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 regard-
ing 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 inno-
cent 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 sus-
pect 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 busi-
nessman who is believed to be currently living in Afghani-
stan, is a known sponsor of international terrorism
against secular Middle Eastern regimes and has publicly
stated his support for attacks against American influ-
ence, Americans, and American targets: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) expresses the deep condolences of the House
of Representatives and the American people to the
families of all persons killed or injured in the bomb-
ing;
(2) expresses our dismay for the mayhem and
destruction visited upon the Governments and people
of Kenya and Tanzania;
(3) expresses gratitude to the people and the
Governments of Kenya and Tanzania for their as-
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sistance to the people and the property of the United
States in the aftermath of the bombings;
(4) expresses our gratitude to the United States
Embassy guards whose quick thinking and heroic ac-
tions prevented even more deaths and injuries;
(5) expresses our gratitude to the people and
the Governments of Israel and France, as well as
the many private organizations which volunteered to
assist the United States in the aftermath of the
bombings;
(6) expresses our condemnation of all persons
and parties involved in the outrageous and illegal at-
tacks which resulted in the tragic loss of life of so
many Americans and Africans;
(7) expresses the determination of the House of
Representatives to assist, in any way possible, in the
arrest of all persons responsible for these attacks;
and
(8) expresses the intention of the House of Rep-
resentatives to examine whether security needs of
United States facilities overseas are being met and
what kinds of tools can be employed to discourage
nations from harboring terrorists.
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