STATEMENT ON 26th ANNIVERSARY OF AUGUST 7th U.S. EMBASSY BOMBINGS EAST AFRICA

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. House Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee released the following statement on the Anniversary of the August 7th, 1998, attacks on the U.S. Embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

“Today our nation honors the heroes who were killed on August 7, 1998, at the U.S Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya when Al Qaeda attacked with near simultaneous truck bombs in Nairobi and at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This is a day of remembrance of all who were killed and injured. Twelve Americans were among the 213 people murdered that day. Career diplomats, CIA officers, Military personnel working along-side foreign service nationals lost their lives. Local citizens going to work and carrying out their day-to-day activities were among those killed. Among them was my friend, Julian L. Bartley, a career diplomat, and his son, Julian L. Bartley, Jr., a college student and intern.

Families live with this tragedy. The work done at American Embassies worldwide is often dangerous and extremely important. The families of the Americans killed were instrumental in helping to get the Office of Casualty Assistance (OCA) opened a year after the bombings. Recently, that office was abruptly closed and the personnel dismissed along with many other State Department Employees. As we pay respects to the victims of August 7, 1998, I hope the leadership at the U.S Department of State will reverse course and reopen the much-needed Office of Casualty Assistance. Those who serve abroad at an American Embassy need to know that they and their families will be cared for with the highest level of respect and expertise when tragedy strikes.

Thank you to our American diplomats and all American Embassy personnel worldwide. God bless the families of the victims of the August 7, 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings.”