-Caveat Lector- http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/world/DailyNews/cole001031.html Holes in the Probe Yemenis May Have Erased Critical Tape, U.S. Officials Say <photo> The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Cole is towed from the port city of Aden, Yemen, into open sea by the Military Sealift Command ocean-going tug USNS Catawba, Oct. 29. (U.S.M.C., Sgt. Don L. Maes/AP Photo) Oct. 31 American officials suspect Yemeni authorities erased critical parts of a videotape recorded by a harbor surveillance camera the day the Cole was hit, ABCNEWS has learned The USS Cole is painstakingly loaded on to the deck of a cargo ship and welded to its deck. RealVideo (download RealPlayer) The video could have contained crucial clues to what happened when the Cole was attacked on Oct. 12, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39. Earlier, Yemeni officials handed over a surveillance camera videotape of the harbor sought by the FBI, but it turned out to be useless. The camera was pointing in the wrong direction. American officials now wonder if Yemens government might have something to hide. Cooperation between Yemeni and U.S. authorities seemed to break down completely today. Yemens government said to be apparently reacting to what its officials perceive as American arrogance refused to allow any U.S. Navy helicopters to land on its soil today. That left American investigators stranded on warships where they now live. Last week, FBI investigators moved to a Navy ship offshore and are visiting Aden only as needed. Following President Ali Abdullah Salehs election in October 1999, the government has taken a number of measures to fight the widely held perception of the country as a haven for international terrorist groups Hitching a Ride The Cole was loaded today onto the Blue Marlin, a 700-foot-long Norwegian salvage ship. The 500-foot-long warship was placed at an angle so its propeller in the rear and its underwater sonar dome in the front would hang over the side. Using steel braces, the Cole is being welded to the deck of the Blue Marlin. The Navy estimates it will cost at least $150 million to repair the ship. But Pentagon sources say damage especially to the keel may be greater than first believed. This $1 billion warship, officials warn, may have to be scrapped. The Navy today also decided to bring the Cole home via the southern tip of Africa, instead of via the Suez Canal. They made the decision after U.S. officials conferred with Egyptian officials over security concerns. The canal, which connects the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, is owned by Egypt. The canal hasnt been used by American ships since the Cole was attacked. U.S. military forces have been on heightened alert throughout the Middle East and other regions after the surprise attack. U.S. ships have also been banned from putting into any port in the Gulf (see related story on warnings to U.S. forces). The decision to go around Africa rather than through the canal stretches the Coles journey home from two weeks to three, and could cost the Egyptian government thousands of dollars. When an entire battle group goes through the canal, Egypt can earn as much as $1 million. Another Appeal for Cooperation Meanwhile, the U.S. presence in Yemen continued to shrink, as many U.S. military and State Department personnel departed Aden on Monday. U.S. Ambassador Barbara Bodine was expected to return to Yemens capital of Sana. Bodine has said that the Coles departure did not mean the probe into the bombing has ended. This will be the second phase. It will not be short. It will not be easy, she said. President Clinton on Monday also appealed to Saleh for direct access to witnesses, suspects and evidence, saying the two countries should have a genuine, joint investigation. Yemeni officials confirmed the questioning of sources and detainees was being conducted by Yemenis with no FBI agents present. Transcripts of the interrogations are sent to U.S. investigators who pose follow-up questions for Yemenis, the officials said. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Monday that Yemen had to cooperate more. U.S. investigators said last week that they were frustrated by Yemeni investigators not giving them access to witnesses and suspects. ABCNEWS John McWethy and Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, John Miller, and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Cole Piggybacks on Marlin Oct. 30 The USS Cole is in the process of being loaded onto the back of the Blue Marlin, a Norwegian transport ship. The process of loading the Cole on board will take about 24 hours. While the Blue Marlin was at its previous port in Dubai, wooden keel blocks were affixed to its deck. Now, the Cole is being towed out into deep water. The Blue Marlin will fill up with ballast until its cargo deck is 33 feet below the water line, and only the forward house the crew deck and two towers are visible above water. Tugs will position the Cole over the Marlins submerged deck, and divers will ensure the ship is properly positioned over the blocks. The Cole will be sitting on a diagonal, so the ships underwater sonar and propellers dont collide with the Marlins deck. The Marlin will release its ballast, raising the Cole and the cargo deck above the water line. After securing the ship and hooking up power, water and sewage facilities, the Blue Marlin will start the five-week trip back to the U.S. ABCNEWS.com ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: *Michael Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends ================================================================= <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. 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