DATE=3/11/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-246511 (CQ)
TITLE=SENATE-EMBASSY BOMBS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// EDS: CLARIFIES INTRO ///
INTRO: THE MAN CHARGED WITH ASSESSING SECURITY NEEDS AT U-S
EMBASSIES -- AFTER LAST YEAR'S BOMBINGS OF U-S FACILITIES IN
AFRICA -- HAS WARNED THAT AMERICA'S OVERSEAS OUTPOSTS STILL FACE
DANGER. V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.
TEXT: RETIRED ADMIRAL AND FORMER AMBASSADOR WILLIAM CROWE TOLD
SENATORS THE PROBLEM DEMANDS A TOUGHER ATTITUDE TOWARD SECURITY
ALONG WITH A LARGE INFUSION OF MONEY. OTHERWISE, HE SAYS, U-S
FACILITIES AND HOST COUNTRIES COULD FACE MORE TERRORIST STRIKES
-- LIKE THE BLASTS THAT KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE AND WOUNDED
THOUSANDS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA.
// CROWE ACT //
THERE IS EVERY LIKELIHOOD THAT THERE WILL BE FURTHER
LARGE BOMBS AND OTHER KINDS OF ATTACKS. WE MUST FACE
THIS FACT SQUARELY AND DO MORE TO PROVIDE OUR SECURITY
OR WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE OUR PEOPLE KILLED, OUR
EMBASSIES BLOWN AWAY AND THE REPUTATION OF THE UNITED
STATES OVERSEAS ERODED.
// END ACT //
IN A REPORT ISSUED EARLIER THIS YEAR, ADMIRAL CROWE'S REVIEW
BOARDS SHARPLY CRITICIZED THE STATE DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT THEY CALL
AN INSTITUTIONAL FAILURE. THE PROBE FOUND OFFICIALS DID NOT
RECOGNIZE THE THREAT OF MASSIVE TRUCK BOMBS AND THIS ATTITUDE --
COUPLED WITH A LACK OF FUNDS FOR SECURITY -- SET THE STAGE FOR
DISASTER.
IN ONE OF ITS MORE CONTROVERSIAL PROPOSALS, THE REPORT SUGGESTS
CLOSING THE MOST VULNERABLE EMBASSIES AND REPLACING THEM WITH
SAFER REGIONAL POSTS. THE REVIEW ALSO CALLS ON THE U-S
GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH A 10 YEAR, 14-BILLION DOLLAR WORLDWIDE
SECURITY UPGRADE. /// OPT /// ADMIRAL CROWE ACKNOWLEDGED THE
PROBLEM WILL TAKE TIME TO SOLVE.
// CROWE ACT // /// OPT ACT ///
WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WILL NEVER BE ENOUGH MONEY TO
DO ALL THAT SHOULD BE DONE AND THERE WILL BE MANY
BUILDINGS THAT WILL NOT BE UP TO STANDARD FOR A LONG
TIME. WE WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH PARTIAL SOLUTIONS AND,
IN TURN, A HIGH LEVEL OF THREAT AND VULNERABILITY FOR
QUITE SOME TIME.
// END ACT // /// END OPT ACT ///
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS PLEDGED TO HEED THE LESSONS OF LAST
YEAR'S BOMBINGS AND MAKE SECURITY A TOP PRIORITY. THE CLINTON
ADMINISTRATION IS ASKING CONGRESS FOR MORE THAN THREE-BILLION
DOLLARS TO FIX WEAKNESSES, BUT MOST (OF THE MONEY) WOULD NOT BE
SPENT UNTIL AFTER THE UPCOMING (2000) FISCAL YEAR.
THIS APPROACH HAS DRAWN CRITICISM FROM SENATE REPUBLICANS, WHO
SAY MORE MONEY IS NEEDED NOW, AND ACCUSE THE WHITE HOUSE OF
REPEATING PAST MISTAKES. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/ENE/GE
11-Mar-99 2:50 PM EST (1950 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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