DATE=6/24/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234480
TITLE=U-S / SAUDI BOMBING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: ATTORNEY GENERAL JANET RENO SAYS THE UNITED STATES WILL
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BRING TO JUSTICE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE 1996 TERRORIST BOMBING IN SAUDI ARABIA WHICH KILLED 19 U-S
AIRMEN AND WOUNDED HUNDREDS OF OTHERS. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S
STATEMENT COMES ONLY DAYS AFTER A NEW YORK TIMES (NEWSPAPER)
REPORT WHICH SAID THE JOINT U-S--SAUDI PROBE OF THE BOMBING IS
FALLING APART. MORE ON THIS NOW FROM V-O-A NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT
JIM MALONE.
TEXT: ATTORNEY GENERAL RENO SOUGHT TO REASSURE RELATIVES OF
VICTIMS OF THE 1996 KHOBAR TOWERS BOMBING THAT THE JUSTICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE F-B-I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON TRYING TO FIND
OUT WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TERRORIST ATTACK.
/// RENO ACT ///
THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR LOVED ONES WHO WANT JUSTICE
TO BE DONE, WHO WANT TO FEEL THAT JUSTICE HAS SPOKEN.
AND SO I UNDERSTAND HOW THEY (RELATIVES OF THE VICTIMS)
FEEL. BUT I WANT TO STRESS TO THEM AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT
WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. WE ARE GOING TO PURSUE THOSE
PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE UNTIL THEY ARE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.
/// END ACT. ///
THE COMMENT COMES ONLY DAYS AFTER A NEW YORK TIMES STORY WHICH
DESCRIBES THE KHOBAR TOWERS INVESTIGATION AS FALLING APART. THE
TIMES REPORT SAID DOZENS OF F-B-I AGENTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FROM
SAUDI ARABIA AND THAT A LACK OF COOPERATION FROM THE SAUDIS HAS
GIVEN WAY TO ILL-FEELINGS BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
EARLY ON IN THE INVESTIGATION, SAUDI OFFICIALS SUGGESTED THAT
IRAN MAY HAVE HAD A ROLE IN THE BOMBING. BUT U-S INVESTIGATORS
HAVE FOUND LITTLE IN THE WAY OF DIRECT EVIDENCE TO PROVE AN
IRANIAN LINK SO FAR. IRAN HAS PREVIOUSLY DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT
IN THE ATTACK.
SOME TERRORISM EXPERTS NOW BELIEVE THAT SAUDI DISSIDENTS WERE
LIKELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BOMBING, THOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE THEY
HAD HELP FROM IRAN.
NEIL LIVINGSTONE OPERATES A CRISIS MANAGEMENT FIRM HERE IN
WASHINGTON AND HAS WRITTEN NINE BOOKS ON TERRORISM AND SECURITY
ISSUES.
/// LIVINGSTONE ACT. ///
AND IT DOES APPEAR THAT THE CORE GROUP THAT CARRIED OUT
THE BOMBING WERE INDIGENOUS SAUDIS AND THAT IS AN
ENORMOUS EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT. AND SO
THE SAUDIS HAVE MADE EVERY ATTEMPT TO TRY TO INDICATE
THAT THEY (THE SUSPECTED BOMBERS) WERE TOTALLY UNDER THE
CONTROL, THE BEHEST AND THE DIRECTION OF THE IRANIAN
GOVERNMENT. THAT IS THE EVIDENCE THAT IS LACKING TO
DATE.
/// END ACT. ///
BUT NEIL LIVINGSTONE ADDS THAT HE WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED IF
EVIDENCE OF IRANIAN INVOLVEMENT IN THE KHOBAR TOWERS ATTACK
EVENTUALLY SURFACED.
ALSO COMPLICATING THE INVESTIGATION OF THE BOMBING ARE RECENT
DIPLOMATIC OVERTURES BY BOTH THE UNITED STATES AND SAUDI ARABIA
AIMED AT IMPROVING RELATIONS WITH IRAN'S NEW MODERATE PRESIDENT,
MOHAMED KHATAMI.
RELATIVES OF SOME OF THE VICTIMS OF THE KHOBAR TOWERS BOMBING
WILL MARK THE SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACK THURSDAY (JUNE 25)
WITH A WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
OUTSIDE WASHINGTON. (SIGNED)
NEB/JBM/JO
24-Jun-98 1:40 PM EDT (1740 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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