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DATE=4/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229186
TITLE=CUBA INTEL  (L)
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: A STORY IN FRIDAY'S MIAMI HERALD (NEWSPAPER) SAYS THE 
SOVIET UNION LEARNED OF U-S BATTLE PLANS IN THE 1991 PERSIAN GULF
WAR BY ELECTRONIC EAVESDROPPING FROM AN OUTPOST IN CUBA.  THE 
PAPER ATTRIBUTES THE STORY TO A SOVIET INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WHO 
DEFECTED TO THE UNITED STATES.  VOA CORRESPONDENT JIM RANDLE HAS 
A REPORT FROM THE PENTAGON. 
TEXT:  THE MIAMI HERALD STORY SAYS THE SOVIETS USED ELECTRONIC 
EAVESDROPPING TO LEARN CRITICAL PARTS OF SECRET U-S PLANS DURING 
THE GULF WAR.  THE STORY SAYS MOCOW KNEW -- IN ADVANCE -- U-S 
PLANS TO CIRCLE ENTRENCHED IRAQI TROOPS IN THE DESERT.  ANALYSTS 
SAY THAT MANEUVER WAS A DECISIVE STEP IN WINNING THE WAR, AND 
SECRECY WAS CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS.  THE ARTICLE SAYS MOSCOW DID  NOT
SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH IRAQ.
A PENTAGON OFFICIAL DECLINED TO COMMENT DIRECTLY ON THE MIAMI 
HERALD STORY, BUT DID SAY THAT IT IS NO SECRET THAT RUSSIANS ARE 
USING A BASE NEAR HAVANA TO LISTEN IN ON U-S MILITARY 
COMMUNICATIONS. THE OFFICIAL SAYS THE BASE -- KNOWN AS LOURDES 
(PRONO: LORD-ES) -- IS SO WELL KNOWN THAT DEFENSE OFFICIALS HAVE 
BRIEFED CONGRESS ON ITS ACTIVITIES IN PUBLIC HEARINGS. 
THE SPY OPERATION IN LOURDES IS SAID TO BE STAFFED BY TWO 
THOUSAND RUSSIANS WHOSE MISSION IS TO GATHER ELECTRONIC SIGNALS 
AND COLLATE INFORMATION FROM SHIPS AND OTHER SOURCES. THEY 
EAVESDROP ON U-S AIRCRAFT RADIO TRANSMISSIONS, CELLULAR PHONES, 
MICROWAVE RELAYS OF REGULAR TELEPHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC 
COMMUNICATIONS. 
THE U-S SOUTHERN COMMAND, WHICH OVERSEES U-S MILITARY ACTIVITIES 
IN THE CARIBBEAN AND LATIN AMERICA, RECENTLY MOVED ITS 
HEADQUARTERS TO MIAMI, FLORIDA, FAIRLY CLOSE TO THE INTELLIGENCE 
FACILITY AT LOURDES, CUBA. A PENTAGON SPOKESMAN SAID IF THE 
UNITED STATES WERE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT LOURDES, IT WOULD NOT 
HAVE PUT SUCH A SENSITIVE OPERATION RIGHT UNDER ITS NOSE.  
(SIGNED)
NEB/JR/KL
03-Apr-98 1:28 PM EST (1828 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.