U.S. Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry on the October 28 Attacks in Kabul
October 28, 2009
Bamyan, Afghanistan
This morning there was an attack by a group of immoral terrorists that took place against a United Nations guest house in Kabul. They attacked a group of unarmed, innocent civilians whose only crime was being here in Afghanistan, nobly trying to help the Afghan people to develop and to strengthen the country. There were six members of the United Nations staff, all innocent, unarmed civilians, who were killed in the attack – killed without weapons, in their rooms, by brutal assassins. One was an American citizen.
My heart goes out to them, the families. I also would like to give my heartfelt sympathy to the members of the Afghan National Police, who bravely fought these terrorists. I don’t know how many of your brave police were killed in the attack, but I know a number were.
Let me say from the United States of America, from my government, we’re shocked by the depravity of terrorists who would conduct an attack like this – shocked, but not surprised, because the terrorists have made clear over the years that their goal is to continue these brutal assaults, to cause fear among the Afghan people, and to cause fear among the international community, to defeat our will to stay here with our Afghan allies and achieve success.
I’ve served twice as a soldier in your country, and now as the Ambassador. I know you as people. You are determined people, you are brave people, and you will not be deterred. And now let me say as the United States Ambassador that the United States government, the United States’ people, we will not be deterred.
We stand with you as we’ve stood with you every day since the attack upon the United States on 11 September, 2001. We will continue to be your allies as we work together to build your army and your police. We will support your efforts to strengthen your government. We will continue to help you build your economy, even as the enemy continues to attempt to destroy and cause fear.
Thank you.