[MikeA]

My understanding of this is that Clinton had cut the budget for Navy refueling tankers and thus refueling of Navy ships operating in the Indian Ocean or Persian Gulf were forced into ports to refuel rather than being refueled at sea. I believe I've read this in the past, that Clinton cut or even eliminated the refueling fleet and this is why ships like the Cole were forced to refuel in ports. If I'm wrong, forgive the error but I'm almost positive this is what I've read.

[mhx]

This may be true, but then I would also ask why the Congress approved it. I've continued over all those years to be unimpressed with the ability of our Republican Congress to stand up for itself.

[detch]

Many ships went from the Red Sea to the North Arabian Sea (or Persian Gulf) without refueling in Aden

Aden was long determined to be a terrorist haven. A missile had been fired on an F-14 from there some years earlier. The Navy did not want to refuel there, but Gen Zinni (CENTCOM) wanted to bolster his influence in the region, and that command was persistent in requesting refueling stops there, against the recommendations of PACIFIC FLEET and ATLANTIC FLEET Admirals responsible for the ships transiting through their Areas of Responsibility to the CENTCOM area.

Zinni wanted it, Richard Clarke approved it, the President allowed it to happen. These requests and approvals go all the way to the top of our government.