Berger: U.S. stopped terrorism cells in eight countries
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, January 10, 2000
WASHINGTON -- The United States has embarked on the largest
counterterrorism effort ever, foiling terrorist cells in eight countries, a
senior official says.
National Security Adviser Samuel Berger said that over the last few
weeks Washington worked with its allies to foil millennium attacks being
planned against U.S. targets around the world. He cited an intensive effort
by intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
"The last weeks of 1999 saw the largest US counter-terrorism operation
in history," Berger told the National Press Club last week. "Terrorist
cells were disrupted in eight countries and attacks were almost certainly
prevented thanks to the good work of our law enforcement and intelligence
agencies."
"But the threat remains real," Berger added. "We'll need to keep meeting
this challenge just as we met it last week: with both vigilance and a
refusal to be intimidated."
Berger's assertion was the first public indication by a senior U.S.
official of the extent and success of recent U.S. efforts to prevent
terrorist attacks during millennium celebrations abroad. Currently, U.S.
authorities are searching for members of an alleged Algerian terrorist
network that is accused of attempting to stage bombing attacks throughout
the United States.
The national security adviser said a key challenge for the United States
is to stop terrorists from acquiring biological, chemical or nuclear
weapons. He said this would require continued U.S. support to nations of the
former Soviet Union as well as restraining the missile and nuclear program
of North Korea and Iran.
"Part of the challenge will be to make it more difficult for weapons of
mass destruction and the missiles that can carry them to fall into the wrong
hands," Berger said. "That requires the United States to do many things well
at the same time: helping the nations of the former Soviet Union secure
weapons and their key components. Continuing to prevent Iraq from
threatening its neighbors. Restraining North Korea's missile and nuclear
program and Iran's. Aggressively pursuing terrorists and maintaining
pressure against those who shelter them, including the Taliban.
Strengthening global standards against proliferation.
"And yes, that means eventually finding the common ground on the Test
Ban Treaty that last year's truncated debate in the Senate prevented."