07 August 1998
(To bring those responsible to justice "no matter what") (500) Washington -- President Clinton says the terrorist bombing attacks on the US Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania "are as abhorrent as they are inhuman," and has pledged that he will use all the means at our disposal to bring those responsible to justice no matter what, or how long, it takes." In an August 7 statement in the Rose Garden, Clinton said the families and loved ones of the American and African victims "of these cowardly attacks ... are in our thoughts and prayers." He has ordered that US flags be flown at half staff at all US government buildings at home and around the world to remember those killed in the explosions. Following is the White House transcript: (begin transcript) THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary August 7, 1998 REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT Rose Garden THE PRESIDENT: I hope you will understand why I feel the need to comment on the fact that early this morning bombs exploded outside two of our American embassies in Africa. An explosion in Nairobi, Kenya killed and wounded scores of people. We have reports that several Americans are among the dead. Another explosion in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania also caused many casualties. At this time there are no reports that any Americans were killed in that attack, although our embassy appears to have been the target. Both explosions caused large-scale damage to our embassies and to surrounding buildings, as you may have already seen from the pictures coming in. Though the attacks appear to have been coordinated, no one has yet claimed responsibility for them. As I speak, we have dispatched Defense Department and State Department-led emergency response teams to the region. The teams include medical personnel, disaster relief experts, criminal investigators, counterterrorism specialists. We have taken appropriate security measures at our embassies and military facilities throughout the region and around the world. These acts of terrorist violence 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. Let me say to the thousands and thousands of hard-working men and women from the State Department and from our other government agencies who service abroad in these embassies, the work you do every day is vital to our security and prosperity. Your well-being is, therefore, vital to us and we will do everything we can to assure that you can serve in safety. To the families and loved ones of the American and African victims of these cowardly attacks, you are in our thoughts and prayers. Out of respect for those who lost their lives, I have ordered that the American flag be flown at half staff at all government buildings here at home and around the world. We are determined to get answers and justice. Thank you very much. (end transcript)