DATE=4/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2230090-
TITLE= U-S / TERRORISM (L ONLY)
BYLINE=VALONDA BRUINTON
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE UNITED STATES REMAINS
VULNERABLE TO CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM. AS V-O-A'S
CORRESPONDENT VALONDA BRUINTON REPORTS THE THREAT LINGERS EVEN
THOUGH SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE RECENTLY TO DEAL WITH
SUCH ATTACKS.
TEXT: AT A SENATE HEARING (WEDNESDAY) ON TERRORISM, ATTORNEY
GENERAL JANET RENO SAID U-S PREPAREDNESS TO TAKE CARE OF VICTIMS
IN THE EVENT OF AN ATTACK IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE.
// RENO ACT //
WE NEED TO LOOK AT CAREFULLY WHETHER WE HAVE A
SUFFICIENT STOCKPILE, AND I DON'T THINK WE DO, OF
VACCINES AND OTHER MEDICATIONS, NOT JUST IN THE NATION
BUT DECENTRALIZED SO THAT THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE
BECAUSE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN AN ATTACK WITH
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.
// END RENO ACT //
F-B-I DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE SEVERAL
CHANGES RECENTLY THAT PROVED TO WORK FOR LOCAL AND FEDERAL
OFFICIALS DURING AN ANTHRAX SCARE IN LAS VEGAS LAST FEBRUARY.
// FREEH ACT //
THEY IMMEDIATELY WERE IN CONTACT WITH OUR WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION UNITS IN WASHINGTON WHICH DIDN'T EXIST
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. WE HAD A HAZMAT (HAZARDOUS
MATERIAL) UNIT FROM OUR LABORATORY AGAIN WHICH WAS NOT
IN EXISTENCE A FEW YEARS AGO. WE HAD PRIOR DISCUSSIONS
AS WELL AS PROTOCOLS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE F-B-I,
STATE AND LOCAL AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT WERE
PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THAT. EVERYTHING WORKED THE WAY
IT SHOULD HAVE WORKED.
// END FREEH ACT //
THE LAS VEGAS CASE TURNED OUT TO BE A HOAX. AUTHORITIES
DETERMINED THAT TWO MEN THEY HAD ARRESTED FOR POSSESSING THE
BACTERIA ANTHRAX WERE NOT HOLDING A LETHAL FORM THAT COULD BE
USED AS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION. THE MEN WERE RELEASED.
IN RETROSPECT, MR. FREEH SAID THE RESPONSE WAS NOT WITHOUT
DEFICIENCIES. HE SAID IT TOOK TOO LONG FOR THE F-B-I TO
DETERMINE THE MATERIAL POSED NO THREAT. THE SUBSTANCE HAD TO BE
SHIPPED TO A GOVERNMENT LAB IN WASHINGTON FOR ANALYSIS. THE
F-B-I DIRECTOR SAID HIS AGENCY IS TRYING TO DEVELOP ALTERNATE
WAYS OF PROVIDING SUCH ANALYSES, SUCH AS MOBILE FACILITIES AND
REGIONAL LABS.
BOTH MR. FREEH AND MS. RENO AGREED THAT A LACK OF ADEQUATE
EQUIPMENT FOR DEALING WITH SUCH ATTACKS IS THE GREATEST
VULNERABILITY.
MS. RENO STRESSED THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, USUALLY FIRST ON
THE SCENE IN AN EMERGENCY, NEEDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IN
EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID SHE IS WORKING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER ON A NEW DIRECTIVE SETTING
OUT THE ROLES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR COUNTERTERRORISM
ACTIVITIES.
MS. RENO ALSO SAID SHE IS WORKING ON A PLAN DUE TO BE COMPLETED
BY DECEMBER 31ST FOR DEALING WITH TERRORISM. SHE SUGGESTED IT
MIGHT CONTAIN A MEASURE THAT WOULD MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO POSSESS
CERTAIN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES. (SIGNED)
NEB/VB/PT
22-Apr-98 7:43 PM EDT (2343 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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