‘America needs to start waking up’: Former USS Cole commander warns U.S. infrastructure …

Former USS Cole commander Kirk Lippold is calling for government officials and infrastructure operators to prepare for possible drone attacks on U.S. power, water, and other essential systems. His recommendations include sharing threat intelligence with cleared business operators and determining what authority they should have to defend their facilities. On “The John Curley Show” on KIRO Newsradio, Lippold warned against waiting for an attack before addressing those questions. “America right now is really unprepared for the drone threat,” Lippold said. “America needs to start waking up and start telling our elected leaders, look, it’s wonderful that you are preparing to fight this kind of war in the military, but when you look across the United States, we have businesses and critical infrastructure that have virtually no input into how they can defend themselves.” USS Cole attack shapes Lippold’s warning Lippold commanded the USS Cole when al-Qaida attacked the destroyer in Aden, Yemen, on Oct. 12, 2000, killing 17 sailors and wounding 37 others. He recalled the crew mistaking the approaching attack boat for one of the garbage barges scheduled to service the ship. “When it came out, my crew thought it was the third garbage barge,” Lippold said. “That’s how
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