[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 16 (Wednesday, February 23, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                               TERRORISM

                                 ______


                        HON. GERALD B.H. SOLOMON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 23, 1994

  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
draw your attention to the recent remarks by the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman] before the 42d European Parliament/United States 
Congress Interparliamentary Meeting in Athens, Greece, regarding 
terrorism.
  In his remarks, Representative Gilman succinctly outlines the nature 
of the threat facing both our Nation, and our European allies, and 
notes that this threat is growing, and must not be ignored. Rather, he 
recommends that through enhanced cooperation among governments, we can 
and should earnestly fight this criminal scourge on all of our 
societies.
  I have worked closely with Mr. Gilman on this issue, including 
introduction of my legislation, H.R. 1241, the Domestic Anti-Terrorism 
Reward Act, a measure to increase the reward for information on 
domestic terrorism from $500,000 to $2 million.
  Furthermore, Representative Gilman has introduced the Anti-Terrorism 
Act, of which I am an original cosponsor. This bill imposes a full 
embargo on imports from nations which continue to support international 
terrorism. It also addresses the threat of nuclear terrorism, and it 
creates a government/business antiterrorism council to seek out 
additional measures which our Government and businesses can take to 
counter terrorist activities. Finally, the bill calls for the death 
penalty for terrorists who murder Americans, whether at home or abroad.
  I am inserting the full text of Representative Gilman's remarks on 
terrorism.

  Remarks of Representative Benjamin A. Gilman, 42nd EP/U.S. Congress 
        Interparliamentary Meeting, Athens, Greece--January 1994


                               terrorism

       As we begin a new year, this is a good time to reflect on 
     events of the past year, especially in this troubling area of 
     international terrorism. We can never be too alert, or 
     prepared enough, against this evil of worldwide terrorism.
       On the terrorism front, 1993 was a difficult and alarming 
     year for us in the United States. We witnessed the terrorist 
     bombing of the World Trade Center in New York. It was a 
     cowardly deed that took six innocent lives, caused more than 
     a thousand injuries, and resulted in well over $600 million 
     in property damage and business disruption. International 
     terrorism had come home to America. We Americans, frequently 
     the target of terrorists abroad, were no longer safe, even on 
     our own soil.
       In addition, in 1993 we saw the arrest in our nation by the 
     FBI of several Abu Nidal terrorists who were plotting to 
     attack the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. We also had a 
     plot uncovered in Kuwait to assassinate former President 
     George Bush. Finally, the FBI exposed and thwarted the plot 
     to blow up the U.N. complex and commuter tunnels in New York 
     City, as well as planned attacks on several U.N. and U.S. 
     public officials.
       In each of these incidents our government's response was 
     swift, sure, and tough. Almost all of the figures in the 
     World Trade Center bombing have been arrested, one with the 
     very valuable assistance of the government of Egypt. They now 
     face trial in our federal courts. Another suspect is the 
     subject of a $2 million U.S. government international reward 
     for his capture. The U.N. plotters, along with the Abu Nidal 
     terrorists, have also been charged and await federal trial. 
     President Clinton responded quickly in a appropriate 
     retaliatory missile strike on the Iraqi government's 
     intelligence headquarters for its involvement in the plot 
     against former President Bush, based upon evidence clearly 
     establishing a link.
       These tough, aggressive responses are necessary against 
     those who utilize terrorism as a tool for resolution of their 
     international grievances.
       The lessons for us in the U.S. in combating terrorism are 
     clear. They are applicable here as well. Even in this post-
     Cold War era, we still face threats from the scourge of 
     international terrorism. We must always maintain our guard. 
     The threat of terrorism is still with us, whether from 
     organized or state sponsored groups, or the newer, and 
     looser, religiously knit groups we have observed most 
     recently. No anger--for whatever cause--justifies the 
     cowardly acts of the terrorist.
       These unlawful acts must be met with swift, sure, and 
     appropriate punishment from civilized society. We cannot 
     surrender one iota of legitimacy to the terrorist in any 
     debate on whatever cause, or for whatever grievance.
       In Europe you have seen and felt the sting of terrorism 
     this past year as well. For example, from the well 
     coordinated and extensive acts by the Turkish Kurds (PKK), to 
     the violent events we are all too familiar with, emanating 
     from the situation in Northern Ireland, to cite just a few. 
     Incidentally, we are all very hopeful for a peaceful solution 
     in Northern Ireland to the violence that has gone on from 
     both sides, for far too long. Our compliments to the Prime 
     Ministers of Britain and Ireland for their courageous efforts 
     to find a peaceful and fair solution for all concerned. We 
     wish them success in their courageous efforts to bring about 
     peace.
       Together, all of our governments must work closely to 
     diminish the threat of terrorism. We must cooperatively work 
     to prevent, and solve terrorist acts. We must work to swiftly 
     bring to justice those who must be punished for these 
     barbaric acts. The U.N. sanctions against Libya for the Pan 
     Am 103 bombing, is a clear case in point. Cooperatively, the 
     international community must help bring to justice those 
     responsible for that act that took so many innocent lives. As 
     President Clinton said recently on the fifth anniversary of 
     the Pan Am 103 bombing ``* * * our nation will never stop 
     pursuing justice against whose who caused it.'' The state 
     sponsors of terrorism must know that it is never going to be 
     business as usual, and that there is a heavy price to pay for 
     behaving as international outlaws.
       Our law enforcement entities must be able to share 
     intelligence and evidence with each other, and help thwart 
     planned acts before they occur. We must--where appropriate--
     permit and encourage the extradition of those responsible for 
     acts of terrorism to face trial and swift punishment, and 
     they must serve their full sentences. Finally, no nation must 
     be willing to give safe haven to those who would plot from, 
     or seek to use one nation's soil, as a base to conduct 
     terrorism against another.
       In the European Community you face even tougher new 
     challenges against terrorism. As your border barriers 
     diminish, along with the greater free flow of commerce, the 
     job grows even tougher. The terrorists' travel and the cross 
     shipment of some of the tools of their violence, is made 
     easier. The EC's Justice Council's working groups on 
     terrorism will have to labor even harder to foster greater 
     cooperation and information sharing to thwart terrorism under 
     these improved conditions for border travel and commerce. We 
     must not, and cannot, let the terrorists dictate or limit the 
     ability of free nations to progress and improve commerce, and 
     travel freely throughout the world today.
       We in the U.S. stand ready to work with you against the 
     threat of international terrorism. Together we can, and will 
     make 1994 a better and safer year for all nations rightfully 
     concerned about the safety of their citizens from this grave 
     threat of terrorism.

                          ____________________