News

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 .