IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. RES. 523

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the terrorist

bombing of the United States Embassies in East Africa.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 9, 1998

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the terrorist bombing of the United States Embassies

in East Africa.

Whereas on August 7, 1998, 254 people, 12 of whom were

United States citizens, were killed when a bomb exploded

at the United States Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, and 9

people were killed when a bomb exploded at the United

States Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;

Whereas these bombs were detonated minutes apart and were

clearly coordinated;

Whereas in both cases trucks, driven by suicidal terrorists

and loaded with explosives, approached the embassies but

were diverted from attacking their primary targets by

quick thinking Embassy security staff;
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Whereas the bombs did explode, injuring thousands of innocent civilians and destroying millions of dollars worth of

local property;

Whereas the Governments of Israel and France immediately

sent search and rescue teams to aid in the aftermath of

the bombings;

Whereas on August 7, 1998, Pakistani police arrested suspect Muhammad Sadiq Odeh, who confessed to being

part of a team which was orchestrated and financed by

Osama bin Laden; and

Whereas Osama bin Laden, an exiled Saudi Arabian businessman who is believed to be currently living in Afghanistan, is a known sponsor of international terrorism

against secular Middle Eastern regimes and has publicly

stated his support for attacks against American influence, Americans, and American targets: Now, therefore,

be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) expresses the deep condolences of the House

3 of Representatives and the American people to the

4 families of all persons killed or injured in the bomb5 ing;

6 (2) expresses our dismay for the mayhem and

7 destruction visited upon the Governments and people

8 of Kenya and Tanzania;

9 (3) expresses gratitude to the people and the

10 Governments of Kenya and Tanzania for their as-
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1 sistance to the people and the property of the United

2 States in the aftermath of the bombings;

3 (4) expresses our gratitude to the United States

4 Embassy guards whose quick thinking and heroic ac5 tions prevented even more deaths and injuries;

6 (5) expresses our gratitude to the people and

7 the Governments of Israel and France, as well as

8 the many private organizations which volunteered to

9 assist the United States in the aftermath of the

10 bombings;

11 (6) expresses our condemnation of all persons

12 and parties involved in the outrageous and illegal at13 tacks which resulted in the tragic loss of life of so

14 many Americans and Africans;

15 (7) expresses the determination of the House of

16 Representatives to assist, in any way possible, in the

17 arrest of all persons responsible for these attacks;

18 and

19 (8) expresses the intention of the House of Rep20 resentatives to examine whether security needs of

21 United States facilities overseas are being met and

22 what kinds of tools can be employed to discourage

23 nations from harboring terrorists.

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