DATE=4/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2230090-
TITLE= U-S / TERRORISM (L ONLY)
BYLINE=VALONDA BRUINTON
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE UNITED STATES REMAINS
VULNERABLE TO CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM.  AS  V-O-A'S 
CORRESPONDENT VALONDA BRUINTON REPORTS THE THREAT LINGERS EVEN 
THOUGH SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE RECENTLY TO DEAL WITH 
SUCH ATTACKS.



TEXT:  AT A SENATE HEARING (WEDNESDAY) ON TERRORISM, ATTORNEY 
GENERAL JANET RENO SAID U-S PREPAREDNESS TO TAKE CARE OF VICTIMS 
IN THE EVENT OF AN ATTACK IS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

                         // RENO ACT //

         WE NEED TO LOOK AT CAREFULLY WHETHER WE HAVE A 
         SUFFICIENT STOCKPILE, AND I DON'T THINK WE DO, OF 
         VACCINES AND OTHER MEDICATIONS, NOT JUST IN THE NATION 
         BUT DECENTRALIZED SO THAT THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE
         BECAUSE TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE IN AN ATTACK WITH 
         BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.  

                       // END RENO ACT //

F-B-I DIRECTOR LOUIS FREEH SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE SEVERAL 
CHANGES RECENTLY THAT PROVED TO WORK FOR LOCAL AND FEDERAL 
OFFICIALS DURING AN ANTHRAX SCARE IN LAS VEGAS LAST FEBRUARY.

                         // FREEH ACT //

         THEY IMMEDIATELY WERE IN CONTACT WITH OUR WEAPONS OF 
         MASS DESTRUCTION UNITS IN WASHINGTON WHICH DIDN'T EXIST 
         A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.  WE HAD A HAZMAT (HAZARDOUS 
         MATERIAL) UNIT FROM OUR LABORATORY AGAIN WHICH WAS NOT 
         IN EXISTENCE A FEW YEARS AGO.  WE HAD PRIOR DISCUSSIONS 
         AS WELL AS PROTOCOLS ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE F-B-I, 
         STATE AND LOCAL AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT WERE 
         PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THAT.  EVERYTHING WORKED THE WAY 
         IT SHOULD HAVE WORKED. 

                      // END FREEH ACT // 

THE LAS VEGAS CASE TURNED OUT TO BE A HOAX.  AUTHORITIES 
DETERMINED THAT TWO MEN THEY HAD ARRESTED FOR POSSESSING THE 
BACTERIA ANTHRAX WERE NOT HOLDING A LETHAL FORM THAT COULD BE 
USED AS A WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION.  THE MEN WERE RELEASED.

IN RETROSPECT, MR. FREEH SAID THE RESPONSE WAS NOT WITHOUT 
DEFICIENCIES.  HE SAID IT TOOK TOO LONG FOR THE F-B-I TO 
DETERMINE THE MATERIAL POSED NO THREAT.  THE SUBSTANCE HAD TO BE 
SHIPPED TO A GOVERNMENT LAB IN WASHINGTON FOR ANALYSIS.  THE 
F-B-I DIRECTOR SAID HIS AGENCY IS TRYING TO DEVELOP ALTERNATE 
WAYS OF PROVIDING SUCH ANALYSES, SUCH AS MOBILE FACILITIES AND 
REGIONAL LABS.  

BOTH MR. FREEH AND MS. RENO AGREED THAT A LACK OF ADEQUATE 
EQUIPMENT FOR DEALING WITH SUCH ATTACKS IS THE GREATEST 
VULNERABILITY.

MS. RENO STRESSED THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT, USUALLY FIRST ON 
THE SCENE IN AN EMERGENCY, NEEDS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IN 
EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID SHE IS WORKING WITH PRESIDENT CLINTON'S
NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER SANDY BERGER ON A NEW DIRECTIVE SETTING
OUT THE ROLES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES FOR COUNTERTERRORISM 
ACTIVITIES.

MS. RENO ALSO SAID SHE IS WORKING ON A PLAN DUE TO BE COMPLETED 
BY DECEMBER 31ST FOR DEALING WITH TERRORISM.  SHE SUGGESTED IT 
MIGHT CONTAIN A MEASURE THAT WOULD MAKE IT UNLAWFUL TO  POSSESS 
CERTAIN CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES.  (SIGNED)



NEB/VB/PT


22-Apr-98 7:43 PM EDT (2343 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.