DATE=10/26/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S SHIP ATTACK (L ONLY)

NUMBER=2-268488

BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Top Pentagon officials conferred with U-S military commanders worldwide Thursday to discuss so-called "force protection" measures. V-O-A Pentagon Correspondent Alex Belida reports the video teleconference was prompted by this month's deadly terrorist attack on a U-S destroyer in the Yemeni harbor of Aden.

TEXT: The video teleconference was chaired by Defense Secretary William Cohen and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry Shelton. They spoke to regional commanders around the world, including the Central Command overseeing U-S forces in the Middle East.

Pentagon spokesman Ken Bacon says the topic was "force protection" - that is, the protection of U-S soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines and their installations worldwide.

/// BACON ACT ///

The goal basically was to make a good system better and to use the concern that has been generated by the attack on the Cole as an opportunity for all CINCS, commanders-in-chief, to make sure they are reviewing their force protection postures and procedures to make sure they are making any necessary changes, and it was actually very useful because every commander-in-chief got to hear what the other commanders-in-chief were doing and they were also able to bring up some common concerns they all shared.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. Bacon says one of those concerns involves resources. He says if it is determined enhanced force protection measures are needed, additional funding will have to be found.

Otherwise, citing security considerations, the spokesman declined to discuss specific new protection measures that were discussed.

U-S forces throughout the Middle East are currently on heightened states of alert. Units in Bahrain and Qatar as well as those in Yemen are on the highest state of alert because of new terrorist threats in the wake of the attack on the U-S-S Cole.

Seventeen U-S sailors died in that bombing. (Signed)

NEB/BEL/JWH