That should have been the wake-up call: "THIS IS A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST THE INFIDELS! WE WILL KILL ALL OF YOU IF YOU DO NOT CAPITULATE!"
Instead, some idiot or collection of idiots in the Clinton administration decide that an attack on an American warship is not a military matter, but a criminal one.
"Eh, just send in the Feebs and shoot off a few missiles at al-Qaeda's camps in the 'Stan. In the meantime, I got an important meeting with an intern..."