DATE=7/14/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251764
TITLE=U-S / TERRORIST RESPONSE (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=DAVID SWAN
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A SPECIAL HIGH-LEVEL COMMISSION HAS FOUND THE U-S 
GOVERNMENT UNPREPARED FOR NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL STRIKES
BY TERRORISTS OR ROGUE NATIONS.  THE GROUP IS URGING WASHINGTON 
TO STRENGTHEN AND STREAMLINE ITS EFFORT TO FIGHT SUCH ATTACKS.  
V-O-A'S DAVID SWAN HAS DETAILS OF THE COMMISSION'S REPORT TO 
CONGRESS.  

TEXT:  THE REPORT CALLS WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION A GRAVE 
THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES AND ITS ALLIES.  THE PANEL'S 
VICE-CHAIRMAN, SENATOR ARLEN SPECTER, SAYS THE DANGER BECAME 
CLEAR A FEW YEARS AGO, WHEN HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE 
INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE. 

                       // SPECTER ACT // 

         I WAS TERRIFIED ABOUT WHAT I SAW ON HIGHLY SENSITIVE 
         TOP-SECRET INFORMATION ABOUT THE THREATS FROM NUCLEAR 
         AND BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL (WEAPONS). 

                          // END ACT //

THE REPORT WARNS THE NATION COULD FACE MANY DANGEROUS SCENARIOS 
-- AN ANTHRAX ATTACK ON A SUBWAY SYSTEM, OR DISGRUNTLED RUSSIAN 
SCIENTISTS PEDDLING ENRICHED URANIUM TO IRAN.  THE COMMISSION 
SAYS SUCH WEAPONS HAVE SPREAD IN RECENT YEARS AND CAN BE ACQUIRED
BY TERRORISTS OR UNFRIENDLY STATES WITH LITTLE WARNING. 

THE PANEL'S CHAIRMAN, FORMER C-I-A CHIEF JOHN DEUTCH, VOICED 
CONCERN ABOUT NORTH KOREA, WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE BUILDING 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS.  

                        // DEUTCH ACT // 

         BUT THERE'S  NO  QUESTION ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE 
         COMBINATION OF NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM, THE NORTH 
         KOREAN MISSILE PROGRAM, THE NORTH KOREAN ACTIVITIES TO 
         SPREAD THOSE TECHNOLOGIES AND THOSE SYSTEMS TO OTHER 
         COUNTRIES REMAINS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS THREATS. 

                         // END ACT // 

ACCORDING TO THE COMMISSION, THE UNITED STATES HAS  NOT  DONE 
ENOUGH TO PROTECT ITSELF.  THE ARMED FORCES ARE SAID TO BE 
VULNERABLE TO MISSILE AND CHEMICAL ATTACKS, DESPITE THE BILLIONS 
OF DOLLARS SPENT TO COUNTER THEM SINCE THE GULF WAR. 

THE REPORT CALLS FOR A GOVERNMENT-WIDE RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM, 
LED BY A NEW WHITE HOUSE DIRECTOR WHOSE ROLE WOULD BE SIMILAR TO 
THAT OF THE NATIONAL DRUG POLICY DIRECTOR. (SIGNED)

NEB/DS/KL

14-Jul-99 1:11 PM EDT (1711 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.