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COMBATTING TERRORISM


"We will use our new integrated approach to intensify the fight against all forms of terrorism -- to capture terrorists, no matter where they hide; to work with other nations to eliminate terrorist sanctuaries overseas; to respond rapidly and effectively to protect Americans from terrorism at home and abroad."

President Clinton
U.S. Naval Academy
May 22, 1998

The United States has mounted an aggressive response to terrorism - disrupting potential terrorist action, enhancing cooperation with other countries, strengthening sanctions on countries that support terrorists, tightening security for our diplomats, our troops, air travelers and improving our ability to track terrorist activity.


A RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

  • Implemented a strategy that combined strengthened law enforcement and intelligence efforts, vigorous diplomacy and, as was demonstrated in August 1998 in the wake of the attacks on our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, use of military force when necessary.
  • Targeted terrorist finances, broke up support cells, disrupted training and brought suspects to justice, in cooperation with other governments.
  • Led efforts that resulted in a dozen terrorist fugitives being apprehended overseas since 1993 and turned over to the United States to answer for their crimes. Included in this group are the conspirators in the World Trade Center bombing, the perpetrators of the attack on the CIA headquarters and a terrorist responsible for an attack on a Pan Am flight almost 15 years ago.
  • Signed three directives (PDD 39, 62, 63) to bring government agencies together at a senior level to counter terrorism.
  • Developed a single, coherent budget process for anti-/counterterrorism and appointed the first National Coordinator for counterterrorism to keep the U.S. effort on track.
  • Signed into law the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (1996), which banned fundraising in the United States for designated terrorist organizations, allowed for rapid deportation without the release of classified information and made it easier to bar terrorists from entry into the United States. Under this law, the Secretary of State has formally designated 29 foreign terrorist organizations, making it illegal for U.S. citizens and institutions to provide funds or other material support to these groups.
  • Raised the FBI's counterterrorism budget by 283 percent since 1993. The number of FBI agents assigned to counterterrorism has risen 2 ½ fold.
  • Undertook a comprehensive approach to improving the security of our embassies, including security enhancements at all posts, along with more local guard coverage and upgraded communications.
  • Made counterterrorism central to the Clinton Administrations diplomacy -- accelerating negotiations on extradition and multi-legal assistance treaties. It has made a major effort to press all UN member-states to sign conventions that require them to prosecute or extradite terrorists to countries where they are wanted. There is an impressive record of international cooperation to harmonize legislation on terrorist offenses, cooperate in research and development and create databases on terrorism.
  • Led the efforts to bring Usama Bin Ladin to justice, including sanctioning the Taliban for their continued harboring of Bin Ladin and his terrorist network. The Administration led an international effort to impose additional sanctions against the Taliban for their continued harboring of Usama Bin Ladin and his terrorist infrastructure. This effort culminated in the UN Security Council adopting UNSCR 1333 in December 2000 which included a unilateral arms embargo against the Taliban.
  • Undertook the largest counterterrorism operation in U.S. history to ensure a peaceful Millennium celebration.

REFERENCES

Presidential Decision Directive 39, June 1995.

The President's Speech at the U.S. Naval Academy Graduation, Annapolis, MD, May 1998.

Presidential Decision Directive 62, May 1998.

Fact Sheet on Combating Terrorism, PDD-62, May 1998.

The President's Speech at the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., January 1999.


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