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Panel urges Bush to form anti-terror strategy

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

Monday, December 18, 2000

WASHINGTON — President-elect George W. Bush is being urged to formulate a strategy against terrorism.

A panel established by Congress has urged Bush to work immediately with federal lawmakers to draft a policy to combat terrorism. The panel warned of the prospect of mass destruction by terrorists within the United States and called for a special White House post in charge of counterterrorism.

"The potential for terrorist attacks inside the borders of the United States is a serious emerging threat," the report by the advisory panel said.

The report by the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction said Bush should "develop and present to the Congress a national strategy for combating terrorism within one year of assuming office."

The panel also urged Congress to create a Special Committee for Combating Terrorism.

"We are impelled by the stark realization that a terrorist attack on some level inside our borders is inevitable and the United States must be ready," Virginia Gov. James Gilmore, chairman of the panel, said. "We are similarly convinced, however, that much of the legitimate fear associated with the prospect of a terrorist attack can be substantially reduced."

The panel said the federal government must formulate a strategy to both deter terrorism and respond to any attack. "Should an attack occur, local, state, and federal authorities must be prepared to respond and mitigate the consequences of the attack," the report said.

In Qatar, the U.S. embassy reopened its doors after being closed for a week amid security threats. U.S. security in the Gulf has increased over the last two months since the Oct. 12 bombing of the USS Cole in Aden.

The bombing was attributed to supporters of Saudi billionaire fugitive Osama Bin Laden.

Bin Laden has acquired safe haven in Afghanistan and over the weekend U.S. officials warned that Washington will seek new sanctions. They said Russia and the United States seek to pass additional United Nations sanctions on the ruling Afghan Taliban faction as early as Tuesday.

"Let me be blunt about this," Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian affairs Karl Inderfurth told a briefing on Friday, "because of their support for terrorist organizations and the fact that they allow terrorist training camps in Afghan territory, the Taliban are a threat to the international community."

Monday, December 18, 2000


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