October 12, 2000: The USS Cole Is Attacked

October 12, 2000: The American destroyer USS Cole is attacked in Aden Harbor, Yemen, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39 others. al-Qaeda, the Islamic fundamentalist terrorism group led by Osama bin Laden, claims credit.

President Bill Clinton wanted to take action against al-Qaeda for this, as he had 2 years earlier when they bombed U.S. Embassies in 2 African nations. But he was already in peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and feared he would ruin that if he took action. So he didn't. And the Palestinians walked out anyway.

It was Clinton's foreign policy biggest mistake. It played into the hands of the Republicans, with the election for his successor just 25 days away. And it emboldened bin Laden to try something bigger. On September 11, 2001, he did.

The Cole, named for Sergeant Darrell S. Cole, a Marine who died in the Battle of Iwo Jima, was repaired, was returned to active duty 3 years later, and remains in service.

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October 12, 2000 was a Thursday. It was a travel day in the American League Championship Series, with the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners tied 1-1. The Yankees won the series in 6 games. Game 2 was played in the National League Championship Series, at Busch Memorial Stadium in St. Louis. Jay Payton had an RBI single in the top of the 9th inning, and the New York Mets beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 6-5, to take a 2-0 lead. The Mets won the series in 5 games, setting up what remains the only World Series between them and the Yankees -- the only true Subway Series since 1956.

The NFL was in midweek. The NBA season didn't start for another 19 days. There were 5 games in the NHL:

* In an "Original Six" matchup, the Detroit Red Wings beat their arch-rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-0 at the United Center in Chicago.

* The Dallas Stars beat the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1 at the Reunion Arena in Dallas.

* The Columbus Blue Jackets beat the Calgary Flames, 3-2 at the Saddledome in Calgary.

* The San Jose Sharks beat the Phoenix Coyotes, 2-1 at the San Jose Arena (now the SAP Center).

* And the Colorado Avalanche beat the Vancouver Canucks, 5-2 at General Motors Place (now the Rogers Arena) in Vancouver.