DATE=6/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TERRORISM REPORT (L-O)
NUMBER=2-263185
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A special U-S government commission has warned
of a growing menace from terrorism and has called for
a more aggressive response. But some of the group's
ideas are facing criticism at home and abroad. V-O-
A's David Swan has details.
TEXT: The commission's report, the result of a two-
year study, finds the threat is becoming more deadly,
while terrorist groups are harder to find and
penetrate. The panel has issued some far-reaching
recommendations for stopping terrorist attacks before
they take place.
The group says the F-B-I and C-I-A should have more
freedom to investigate terrorist suspects and hire
informants, including some who may have unsavory
backgrounds. The report urges authorities to keep
closer watch on foreign students to spot what the
panel calls a small minority who may support terrorist
activity.
And while the U-S military normally stays out of
domestic affairs, Commission Chairman L-Paul Bremer
says the armed forces might be needed to handle
terrorist incidents.
// BREMER ACT //
The question should be studied and contingency
plans should be made for the possibility that
the military plays a lead role, not a supporting
role, in the event of a major catastrophic
attack. That would involve largely, in my view,
using the military's resources for
communications, command and control, logistics,
airplanes, trucks, helicopters, and so forth.
// END ACT //
The report says Syria and Iran should stay on the
government's list of countries that sponsor terrorism.
Commission member and former Congresswoman Jane Harman
says Tehran is still a threat, despite the country's
recent political changes.
// HARMAN ACT //
It should be applauded that Iran's domestic
situation seems to be improving. But we see no
evidence, and certainly I did not in my prior
experience in Congress that Iran's foreign
policy is changing.
// END ACT //
The commission also singles out friendly countries for
criticism. The report says Greece has been
disturbingly passive in responding to terrorism, while
Pakistan's efforts have been inconsistent. The group
says the president should consider labeling both
states as - not cooperating fully against terrorism -
which would stop them from buying American weapons or
military supplies.
Secretary of State Madeline Albright has said there
will be no sanctions. But the Greek government has
rejected the report, saying it bears no relation to
reality. Some of the commission's other suggestions
are drawing fire from civil libertarians and Arab-
American groups. Ibrahim Hooper is a spokesman for
the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
// HOOPER ACT //
From past history we have seen that any
provision similar to the monitoring of students
in the United States, any of these kinds of
provisions, are typically applied almost
exclusively to the American-Muslim community.
// END ACT //
The commission tried to insulate itself against such
attacks. Its members stress it was a bipartisan
group, including one person who was both a civil-
rights lawyer and an Arab-American. But its ideas
must get through a Congress, which is already wary of
expanding federal power and may not want to spend more
money on what is now a 10-billion dollar a year war on
terrorism. (SIGNED)
NEB/DS/RAE
05-Jun-2000 14:08 PM EDT (05-Jun-2000 1808 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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