Clinton urges nations to join in fighting terrorism
June 26, 1996
Web posted at: 1:50 p.m. EDT (1750 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton summed up Tuesday's deadly bomb blast in Saudi Arabia as a "cowardly act of terrorism" and vowed that the United States "will not rest" in its fight against international terrorism. (230K AIFF or WAV sound)
"Anyone who attacks one American attacks all Americans," the president said in a speech before departing for an economic summit in Lyons, France.
Clinton said he would make the fight against terrorism the main topic at the G-7 summit of industrialized nations: "My first order of business will be to focus the strength and the energy of the G-7 on the continuing fight against terrorism," he said.
The president warned that terrorist attacks jeopardize the economic security of a world economy and urged G-7 members to combat such attacks. (196K AIFF or WAV sound)
"We expect the allies to walk with us hand in hand. We cannot tolerate this kind of conduct," Clinton said.
At least 19 Americans died when a truck bomb exploded outside a military compound in Saudi Arabia. Sixty-four other Americans were seriously wounded. In memory of those killed and wounded, the president ordered all flags on U.S. government buildings flown at half-staff.
The G-7 conference is scheduled to start Thursday and last through the 29th. Besides the United States, member nations are Britain, France, Canada, Italy, Germany and Japan.
Clinton said he might visit the explosion site while overseas but only if it doesn't hinder the removal of debris and the search for clues. He said the bombing will not affect the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia.
The two countries have been close allies for more than half a century. U.S. forces used Saudi territory as a base for the 1991 Gulf War that drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. American troops have remained in Saudi Arabia to keep an eye on Iraq.
"I think it would be a mistake for the United States to basically change its mission because of this," Clinton said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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