[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE RESOLUTION 273--CONDEMNING TERROR ATTACKS IN SAUDI ARABIA

  Mr. HELMS (for himself, Mr. Pell, Mr. Lott, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Brown, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Reid, Ms. Moseley-Braun, Mr. Bryan, Mr. Coats, Mr. 
Baucus, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Gramm, and Mr. Coverdell) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 273

       Whereas on June 25, 1996, a massive truck bomb exploded at 
     the King Abdul Aziz Air Base near Dhahran, in the Kingdom of 
     Saudi Arabia.
       Whereas this horrific attack killed at least nineteen 
     Americans and injured at least three hundred more:
       Whereas the bombing also resulted in 147 Saudi casualties;
       Whereas the apparent target of the attack was an apartment 
     building housing United States service personnel;
       Whereas on November 13, 1995, a terror attack in Saudi 
     Arabia, also directed against U.S. service personnel, killed 
     five Americans, and two others;
       Whereas individuals with ties to Islamic extremist 
     organizations were tried, found guilty and executed for 
     having participated in the November 13 attack;
       Whereas United States Armed Forces personnel are deployed 
     in Saudi Arabia to protect the peace and freedom secured in 
     Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm;
       Whereas the relationship between the United States and the 
     Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been built with bipartisan 
     support and has served the interest of both countries over 
     the last five decades and;
       Whereas this terrorist outrage underscores the need for a 
     strong and ready military able to defend American interests.
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns in the strongest terms the attacks of June 25, 
     1996, and November 13, 1995 in Saudi Arabia;
       (2) extends condolences and sympathy to the families of all 
     those United States service personnel killed and wounded, and 
     to the Government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
       (3) honors the United States military personnel killed and 
     wounded for their sacrifice in service to the nation;
       (4) expresses its gratitude to the Government and the 
     people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their heroic rescue 
     efforts at the scene of the attack and their determination to 
     find and punish those responsible for this outrage;
       (5) reaffirms its steadfast support for the Government of 
     the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and for continuing good relations 
     between the United States and Saudi Arabia;
       (6) determines that such terror attacks present a clear 
     threat to United States interests in the Persian Gulf;
       (7) calls upon the United States Government to continue to 
     assist the Government of Saudi Arabia in its efforts to 
     identify those responsible for this contemptible attack;
       (8) urges the United States Government to use all 
     reasonable means available to the Government of the United 
     States to punish the parties responsible for this cowardly 
     bombing; and
       (9) reaffirms its commitment to provide all necessary 
     support for the men and women of our Armed Forces who 
     volunteer to stand in harm's way.

                          ____________________