U.S. Navy defends using Yemen as refueling stop

The decision to refuel ships in Yemen began under Zinni's tenure

1999 report dubbed Aden a terrorist 'safe haven'

In this story: No good options Aden's security features RELATED STORIES, SITES

From CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A top U.S. Navy officer and a former commander of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf on Sunday defended the policy of allowing U.S. ships to refuel in Yemen, where 17 Navy sailors died Thursday in a suspected terrorist attack.

"We needed the fuel," Adm. Vern Clark, chief of U.S. naval operations, said on "CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer."

"There is risk everywhere throughout the Middle East," Clark said after offering condolences to the victims' families.

Retired U.S. Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni agreed that the decision to refuel ships in Yemen, a practice that began under his tenure, was based primarily on the need for additional refueling facilities between the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Zinni denied that the policy was simply a "bone to the Yemenis" to improve relations with the United States.

But Clark did mention that the policy was "was an attempt to reach out and establish better relations with Yemen."

No good options

"There weren't very many good options down there," Zinni told CNN. "I think there's a misconception that we went there accepting greater risk than other places for the sake of engagement. That wasn't the case."

Responding to a U.S. Department of State review in 1999 that described Yemen as a "safe haven for terrorist groups," Clark said: "Since the policy was begun almost two years ago, 25 ships have conducted refueling operations in that port.

"The threat assessment had not changed one iota with regard to Aden. That's the bottom line," Clark said.

Aden's security features

But Zinni also said the Yemeni port of Aden was chosen partly because it offered some security features not available at another regular refueling port, Djibouti.

Aden offered facilities that did not require U.S. ships to tie up to a pier, and the port was not as jammed with small boats and other traffic, Zinni said.

"There was no perfect choice for a refueling place, and that was in a security sense, many ways better than what the other options were," Zinni said.

Also appearing on "Late Edition," U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen said the tragedy did not bolster accusations that the U.S. military was not as well-equipped as it should be.

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