[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 35 (Monday, August 31, 1998)]
[Pages 1651-1652]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
The President's Radio Address

August 22, 1998

    Good morning. I want to talk to you about our strike against 
terrorism last Thursday. Two weeks ago a savage attack was carried out 
against our Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Almost 300 innocent people 
were killed; thousands were injured. The bombs were aimed at us, but 
they claimed anyone who happened to be near the Embassies that morning. 
They killed both Africans and Americans indiscriminately, cruelty beyond 
comprehension.
    From the moment we learned of the bombings our mission was clear: 
Identify those responsible; bring them to justice; protect our citizens 
from future attacks.
    The information now in our possession is convincing. Behind these 
attacks were the same hands that killed American and Pakistani 
peacekeepers in Somalia, the same hands that targeted U.S. airlines, and 
the same hands that plotted the assassinations of the Pope and President 
Mubarak of Egypt. I'm referring to the bin Ladin network of radical 
groups, probably the most dangerous, non-state terrorist actor in the 
world today.
    We also had compelling evidence that the bin Ladin network was 
poised to strike at us again, and soon. We know he has said all 
Americans--not just those in uniform--all Americans are targets. And we 
know he wants to acquire chemical weapons.
    With that information and evidence, we simply could not stand idly 
by. That is why I ordered our military strikes last Thursday. Our goals 
were to disrupt bin Ladin's terrorist network and destroy elements of 
its infrastructure in Afghanistan and Sudan. And our goal was to 
destroy, in Sudan, the factory with which bin Ladin's network is 
associated, which was producing an ingredient essential for nerve gas.
    I am proud of the men and women of our Armed Forces who carried out 
this mission and proud of the superb work of our intelligence and law 
enforcement communities. I thank the congressional leadership for their 
bipartisan support. And I'm grateful to America's friends around the 
world who have expressed their solidarity. For this is not just 
America's fight; it's a universal one, between those who want to build a 
world of peace and partnership and prosperity, and those who would tear 
everything down through death and destruction. A fight that joins 
people, from Northern Ireland and Africa and

[[Page 1652]]

the Middle East. A fight not directed at any particular nation or any 
particular faith but at a callous, criminal organization whose policies 
of violence violate the teachings of every religion.
    In particular, it is very important that Americans understand that 
the threat we face is not part of the Islamic faith. Hundreds of 
millions of Muslims all over the world, including millions right here in 
the United States, oppose terrorism and deplore the twisting of their 
religious teachings into justification of inhumane, indeed, ungodly 
acts.
    Our efforts against terrorism cannot and will not end with this 
strike. We should have realistic expectations about what a single action 
can achieve. And we must be prepared for a long battle. But it's high 
time that those who traffic in terror learn they, too, are vulnerable.
    I'm determined to use all the tools at our disposal. That is why I 
have just signed an Executive order directing the Treasury to block all 
financial transactions between the bin Ladin terrorist group and 
American persons and companies. We'll urge other governments to do the 
same. We must not allow sanctuary for terrorism--not for terrorists or 
for their money. It takes money, lots of it, to build the network bin 
Ladin has. We'll do our best to see that he has less of it.
    Finally, as we close ranks against international threats, we must 
remember this: America will never give up the openness, the freedom, and 
the tolerance that define us. For the ultimate target of these terrorist 
attacks is our ideals, and they must be defended at any cost.
    Thanks for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 11:55 a.m. on August 21 in the Oval 
Office at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on August 22. This 
transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on 
August 21 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. In his 
address, the President referred to Pope John Paul II; President Hosni 
Mubarak of Egypt; and Usama bin Ladin, who allegedly sponsored terrorist 
attacks on the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.