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07 August 1998

CONGRESSIONAL REPORT, FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1998

(Gingrich, Gilman on car bombings)  (230)



GINGRICH, GILMAN ON CAR BOMBINGS IN EAST AFRICA



Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich (Republican-Georgia) condemned the
bombings of the US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam August 7 and
called for improved intelligence to capture terrorists.


"The United States of America takes very seriously assaults on its
citizens, and particularly assaults on those of its citizens who serve
the United States. ..." Gingrich said.


"We should do everything we can to track down the people who've done
this and to make them pay to the fullest extent," the Speaker said.
"This should be a reminder to all of us that it is a dangerous world
as we enter the 21st century. We need much better human intelligence,
much more sophisticated efforts to go after terrorists and others."


Representative Benjamin Gilman (Republican-New York), chairman of the
House International Relations Committee, said members of his staff had
been in contact with the FBI and the State Department.


"There has been no evidence of dissent by local groups," he said.
Gilman said there was no information on motivation or on
responsibility, noting that U.S. relations with both African nations
have been good. "Apparently, it's some message we haven't heard yet,"
Gilman told reporters.


He said a congressional delegation on its way to the Congo had been
diverted.