Military

DATE=1/03/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PENTAGON/TERRORISTS (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-284856

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says U-S forces are increasing their intelligence-gathering activities outside Afghanistan to thwart potential future terrorist threats. But V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports Mr. Rumsfeld will not say if Somalia is emerging as the likely next target of American attacks.

TEXT: Mr. Rumsfeld stresses that U-S forces in Afghanistan still have a lot of work to do despite their success in toppling the Taleban leadership and disrupting al-Qaida terrorist activities in that country.

But in his first news conference of the new year, Mr. Rumsfeld acknowledges military anti-terrorist intelligence-gathering efforts are being stepped up to seek out new targets.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

We are increasing our military intelligence-gathering...for the purpose of attempting to strengthen the knowledge we have about where the potential threats can come from and what we can do about stopping them before they occur.

///END ACTUALITY///

But Mr. Rumsfeld declines to say whether Somalia might become the next target in the U-S crackdown on global terrorism.

///RUMSFELD ACTUALITY///

It doesn't do any good at all for me to be speculating about different countries and what we might do next because I think those are all questions for the future.

///END ACTUALITY///

His comments coincide with a new published report (Washington Times) that U-S and allied aircraft have stepped up reconnaissance flights over Somalia in preparation for possible raids against suspected al-Qaida terrorist bases in the country.

Pentagon officials decline to discuss any such surveillance operations. But they acknowledge Somalia is a country of U-S military interest because of past al-Qaida links to groups and sites there. (Signed)

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