FLOOR STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN BARRY GOLDWATER OF THE SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ON THE SENATE RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE TO THE VICTIMS OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY BOMBING IN BEIRUT WEDNESDAY APRIL 20 1983

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00135R000701310103-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 15, 2008
• Sequence Number: 103
• Publication Date: April 20, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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MARRY GOLDWATER. ARIZ., CHAIRMAN E: V1
DANIEL PATRICK MOYNIHAN, N.Y.. VICE CHAIRMAN
JAKE GARN. UTAH WALTER D. HUDOLESTON. KY.
JOHN H. CHAFEE. R.I. JOSEPH R. DIDEN. JR.. DEL.
RICHARD O. LUGAR. INO. DANIEL K. INOUYE. HAWAII
MALCOLM WALLOP. WYO. HENRY M. JACKSON. WASH. ' JCniteb'Sta tez ~e~.yJy f n
DAVID DURENBERGER. MINN. PATRICK J. LEAHY, VT. I ? ~N' F
WILLIAM V. ROTH. in.. DEL. LLOYD BENTSEN, TEX.
WILLIAM S. COHEN, MAINE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
HOWARD H. MAKER. JR.. TENN.. EX OFFICIO WASHINGTON. D.C. 20510
ROBERT C. BYRD. W. VA.. EX OFFICKI
ROBERT R. SIMMONS. STAFF DIRECTOR
GARY J. SCHMITT. MINORITY STAFF DIRECTOR
April 20, 1983
Dear Colleague:
On April 18, 1983, the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon,
was the target of a car-bomb attack. While we do not yet have
all the facts on the matter, it is clear that a great many people
were killed and wounded in this brutal and cowardly act. Among
the dead were many Americans, most of them assigned to the U.S.
Embassy on official business. Many local Lebanese employees of
the Embassy were also killed and wounded.
Today, I introduced a Senate Resolution the purpose of which was
to deplore this bombing, and to express the condolences of the
Senate on the death and wounding of our fellow Americans. Copies
of this resolution and of my floor statement are enclosed for your
information. This resolution has been referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations, and may come before the full Senate some
time next week. I would appreciate any support you can provide for
the resolution, and would welcome your cosponsorship.
If you are interested in cosponsoring this resolution, please call
Rosemarie Nahrgang of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
at 224-1710.
Si 'cerely,
+Barry Gdldwater
Chairman
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FLOOR STATEMENT
BY
CHAIRMAN BARRY GOLDWATER
OF THE
SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
ON THE
SENATE RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE
TO THE VICTIMS OF THE
UNITED STATES EMBASSY BOMBING IN BEIRUT
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1983
MR, PRESIDENT. I RISE TO INTRODUCE A SENATE RESOLUTION.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS RESOLUTION IS TO DEPLORE THE RECENT BOMBING
OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN BEIRUT, AND TO EXPRESS THE
SORROW AND CONDOLENCES OF THE SENATE ON THE DEATH AND WOUNDING
OF AMERICANS CAUGHT IN THIS BOMBING.
MR. PRESIDENT, I AM SURE THAT MOST OF MY COLLEAGUES ARE
AWARE THAT ON APRIL 18, 1983. THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN
BEIRUT, LEBANON, WAS THE TARGET OF A CAR-BOMB ATTACK. WHILE
WE DO NOT YET HAVE ALL THE FACTS ON THE MATTER, IT IS CLEAR
THAT A GREAT MANY PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THIS BRUTAL
AND COWARDLY ACT. AMONG THE DEAD WERE MANY AMERICANS, MOST OF
THEM ASSIGNED TO THE U.S. EMBASSY ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS.
MANY LOCAL LEBANESE EMPLOYEES OF THE EMBASSY WERE ALSO KILLED
AND WOUNDED.
MR. PRESIDENT, EVERY YEAR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
DISPATCHES LOYAL AND PATRIOTIC CITIZENS ABROAD TO SERVE ON WHAT
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ARE OFTEN DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS MISSIONS FOR OUR GOVERNMENT.
THESE PEOPLE WOULD INCLUDE DIPLOMATIC, MILITARY, INTELLIGENCE
AND OTHER PERSONNEL. THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES PROVIDES
THESE PEOPLE THEIR MISSIONS, AND THE CONGRESS FUNDS THEIR
ACTIVITIES.
How OFTEN WE FORGET THAT SIMPLY BEING AN AMERICAN OFFICIAL
ABROAD IS A DANGEROUS UNDERTAKING. How OFTEN WE FORGET THE
ROUTINE STRESSES AND STRAINS TO WHICH THESE PEOPLE ARE SUBJECTED.
THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. EMBASSY IN BEIRUT IS BUT THE MOST RECENT
GRAPHIC REMINDER TO ALL OF US OF THE SACRIFICE THESE PATRIOTIC
AMERICANS ARE DAILY PREPARED TO MAKE TO THEIR COUNTRY IN THE
CAUSE OF PEACE AND FREEDOM.
MR. PRESIDENT, MY RESOLUTION IS A SIMPLE TESTAMENT BY THE
U.S. SENATE TO THE MEMORY OF THESE AMERICANS WHO HAVE SACRIFICED
THEIR LIVES FOR THE CAUSE OF PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST. IT
EXPRESSES PROFOUND SORROW AT THE DEATH AND WOUNDING OF THESE
PEOPLE, AND EXTENDS CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF THE DECEASED.
I URGE ALL MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION AND
TO WORK FOR ITS SPEEDY PASSAGE BY THE U.S. SENATE.
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31 J. 1811
98th CONGRESS
1st Session S. R:=S? ------
I THE SENATE nF TF'r. UNITED STATFS
fr - ------------------------------------------ -------------------
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submitted the foi ? oraing-r`so.lution; which was
D' plorin:T the bomrinr of the United States 7rrras.sy in Petrut,
Lebanon, and ^xpres:singq the sorrow a.nri condolences of the
Senate on the death and ;.cund'ing of Ame.r.icrns :aujht .i.r the
t:bomb.inq, an:: for other ourc,r:ses.
Whereas on April 18, 1983, thc? United States Etr:b~:is' in F'nirut,
Lebanon, was the tar jet of brutal and cowardly terrorist
attack, which resulted in cores of dead and wounried,
includin'i the ue,~th of many n,mer1.c=ns, most of wh^orr ere
employed by the United States o,overnrrent;
Whereas the members of the, rrerican Foreign Service, includinc
people assigned. from the diplomatic, military, intelligence,
and other comrunities, are often exposed to extrer'
hazardous conditions in the performance of their duties:
Whereas the members of such ccmrlunities ssi gr,ed to Tebanon were
dedicatee' to and worKP'i the pur.. u4.t of re,-oe In t,'-
Middle East;
Whereas the American people have been extraordinarily ratiert in
supportir,i their rove rnmer't's Pe'ace' initi. tive.s 17 . T,eharicn;
Whereas this is one of trto,~!e critical moments in the 'hiStC:'y of
the United States when the ;;nerican
people are ur!'ed it
their grief a,-.d must. he united in ther re blare; `ow,
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therefore, be it
1 Resollv_edL That the Senate--
2 (1) :deplores the brutal and cowardly bombing of the
3 United States. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, on April 18,
4 1983, which resulted In scores of dead and wounded,
5 including the death of many Americans, most of whom were
6 employed by the United States Government;
7 (2) expresses its profound sorrow at the death and
8 wounding cf these people and extends its deepest sympathy
9 to the families of the deceased;
10 (3) urges the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
11 Defense, the Director of Central Intelligence, and all
12 other Cabinet 7emher.s whose people were among the dead
13 and wounded to schedule and hold memorial or other
14 commemorative ceremonies as appropriate to honor the
15 victims; and
16 (4) accords its respect and gratitude, on behalf of
17 the American people, tc the memory of the Americans who
18 sacrificed their lives for the noble cause of peace in
19 the Middle East.
2v1 Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy
21 of this resolution to the families of the deceased Americans
22 and to the wounded Amertcans.
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