Matthew,
I appreciate your comments entirely, and such events in real life are seriously disturbing.
However, I must point out that the game is not intended to be harmful or offensive in any way at all. If you want something like that go and play the GTA series.
I do think that you are seriously escalating the situation rather more that it should be, and to 'boycott' your friends for this reason I find is very pathetic.
Surely you must understand that this is a GAME, and that VSTEP I am almost certain did not recreate this scene in relation to the incident with USS Cole. The scene only fades because the crashing of the boats is NOT what the simualtion is about, and so anything that shows the boats crashing in a trailer is not shown.
As I said, I think you are blowing this completely out of proportion and would advise that you rethink what you're saying here. It is a rather serious accusation and would recommend that you sit back and think about this for a moment.
I agree with what you say about the incident with the USS Cole, and my respect goes to the families and men who lost their lives that day
However these things happen, and I'm afriad it's just life!