia Howe)
Guest: Commander Kirk Lippold, former captain of USS Cole

Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Commander Kirk Lippold, captain of the USS Cole when it was attacked by Al Qaeda in October 2000—an event that killed 17 sailors and wounded 37. Lippold discusses his new documentary on the attack, recounts the events of that day, examines the intelligence failures and political aftermath, and acknowledges the heroism of his crew. The episode critically addresses a key prelude to 9/11 and ongoing failures to secure justice for the victims.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Purpose and Aims of the Documentary (00:38–01:20)

• Commander Lippold introduces his documentary:

  • Highlights what happened to the USS Cole 25 years ago.
  • Seeks to recognize the heroism of his crew and inform the American public of the circumstances and consequences of the attack.
  • Expresses gratitude for support from The Daily Wire and Big Media.

• Quote:

  "The real goal of the documentary was to really highlight for the American people what happened to USS Cole 25 years ago...and the heroism of my crew as they saved that ship and saved our shipmates."
  — Commander Lippold (00:44)

Recounting the USS Cole Attack (01:20–03:30)

• Sequence of Events:

  • USS Cole, an Aegis guided missile destroyer, was en route to enforce UN sanctions on Iraq.
  • Port stop in Aden, Yemen, for refueling due to a Navy shortage of oilers.
  • Al Qaeda operatives, disguised as local garbage barges, detonated explosives, blowing a 40x40 foot hole in the ship.
  • 17 sailors were killed instantly; 37 wounded.
  • Crew stabilized the ship within an hour, evacuated wounded, with 32 of 33 injured sailors surviving after triage and medevac.

• Quote:

  "...a 40 by 40 foot hole in the side of the ship, instantly killing 17 sailors and wounded 37 others. But as a real testament to the crew, we were able to get the ship stable in a little over an hour..."
  — Commander Lippold (02:50)

Damage Control & Crew Response (03:30–05:18)

• Preparedness:

  • Ship operated at heightened readiness—sealed compartments below main deck prevented catastrophic flooding, limiting damage.
  • Crew fell back on training when the announcement system failed during the explosion.

• Insights:

  • Pre-event drills and Navy protocols were pivotal to containment and survival.

• Quote:

  "They fell back on their training and then accomplished what they needed to save our ship and shipmates—so in my mind, true heroes that this documentary will point out."
  — Commander Lippold (05:13)

Pre-9/11 Terrorism Awareness & Intelligence Failures (05:18–06:38)

• Contextual Awareness:

  • Terrorism was a known threat, with prior attacks (Beirut, Khobar Towers, World Trade Center, embassy bombings) tied to Al Qaeda.
  • Critical intelligence—FBI learned from embassy bombing suspects Al Qaeda would target US Navy ships in Aden—was never shared with the USS Cole or potentially even naval leadership.

• Quote:

  "We never got that intelligence on the ship. We never had any idea, and I have no idea if the Navy leadership ever had access to that intelligence or ever did anything with it..."
  — Commander Lippold (06:16)

Justice Delayed: The Al Nashri Trial (06:38–08:11)

• Background:

  • Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the attack’s mastermind, has been held at Guantanamo Bay for over 20 years with his trial repeatedly delayed.

• Systemic Frustration:

  • Delays attributed to endless defense motions, judicial leniency, and lack of sustained political will from both parties.

• Quote:

  "Here we are at 20 years plus for a trial that should have gone on, he should have been tried, found guilty and, and then consequently, because it's a capital case executed."
  — Commander Lippold (08:02)

Why the USS Cole Was Targeted (09:14–11:27)

• Was ‘Cole’ specifically targeted?:

  • No; Al Qaeda prepared for “the next Navy ship” due to regular refueling routines at Aden (27th ship to do so).
  • Commander Lippold and crew had no actionable intelligence about imminent threats; port deemed safe by NCIS and embassy.

• Quote:

  "Coal was not targeted as a ship. They were looking for the next Navy ship that had come in. Aden had been a refueling port for about two years....We were ordered into that port."
  — Commander Lippold (09:29)

Aftermath and Implications for Preparedness (11:27–13:12)

• Intelligence gaps and accountability:

  • Post-attack, the Navy and intelligence agencies failed to determine why intelligence wasn’t shared and why threat levels weren’t raised.
  • Neither Clinton nor Bush administrations responded forcefully, which Lippold argues emboldened bin Laden and set the stage for 9/11 according to the 9/11 Commission.

• Quote:

  "The fact that there was no response to attack on a US Navy ship, killing 17 sailors and wounding 37, really...incensed bin Lad. And he said, okay, if they won't even react to this, then clearly we've got a straight path to 9/11."
  — Commander Lippold (12:33)

Acts of Heroism: Crew Stories (13:12–15:06)

• Notable examples:

  • Signalman 2nd Class Figueroa rescued a wounded sailor from a flooding, debris-filled compartment below deck.
  • Another sailor with two compound femur fractures was extricated and survived due to the quick response of her crewmates.

• Quote:

  "...floodwaters coming around. I've got sailors saving them. I had another one where a young woman, literally two compound fractures to her femurs trapped in the wreckage, and two sailors were able to pry back...and again, she is alive today."
  — Commander Lippold (14:12)

Morale and the Cost of Inaction (15:06–17:08)

• Impact on sailors and families:

  • Muted response and lack of accountability demoralized crew members and bereaved families.
  • Lippold notes persistent frustration about justice for the attack’s mastermind and the broader lack of decisive action by leadership.

• Quote:

  "It's another thing for me to sacrifice my life and nothing's done as a result. And it's been particularly frustrating, especially for the families who lost loved ones, to see no accountability..."
  — Commander Lippold (15:34)

Closing Words

• Commander Lippold expresses appreciation to The Daily Wire and Big Media for telling the USS Cole story and educating the American public about these acts of heroism and the ongoing quest for justice.
  (17:16)

Notable Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Crew’s Training Saves Lives:

  "They fell back on their training and then accomplished what they needed to to save our ship and shipmates..." (05:13)

• On FBI Intelligence Failure:

  "We never got that intelligence on the ship...and I have no idea if the Navy leadership ever had access to that intelligence..." (06:16)

• On Al Nashri's Delayed Trial and Justice:

  "Justice delayed is justice denied. And I think people overall in the military see this, but they still want to have people that did this held responsible for their actions." (16:35)

Key Timestamps

• 00:38 — Documentary goal and motivation
• 01:35 — The USS Cole attack: timeline and context
• 03:30 — Damage control and crew training
• 05:28 — Awareness of Al Qaeda threats and intelligence failures
• 06:57 — Al Nashri’s trial delays
• 09:29 — Why Aden port, and why the Cole was attacked
• 11:41 — Aftermath, unheeded warnings, and lessons lost before 9/11
• 13:36 — Specific stories of heroism on the Cole
• 15:21 — Morale, government response, and persistent frustration

Final Takeaway

This episode provides a gripping first-hand account of the USS Cole attack, paints a vivid picture of heroism under duress, and makes a powerful critique of intelligence and political failures that set the stage for 9/11. Through Commander Lippold’s candid storytelling and expert insight, listeners are confronted with the real-world costs of inaction, the impact on morale, and the perpetual need for accountability and remembrance.