[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000-2001, Book III)]
[October 14, 2000]
[Pages 2176-2177]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's Radio Address
October 14, 2000

    Good morning. This week an apparent terrorist attack claimed the 
lives of brave American sailors off the coast of Yemen, and new violence 
erupted between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East.
    Our sailors aboard the U.S.S. Cole were simply doing their duty, but 
a dangerous duty,

[[Page 2177]]

standing guard for peace. Yesterday I spoke to the captain of the Cole, 
Commander Kirk Lippold. On behalf of all 
Americans, I expressed our deepest sympathies and commended him and his 
crew for the great job they're doing at this very difficult time.
    To our sailors' families, let me say we hold you in our prayers. We 
will never know your loved ones as you did or remember them as you will, 
but we join you in grief. For your loss is America's loss, and we bow 
our heads to God in gratitude for the lives and service of your loved 
ones.
    In their honor, I have ordered that flags be flown at halfstaff in 
the United States, our territories, our Embassies, military bases, and 
naval vessels until sunset on Monday. As we see the flag this weekend, 
we should think of the families and the sacrifice they have made for 
America.
    This tragic loss should remind us all that even when America is not 
at war, the men and women of our military risk their lives every day in 
places where comforts are few and dangers are many. No one should think 
for a moment that the strength of our military is less important in 
times of peace, because the strength of our military is a major reason 
we are at peace. History will record our triumphs on the battlefield, 
but no one can ever write a full account of the wars never fought, the 
losses never suffered, the tears never shed because the men and women of 
our military were risking their lives for peace. We should never, ever 
forget that.
    Our military power is not all people see when ships of the United 
States enter a foreign port. When U.S. sailors head down the brow of the 
ship or our troops set foot on foreign soil, our hosts see in the 
uniform of the United States men and women of every race, creed, and 
color who trace their ancestry to every region on Earth, yet are bound 
together by a common commitment to freedom and a common pride in being 
Americans.
    That image of unity amidst diversity must confound the minds of the 
hate-filled cowards who killed our sailors. They can take innocent life, 
they can cause tears and anguish, but they can never heal or build 
harmony or bring people together. That is work only free, law-abiding 
people can do.
    And that is why we will do whatever it takes, for as long as it 
takes, to find those who killed our sailors and hold them accountable, 
and why we will never let the enemies of freedom and peace stop America 
from seeking peace, fighting terrorism, and promoting freedom. For only 
by defending our people, our interests, and our values will we redeem 
the lives of our sailors and ruin the schemes of their killers.
    That includes, of course, our efforts to promote peace in the Middle 
East. The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is one of the 
greatest tragedies of our time and one of the very hardest problems to 
solve. Every step forward has been marked with pain. Each time the 
forces of reconciliation have reached out, the forces of destruction 
have lashed out. The violence we've seen there demonstrates beyond a 
shadow of a doubt that the alternative to peace is unacceptable, and 
that no one will gain from an endless contest of inflicting and 
absorbing pain.
    Ending the violence and getting people of the Middle East back to 
dialog will be hard after what has happened. But no matter how difficult 
that task may be, no matter how terrible the images of this week's 
violence, the effort must continue, with America's strong support. We 
must do so because we have a profound national interest in peace in the 
Middle East and a very special bond to the State of Israel. As in all 
the world's troubled places, our efforts do not guarantee success. But 
not to try is to guarantee failure.
    So today I ask your prayers for our men and women in uniform, for 
the families of our fallen sailors, and for all those here and 
everywhere who hope and work for a world at peace.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 5:25 p.m. on October 13 in the 
Roosevelt Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on October 
14. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 13 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast.