Not a very good anology. The cole didn't know she was being attacked until after the explosion. Then there was no one to attack. Just how do you compare the two incidents? A better comparison would be Clintons "blackhawk down" incident in which he deserted our guys.
Don't forget the PUEBLO and the North Koreans.........
At the time it happened, we all questioned how the Cole could be rammed by a motor boat, when one or two shots would've prevented the attack by setting off the explosives. Instead, the officers and crew did nothing.
The globalsecurity site records the incident this way,
A 35-foot boat laden with the explosives RDX and TNT with two bombers on board rammed the USS Cole port amidships while it was refueling in Aden harbor, ripping a 32-foot by 36-foot hole in the hull and causing extensive internal damage.
A U.S. Navy investigation found that the ship's officers and crew failed to take a number of security measures that would have possibly prevented the attack. At the time, Yemen was rated at a "high" threat level, the fourth-highest of a five-level threat alert system.
The vessel was moored at a refueling platform when the attack occured. The two suicide bombers waved to some of the ship's crew who were topside, many of whom later said they assumed the approaching craft was a garbage boat. Many of the crew were below decks for lunch.
Maybe with President Bush as CIC the orders have changed.