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)
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Source: Voice of America
.