Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the 10th Anniversary of the African Embassy Bombings

August 7, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the tenth anniversary of the African embassy bombings:

"Ten years ago, al Qaeda carried out simultaneous attacks on the U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Two hundred and twenty-four people were killed, including 12 Americans. Some 5,000 more people were wounded. The pain those bombings inflicted on the loved ones of the Americans that we lost - and on the people and economies of Kenya and Tanzania - can never be fully measured nor healed. I renew my condolences to all of those whose lives were changed forever on that day.

"The anniversary of these attacks reaffirms the urgent need to root out and take down the al Qaeda network. Ten years after those terrible terrorist attacks, al Qaeda is stronger, and some of those responsible for the bombings remain at large - including Osama bin Laden. The threat of terrorism remains very real for the American people, and for societies around the world. We must renew our resolve to track down terrorists and hold them accountable for their crimes. To root out extremism and to prevent repeated horrors in the future, we must build stronger, more effective partnerships with states in Africa and around the world, and deprive terrorist networks of the environments that sustain them. We must never forget the lives we lost ten years ago, nor waver in our determination to prevent future attacks.

"This painful anniversary also reminds us of the sacrifices made and risks taken every day by America's diplomats and civilian personnel abroad. Today, we honor and thank our Foreign Service officers and civil servants who serve us all by forging the strong international partnerships necessary to tackle complex global challenges like international terrorism. We honor the men and women in uniform who are serving in harm's way to defend our security and our deeply held values. And we express our gratitude to all who have loved ones - civilian and military - serving America abroad."

Source: Senator Barack Obama

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