[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 151 (Tuesday, November 15, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12824-S12825]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONDEMNATION OF THE AMMAN TERRORIST BOMBINGS BY KING ABDULLAH II OF 
                                 JORDAN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise to express my deepest 
condolences to the families of the innocent victims of the brutal 
terrorist attacks that occurred in Amman, Jordan, last Wednesday. 
Homicide bombers, wearing deadly explosives under their clothes, 
entered three popular and crowded hotels and detonated themselves. 
Jordanian authorities have determined the attack was the work of al-
Qaida.

  So far, 57 are thought dead, among them a number of children; many 
more are injured. A wedding reception was underway in one of the 
hotels, and on the day after what should have been the happiest day of 
their lives, a young Jordanian bride and her groom each had to bury 
their slain fathers.
  I know my colleagues join me in completely condemning the terrorists 
behind this attack. America will never give in to terrorists and their 
murder of innocents. Unthinkable evil like that only strengthens our 
resolve to fight terror and bring those who practice it to justice.
  According to our great ally King Abdullah II of Jordan, the targets 
of these Muslim terrorists were not Americans, but fellow Muslims. The 
hotels were well known to be frequented by Jordanians and Iraqis.
  The terrorists' hope is that by attacking America's allies, like 
Jordan, they can frighten those countries into abandoning the War on 
Terror, and divide the grand coalition of free nations who oppose them. 
That appears to have been the purpose of the Amman attacks.
  Well, the terrorists will not get what they want. I wish to bring to 
my colleagues' attention the inspired words of His Majesty King 
Abdullah, given shortly after the terrorists struck. Before this 
bombing, King Abdullah was America's steadfast partner in the War on 
Terror. Today, if possible, he stands even more aligned with our effort 
to fight terror.
  King Abdullah and the Jordanian people will not be swayed by the 
terrorists.
  In fact, we saw the demonstrators in the streets of Jordan--not 
against the King but against the terrorists.
  The day after the bombings, the King declared: ``We will not be 
intimidated into altering our position, nor will we abandon our 
convictions or forfeit our role in the fight against terrorism in all 
its forms.'' He continued, ``To the contrary, every act of terrorism 
strengthens our resolve to adhere to our convictions, and to confront, 
with all the means at our disposal, those who seek to undermine the 
security and stability of this country.''
  We all applaud King Abdullah for his strength and commitment to this 
fight. He refuses to bend to fear. His vision of a Jordan that rejects 
terror strengthens the will of every Jordanian, even those who emerged 
bloody and scarred from these atrocious attacks, to see this struggle 
through.
  King Abdullah also deserves praise for his message that Islam is a 
religion of peace, and that the terrorists are not protectors of the 
Muslim faith but defilers of it. He is one of the world's foremost 
voices for moderation and tolerance in Islam. He understands that the 
War on Terror is not a war between America and Islam, as some of the 
most radical terrorists try to paint it, but actually a war between a 
small, fringe faction of violent extremists on one hand and a coalition 
of all freedom-loving peoples, Muslim, Christian,

[[Page S12825]]

Jewish and Hindu among them, on the other.
  I ask for unanimous consent that the entirety of King Abdullah's 
statement on the Amman bombings of last week be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

 His Majesty King Abdullah's Address to the Nation Following the Amman 
               Bombings, November 10, 2005, Amman, Jordan

       I would like to begin by extending my profound condolences 
     to the families of all the innocent victims who were killed, 
     and we are praying for a swift recovery for all of those who 
     were injured.
       This is not the first time that Jordan has been a target of 
     terrorism. It is also not the only country that has been a 
     victim of terrorism; there have been many countries in the 
     region and throughout the world which have been similarly 
     terrorized by attacks of greater scope and intensity.
       We know, however, that Jordan has been targeted more than 
     any other country for several reasons, among them, its role 
     and its message defending the essence of Islam--the religion 
     of moderation and tolerance that abhors the terrorists who 
     kill innocents in Islam's name, even as Islam is innocent of 
     such crimes.
       Let it be clear to everyone that we will pursue these 
     terrorists and those who aide them; we will reach them 
     wherever they are, pull them from their lairs and submit them 
     to justice.
       Jordan does not bow to coercion. We will not be intimidated 
     into altering our position, nor will we abandon our 
     convictions or forfeit our role in the fight against 
     terrorism in all its forms. To the contrary, every act of 
     terrorism strengthens our resolve to adhere to our 
     convictions, and to confront, with all means at our disposal, 
     those who seek to undermine the security and stability of 
     this country.
       Our confidence in the security services and their ability 
     to protect the security of this country and its stability 
     remains unwavering. We have succeeded in preventing many 
     planned attacks on this country. For every infrequent success 
     terrorists have had in carrying out one of their crimes, we 
     have had many more successes in foiling their plots.
       I appeal to every citizen--man and woman--of this country 
     to consider himself or herself a soldier and a security 
     officer. Each one of you has a responsibility to protect your 
     country. Circumstances require each and every citizen to be 
     cautious and vigilant, and to cooperate with the security 
     services to prevent any attack on the security and stability 
     of this country. We must be united in confronting these 
     terrorists, who have neither a religion nor a conscience.
       I am confident that the patriots of Jordan--men and women--
     will maintain, as they always have, a watchful eye over the 
     country and its security, and will be the first line of 
     defense in protecting Jordan and its achievements. Jordan 
     will continue, with the help of God and the determination of 
     its people, to overcome evil.
       Finally, all my thanks and appreciation go to our security, 
     military and civil institutions, as well as to the citizens 
     of Jordan who have acted as one in confronting the attacks on 
     our precious capital, Amman.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington is recognized.
  (The remarks of Mrs. Murray and Ms. Collins pertaining to the 
introduction of S2008 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements 
on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.

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