Sudan Ordered To Pay USS Cole Families $8M

(AP)  A federal judge on Wednesday ordered Sudan to pay nearly $8 million to the families of 17 sailors killed in the 2000 terrorist attack on the USS Cole.

The families had sought $105 million, but U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar in Norfolk ordered Sudan to pay $7.96 million.

Doumar applied the Death on the High Seas Act, which permits compensation for economic losses but not for pain and suffering.

"It is depressing to realize that a country organized on a religious basis with religious rule of law could and would execute its power for purposes which most countries would find intolerable and loathsome," Doumar wrote in his ruling. "It is a further tragedy that the laws of the United States, in this instance, provide no remedy for the psychological and emotional losses suffered by the survivors."

The families accused Sudan's government of providing support, including money and training, that allowed al Qaeda to attack the destroyer while it was in the harbor of Aden, Yemen, on Oct. 12, 2000. In March, Doumar found the African country liable for the attack on the now-repaired Navy destroyer. His ruling Wednesday reaffirmed those findings.

"I was a little bit disappointed in the overall ruling, because we figured we was going to get more, but I'm happy that that part of the case is over," said Lorrie Triplett, 39, of Suffolk, whose husband, Andrew, died on the Cole. "For myself and my girls, I am happy for the ruling — it will suffice them."

Sudan had sought unsuccessfully to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that too much time had passed between the bombing and the filing of the lawsuit in 2004. Lawyers representing the Sudanese government did not offer opening statements or closing arguments or question any witnesses.

An attorney for the families has said it would be up to the lawyers to collect damages from Sudan's assets that have been frozen in the United States.

[speakinup]

"It's all about money! Sad" by cryonbrian

So you have a "get out of dead for free" card up your sleeve ? The bad news is, craponbrain, we can't bring them back to life.

But if you look at her response, and then read the below, one would think the quote was either poorly chosen (gee, THAT would be a surprise with our wonderful news media), or it was deliberately take out of context to cause the very reaction you gave. Don't you feel a little used ?

"Doumar applied the Death on the High Seas Act, which permits compensation for economic losses but not for pain and suffering. "

Ya wanna bet she was a little disappointed (for a D A M N good reason that she wasn't going to be compensated for her pain and suffering?

[speakinup]

Killtheliars - if we did, there would be no debate for the right.

Piece'oshit - life ain't strange - you are. So, tell us where you wrote in while all this was happening, or have you ALWAYS been a day late and a dollar short ?

"Tell me again what Bush did in return for the Osama bin Laden incident." stevex47

We know you can't read stevie, but have you heard about Afghanistan ?

[killtheliars]

Then why hasn't Israel been oredered to pay the families of victims of the attack by Israel on the USS Liberty? Fair is fair right.
If i were Sudan I would not pay a cent until this matter were addressed. If I were a family member of a victim from the Liberty I would sue the US government to make them sue Israel and make the story of the Liberty known to every child and adult in America.

[stevex47]

Hi badax,

"Tell me again what Clinton did in return for the Cole incident"

Tell me again what Bush did in return for the Osama bin Laden incident.

[j-whitman]

What,, a USS Cole article without a Lars008 comment ??? --- Oh, nevermind,,,, Badaxmofo is here for him to blame Clinton.

[zootallures2]

It was a freakin war ship! What about the civilians the US navy kills to steal resources all over the earth? Blow up one of Sudan's navy ships. The less of these flag waving morons, the better!

Better yet, shoot off all the nukes and end it all. Fake moon landings, false flag operations on skyscrappers full of civilians from your own country.... all so I'm in debt for land to live on for life and a lousy i-Phone? The cavemen had it better!

[zootallures2]

What about the USS Liberty? Is Israel gonna pay? What about the US paying the families of the Iranian jet liner they shot down? 1 million in Veitnam? 1 million in Afghanastan and Iraq?

[kailumego1]

Hundred-thousands Sudanese have died in Dafur, men, women, and children have been brutalized by the Janjawee rebels, while the government has supported and sponsered these vicious acts of terrorism.

Millions are dying from starvation and AIDS, and the government has done absolutely nothing, and the U.S.[Federal Government i.e. Crts.]finds the time out of its busy schedule to sue on behalf of the 17 soldiers killed in 2000--because the Sudan had trained and finanically supported al Qaeda recruits.

What about the al Qaeda terrorist trained here in the U.S. [pilot training schools] that spearheaded the attack on the World Trade Center killing over 3,000, well whom/who should their families sue????


This is insane, the Sudanese government needs to allocate more funding and assistance to stop the threat of terror by the Janjawee on the millions of Sudanese people, instead of redirecting funding to pay for this nonsense.

[prinzowhales]

Isn't life strange...a few years ago Sudan offered to turn over Osama...but was turned down by Mad Dog Albright the murderer of tens of thousands of Iraqi children...she said the sanctions were "worth it." Think of it!! This Zionist creature who was Secretary of State, refused to accept Osama from Sudan--a man already wanted for the African embassy attacks....Agent Osama went on his way--to Afghanistan. This is the evil woman who once quiped, 'we have this splendid military...its a shame we don't use it.'

Instead of accepting Osama from the Sudanese, the Clinton team blew up a pharmaceutical factory in the Sudan claiming it was making WMDs. What a farce!

The question that needs to be asked is why Bush's ambassadress to Yeman did not cooperate with the FBI task force sent there to investigate the case. The head of that task force was murdered, his first day on the job at the WTC on 9-11.

[cryonbrian]

"I was a little bit disappointed in the overall ruling, because we figured we was going to get more, but I'm happy that that part of the case is over," said Lorrie Triplett, 39, of Suffolk, whose husband, Andrew, died on the Cole. "For myself and my girls, I am happy for the ruling %u2014 it will suffice them."

It's all about money! Sad