DATE=8/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236713
TITLE=CLINTON / BOMBINGS (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS CONDEMNED WHAT HE CALLED THE
COWARDLY ATTACKS AT THE U-S EMBASSIES IN NAIROBI AND DAR ES
SALAAM AND SAID THE UNITED STATES WILL SPARE NO EFFORT TO TRACK
DOWN THOSE RESPONSIBLE. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST REPORTS FROM THE
WHITE HOUSE.
TEXT: THE PRESIDENT WAS AWAKENED EARLY BY NATIONAL SECURITY
AIDES AND INFORMED OF THE TERROR ATTACKS. HE USED THE DAY'S
FIRST PUBLIC EVENT -- A WHITE HOUSE BILL-SIGNING CEREMONY -- TO
EXPRESS SYMPATHY FOR THE AMERICAN AND AFRICAN VICTIMS. HE SAID
THE UNITED STATES IS DETERMINED TO GET ANSWERS AND JUSTICE FOR
WHAT HE CALLED COWARDLY ATTACKS:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
THESE ACTS OF TERRORISM ARE ABHORRENT. THEY ARE INHUMAN.
WE WILL USE ALL THE MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL TO BRING THOSE
RESPONSIBLE TO JUSTICE -- NO MATTER WHAT OR HOW LONG IT
TAKES.
///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON SAID THE WORK OF U-S DIPLOMATS AND OTHER OFFICIALS
ABROAD IS VITAL TO U-S SECURITY AND PROSPERITY, AND SAID
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE WILL BE DONE TO ASSURE THEIR SAFETY. HE SAID
SECURITY AT U-S EMBASSIES AND MILITARY FACILITIES HAS ALREADY
BEEN STEPPED UP.
THE BOMBINGS CAME AT A TIME OF POLITICAL TENSION IN WASHINGTON
OVER THE WHITE HOUSE SEX SCANDAL AND BUDGET PRIORITIES BEFORE THE
NOVEMBER (CONGRESSIONAL) ELECTIONS. BUT REPUBLICAN LEADERS
JOINED RANKS WITH MR. CLINTON IN CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS -- AMONG
THEM, HOUSE SPEAKER NEWT GINGRICH:
///GINGRICH ACTUALITY///
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TAKES VERY SERIOUSLY
ASSAULTS ON ITS CITIZENS AND PARTICULARLY ASSAULTS ON
THOSE OF ITS CITIZENS WHO SERVE THE UNITED STATES. AND
WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO TRACK DOWN THE PEOPLE
WHO'VE DONE THIS, AND TO MAKE THEM PAY TO THE FULLEST
EXTENT FOR THIS ATTACK ON AMERICA.
///END ACT///
BUT ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN, JIM SAXTON OF NEW JERSEY,
SUGGESTED THE PERPETRATORS OF THE AFRICAN ATTACKS MAY HAVE BEEN
ENCOURAGED BY WHAT HE SAID WAS AN INADEQUATE U-S RESPONSE TO PAST
ACTS OF TERROR. HE CITED IN PARTICULAR THE 1996 TRUCK BOMBING AT
A MILITARY BARRACKS IN SAUDI ARABIA THAT KILLED 19 U-S AIRMEN.
MR. SAXTON CHAIRS A HOUSE ANTI-TERRORISM TASK FORCE:
///SAXTON ACTUALITY///
IN THE CASE OF THESE TWO LATEST EXPLOSIONS, WE WILL GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF GRIEVING. WE WILL GO THROUGH THE
PROCESS OF CLEANING UP THE EMBASSIES. WE'LL GO THROUGH
THE PROCESS OF SOME KIND OF A CURSORY INVESTIGATION. AND
UNLESS OUR POLICIES CHANGE, THERE WILL BE NO PRICE TO
PAY. AND THOSE WHO CAUSE THESE TYPES OF ACTIONS MUST
KNOW THAT THERE IS NOT ONLY A PRICE TO PAY, BUT THAT
AMERICA WILL CAUSE A HEAVY PRICE TO BE PAID.
///END ACT///
THE JOINT U-S/SAUDI INVESTIGATION OF THE 1996 KHOBAR TOWERS
BOMBING HAS DRAGGED ON INCONCLUSIVELY AND BEEN MARKED BY DISPUTES
BETWEEN SAUDI AUTHORITIES AND U-S AGENTS FRUSTRATED WITH THE PACE
OF THE INQUIRY.
/// REST OPT ///
TERRORISM EXPERTS FROM THE U-S FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
ARE AMONG THOSE BEING FLOWN BY MILITARY TRANSPORT TO THE AFRICAN
CAPITALS, ALONG WITH MEDICAL TEAMS, SECURITY PERSONNEL, AND
STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS TO EXAMINE THE CONDITION OF THE TWO EMBASSY
BUILDINGS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/TMD/JO
07-Aug-98 1:11 PM EDT (1711 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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