DATE=8/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236719
TITLE=BOMBINGS / U-S INVESTIGATION (L-ONLY) 
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES IS SENDING OFFICIALS TO INVESTIGATE THE 
EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN KENYA AND TANZANIA TO DETERMINE IF U-S 
INTELLIGENCE OR SECURITY FAILURES CONTRIBUTED TO THE ATTACKS.  A 
U-S OFFICIAL SAYS THE ATTACKS WERE 'WELL PLANNED AND COORDINATED'
AND  'NOT THE WORK OF AMATEURS.'

TEXT: AGENTS AND FORENSIC EXPERTS FROM THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF 
INVESTIGATION ARE GOING TO NAIROBI AND DAR ES SALAM ALONG WITH 
MILITARY PERSONNEL.  

AN OFFICIAL WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN MILITARY SPECIAL 
OPERATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR FIGHTING TERRORISM SAYS 
INVESTIGATORS WANT TO KNOW WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SHOULD HAVE BEEN 
DONE DIFFERENTLY AT THE EMBASSIES. 

PREVIOUS ATTACKS, LIKE THE ONE THAT WRECKED A U-S AIR FORCE 
BARRACKS IN SAUDI ARABIA IN 1996, PROMPTED NEW FOCUS ON 
PROTECTING AMERICANS SERVING ABROAD AND NEW RESOURCES FOR 
SECURITY GUARDS, BARRIERS AND EQUIPMENT.

THE ANTI-TERRORISM OFFICIAL SAYS HE AND OTHERS WILL GO BACK 
THROUGH INTELLIGENCE REPORTS AND DATA TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY 
SORT OF WARNING OR CLUE BEFORE THESE NEW ATTACKS.  

THE EXPERT SAYS U-S INVESTIGATORS WILL CERTAINLY SEEK LINKAGES 
BETWEEN THIS ATTACK AND EARLIER ONES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.  BUT HE 
CAUTIONS AGAINST ASSUMING THERE IS A MIDDLE EAST CONNECTION --   
THAT THERE IS SIGNIFICANT UNREST IN PARTS OF AFRICA THAT COULD 
POSSIBLY, IN SOME WAY, BE LINKED TO THE ATTACKS.  

A DIFFERENT U-S OFFICIAL SAYS THERE HAS BEEN NO 'CREDIBLE CLAIM 
OF RESPONSIBILITY' FOR THE ATTACKS, AND SAID THEY SHOWED 'MONTHS 
OF PLANNING.'  THE OFFICIAL SAYS THERE ARE 'ALWAYS THREATS 
AGAINST U-S INTERESTS AROUND THE WORLD' AND THERE HAS BEEN AN 
'UPSURGE IN SUCH THREATS IN RECENT MONTHS.'

THE ANTI-TERRORISM EXPERT SAYS INVESTIGATORS EXPECT TO LEARN A 
LOT ABOUT THE ATTACKERS BY CAREFUL STUDY OF THE BOMB SITES.  HOW 
LARGE WERE THE BOMBS?  WHAT SORT OF EXPLOSIVE WAS USED?  HOW 
SOPHISTICATED WERE THE DEVICES AND WHERE DID THE MATERIALS COME 
FROM?  

AN OFFICIAL CALLS THESE ATTACKS 'TERRIBLE' BUT SAYS THEY WOULD BE
EVEN WORSE IF U-S FORCES FAIL TO LEARN LESSONS FROM THEM. 
(SIGNED). 

NEB/JR/LTD/RRM

07-Aug-98 1:54 PM EDT (1754 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.