[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 167 (Thursday, October 26, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15976-S15977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            COMMEMORATING ARCHILLE LAURO'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise to urge you to stand with 
me against the blight of terrorism that is growing throughout the 
world. We need legislation to toughen our antiterrorism laws in 
response to the growth of this scourge. During the tenth anniversary of 
the hijacking of the Achille Lauro and the killing of one of its 
passengers Leon Klinghoffer, I ask you to take the time to support my 
request for such legislation before the United States bears the brunt 
of another terrorist act.
  Americans are the focus for many terrorist acts overseas. Now, we are 
becoming targets at home. Americans are increasingly exposed to the 
deadly realities of terrorism. Ten years ago Leon Klinghoffer was 
singled out by terrorists for execution and summarily dumped over the 
side of the cruise ship Achille Lauro. The mastermind behind this act, 
Abul Abbas, continues to elude international authorities to this day. 
We need to be able to run these criminal masterminds to ground wherever 
they hide.
  In 1993, terrorists bombed the World Trade Center murdering six 
innocent people and injuring over 1,000 more. We were lucky the 
structure withstood the blast and did not collapse. We could have faced 
thousands of murdered people. We need to be able to block the actions 
and designs of international terrorists.
  Earlier this year, Oklahoma City was targeted by domestic terrorists. 
This time, Americans were graphically confronted with the specter of 
hundreds of mangled bodies. Our children were viciously mauled by the 
passions of an unstable youth and his accomplices. We need to be able 
to thwart the evil ambitions of such internal fringe groups.
  Just weeks ago, ten Islamic extremists were found guilty of 
conspiring to carry out a campaign of terrorism and assassination 
against New York City landmarks and officials.
  These incidents highlight the growing threat of terrorism and the 
need for improved United States' antiterrorism measures. Final passage 
of comprehensive antiterrorist legislation will represent a concrete 
step toward extinguishing the threat of terrorism by increasing the 
difficulty and cost in perpetrating heinous acts such as these. We have 
seen terrorism become a way of life for many other nations. We cannot 
allow this complacency to occur in 

[[Page S15977]]

the United States. If anyone such as Abul Abbas or his conspirators can 
be discovered in our country, perhaps other destructive attacks may be 
averted.
  Mr. President, on this, the tenth anniversary of the Achille Lauro 
tragedy, the threat of terrorism is undiminished. It is our 
responsibility to act collectively to thwart forces pursuing these acts 
and to block the financiers condoning international terrorist activity. 
We need action and we need it now. Our people cannot continue to endure 
the depridations of these extremist murderers. Thank you Mr. 
President.

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