The White House Briefing Room
August 12, 1998
PRESS BRIEFING BY JOE LOCKHART AND COLONEL P.J. CROWLEY
THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ______________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release August 12, 1998 PRESS BRIEFING BY JOE LOCKHART AND COLONEL P.J. CROWLEY The Briefing Room 1:30 P.M. EDT MR. LOCKHART: Good afternoon, everyone. I'm looking to see if there are any hearty souls who actually were with us last night on our adventure back from the West Coast. Mr. Bloom. As you know, the President has spent the morning, after getting a little rest himself, with his national security team. So I'm going to ask Colonel Crowley to come up and give you a readout on his meetings, and then after that I will be available for any other questions you might have. COLONEL CROWLEY: Good afternoon. Let me run through a little bit of the President's day overall. As Joe said, actually en route back from Andrews this morning he had the opportunity to talk briefly with Secretary Albright as she was heading to Ramstein Air Base. I'm sure the President shares the Secretary's view that -- for the deep respect that she feels and that he feels for the 10 Americans that the Secretary will bring home to Andrews Air Force Base tomorrow, and our determination that we will hold accountable those who are responsible for these attacks. Later on in the morning the President had his regular briefing with Sandy Berger, the National Security Advisor, and then went into the Sit Room for discussion with his foreign policy team on the situation in Kenya and in Tanzania. The President used the opportunity first to thank his foreign policy team and to ask them in turn to thank all those both on the ground in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam and others who have worked so tirelessly in response to the attacks on Friday. He received an update from Under Secretary of State Pickering on the current situation on the ground in Africa. We have between 600 and 800 agents on the ground now doing the hard work not only of assisting the injured, tending to the families, and seeing what we can do to help the people of Kenya and Tanzania, as well as conducting the investigation. The Attorney General and her team updated the President on the status of the investigation. Obviously, it's not something we're going to go into here. But at the conclusion of the meeting, the President asked the State Department in conjunction with OMB to review what will be required to reconstitute the embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, to assess the costs of the continuing emergency response that we have in Africa and to evaluate and come back with the list of the priorities for improving our security, particularly at high-risk posts around the world. And we would expect the President to receive a report from the State Department and OMB in the next few days. And he will consult with Congress, in the meantime, looking towards the prospect of an emergency supplemental on those security steps that we need to take. Q P.J., what do you make of the report of these arrests in Nairobi? COLONEL CROWLEY: David, we're aware of the reports. I think one of the things that the Attorney General briefed the President on during the course of his trip -- or during the course of the meeting, I'm sorry -- was the fact that we have had outstanding cooperation from both the governments of Kenya and Tanzania from the outset following these attacks. And they are cooperating fully in the investigation. We have had access and would expect to have access to all of the suspects that have been detained in conjunction with last Friday's events. Q If I could follow up, P.J., is there a break -- do you think there has been a break in this with those arrests, or is this more just a roundup, as you talked about last week? COLONEL CROWLEY: David, I think there's no way of assessing at this point. We expect and will have access to interview these suspects and we'll evaluate that as part of the investigation. Q You've already had access or you're going to have access? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think -- we have had access. These are not -- if this is true, these are not the first suspects that have been detained. We have been impressed with the access we've had throughout the investigation since last Friday and we expect that to continue. Q If the Senate gets around to appropriating more money, how quickly, realistically, do you think it can be done and how quickly can you implement greater security? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think those are exactly the kinds of questions the President asked during the course of his meeting and we'd expect to have those kinds of response in the next few days. Q Any suspicion of the motivation, or was this a Muslim cult of some sort? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think, Helen, you'd be asking me to speculate about that. This is all the kinds of things that are underway as part of the investigation. Q You have no motivation at all, and no threats, nothing that would have led -- COLONEL CROWLEY: Other than going back to where we were on Friday. You know, obviously, this was a coordinated attack. Obviously, it was aimed at the United States. And beyond that I think this is all a matter to be investigated. Q The money you talked about, the emergency supplemental for security -- will there be money to rebuild these two embassies and what's the President's idea on that? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think that's exactly the kind of thing he asked the State Department and OMB to come back. Obviously, we want to reconstitute these embassies as quickly as possible. Obviously, it's a clear statement that we want to make both to the perpetrators of this attack and to the world that we are not going to create a fortress America, we're not going to retreat from the world. The world still looks to us for leadership and we will be there when it's required. Q Does the President feel that there's any need for a new law or change in policy in order to bring the perpetrators to justice? COLONEL CROWLEY: This is one of the things actually that we've anticipated in recent years, the emergence of terrorism as a major global threat, and we've taken a number of steps including implementation of a number of laws to give our law enforcement agencies the best tools possible in order to address terrorism as the threat of the '90s and will be, I think, the threat into the next century. Just for one example, new laws that restrict fundraising within the United States as aiding and abetting terrorism, to try to cut back on the resources that these groups would have at their disposal. Q Well, if I may follow up, I have in mind specifically the question of whether U.S. law and policy should change so that if we apprehend terrorists overseas they could be executed, assassinated. COLONEL CROWLEY: I think these are the types of things the President raised in his meeting today, what are the lessons learned and the implications of these bombings, and what kind of steps do we need to take both in terms of physical security and other steps that will help us give law enforcement the tools that they need in order to address this in the future. Q Just so it doesn't go too far, though, I mean, you're not suggesting that the President of the United States discussed potential assassinations? COLONEL CROWLEY: No. Right -- thank you. No. Obviously, we have worked hard -- (laughter) -- maybe you should come up here, I should go back there, we'll do better at this. We have seen terrorism as an emerging global threat among various transnational threats where there are rogue groups that, rather than try to address America where its strengths lie, they're addressing America in other ways. And we have anticipated this. We have already taken major steps in recent years in terms of laws, in terms of restructuring the federal government to be able to anticipate counterterrorism efforts, to be able to counteract and combat these threats before they occur, but also to be able to respond more appropriately and better if we have situations like we did on Friday where they do happen. And I would expect that effort to continue, without getting into specifics about what that would be. Q Are we in a state of war -- we have a war on drugs. Are we in a state of war against terrorism, or does that require a declaration in order for us to fight? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think we see terrorism as the emergent threat of the '90s. It will be the major threat that America faces globally into the next century. Q Are we in a state of war against it so that we can fight these people if we can't apprehend them? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think we recognize the dangers and we're taking appropriate steps to address them. Q P.J., did the President make any decisions today, or did he simply listen to all the briefings? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think primarily this was an information briefing. He was very active, very engaged in terms of the situation on the ground in Africa, some of the implications of last week's bombings and obviously set in motion a process where the interagency will come back with some specific recommendations on improving security around the world and he would receive those in the next few days. Q Did you sit in on them, the briefings? Q Sir, did the President raise at the meeting the issue that several embassies have been closed recently, and is he concerned of how that may be perceived worldwide? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think in a broad sense, Under Secretary Pickering updated him on the response to the bombings in Africa. I think that probably would involve just the security steps that we have taken. They had a discussion of some of the additional measures that were being contemplated. I can't tell you whether that was specifically mentioned. Q As a result of today's meeting, does the President have a better idea of the perpetrators? COLONEL CROWLEY: To the extent that he was updated on the status of the investigation. I won't get into specifics about what we know or what he was told at that point. Q Can you more fully address the impact of the closing of certain diplomatic facilities and the restrictions of some operations and how long that might be expected to continue, and what impact the might have on U.S. citizens abroad or foreign residents wanting consular services. Q He just asked that. COLONEL CROWLEY: All right, let me answer that more broadly. Yesterday, the State Department went into great detail about the specific steps they've taken with respect to five posts that they assess that have taken kind of a temporary suspension as they work out additional security measures. I think it's safe to say both from a diplomatic standpoint and from a military standpoint that ambassadors, commanders around the world are assessing their security measures in light of last Friday's attacks, and taking appropriate security steps. The context of temporarily suspending operations in five posts was taken within the context of giving the embassy kind of a time-out, so to speak, so they could take some prudent measures in light of last Friday's events. But this in no way signals that America is planning to retreat from the world. Q The security that you're talking about, improving security at other embassies in the supplemental or whatever efforts you now make -- are those things that you wanted to do before that Congress would not provide the money for? What is it that you're doing that you hadn't already tried to do? COLONEL CROWLEY: What the President asked for was a kind of, in priority, a list of those short-term to medium-term security measures that could be taken where perhaps they had not been undertaken to this point because of a shortfall in funding, and what steps could prudently be taken around the world that would improve security overall around the world at our embassies. Q You mean, the things that Congress had refused to give you the money for? COLONEL CROWLEY: Well, things where resources had not been available to fully do all the things -- we've had a systematic effort throughout the '80s and '90s assessing our diplomatic security, reviewing at least on an annual basis -- assessing our security at posts around the world. Obviously, that process will intensify in the next few days. And to the extent that there are concrete measures that we can take in the short-term, the medium-term, to improve our worldwide security, these are the kinds of things the President wants a full report on. Q I'm trying to figure out, is this something that you think that you overlooked, that people weren't aware that there was this big a threat, or it was something that Congress prevented you from doing. COLONEL CROWLEY: I think you heard from various briefers last week that we believe our process of evaluating security has been a good one. Posts are evaluated based on the perceived threat. Lots of security measures have been taken worldwide. But to the extent that there are some buildings that were older -- those buildings, for example, built after 1985, fully incorporate security measures that were evaluated and recommended in the Inman report. But he wants an assessment of those things that -- additional steps that could be taken in light of Friday's attacks. Q What are you trying to do that you weren't already doing? COLONEL CROWLEY: These may be things that we'd already evaluated as being necessary, however, might not have yet been implemented because of a lack of funding. Q Are we getting the full cooperation from intelligence sources in other countries, intelligence agencies in other countries that we would expect to get for this kind of thing? COLONEL CROWLEY: Let me simply answer that by saying that part of the effort that we have recognized in combating terrorism more effectively around the world is to increase international cooperation. I've heard of no problems that we've encountered thus far. I think we, along with our allies and friends around the world, recognize terrorism as an emerging threat and we are cooperating fully and taking appropriate steps. Q Is there a concern that the perpetrators in these two bombings might strike again? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think that we recognize that terrorism is a continuing threat that we always have to try to combat, evaluate, and be able to effectively preclude those attacks where we can or respond effectively to them if we can't. Q Do U.S. investigators believe that they have found the vehicle used in the bombing in Nairobi? COLONEL CROWLEY: David, I think it's not appropriate for me here to do a play-by-play in the investigation. I think you'll just have to let the investigators do their work out there and when we have things we can share with you, we will. Q Can you just clarify one thing on the suspects? You were saying at the top the U.S. investigators have interviewed the people who have been arrested in Kenya? COLONEL CROWLEY: I cannot speak for this latest report of new suspects being arrested. To the extent that there have been suspects arrested beginning on Friday and over the weekend, we have had full access to those suspects, and we would expect that any future suspects arrested by Tanzania authorities or by Kenya authorities we would have the complete cooperation that they have shown us this far. Q Suspects in both countries? COLONEL CROWLEY: I believe there have been suspects arrested in both countries. Q And you have interviewed -- have American investigators interviewed them? COLONEL CROWLEY: Yes. Q You said the President had asked for recommendations and expected some answers in the next few days. What specifically is he asking for, and when we will get these answers? COLONEL CROWLEY: He's asking for what short-term or medium-term additional security measures could be implemented at posts worldwide, but more specifically at what we would assess to be high-risk posts in light of Friday's attacks. And he would expect to have that kind of response from the State Department and OMB in the next few days. Q Sir, besides the discussion about improving security, did the President ask Defense Secretary Cohen about possible military options should the investigation reach a rapid conclusion? COLONEL CROWLEY: I'm not aware of that kind of briefing this morning. Q To follow up on Larry's question, which isn't really facetious, this is a country that believes in capital punishment. Innocent Americans and Africans were killed. How would the U.S. look toward other countries assassinating or taking out foreigners who were involved in this? I'm serious, now, it's a serious question. COLONEL CROWLEY: I think that you're getting way down the road here in terms of if we have suspects, if they eventually prove to be a part of these attacks who would have jurisdiction. These are all elements that will be reviewed by law enforcement officials as we go through the investigation. Q P.J., are you aware of the article in the Israeli newspaper about Israeli security officials telling the United States not to trust a warning that the U.S. got from a source about an imminent attack on the U.S. embassy in Nairobi? And if so, what's your reaction to the article? COLONEL CROWLEY: I'm aware of that article, but again, warnings, specific information, what we may or may not have known at the time of the attack is also subject to the investigation. I'm not going to comment on it. Q Let me take one more stab at Larry's original -- can you state for us exactly what U.S. policy is in regard to assassination, not of head of state but of potential terrorists now, and whether it's under review? COLONEL CROWLEY: Let me take that question. I just don't know the answer. Q You say that what the President wants is an assessment of what the high-risk sites are. But the original explanation that we got for this bombing was that it was precisely because they were targets of opportunity in places that were thought not be high risk that they were attacked. So how does assessing high-risk targets prevent something like this from happening? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think that what we have done prudently, from a diplomatic standpoint and from a military standpoint is simply, in light of what we know about the attacks on Friday, we're asking our posts around the world to evaluate their security measures and to take those additional measures that are appropriate. But we can also calculate that there are places around the world in dangerous places, dangerous capitals, that if there are things that, in light of these attacks, that we can do, that's the type of feedback the President wants to receive from the State Department and he'll get those answers in the next couple of days. Q Well, will he be told that there was a breakdown in intelligence, where we actually got a warning and didn't heed to it? COLONEL CROWLEY: Helen, I think you just have to let the investigation take its course. Q Usually you never tell those things -- Q It will leak. Q Is Congress being briefed on the status of the investigation and on what the administration may want from them further? And who are you talking to over on the Hill? COLONEL CROWLEY: The President indicated in his meeting today with his foreign policy team that, just as the State Department and OMB are evaluating what additional security measures could be taken, he will be consulting with leadership in Congress to see what kind of action could be taken on an expedited basis once they return from recess. Q And they haven't been consulted with at this point, the congressional leadership? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think the President will discuss this with the leadership, see what the prospects are for an emergency supplemental, based on the feedback he gets from the State Department on his directive today, once Congress returns. Q No sense at this point about what the prospects are for getting that money from Congress? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think other than there have been some indications from the congressional leadership that they'll be very supportive, in light of this. I think that's the kind of thing the President will be talking to Congress about. Q In this meeting today was there any kind of ranking for U.S. embassy vulnerability across the country -- I mean, in the world? COLONEL CROWLEY: Again, that's the kind of thing that the President asked the State Department to come back to -- is exactly those kinds of -- assess the additional risks that we perceive in light of these attacks and what steps we should take as quickly as possible to improve security around the world. So to the extent that the state Department might access specific needs in specific posts that have not yet been implemented, these are the kinds of information the President is expecting to get from State in the next couple of dates. Q What kind of overall vulnerability ranking would you say right now at this point -- vulnerability for another attack for any other embassies in the world. COLONEL CROWLEY: I think we recognize terrorism as an ongoing threat to our diplomatic posts around the world. We have had a very intensive system of evaluating security through the years, and particularly in the last decade or so. Many of those steps have already been taken. And the President asked today for what additional measures that we could take in the short-term and he'll expect that report from State in the next couple of days. ...................... Q You won't tell us whether there was a specific threat against the embassy in Nairobi; I can understand that. Will you tell us, was the President informed that the American ambassador to Nairobi had specifically and recently complained about the poor security at her embassy? COLONEL CROWLEY: I'm not aware of that level of discussion. But again, on the broad topic, that's part of the investigation. Q Can I ask you a follow on that point? The question is whether or not, on the medium- and short-term security measures you're talk about the President seeking, is it the case that you previously tried to do these things and could not get the money from Congress, or are these things you just thought of? COLONEL CROWLEY: We have had a very intensive review of security worldwide in recent years in light of the increase in terrorism globally. We have gone through a systematic program of upgrading embassies and particularly incorporating upgrades into new construction. But systematic also means that progress has been made and there is also progress to be made. So what the President asked for was, in light of restrictions in funding that has perhaps not allowed us to make these improvements at a pace that we would like, what are our top priorities in terms of things that could be done and could be done perhaps more quickly should additional funding be available to improve security around the world. ..................... Q On the unspecified threat that was received in Kenya, is it true that that did talk about -- it was from another intelligence source and it did talk about perhaps an Islamic group staging an attack in Kenya, not necessarily against an embassy? And also, is it a coincidence that there are large Islamic populations in Yemen, Malaysia, and Egypt? Is there some connection here with some of the threats you're receiving? COLONEL CROWLEY: Any answer I would give you, Eileen, would be based on speculation. Other than any answer I would give you on warnings would be subject of the investigation. I just can't go down that road. Q Do you have any credence to this report about the Iranian ambassadors having been withdrawn two weeks before, their ambassadors to Kenya and Tanzania? COLONEL CROWLEY: If the Iranian ambassador were withdrawn for any reason, it would be up to the Iranian government to explain the reasons for that. Q You mentioned that there was not quite enough funding to change these embassies over as quickly as the administration would like. Is that because Congress failed to appropriate enough? Did the administration seek more funding than was actually appropriated? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think it's fair to say that we have been concerned for a number of years about the lack of money to fully fund our diplomatic program around the world. What the President asked his foreign policy team is to assess, in light of restricted funding, what we could on an expedited basis to improve security around the world. Q But is it less money than the administration actually asked for? Is this Congress's fault that there wasn't enough money? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think we have been asking for additional funding to make sure that the United States is able to play its global leadership role. Full funding for our diplomatic programs or foreign policy is essential to that. Q On the bombing investigation, is there anything about the investigation so far that would lend any sort of hope that early progress can be made? In other words, is the investigation at this point in any way different from previous terrorist attacks that you may have more data, what with reports of the vehicle against the wall or suspects being questioned? COLONEL CROWLEY: Again, I think it's very difficult for me to do a play-by-play of the investigation. We'll just have to let it take its course. ..................... Q You've said that the governments of Kenya and Tanzania are being very cooperative in the investigation, and I know that Israel is helping to contribute to the investigation as well. Are we seeking assistance from the Saudis in this investigation, since they obviously have a great deal of experience in situations like this as well? COLONEL CROWLEY: I think to the extent that one of the keys to combating global terrorism will be seeking greater cooperation not just from the immediate victims of this attack, but overall from various governments around the world, if we have a need for support from various governments around the world, I would imagine that would be forthcoming. Q Indonesia is a Moslem country. Any indication of any special threats or trouble ahead over there for us? COLONEL CROWLEY: I can think of -- I think the Indonesians have experienced their share of both social turbulence and also economic turbulence. I'm not aware that that is related to this issue. Q Thank you. Q Great brief. Well done. ................ Q Thank you. END 3:43 P.M. EDT