[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INFORM AMERICAN PEOPLE OF RESULTS OF ATTACKS ON TERRORISTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago the President addressed 
the Nation and told the American people that based on convincing 
evidence he had linked the bombings of the embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, 
and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to Osama bin Ladin, the Saudi millionaire 
whose base of operations is in Afghanistan. He went on to say that he 
had given our Armed Forces orders to launch cruise missile attacks 
against these targets. The first, of course, was a terrorist training 
camp in Afghanistan. The second target was a pharmaceutical plant in 
Sudan where evidence pointed to the fact that it was being used to 
manufacture chemical weapons.
  Mr. Speaker, what troubles me about this is that since these strikes 
were made, we have not heard anything more from the President or his 
administration about this matter. The question is, did we achieve our 
bombing objectives at these two sites? Where is Mr. Ladin today? Is he 
still alive and still operating in secret and conspiring against the 
United States, or was he in the training camp when we destroyed its 
base of operation in Afghanistan?
  As the days went by after these retaliatory strikes were carried out, 
new information surfaced about the pharmaceutical plant in Sudan. On 
September 1st, the Los Angeles Times reported that Shifa Pharmaceutical 
Plant produced human and veterinarian medicines for the impoverished 
nation and the evidence about Mr. Ladin's financial stake in the 
facility had been overstated.
  Mr. Speaker, the President owes this country a full accounting, 
because the orders he gave, which were carried out, could have far-
reaching effects that impact every U.S. citizen living both here and 
abroad. There is a long history of terrorist activity against the 
United States. Sadly, our response has been weak at best.
  I would like to read you a quote from Mr. Jensen, an international 
editor of the Rocky Mountain News in Denver in his article entitled 
``Responding to Terrorist Attacks.'' He states,

       Our government imposes sanctions on so-called rogue nations 
     that sponsor terrorism, which hasn't altered their behavior 
     one bit, but one makes no effort to go after terrorists on 
     the ground. In most cases it does not even retaliate for 
     terrorist attacks.

  Mr. Speaker, we are a civilized nation and thus far have refrained 
from fighting terror with terror. Is that the answer? Mr. Jensen goes 
on to say that Israel, through the Mossad, has perfected the art of 
fighting terror with terror.
  Mr. Jensen's article also points out that over the last few years, 90 
foreign hostages, including 11 Americans, have been held in captivity 
by Hezbollah and its operatives. Eleven were killed or died while in 
captivity.
  Such atrocities cannot be allowed. Do we as a nation deal with such 
vicious attacks against our citizens by seeking to use the rule of law? 
According to Mr. Jensen, in the few instances where we have retaliated, 
such as President Reagan's bombing of Libya and President Clinton's use 
of the Tomahawk missiles, the civilian casualties that resulted have 
caused such international outrage that our reasons for taking such 
actions were totally obliterated.
  We must make our enemies realize that if they take action against our 
country, we will take swift and decisive action against them as well.
  Therefore, it is not my intention this morning to criticize the 
President's actions, because I think they were justified, based upon 
American intelligence and foreign intelligence. Thousands of people 
were killed in Kenya and Tanzania, and I do not think we should stand 
idly by and pretend it did not happen. However, I am concerned that we 
have lost credibility in the international community because of the 
confusion about why we took the actions we did against these specific 
targets.
  Mr. Speaker, my message is simple today: Mr. President, do you not 
think the American people have a right to know whether our mission was 
successful? Please tell us today.

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