ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:96043004.txt
DATE:04/30/96
TITLE:30-04-96  OFFICIAL TEXT:  WHITE HOUSE FACT SHEET ON COUNTER-TERRORISM

TEXT:
(Terrorism threatens Americans and our friends the world over) (810)

Washington -- The Clinton Administration emphasized the top priority
given to counter-terrorism efforts in a release April 30. The fact
sheet noted Administration accomplishments in fighting terrorism
directed against Americans and "against our friends abroad."

Following is the official text of the fact sheet:

(begin text)

COUNTER-TERRORISM

"To all my fellow Americans... I say, one thing we owe those who have
sacrificed is the duty to purge ourselves of the dark forces which
gave rise to this evil. They are forces that threaten our common
peace, our freedom, our way of life." -- President Bill Clinton, State
Fair Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 23, 1995.

ISSUE:

Terrorism threatens the security of Americans and our friends at home
and the world over.

ADMINISTRATION POSITION:

Counter-terrorism is a top priority for the Clinton Administration as
it has sought aggressively to track down and punish terrorists
worldwide and to fight international crime to the fullest extent of
the law.

Criminal organizations increasingly operate across national boundaries
with drug money and counterfeit currency funding their operations.
President Clinton has ordered a number of actions to meet these
growing threats, including pressing for Congressional legislation to
increase our ability to fight terrorism and leading the Summit of the
Peacemakers in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt in March 1996.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

FIGHTING TERRORISM DIRECTED AGAINST AMERICANS:

-- Dogged and effective Justice Department, international, national
and local law enforcement attention culminating in swift arrests
following major terrorist incidents in Oklahoma City and at the World
Trade Center in New York City.

-- Broke up major terrorist attacks in New York City before they could
be carried out at the United Nations and in the Holland Tunnel; and
against U.S. commercial aircraft in the Pacific. Developed emergency
rapid-response plan to deal with chemical and biological terrorism.

FIGHTING TERRORISM AGAINST OUR FRIENDS ABROAD:

-- Following the tragic assassination of Israeli Prime Minister
Yitzhak Rabin and terrorist bombings in Israel, President Clinton
called for and cochaired the historic Summit of the Peacemakers in
Egypt in March, 1996, a gathering of 29 regional and world leaders to
design and support new counter-terrorism initiatives and to further
the MidEast Peace Process.

-- Requested $100 million dollars be provided by the United States to
Israel for counter-terrorism equipment and training as well as
emergency shipments of bomb detection equipment. Followed up the
anti-terrorism Summit with a gathering of international
counter-terrorism experts in Washington to pursue better cooperation
and strengthened capabilities for controlling borders, stopping
terrorist fundraising, and eliminating safe havens for terrorists
through stronger laws and enforcement.

-- Directed that new legislation include finds to provide increased
U.S. training to help friendly governments fight terrorism around the
globe.

-- Extended economic sanctions against Iran and Sudan and held tight
sanctions against Libya and Iraq for their support and sponsorship of
terrorism.

LEGISLATIVE RESPONSE TO TERRORISM:

-- Over one year ago President Clinton asked Congress for legislation
to strengthen our ability to combat international terrorism. On April
24th the President signed S.735, the "Antiterrorism and Effective
Death Penalty Act of 1996" into law. Congress included many of the
Administration's proposals in their bill, giving our law enforcement
officials tough new tools to stop terrorists before they strike, and
to bring them to justice if they do. The legislation bans fundraising
in the United States that supports terrorist organizations. It also
allows U.S. officials to deport terrorists from American soil without
being compelled by the terrorists to divulge classified information,
and to bar terrorists from entering the United States in the first
place.

-- Nevertheless, as strong as the bill was, it should have been
stronger. For example, President Clinton asked the Congress to give
U.S. law enforcement increased wiretap authority in terrorism cases.
But the Congress refused. After the President proposed that the
Secretary of the Treasury consider the inclusion of taggants in
explosive materials, so that bombs can be traced more easily to the
bomb makers, the Congress exempted black and smokeless powder -- two
of the most commonly used substances in improvised explosive devices.
We hope that there will be an opportunity to revisit these and other
issues, as well as some of the other proposals this Administration has
made, but upon which the Congress refused to act.

-- Repeatedly pressing for the U.S. Senate to outlaw poison gas once
and for all by ratifying the Chemical Weapons Convention. Similarly,
in October 1995 at The United Nations General Assembly urged other
nations to ratify as well.

HOLDING TERRORISTS ACCOUNTABLE:

-- Ordered bombing of Iraqi military intelligence facility in wake of
report that Iraqi terrorist attack was attempted against former
President George Bush.

-- Arrested and brought back to stand trial in the United States,
terrorists hiding in Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, Jordan and
Egypt.

(end text)
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