Editor's Note: CDM Founder L Todd Wood stayed in this building in Khobar Towers for three months prior to the explosion.

Guest post by BG Terry Schwalier, USAFA ’69

29 years ago this week (25 Jun 1996), Iranian trained and financed terrorists detonated a sewage truck laden with 20-30,000 lbs. of explosives just outside our Khobar Towers perimeter in Saudi Arabia. During those years whenever terrorism against America was a topic, the haunting "day after" photo showing the remains of the Khobar Towers building nearest the bomb was often included. As it did in real time then, that scene still evokes in me deep sadness at the US Air Force casualties (19 killed and 500 wounded) resulting from the blast...and deep anger at the terrorists' who attacked us with a cowardly drive-by-bombing.

Within hours of the bombing President Clinton spoke to the nation, "We will pursue this. America takes care of our own. Those who did this must not go unpunished." They were appropriate words... but, tragically, the action that followed was not. Instead of going after the terrorists who killed and wounded the people they are supposed to represent and protect, America's politicians were determined "not to let a good crisis go the waste” and focused on political agendas. With a fawning media and an intelligence community looking for absolution, they had plenty of help. Sadly, what unfolded is not a new story...nor are its results. During the 29 years since the Khobar attack, not only has Iran's terrorism been responsible for murdering many more Americans, but the wistful thinking and pandering of our political leaders have enabled them to continue doing it.

The terrorist attack at Khobar Towers is but one example. Its many conflicting investigations underline the point. In the end, the political agendas overrode the facts. Even the evidence showing Iran's direct involvement was stifled. Then-FBI Director Louis Freeh makes this plain in his book, My FBI, as he described the National Security Advisor's reaction to the Iran involvement proof. "He was more interested in managing the news than rendering justice...and had brought Script A and B options to spin the story." Instead of focusing on combating terrorism and improving our national security, the President's National Security Advisor was focused on "looking good" politically. With Khobar Towers, the Administration decided not to blame or act against the terrorists...but instead, chose to scapegoat those they had sent into harm's way. After all there were casualties...so as Sen Lieberman declared, "Somebody" had to have screwed up."

The spinning included new buzz words like "force protection" which soon became the Department of Defense's number one priority. Reorganizing for the new mantra went into hyperdrive as did the promulgation of new policies and regulations. The 4404th Wing that I had commanded (with its 11 sites in 5 countries...one of which was my HQ in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia (where Khobar Towers was located) was included. "It was just too big a wing for one commander" was the rationale.

What good did the buzz words, reorganizations, new policies and regulations do to thwart the terrorists? The 1998 attack against our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania; the 2000 attack against the USS Cole; the 911 attack against our homeland; the 2012 attack against our Benghazi consulate; the 2021 attack at Abbey Gate; and many others, tell us not very well. The prevailing theme in the ensuing investigations remained the same. Political agendas overrode the facts. "Looking good" politically was more important than improving national security. If either were not true, subsequent attacks could have been significantly mitigated...or avoided altogether. But they weren't. (Collecting the Scars - The Tragedy of Khobar Towers and the Battlefields Beyond offers more detail.)

America's action against Iran Saturday night was different. This time our political leaders weren't focused on "looking good" politically. This time they didn't do the "easy" thing by scapegoating those they sent to war. This time they focused on America's national security. This time they went after the no-kidding bad guys.

It's a welcome change. After 29 years, it's also about damn time.

BG Terry Schwalier, AFA ’69, was in command of Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia when it was blown up by terrorists.