Expand All Collapse All Extent 136 folders, approximately 7,594 pages Summary This collection consists of materials related to the suicide bombings of the United States Embassies in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya on August 7, 1998 and the subsequent August 20, 1998 Operation Infinite Reach airstrikes against suspected al-Qa’ida facilities in Afghanistan and Sudan. The records include reports, memoranda, correspondence, and press materials regarding the bombings, Operation Infinite Reach, and the emergency supplemental funding that Congress passed to cover medical expenses, victim compensation, and additional embassy security measures. Scope and Content Note The materials in FOIA 2007-1596-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult with the archivist about related materials. This FOIA contains records regarding the August 1998 bombings of the American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and the subsequent U.S. airstrikes against terrorist sites in Afghanistan and Sudan. On the morning of August 7, suicide bombers associated with the “Islamic Army for the Liberation of the Holy Places” detonated trucks at the American embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam almost simultaneously. In Nairobi, 12 Americans and 200 Kenyans died. In addition, 10 Americans, 12 Foreign Service Nationals, and 4,000 Kenyans were injured. In Tanzania, 11 Tanzanians were killed and 85 others were injured, including 2 Americans. In the days following the attacks, the Clinton Administration petitioned Congress for an emergency budget supplemental to cover medical expenses, victims compensation, and additional embassy security measures. In the meantime, the investigation of the bombings found connections to the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and Usama bin Laden’s al-Qa’ida organization and resulted in the indictment of 21 individuals, including bin Laden. In response, on August 20, 1998, President Clinton ordered cruise missile attacks, codenamed Operation Infinite Reach, against suspected al-Qa’ida facilities in Afghanistan and Sudan. These included the AlShifa pharmaceutical plant in Sudan, which had been suspected of producing chemical weapons. Following the airstrikes, many in the international media questioned the legitimacy of the Al-Shifa plant as a target. Furthermore, the timing of the airstrikes led some to speculate that they were in part intended to distract the public from the President’s personal and political troubles. Many of the National Security Council documents responsive to this FOIA are located within the African Affairs office. The files of Gayle Smith, Erica Barks-Ruggles, Cathy Byrne, John Prendergast and Robin Sanders contain emails, articles, correspondence, memoranda, reports, press releases, and presidential statements regarding the aftermath of the bombings, Operation Infinite Reach, and the emergency budget supplemental. These files also contain drafts of the condolence letters from the President to the next of kin of the Americans killed at the Nairobi embassy, as well as the program for the memorial service at the National Cathedral on September 11, 1998. A copy of the unclassified version of the January 1999 Report of the Accountability Review Boards on the Embassy Bombings is also located among these records. In the International Health Affairs office, Kenneth Bernard’s files include reports, memoranda, and other correspondence regarding the late September 1998 trip of Surgeon General David Satcher to Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. During his trip, the Surgeon General assessed the medical needs of the bombing victims and ability of the local infrastructure to respond to those needs. Records in the files of Legal Advisor Mary Derosa primarily concern issues regarding compensation, in addition to military and State Department employee benefits, for those directly impacted by the attacks. These materials include memoranda to the President, correspondence with victims’ families, and documents regarding a meeting jointly hosted by the State Department and the Department of Justice for victims and their families. Derosa’s files also contain more drafts of condolence letters sent to the Nairobi casualties’ next of kin. The file created by Legal Advisor Caroline Krass contains material regarding the report of the Accountability Review Boards. The office of the National Security Advisor, James Steinberg’s files contain the unclassified portions of a notebook on Operation Infinite Reach. The released records primarily consist of material regarding the airstrikes that was intended for release to the press. Memoranda concerning Embassy bombing-related Principals Committee meetings in August 1998 are located with the Records Management office files. In the Transnational Threats Office, released records in the files of Richard Clarke consist of press material on the August 20 air strikes and general information on Usama bin Laden. Roger Cressey’s files contain cables on the international media reaction to Operation Infinite Reach. The file created by Mark Fung contains press material and draft statements regarding the administration’s immediate response to the Kenya and Tanzania attacks. Steven Simon and Daniel Benjamin’s file contains informational reports on the compensation available to U.S. Government employees who are victims of terrorism. William Wechsler’s files consist of memoranda, correspondence, articles, reports, and tables regarding both the emergency budget supplemental and additional security and counterterrorism needs. The researcher should note that much of the material originating in the Transnational Threats office is closed for national security reasons. The NSC Cables, Emails, and Records Management Systems hold more documents responsive to the FOIA. The NSC Cables contain records regarding the immediate and long term response to the Embassy bombings. They also include press guidance on the attacks, terrorist threats, the investigations, and the August 20 air strikes. Discussions between National Security Council staff regarding public response to the attacks, press guidance, Presidential statements, the emergency budget supplemental and media reactions to Operation Infinite Reach are located within the NSC Emails. Documents found in the NSC Records Management files include memoranda regarding: presidential calls immediately following the bombings, the deployment of U.S. military to Tanzania and Kenya, correspondence with the families of victims, foreign condolence messages, memorial activities, and the report of the Accountability Review Boards. Record Type Textual System of Arrangement Records that are responsive to this FOIA were found in the following collection areas – Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files; and Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails, and Records Management System. Staff and Office files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. Staff and Office files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area. Access Collection is open to all researchers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 USC 2201) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 USC 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions. Copyright Documents in this collection that were prepared by officials of the United States government as part of their official duties are in the public domain. Researchers are advised to consult the copyright law of the United States (17 USC, 101) which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Provenance Official records of William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency are housed at the Clinton Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA). Subject Headings Terrorism Processed by Staff Archivist, 2011. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released. Last Modified Date 2014-07-16 Container List The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2007-1596-F: Box 1 Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files National Security Council African Affairs Smith, Gayle/Barks-Ruggles, Erica/Byrne, Cathy/Prendergast, John et al. Bombings/Airstrikes [Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan] [1] [OA/ID 2882] Bombings/Airstrikes [Kenya, Tanzania, Sudan] [2] [OA/ID 2882] Smith, Gayle/Sanders, Robin/Barks-Ruggles, Erica/Prendergast, John Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya Embassies] [1] [OA/ID 2855] Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairboi, Kenya Embassies] [2] [OA/ID 2885] Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya Embassies] [3] [OA/ID 2885] Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya Embassies] [4] [OA/ID 2885] Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya Embassies] [5] [OA/ID 2885] Box 2 Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya Embassies] [6] [OA/ID 2855] Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya Embassies] [7] [OA/ID 2855] Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya Embassies] [8] [OA/ID 2855] Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files (continued) National Security Council African Affairs Smith, Gayle/Sanders, Robin/Barks-Ruggles, Erica/Prendergast, John Bombings [Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Nairobi, Kenya Embassies] [9] [OA/ID 2855] International Health Affairs Bernard, Kenneth Post Bombings – East Africa [Kenya, Tanzania] [1] [OA/ID 3647] Post Bombings – East Africa [Kenya, Tanzania] [2] [OA/ID 3647] Box 3 Post Bombings – East Africa [Kenya, Tanzania] [3] [OA/ID 3647] Post Bombings – East Africa [Kenya, Tanzania] [4] [OA/ID 3647] Legal Advisor Derosa, Mary Embassy Bombing Victims Compensation [1] [OA/ID 3408] Embassy Bombing Victims Compensation [2] [OA/ID 3408] Embassy Bombing Victims Compensation [3] [OA/ID 3408] Embassy Bombing Victims Compensation [4] [OA/ID 3408] Krass, Caroline Embassy Bombings [Kenya, Tanzania] [OA/ID 3114] National Security Advisor Steinberg, James [Afghanistan/Sudan] – “Operation Infinite Reach,” Notebook, August 20, 1998 [1] [OA/ID 1474] Box 4 [Afghanistan/Sudan] – “Operation Infinite Reach,” Notebook, August 20, 1998 [2] [OA/ID 1474] Records Management PC0293A PC [Principals Committee] Meeting on Terrorist Bombings in Africa, August 11, 1998 [OA/ID 3906] PC0293B PC [Principals Committee] Meeting on Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam Bombings, 1998 [OA/ID 3906] PC0293C PC [Principals Committee] Meeting on Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam, 1998 [OA/ID 3906] PC0293D PC [Principals Committee] Meeting on Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam, 1998 [OA/ID 3906] Transnational Threats Clarke, Richard For NSC [Air Strikes in Afghanistan and Sudan] [1] [OA/ID 3784] For NSC [Air Strikes in Afghanistan and Sudan] [2] [OA/ID 3784] Cressy, Roger UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Embassy Bombings #1 [1] [OA/ID 3188] Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files (continued) National Security Council Transnational Threats Cressey, Roger UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Embassy Bombings #1 [2] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Embassy Bombings #1 [3] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Embassy Bombings #1 [4] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Embassy Bombings #1 [5] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Embassy Bombings #1 [6] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Embassy Bombings #1 [7] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Embassy Bombings #1 [8] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [1] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [2] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [3] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [4] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [5] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [6] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [7] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [8] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [9] [OA/ID 3188] UBL [Usama Bin Laden] – Post Embassy Bombings [10] [OA/ID 3188] U.S. Strikes against Afghanistan [1] [OA/ID 3931] U.S. Strikes against Afghanistan [2] [OA/ID 3931] U.S. Strikes against Afghanistan [3] [OA/ID 3931] Box 5 [Sudan and Afghanistan Air Strikes] [Binder] [OA/ID 3933] Fung, Mark Embassy Bombings/Compendium of Action (binder) [OA/ID 1275] Kurtz, Paul/Montgomery, Mark East Africa Bombings [Kenya, Tanzania] [OA/ID 3578] Simon, Steven/Benjamin, Daniel Africa Bombings Compensation [Kenya, Tanzania] [OA/ID 3928] Wechsler, William Financial Matters – [Embassy Bombing Emergency Supplement] [1] [OA/ID 3926] Financial Matters – [Embassy Bombing Emergency Supplement] [2] [OA/ID 3926] Financial Matters – [Embassy Bombing Emergency Supplement] [3] [OA/ID 3926] Financial Matters – [Embassy Bombing Emergency Supplement] [4] [OA/ID 3926] Financial Matters – [Embassy Bombing Emergency Supplement] [5] [OA/ID 3926] Box 6 Financial Matters – [Embassy Bombing Emergency Supplement] [6] [OA/ID 3926] Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files (continued) National Security Council Transnational Threats Wechsler, William Financial Matters – [Embassy Bombing Emergency Supplement] [7] [OA/ID 3926] Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails, and Records Management System NSC Cables Jan 1997 – Dec 1998 [Kenya; Tanzania…] [08/07/1998 – 08/10/1998] [OA/ID 520000] [08/11/1998 – 08/13/1998] [OA/ID 520000] [08/14/1998 – 08/18/1998] [OA/ID 520000] [08/19/1998 – 08/20/1998] [OA/ID 520000] [08/21/1998] [1] [OA/ID 520000] [08/21/1998] [2] [OA/ID 520000] Box 7 [08/22/1998 – 08/25/1998] [OA/ID 520000] [08/26/1998 – 08/31/1998] [OA/ID 520000] [11/03/1998 – 12/30/1998] [OA/ID 520000] Jan 1999 – Dec 2000 [Kenya; Tanzania…] [01/01/1999 – 03/31/1999] [OA/ID 520000] [04/10/1999 – 07/25/1999] [OA/ID 520000] [08/02/1999 – 12/15/1999] [OA/ID 520000] [02/17/2000 – 12/28/2000] [OA/ID 520000] Box 8 Jan 2001 [Kenya; Tanzania…] [01/12/2001 – 01/18/2001] [OA/ID 540000] NSC Emails Exchange – Record (Sept 97 – Jan 01) [Kenya; Tanzania…] [08/07/1998 – 08/11/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [08/12/1998 – 08/13/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [08/14/1998 – 08/19/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [08/20/1998 – 08/21/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [08/24/1998 – 08/26/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [08/27/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [08/28/1998 – 08/31/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [09/01/1998 – 09/23/1998] [OA/ID 620000] Box 9 [09/23/1998 – 09/25/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [10/12/1998 – 11/30/1998] [OA/ID 620000] [12/03/1998 – 12/28/1998] [OA/ID 620000] Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails, and Records Management System (continued) NSC Emails Exchange – Record (Sept 97 – Jan 01) [Kenya; Tanzania…] [02/09/1999 – 02/17/1999] [OA/ID 620000] [02/18/1999 – 02/26/1999] [OA/ID 620000] [05/06/1999 – 07/31/1999] [OA/ID 620000] [08/02/1999 – 08/05/1999] [OA/ID 620000] [08/06/1999 – 08/16/1999] [OA/ID 620000] [08/17/1999 – 08/25/1999] [OA/ID 620000] Box 10 [09/22/1999 – 11/01/1999] [OA/ID 620000] [09/21/2000 – 01/18/2001] [OA/ID 620000] Exchange – Non-Record (Mar 97 – Jan 01) [Kenya; Tanzania…] [08/07/1998 – 08/20/1998] [OA/ID 630000] [08/21/1998 – 08/27/1998] [OA/ID 630000] [09/03/1998 – 12/24/1998] [OA/ID 630000] [02/16/1999 – 02/24/1999] [OA/ID 630000] [07/06/1999 – 08/06/1999] [OA/ID 630000] [08/09/1999 – 01/15/2001] [OA/ID 630000] Box 11 NSC Records Management [Kenya and Tanzania] 9805592 [OA/ID 2053] 9805602 [OA/ID 2054] 9805633 [OA/ID 2054] 9805639 [OA/ID 2054] 9805654 [OA/ID 2054] 9805673 [OA/ID 2054] 9805677 [OA/ID 2054] 9805960 [OA/ID 2054] 9805696 [OA/ID 2054] 9805700 [OA/ID 2054] 9805714 [OA/ID 2054] 9805755 [OA/ID 2055] 9805765 [OA/ID 2055] 9805773 [OA/ID 2055] 9805787 [OA/ID 2055] 9805793 [OA/ID 2055] 9805803 [OA/ID 2055] 9805869 [OA/ID 2055] 9805887 [OA/ID 2055] 9805957 [OA/ID 2056] 9806033 [OA/ID 2056] 9806085 [OA/ID 2057] 9806109 [OA/ID 2057] Clinton Presidential Records: NSC Cables, Emails, and Records Management System (continued) NSC Records Management [Kenya and Tanzania] 9806163 [OA/ID 2057] 9806222 [OA/ID 2058] 9806263 [OA/ID 2058] 9806969 [OA/ID 2063] 9807193 [OA/ID 2065] 9807376 [OA/ID 2066] 9808250 [OA/ID 2073] 9808425 [OA/ID 2074] 9900138 [OA/ID 2705] 9900298 [OA/ID 2706] 9901189 [OA/ID 2712] 9902667 [OA/ID 2722] 9903216 [OA/ID 2726] 9904952 [OA/ID 2737]