[House Document 105-308]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 105-308


 
 AUTHORIZED U.S. STRIKES IN AFGHANISTAN AND SUDAN AGAINST THE USMANA 
                        BIN LADIN ORGANIZATION

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  FROM

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

  NOTIFICATION OF THE U.S. STRIKES IN AFGHANISTAN AGAINST A SERIES OF 
 CAMPS AND INSTALLATIONS USED BY THE USAMA BIN LADIN ORGANIZATION, AND 
IN SUDAN WHERE THE BIN LADIN ORGANIZATION HAS FACILITIES, AND EXTENSIVE 
                         TIES TO THE GOVERNMENT





    September 11, 1998.--Referred to the Committee on International 
                  Relations and ordered to be printed


                                           The White House,
                                       Washington, August 21, 1998.
Hon. Newt Gingrich,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: At approximately 1:30 p.m. eastern 
daylight time, on August 20, 1998, at my direction, U.S. forces 
conducted strikes in Afghanistan against a series of camps and 
installations used by the Usama bin Ladin organization, and in 
Sudan where the bin Ladin organization has facilities and 
extensive ties to the government. I ordered these actions based 
on convincing information from a variety of reliable sources 
that the bin Ladin organization is responsible for the 
devastating bombings on August 7, 1998, of the U.S. Embassies 
in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, that killed 
over 250 persons. United States forces struck a facility in 
Sudan being used to produce materials for chemical weapons. 
They also struck facilities in Afghanistan that are being used 
for terrorist training and as basing and supply camps for 
staging terrorist activities.
    The United States acted in exercise of our inherent right 
of self-defense consistent with Article 51 of the United 
Nations Charter. These strikes were a necessary and 
proportionate response to the imminent threat of further 
terrorist attacks against U.S. personnel and facilities. These 
strikes were intended to prevent and deter additional attacks 
by a clearly identified terrorist threat. The targets were 
selected because they served to facilitate directly the efforts 
of terrorists specifically identified with attacks on U.S. 
personnel and facilities and posed a continuing threat to U.S. 
lives.
    The U.S. forces involved in these strikes have completed 
their mission. No U.S. personnel were injured or killed in 
connection with this action.
    I directed these actions pursuant to my constitutional 
authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in 
Chief and Chief Executive.
    I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep 
the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers 
Resolution. I appreciate the support of the Congress as we 
continue to take all necessary steps to protect U.S. citizens 
at home and abroad.
            Sincerely,
                                                William J. Clinton.

                                
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