News

USIS Washington File

09 August 1998

TRANSCRIPT: PRESIDENT'S RADIO ADDRESS ON U.S. EMBASSY BOMBINGS

(Terrorists will be pursued until "justice is done") (900)



Washington -- In his August 8 radio address to the nation, President
Clinton sent condolences to the friend and families of those killed in
the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and vowed
that "no matter how long it takes or where it takes us, we will pursue
terrorists until the cases are solved and justice is done."


The President noted that "the most powerful weapon in our
counter-terrorism arsenal is our determination to never give up. In
recent years we have captured major terrorists in the far corners of
the world and brought them to America to answer for their crimes --
sometimes years after they were committed."


He also stressed that "to pull back our diplomats and troops from the
world's trouble spots; to turn our backs on those taking risks for
peace; to weaken our opposition to terrorism -- that would give
terrorism a victory it must not and will not have."


Following is a transcript of the President's radio address:



(Begin transcript)



THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

August 8, 1998



RADIO ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT TO THE NATION



The Oval Office

10:06 A.M. EDT

August 8, 1998



THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I want to talk to you about the terrorist
bombings yesterday that took the lives of Americans and Africans at
our embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania; to tell
you what we're doing; and how we are combatting the larger problem of
terrorism that targets Americans.


Most of you have seen the horrible pictures of destruction on
television. The bomb attack in Nairobi killed at least 11 Americans.
In Dar-es-Salaam, no Americans lost their lives, but at least one was
gravely wounded. In both places, many Africans were killed or wounded,
and devastating damage was done to our embassies and surrounding
buildings.


To the families and friends of those who were killed, I know nothing I
can say will make sense of your loss. I hope you will take some
comfort in the knowledge that your loved ones gave their lives to the
highest calling -- serving our country, protecting our freedom, and
seeking its blessings for others. May God bless their souls.


Late yesterday, emergency response teams, led by our Departments of
State and Defense, arrived in Africa. The teams include doctors to
tend to the injured, disaster relief experts to get our embassies up
and running again, a military unit to protect our personnel, and
counter-terrorism specialists to determine what happened and who was
responsible.


Americans are targets of terrorism in part because we have unique
leadership responsibilities in the world, because we act to advance
peace and democracy, and because we stand united against terrorism.


To change any of that -- to pull back our diplomats and troops from
the world's trouble spots; to turn our backs on those taking risks for
peace; to weaken our opposition to terrorism -- that would give
terrorism a victory it must not and will not have.


Instead we will continue to take the fight to terrorists. Over the
past several years, I have intensified our effort on all fronts in
this battle -- apprehending terrorists wherever they are and bringing
them to justice; disrupting terrorist operations; deepening
counter-terrorism cooperation with our allies; and isolating nations
that support terrorism; protecting our computer networks; improving
transportation security; combatting the threat of nuclear, chemical
and biological weapons; giving law enforcement the best
counter-terrorism tools available. This year I appointed a National
Coordinator to bring the full force of our resources to bear swiftly
and effectively.


The most powerful weapon in our counter-terrorism arsenal is our
determination to never give up. In recent years we have captured major
terrorists in the far corners of the world and brought them to America
to answer for their crimes -- sometimes years after they were
committed. They include the man who murdered two CIA employees outside
its headquarters. Four years later we apprehended him halfway around
the world, and a Virginia jury sentenced him to death. The mastermind
of the World Trade Center bombing who fled far from America -- two
years later, we brought him back for trial in New York. And the
terrorist responsible for bombing a Pan Am jet bound for Hawaii from
Japan in 1982, we pursued him for 16 years. This June we caught him.


Some serious acts of terror remain unresolved, including the attack on
our military personnel at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia; the bombing
of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland; and now, these horrible
bombings in Africa. No matter how long it takes or where it takes us,
we will pursue terrorists until the cases are solved and justice is
done.


The bombs that kill innocent Americans are aimed not only at them, but
at the very spirit of our country and the spirit of freedom. For
terrorists are the enemies of everything we believe in and fight for
-- peace and democracy, tolerance and security.


As long as we continue to believe in those values and continue to
fight for them, their enemies will not prevail. And our responsibility
is great, but the opportunities it brings are even greater. Let us
never fear to embrace them.


Thank you for listening.



(End transcript)