DATE=2/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245003
TITLE=CIA / TERRORISM (L)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE HEAD OF THE U-S INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAS WARNED OF 
POSSIBLE NEW TERRORIST ATTACKS BY OSAMA BIN LADEN, WHO ALLEGEDLY 
PLOTTED AND CARRIED OUT TWO EMBASSY BOMBINGS IN AFRICA LAST YEAR.
V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN REPORTS FROM CAPITOL HILL.

TEXT:  C-I-A DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET GAVE SENATORS A BLUNT WARNING 
THE FUGITIVE SAUDI FINANCIER WILL THREATEN AMERICAN INTERESTS 
AGAIN IN 1999.

                        // TENET ACTS //

         THERE IS  NOT  THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT THAT OSAMA BIN LADEN,
         HIS WORLDWIDE ALLIES AND HIS SYMPATHIZERS ARE PLANNING 
         FURTHER ATTACKS AGAINST US.  DESPITE PROGRESS AGAINST 
         HIS NETWORKS, BIN LADEN'S ORGANIZATION HAS CONTACTS 
         VIRTUALLY WORLDWIDE, INCLUDING IN THE UNITED STATES.

                          // END ACT //

THE U-S GOVERNMENT RETALIATED FOR THE EMBASSY BLASTS BY FIRING 
CRUISE MISSILES AT TARGETS MR. BIN LADEN WAS THOUGHT TO CONTROL, 
INCLUDING A TRAINING CAMP IN AFGHANISTAN.  THE ADMINISTRATION 
WARNED LAST YEAR IT MAY ATTACK AGAIN IF THE RULING TALEBAN  
CONTINUES TO HARBOR MR. BIN LADEN'S FORCES.

STILL, MR. TENET SAYS THE GROUP REMAINS COMMITTED TO DRIVING U-S 
TROOPS OUT OF THE PERSIAN GULF AND IS WILLING TO STRIKE ANYWHERE 
IN THE WORLD.

                         // TENET ACT //

         WE HAVE NOTED RECENT ACTIVITIES SIMILAR TO WHAT OCCURRED
         PRIOR TO THE AFRICAN EMBASSY BOMBINGS, MR. CHAIRMAN.  
         AND I MUST TELL YOU THAT WE ARE CONCERNED THAT ONE OR 
         MORE OF BIN LADEN'S ATTACKS COULD OCCUR AT ANY TIME.

                          // END ACT //

THE C-I-A CHIEF ADDS THAT MR. BIN LADEN'S ORGANIZATION IS ONE OF 
MANY TERRORIST GROUPS WITH AN INTEREST IN NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL AND 
BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS.

         // REST OPTIONAL //  

HE ALSO TOUCHED BRIEFLY ON THE ISSUE OF STATE-SPONSORED 
TERRORISM, ESPECIALLY BY IRAN.  WHILE NOT ACCUSING THE TEHRAN 
GOVERNMENT OF BACKING MR. BIN LADEN, MR. TENET DID SAY HE SEES NO
SIGNIFCANT REDUCTION IN IRAN'S SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM, DESPITE THE
ELECTION OF PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI.

                         // TENET ACT //

         BUT HARDLINERS, SUCH AS THE SUPREME LEADER, CONTINUE TO 
         VIEW TERRORISM AS A LEGITIMATE TOOL OF IRANIAN POLICY, 
         AND THEY STILL CONTROL THE INSTITUTIONS THAT CAN 
         IMPLEMENT IT.

                          // END ACT //

(SIGNED)

NEB/DS/KL

02-Feb-99 12:53 PM EST (1753 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.