DATE=12/21/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TERRORISM REACT (L)
NUMBER=2-257377
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A bomb scare forced America's top general and
much of his staff to evacuate their offices briefly
Tuesday. The incident comes at a time of heightened
tensions in the U-S Government as officials
investigate an alleged bomb plot and other threats of
terrorism. V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from the
Pentagon.
TEXT: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Hugh Shelton, and officers of the critical
`operations' staff had to leave their desks for
about an hour when a suspicious package was found
near the supposedly very secure National Military
Command Center.
Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon says there was no
bomb, no explosion, and no injuries.
/// BACON ACT ///
They brought in first some bomb-sniffing
dogs, then the E-O-D Team, the Explosive
Ordinance Disposal Team. They concluded
that the box was something that had been
left behind (by accident) by an electrical
contractor the day before.
/// END ACT ///
Ironically, the contractor was installing an
improved electronic security device.
Mr. Bacon insists that Pentagon officials are not
nervous about terrorist threats -- just
`cautious.' He says there are half a dozen
alerts for `suspicious packages' each month and
none has ever turned out to contain explosives.
The incident follows the arrest last week of an
Algerian citizen, Ahmed Ressam, for allegedly
trying to smuggle explosives into the United
States. Officials are also expressing worry
about reports that exiled Saudi militant Osama
bin Laden may launch attacks with bombs or other
weapons near the New Year.
Pentagon officials say terrorism concerns
prompted a White House meeting Monday between
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, C-I-A
Director George Tenet, and General Hugh Shelton.
White House spokesman Joe Lockhart says there are
no specific or general threats against particular
targets in the U-S, though the State Department
has warned Amercans abroad of heightened risks
around New Year's celebrations.
Meantime, Libyan leader Muamar Gadhafi, long
accused by U-S officials of sponsoring terrorism,
says America's government is a terrorist target
because its policies are `hated' by most people
in the world. However, Mr. Gadhafi told U-S
television interviewers he knew of no specific
threats to Americans. (Signed)
NEB/JR/TVM/gm
21-Dec-1999 18:36 PM EDT (21-Dec-1999 2336 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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