I've heard the USS Cole brought up many times, but nobody finishes their point with it. So are you trying to say that anytime a speedboat ever gets near a US ship that it should be blown up? Should a war start? Are you saying the right thing to do is to shoot first and ask questions later? What exactly are you saying?

In this case, the military handled it completely properly. They were on alert but kept restrained until there was a clear threat to their security, which never surfaces. The correct thing happened. Some politicians, and much of the media, blew this out of proportion. It's a non-event. The USS Cole just provides reason to be on alert in such circumstances. That's all it justifies.

A valid point. I don't think anyone is disagreeing with the potential threat small speedboats present to U.S. Warships. When the U.S. threatens to invade sovereign nations such incidents are to be expected by foreign nations that want to test our response and protest our presence. The authenticity of the radio broadcasts and account of "dropped boxes" is questionable, yet this did not prevent the U.S. Government from releasing it as propaganda right before the important NH primaries.

The Ron Paul message is clear. It is in America's best interest not to expand our empire into sovereign nations. We cannot impose our will onto others via force. It simply does not work and we don't have the money. Our military strength should be reserved for defense, not global occupation and policing which serves only to weaken and make us vulnerable.

Sure, and where do you think these terrorist got there training?
Answer: Sitting next to me in electronics school, U.S. Navy "A" school Great lakes Ill. We should have taught them how to fish.