USS Cole Commission Report, 2001

 Introduction

            The 2001 USS Cole Commission Report was produced by a commission granted the task of identifying shortcomings in the protection of use military installations and more specifically the forces on transit. The commission was formed after an attack on the USS Cole at the port of Aden in Yemen in 2001. The Defense department recognizes the importance of U.S Military units on transit as key to its defense strategy (DOD, 2001c).


The commission co-chaired by Admiral Harold W. Gehman Junior and General William W. Crouch was to look into circumstances surrounding the attack of the USS Cole so as to identify weaknesses in the protection policies. Thereafter, the commission was supposed to develop policies to be implemented in the department of defense. The report highlighted various aspects that may require re-organization. These included, the intelligence structure concerned with such units, logistics, training and coordination within the department of defense (DOD, 2001b).


The Report presented recommendations that would help improve the protection of these forces. Firstly, an organization to align resources and policy should be put in place to oversee the protection program. Interagency coordination should be enhanced for engagement. Full time component commanders and forces should be designated for the provision of protection. Equipment and technology requirements should be assessed by the defense secretary, and sourced from existing military or commercial sources. The CINC should be the sole threat level determiner to avoid threat level conflicts as provided by other quarters.


Component commanders designate means to deter terror attacks. Briefings on antiterrorism/force protection should be offered to units entering high threat areas. Intelligence tailored for on-transit units should be offered in support of their mission. Adequate staffing and funding of the counter intelligence teams should be done to ensure efficiency of operation. Public knowledge of units on transit should be limited (DOD, 2001a). The report has good recommendations, which if implemented may lead to better security of forces on transit as well as other military installations.


References

Department of Defense (DOD), (2001a). USS Cole Commission Report. Retrieved from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/dod/cole20010109.htm, on 24th October 2010.
 Department of Defense (DOD), (2001b).Attack on the USS Cole. Retrieved from http://www.enotes.com/terrorism-2-primary-sources-soc/department-defense-uss-cole-commission-report, on 24th October 2010.
Department of Defense (DOD), (2001c). DOD USS Cole Commission Report. Retrieved from http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3826874, on 24th October 2010.




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