DATE=8/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-237522
TITLE=CLINTON/BIN LADEN (L-UPDATE)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=MARTHA'S VINEYARD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS ANNOUNCED STEPS TO ATTACK THE
FINANCIAL UNDERPINNINGS OF THE OSAMA BIN LADEN TERRORIST NETWORK
-- AGAINST WHICH HE ORDERED CRUISE MISSILE STRIKES THURSDAY.
V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS A REPORT FROM THE CLINTON VACATION SITE
AT MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MASSACHUSETTS.
TEXT: THE SON OF A SAUDI OIL BILLIONAIRE, OSAMA BIN LADEN HAS A
HUGE FORTUNE HIMSELF AND A NETWORK OF COMPANIES TO SUPPORT HIS
ALLEGED TERRORIST ACTIVITIES.
IN HIS SATURDAY RADIO ADDRESS, PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID HE HAS
ORDERED THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT TO BLOCK ALL FINANCIAL DEALINGS
BIN LADEN INTERESTS MAY BE HAVING WITH U-S CITIZENS AND
COMPANIES. HE IS URGING OTHER GOVERNMENTS TO DO THE SAME:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
WE MUST NOT ALLOW SANCTUARY FOR TERRORISM -- NOT FOR
TERRORISTS OR THEIR MONEY. IT TAKES MONEY, LOTS OF IT,
TO BUILD THE NETWORK BIN LADEN HAS. WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO
SEE THAT HE HAS LESS OF IT.
///END ACT///
ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS WHO BRIEFED REPORTERS HERE SAY THERE IS
WAS LITTLE -- IF ANY -- BUSINESS ACTIVITY IN THE UNITED STATES BY
CONCERNS LINKED TO OSAMA BIN LADEN. THEY SAY MR. CLINTON ACTED
MAINLY TO SET THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHER COUNTRIES WHERE THE ALLEGED
TERRORIST FIGURE DOES HAVE EXTENSIVE BUSINESS CONNECTIONS.
MR. CLINTON TOLD THE RADIO AUDIENCE HE ORDERED THURSDAY'S CRUISE
MISSILE ATTACKS IN THE FACE OF "COMPELLING" EVIDENCE THE BIN
LADEN NETWORK WAS POISED TO STRIKE AMERICAN INTERESTS AGAIN,
AFTER THE AUGUST SEVENTH EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN AFRICA HE SAID WERE
CRUEL BEYOND COMPREHENSION.
THE PRESIDENT SAID THE STRUGGLE AGAINST TERRORISM IS NOT JUST
AMERICA'S FIGHT, AND STRESSED AGAIN IT IS NOT DIRECTED AGAINST
ISLAM:
///CLINTON ACTUALITY 2///
THE THREAT WE FACE IS NOT PART OF THE ISLAMIC FAITH.
HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF MUSLIMS ALL OVER THE WORLD,
INCLUDING MILLIONS RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES,
OPPOSE TERRORISM AND DEPLORE THE TWISTING OF THEIR
RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS INTO JUSTIFICATION OF INHUMANE,
INDEED, UNGODLY ACTS.
///END ACT 2///
MR. CLINTON WAS GIVEN A TELEPHONE BRIEFING BY NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISER SANDY BERGER ON WORLD REACTION TO THE U-S MISSILE
STRIKES. SPOKESMAN MIKE MCCURRY SAYS THE PRESIDENT WAS ALSO TOLD
THAT ALL SIX CAMPS TARGETED BY U-S CRUISE MISSILES IN AFGHANISTAN
-- SAID TO HAVE BEEN PART OF A BIN LADEN TERRORIST TRAINING
COMPLEX -- WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED:
///MCCURRY ACTUALITY///
WE HAVE SEVERELY DAMAGED THE ABILITY OF THE OSAMA BIN
LADEN NETWORK TO TRAIN AND OPERATE FROM THESE CAMPS THAT
WERE ATTACKED. WE'RE NOW MORE CONFIDENT THAT THE DAMAGE
AT EACH OF THE SIX CAMPS WAS MODERATE TO SEVERE.
///END ACT///
IT WAS CLEAR EARLY-ON THAT THE PHARMACEUTICAL PLANT IN KHARTOUM
THAT WAS ALSO HIT BY U-S MISSILES WAS DESTROYED, BUT CLOUD COVER
INITIALLY HAMPERED SATELLITE SURVEILLANCE OF THE AFGHAN SITES.
MR. MCCURRY SAID THERE WAS NO FIRM INFORMATION ON THE
WHEREABOUTS OR CONDITION OF OSAMA BIN LADEN HIMSELF BUT THAT U-S
OFFICIALS TAKE AS "ABSOLUTELY" SERIOUS THE THREATS OF REVENGE
ATTACKS BEING MADE IN HIS NAME. (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/TMD//JO
22-Aug-98 2:51 PM EDT (1851 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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