[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF BOMB EXPLOSION IN 
                              SAUDI ARABIA

  (Mr. VENTO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VENTO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the loss of life 
that took place in Saudi Arabia, those United States troops and 
soldiers serving a peacekeeping mission, an important peacekeeping 
mission. Nearly 2,500 United States troops, mainly Air Force, are still 
stationed in Saudi Arabia today. I want to extend my sympathies and 
that of this House to those in uniform that are serving and the 
families that have experienced this loss of life, as well as the 
civilians and other loss of life that occurred. Nearly 150, perhaps 
more, were injured. We know at least 24 have lost their lives in this 
tragic accident.
  The President rightly has put a top priority on this in terms of 
investigating and trying to deal with the forces within Saudi Arabia, 
even as we are doing peacekeeping, that are politically unstable and 
causing serious problems and outrageous actions and issues that we 
face. I think it is important to remember that any time anyone puts on 
a uniform, whether in war or in peacekeeping, obviously their lives are 
at risk. And it is enormously important as the U.S. Nation assign 
duties and responsibilities and assume the role that we do, that 
leadership consider the security, safety, and mission risks that our 
Armed Forces experience in the important and changing role that they 
fulfill.

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