DATE=12/21/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TERRORISM REACT (L)
NUMBER=2-257377
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=

VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  A bomb scare forced America's top general and 
much of his staff to evacuate their offices briefly 
Tuesday.  The incident comes at a time of heightened 
tensions in the U-S Government as officials 
investigate an alleged bomb plot and other threats of 
terrorism.  V-O-A's Jim Randle reports from the 
Pentagon.


TEXT:  The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
Hugh Shelton, and officers of the critical 
`operations' staff had to leave their desks for 
about an hour when a suspicious package was found 
near the supposedly very secure National Military 
Command Center.  

Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon says there was no 
bomb, no explosion, and no injuries.

            /// BACON ACT ///

      They brought in first some bomb-sniffing 
      dogs, then the E-O-D Team, the Explosive 
      Ordinance Disposal Team.  They concluded 
      that the box was something that had been 
      left behind (by accident)  by an electrical 
      contractor the day before.

            /// END ACT ///

Ironically, the contractor was installing an 
improved electronic security device.

Mr. Bacon insists that Pentagon officials are not 
nervous about terrorist threats -- just 
`cautious.'  He says there are half a dozen 
alerts for `suspicious packages' each month and 
none has ever turned out to contain explosives.

The incident follows the arrest last week of an 
Algerian citizen, Ahmed Ressam, for allegedly 
trying to smuggle explosives into the United 
States.  Officials are also expressing worry 
about reports that exiled Saudi militant Osama 
bin Laden may launch attacks with bombs or other 
weapons near the New Year. 

Pentagon officials say terrorism concerns 
prompted a White House meeting Monday between 
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, C-I-A 
Director George Tenet, and General Hugh Shelton.

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart says there are 
no specific or general threats against particular 
targets in the U-S, though the State Department 
has warned Amercans abroad of heightened risks 
around New Year's celebrations.

Meantime, Libyan leader Muamar Gadhafi, long 
accused by U-S officials of sponsoring terrorism, 
says America's government is a terrorist target 
because its policies are `hated' by most people 
in the world.  However, Mr. Gadhafi told U-S 
television interviewers he knew of no specific 
threats to Americans.  (Signed)

NEB/JR/TVM/gm



21-Dec-1999 18:36 PM EDT (21-Dec-1999 2336 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.