[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 32, Number 26 (Monday, July 1, 1996)]
[Page 1142]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters Prior to Discussions With President Jacques 
Chirac of France in Lyons, France

June 27, 1996

Terrorist Attack in Saudi Arabia

    Q. Mr. President, is there any way the tragedy in Saudi Arabia could 
have been avoided given the history of terrorism in the Middle East, 
especially in the aftermath of the agency bombing in Beirut? Why weren't 
those airmen protected?
    President Clinton. Well, as you know, they were behind a fence that 
gave them a 35-yard cushion, and the bomb was just bigger than anyone 
calculated could be gotten in that close to the building.
    So I think the casualties were far smaller than they would have been 
had not the security precautions been taken. But you may be sure that 
the Defense Department and the others who are in charge of this are 
reviewing the security operations to see what else should be done, to 
see if we can even do better in the future.
    Q. Is there any indication yet who is responsible for that?
    President Clinton. We're working on it, but I don't want to announce 
a conclusion until I know what the facts are. We're working very hard, 
and so are the Saudis. And I want to thank, I might say if I could, I'd 
like to thank President Chirac for his expression of condolences and 
support for the United States. And he said to me--and I hope that you 
will have some statement coming out later today.
    President Chirac. I just want to say to the American press how 
deeply horrified the French people were at this barbaric act that has 
been perpetrated in Saudi Arabia. And I can assure you that you have the 
heartfelt condolences of France to the families of the victims and those 
who have been wounded and to the American people.

Note: The exchange began at 3 p.m. at the Prefecture. A tape was not 
available for verification of the content of this exchange.