[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     THE BOMBING OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY BASE IN SAUDI ARABIA

  Mr. ABRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today to express my sincere 
condolences to the families and friends who lost their loved ones in 
the horrible terrorist act which took place at the Khobar Towers 
housing facility in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. My prayers and thoughts are 
with the victims and with those who lost their loved ones or who had 
their loved ones injured by this terrorist attack. And, like every 
Member of this Senate, I am fully supportive of United States and Saudi 
cooperative efforts to ensure that those terrorists who committed this 
crime will be apprehended and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the 
law.
  Our top priority today and always ought to be the protection and 
safety of all the citizens of our country wherever they may reside or 
are stationed. We are all very proud of the American servicemen and 
women who serve and represent our country all over the world. We must 
do everything we rightfully can to prevent future tragedies of this 
sort and to see to it that the perpetrators of this terrible act are 
brought to justice.
  When incidents like this occur, we in the United States become 
acutely aware of the highly sensitive position that we, as Americans, 
are often in at home and abroad. Whether it is a foreign or domestic 
terrorist, we must unfortunately take extra precautions and institute 
extra security measures to protect ourselves.
  The administration has greatly emphasized how the Saudi Government 
has acted with urgency and professionalism in assisting with our 
response to this tragedy. I believe this highlights the deep and 
significant relationship the United States does have, and must continue 
to maintain with the Saudi Government, bilaterally, and in conjunction 
with our other gulf allies. Just as the United States has steadfastly 
refused to bow to terrorism, so to must we preserve and sustain this 
critical bilateral relationship in order to continue to fight against 
terrorism.

                          ____________________