DATE=7/31/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217953
TITLE=COHEN / SAUDI BLAST REPORT (L)
BYLINE=ERIN BRUMMETT
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S DEFENSE SECRETARY WILLIAM COHEN HAS PUNISHED AN AIR
FORCE GENERAL FOR FAILING TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SECURITY AT THE U-S
MILITARY HOUSING COMPLEX IN SAUDI ARABIA, WHERE 19 U-S AIRMEN
DIED IN A TERRORIST BOMBING LAST YEAR. MR. COHEN CANCELED THE
GENERAL'S PENDING PROMOTION. AS A RESULT OF MR. COHEN'S
DECISION, THE GENERAL ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT. ERIN BRUMMETT
REPORTS.
TEXT: MR. COHEN'S MOVE EFFECTIVELY ENDED THE CAREER OF GENERAL
TERRYL SCHWALIER, WHO WAS IN CHARGE OF THE COMPLEX CALLED KHOBAR
TOWERS (NEAR DHAHRAN).
THE GENERAL'S PREVIOUSLY APPROVED PROMOTION HAD BEEN DELAYED,
PENDING THE OUTCOME OF MR. COHEN'S REVIEW OF CONTRADICTORY U-S
MILITARY REPORTS ON THE BOMBING.
LAST FALL, THE PENTAGON FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE CHAIN OF COMMAND
FAILED TO PROVIDE PROPER SECURITY AT KHOBAR TOWERS, AND ITS
REPORT MENTIONED GENERAL SCHWALIER. LATER, TWO AIR FORCE REPORTS
DETERMINED THAT GENERAL SCHWALIER AND HIS COMMANDERS DID
EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO PROTECT THE HOUSING COMPLEX.
SECRETARY COHEN SAYS HE ACCEPTS THE RESULTS OF THE FIRST AIR
FORCE REPORT THAT THERE IS NO BASIS FOR PROSECUTING ANYONE FOR
DERELICTION OF DUTY.
BUT MR. COHEN DISAGREES WITH THE SECOND AIR FORCE STUDY, WHICH
SAYS NO ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST ANY OFFICER. HE HOLDS
GENERAL SCHWALIER RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILING TO ADEQUATELY ASSESS
AND IMPROVE THE SECURITY SITUATION AT KHOBAR TOWERS.
/ / / COHEN ACTUALITY / / /
FIRST, THE KHOBAR TOWERS HAD NO EFFECTIVE SYSTEM TO
WARN OF AN IMPENDING TERRORIST ATTACK. EVACUATION PLANS
FOR RESIDENTS IN KHOBAR TOWERS WERE INADEQUATE. AND,
SECOND, THE COMMAND HAD NOT DEVELOPED AND TESTED AND
TRAINED PERSONNEL TO USE THESE EVACUATION PLANS.
/ / / END ACT / / /
THE SECRETARY SAYS GENERAL SCHWALIER FAILED TO MEET REASONABLE
STANDARDS UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES BY NOT REFERRING ANY
PROTECTION PROBLEMS UP THE CHAIN OF HIS COMMAND -- THIS, DESPITE
A WARNING THAT THE COMPLEX WAS VULNERABLE TO TERRORIST ATTACK.
MR. COHEN IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION AGAINST OTHER OFFICERS FOR
THAT REASON.
BUT AIR FORCE SECRETARY SHEILA WIDNALL -- A CIVILIAN APPOINTEE
LIKE MR. COHEN -- SIDED WITH THE AIR FORCE, SAYING SHE FELT
GENERAL SCHWALIER DID ACT REASONABLY.
GENERAL SCHWALIER HAD ALSO BEEN STRONGLY SUPPORTED BY AIR FORCE
CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL RONALD FOGLEMAN, WHO RETIRED EARLIER THIS
WEEK, REPORTEDLY OVER MR. COHEN'S DECISION.
MR. COHEN (THURSDAY) NAMED GENERAL MICHAEL RYAN, HEAD OF U-S AIR
FORCES-EUROPE, TO REPLACE GENERAL FOGLEMAN AS AIR FORCE CHIEF OF
STAFF. (SIGNED)
NEB/EKB/RRM
31-Jul-97 4:30 PM EDT (2030 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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