Voice of America, 98-08-11

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

[02] U-N / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

[03] TURKEY / IRAQ / DIESEL BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (KIZILTEPE)

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

[05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

[06] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

[01] KOSOVO REFUGEES (L ONLY) BY LISA SCHLEIN (GENEVA)

INTRO: U-N AID AGENCIES SAY THE SITUATION IN SERBIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE IS GETTING WORSE. LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA REPORTS THE UNITED NATIONS ESTIMATES THAT 230-THOUSAND PEOPLE -- MORE THAN 10 PERCENT OF KOSOVO'S POPULATION -- HAVE BECOME INTERNALLY DISPLACED OR HAVE FLED TO NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

TEXT: U-N AGENCIES ARE CONTINUING THEIR SO-CALLED SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION FOR PEOPLE IN NEED OF HELP.

WHILE DELIVERING ASSISTANCE IN WESTERN KOSOVO, A TEAM FROM UNICEF, THE UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND, SAYS IT CAME ACROSS ABOUT 400 DISPLACED PEOPLE CAMPING IN THE WOODS. UNICEF SPOKESMAN, PATRICK MCCORMACK SAYS A MAJORITY OF THEM WERE CHILDREN. HE SAYS MANY WERE SUFFERING FROM DIARRHEA AND MILD DYSENTARY.

MOST WERE SLEEPING ON THE GROUND. FEW HAD BLANKETS AND THERE WAS AN EVIDENT LACK OF CLOTHING. THEY SAID THAT THE NIGHTS WERE ALREADY GETTING COLD. UNWASHED, WEAK FROM ILLNESS, MOST HAD BEEN THERE FOR TEN DAYS LIVING IN THE MOST PRIMITIVE OF CONDITIONS. (THE) NEAREST HEALTH FACILITY IS FIVE KILOMETERS AWAY.

U-N AID WORKERS SAY THEY HAVE COME ACROSS TOWNS WHICH ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY DESERTED. IN MALISEVO, THE SCENE OF RECENT HEAVY FIGHTING BETWEEN SERB FORCES AND THE KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY, A UNICEF TEAM SAYS IT FOUND ONLY POLICEMEN ROVING STREETS FULL OF BURNED OUT HOUSES AND SHOPS.

IN CONTRAST TO THE GHOST TOWNS, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY, KRIS JANOWSKI, SAYS OTHER VILLAGES ARE OVERFLOWING WITH REFUGEES. HE DESCRIBES WHAT AID WORKERS SAW IN THE VILLAGE OF KLAYASARIJA.

ACCORDING TO OUR ESTIMATES, THERE ARE ABOUT FOUR-THOUSAND PEOPLE CRAMMED INTO THAT VILLAGE WHICH NORMALLY HOUSES 850 PEOPLE. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW DIFFICULT IT IS. WHATEVER FOOD STOCKS ARE IN THE VILLAGE ARE MELTING DOWN VERY QUICKLY SINCE THEY ARE BEING USED BY THE LOCALS AS WELL AS THE DISPLACED.

BOTH U-N AND PRIVATE AGENCIES ARE DELIVERING ASSISTANCE TO DISPLACED PEOPLE IN KOSOVO. THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IS SENDING TWO CONVOYS OF NINE TRUCKS TO THREE CENTRAL POINTS IN KOSOVO. THE CONVOY INCLUDES MAINLY FOOD AND HYGIENIC ITEMS. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/JWH/KL
11-Aug-98 8:21 AM EDT (1221 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[02] U-N / KOSOVO (L - ONLY) BY MAX RUSTON (UNITED NATIONS)

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL TODAY (TUESDAY) CALLED FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASE-FIRE IN YUGOSLAVIA'S KOSOVO PROVINCE, AMID CONCERNS THAT SECURITY AND HUMANITARIAN CONDITIONS THERE ARE DETERIORATING RAPIDLY. V-O-A'S MAX RUSTON REPORTS FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

TEXT: THE COUNCIL REVIEWED A 20 PAGE REPORT ON KOSOVO PREPARED BY U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN. THE REPORT SAYS THERE IS INCREASINGLY HEAVY FIGHTING BETWEEN YUGOSLAV FORCES AND THE UNDERGROUND KOSOVO LIBERATION ARMY. IT SAYS THE NUMBERS OF MILITARY AND CIVILIAN CASUALTIES ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF THE CONFLICT. IT SAYS THE ATTITUDES OF THE TWO SIDES APPEAR TO BE HARDENING WITH EVERY DAY OF FIGHTING.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT DANILO TURK OF SLOVENIA:

THE ISSUE OF KOSOVO CAN HAVE NO MILITARY SOLUTION, AND ALL VIOLENCE AND ACTS OF TERRORISM FROM WHATEVER QUARTER ARE UNACCEPTABLE. THE SECURITY COUNCIL DEPLORES THE EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE BY BELGRADE SECURITY FORCES AND OF VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND EXPRESSES CONCERN ABOUT THE APPALLING HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN KOSOVO.

THE SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE INFILTRATION OF WEAPONS INTO KOSOVO, IN VIOLATION OF COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS.

U-N OFFICIALS SAY MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOMES BY THE CONFLICT IN KOSOVO. THEY SAY MANY OF THEM ARE WITHOUT FOOD AND SHELTER AND FACING INCREASING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ISSUED A STATEMENT TUESDAY WARNING OF A LARGE-SCALE HUMANITARIAN DISASTER IN THE REGION IF CONDITIONS DO NOT IMPROVE.

YUGOSLAV AUTHORITIES BLAME ETHNIC ALBANIAN TERRORISTS FOR THE VIOLENCE IN KOSOVO. ETHNIC ALBANIANS IN THE PROVINCE SAY SERB POLICE, MOTIVATED BY ETHNIC RIVALRY, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE UNREST. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF
11-Aug-98 3:13 PM EDT (1913 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[03] TURKEY / IRAQ / DIESEL BY AMBERIN ZAMAN (KIZILTEPE)

INTRO: DEFYING UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS, TURKEY HAS INTRODUCED A SERIES OF REGULATIONS THAT EFFECTIVELY LEGALIZE THE IMPORT AND SALE OF SMUGGLED IRAQI FUEL. AS AMBERIN ZAMAN REPORTS FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN TOWN OF KIZILTEPE, NEAR THE IRAQI BORDER, THAT LOCAL TRUCK DRIVERS SAY THE TRADE CONSTITUTES THEIR ONLY MEANS OF SURVIVAL.

TEXT: HUNDREDS OF GARISHLY DECORATED TRUCKS CRAWL ALONG THE STRAIGHT, NARROW HIGHWAY CONNECTING TURKEY TO IRAQ. LOCALS HERE CALL THE HIGHWAY THE "SILK ROAD." IT'S NOT A REFERENCE TO THE ANCIENT CARAVAN TRADING ROUTE RUNNING FROM EUROPE, OVER CENTRAL ASIA AND INTO CHINA. THE HIGHWAY IS SO NAMED BECAUSE OF ITS SMOOTH SURFACE TEXTURE, WHICH OFTEN SEEMS TO MELT IN THE BLAZING SUMMER HEAT.

MOST OF THESE TRUCKS ARE EITHER GOING TO OR RETURNING FROM KURDISH-CONTROLLED NORTHERN IRAQ, WHERE THEY LOAD UP ON CHEAP IRAQI DIESEL FUEL.

ITS NOT AN EASY BUSINESS, SAYS HUSEYIN YILDIRIM, A TRUCK DRIVER, WHO SPOKE TO V-O-A DURING A STOP ON HIS WAY BACK FROM THE IRAQI BORDER.

MR. YILDIRIM SAYS HE HAS TO SPEND UP TO 10 DAYS INSIDE HIS TRUCK WHEN QUEUING UP ALONG WITH HUNDRED OF OTHER TRUCKS AWAITING THEIR TURN TO CROSS THE TURKISH BORDER. ONCE HE GETS INTO NORTHERN IRAQ, HE SAYS, LIVING CONDITIONS GET EVEN WORSE. THERE IS NO COLD WATER, ICE, OR DECENT FOOD MR YILDIRIM SAYS. AND HE IS FORCED TO SPEND THE NIGHTS IN HIS TRUCK BECAUSE, SHOULD HE LEAVE IT UNGUARDED, IT COULD EASILY BE STOLEN.

DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES, MR. YILDIRIM SAYS WITH PROFITS AVERAGING 300 DOLLARS THE MONTHLY RUN IS STILL WORTHWHILE.

BUT HE SAYS HE'S NOT SURE WHAT IMPACT THE NEW TURKISH GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS WILL HAVE ON HIS BUSINESS.

UNDER THE NEW RULES OUTLINED IN SEPARATE CIRCULARS ISSUED LAST MONTH BY THE FINANCE AND TRADE MINISTRIES, AN ESTIMATED 40 THOUSAND TRUCK DRIVERS INVOLVED IN THE IRAQI DIESEL TRADE WILL NOW HAVE TO PAY 15 PERCENT TAX WHEN THEY SELL IN TURKEY -- THUS BRINGING THEIR TRADE UNDER GOVERNMENT AUSPICES.

THE MEASURES ALSO LEGALIZE OVERLAND IMPORTS OF IRAQI CRUDE. AND RETAILERS -- ONCE RESTRICTED TO SELLING FUEL PRODUCTS FROM TURKISH REFINERIES -- ARE NOW ALLOWED TO SELL IRAQI FUEL AS WELL.

WESTERN DIPLOMATS IN TURKEY, HOWEVER, SAY THE MEASURES AMOUNT TO AN OFFICIAL VIOLATION OF UNITED NATIONS SANCTIONS SLAPPED ON IRAQ PRIOR TO THE 1991 GULF WAR. YET FEW BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A REACTION FROM UNITED STATES, WHICH REMAINS THE CHIEF PROPONENT OF CONTINUING THE EMBARGO. THESE DIPLOMATS SAY THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS DONE NOTHING TO STOP THE FLOW OF CONTRABAND FUEL BECAUSE IT BENEFITS TURKEY -- A KEY ALLY IN THE COALITION AGAINST IRAQ. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS RECENTLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SOME OF THE PROCEEDS FROM THE DIESEL FUEL TRADE WITH TURKEY ALSO ENDS UP IN THE POCKETS OF IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN.

MEHMET SAHIN IS A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LOCAL TRUCKERS ASSOCIATION IN KIZILTEPE, WHERE ONE IN EVERY 10 IS INVOLVED IN THE DIESEL FUEL TRADE. HE ARGUES THE UNITED STATES SHOULD CONTINUE TO OVERLOOK THE TRADE BECAUSE, HE SAYS, IT HELPS REVIVE THE ECONOMY IN THE MAINLY KURDISH REGION, WRACKED BY THE LONG-RUNNING REBELLION LED BY THE OUTLAWED KURDISTAN WORKERS PARTY -- THE P-K-K.

HASHIM HASHIMI IS AN ETHNIC KURDISH PARLIAMENTARIAN FROM SIRNAK PROVINCE ON THE TURKEY-IRAQ BORDER. HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT'S DECISION LAST MONTH TO GRANT EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS FOR THE DIESEL OIL TO A NEWLY FORMED COMPANY WIDELY ALLEGED TO HAVE CLOSE CONNECTIONS WITH SEVERAL CABINET MINISTERS. MR. HASHIMI SAYS MONOPOLIZATION OF THE TRADE WILL DRIVE DOWN PROFITS FOR TRUCK DRIVERS.

THE DEEPER WORRY AMONG EUROPEAN AND U-S OFFICIALS IS THAT BY PLACING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FUEL IN THE HAND OF A SINGLE COMPANY, IT WILL ENABLE SADDAM HUSSEIN TO PROFIT EVEN FURTHER BY DEALING DIRECTLY WITH THE NEW COMPANY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AZ/PCF
11-Aug-98 10:09 AM EDT (1409 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[04] EURO STOCKS (S ONLY) BY JACK HUIZENGA (LONDON)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES FELL SHARPLY IN TRADING TUESDAY IN EUROPE. V-O-A'S JACK HUIZENGA HAS THE CLOSING MARKET REPORT FROM LONDON.

TEXT: THE BIG STOCK MARKET DOWNTURN CONTINUED, WITH PRICES FALLING SHARPLY ON ALL MAJOR EUROPEAN MARKETS. ANALYSTS CITED CONTINUED WORRIES ABOUT ASIA AND RUSSIA AND CONCERNS ABOUT A GLOBAL ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN. IN EUROPE, THE BIGGEST DROP WAS IN FRANKFURT. THE DAX INDEX WAS OFF 175-POINTS, THREE-AND-TWO-TENTHS PERCENT. IN LONDON, THE FOOTSIE-100 INDEX CLOSED DOWN 155-POINTS -- TWO-AND-EIGHT-TENTHS-PERCENT -- TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN SEVEN MONTHS.

AND IN PARIS, THE CAC-40 INDEX FELL 94-POINTS, TWO-AND-FOUR-TENTHS PERCENT.

ON THE LONDON CURRENCY EXCHANGE, THE VALUE OF THE U-S DOLLAR ROSE AGAINST THE BRITISH POUND AND THE JAPANESE YEN, BUT WAS DOWN A LITTLE AGAINST THE GERMAN MARK. (SIGNED)
NEB/JWH/RAE
11-Aug-98 2:22 PM EDT (1822 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[05] N-Y ECON WRAP (S & L) BY BRECK ARDERY (NEW YORK)

INTRO: STOCK PRICES IN THE UNITED STATES WERE DOWN SHARPLY TODAY (TUESDAY) AS NEW WORRIES ABOUT THE ASIAN ECONOMIC SITUATION SPARKED ANOTHER SELL-OFF. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT BRECK ARDERY REPORTS FROM NEW YORK.

TEXT: THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED AT 84 HUNDRED 62, DOWN 112 POINTS OR MORE THAN ONE PERCENT. THE STANDARD AND POOR'S 500 INDEX CLOSED AT ONE THOUSAND 68, DOWN 14 POINTS.

THE U-S STOCK MARKET JOINED MARKETS IN ASIA AND EUROPE WHICH PLUNGED AS TRADERS AGAIN SHOWED CONCERN THAT SOME ASIAN NATIONS MAY DEVALUE THEIR CURRENCIES. THE SELL-OFF IN NEW YORK BROUGHT THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE DOWN 10 PERCENT FROM ITS HIGH OF LAST MONTH.

MANY ANALYSTS WERE ENCOURAGED BY THE FACT THAT THE INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE CLOSED ABOVE 84 HUNDRED, SAYING THAT SIGNALS A STRONG SUPPORT LEVEL. BUT THERE WERE SERIOUS WORRIES DURING THE DAY AS THE DOW DROPPED MORE THAN 250 POINTS BY MID-AFTERNOON. BUT, LATE IN THE SESSION, BARGAIN HUNTERS ENTERED THE MARKET IN FORCE AND SUBSTANTIALLY CUT THE LOSSES.

AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST, MOST FINANCIAL ADVISORS WERE COUNSELING CALM. ALAN ACKERMAN OF THE FAHNESTOCK INVESTMENT COMPANY SAYS THE WORST THING INDIVIDUAL INVESTORS CAN DO IS TO ENGAGE IN PANIC SELLING OR GO RUSHING INTO NEW STOCK POSITIONS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT A MARKET RIGHT NOW WHICH IS INDECISIVE WITH A LACK OF CONVICTION AND LACK OF LEADERSHIP. MY FEELING IS THIS IS A TIME TO STAY CALM, STAY COOL AND STAY IN CASH.

OTHER ANALYSTS SAY THEY BELIEVE IN THE OLD WALL STREET SAYING THAT, IN TIMES OF MARKET TURMOIL, "THE BEST TRADE IS OFTEN THE ONE YOU DID NOT MAKE."

A HUGE MERGER IN THE OIL INDUSTRY WAS ANNOUNCED WITH THE COMBINATION OF BRITISH PETROLEUM OF BRITAIN AND AMOCO OF THE UNITED STATES. THE DEAL, WORTH ALMOST 48 BILLION DOLLARS, WILL CREATE THE THIRD-LARGEST OIL COMPANY IN THE WORLD WITH 100 THOUSAND WORKERS AND ANNUAL REVENUES OF MORE THAN 100 BILLION DOLLARS. ANALYSTS WERE GENERALLY POSITIVE ABOUT THE DEAL, SAYING THE COMBINED COMPANY WILL BE ABLE TO CUT COSTS, ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN THIS PERIOD OF DEPRESSED OIL PRICES. TEXTRON, A U-S-BASED CONGLOMERATE, WILL SELL ITS AVCO FINANCIAL SERVICES UNIT TO THE ASSOCIATES FIRST CAPITAL COMPANY FOR THREE POINT NINE BILLION DOLLARS IN CASH.

A STRIKE AGAINST THE LARGEST REGIONAL TELEPHONE COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES WAS A SHORT ONE. A WALKOUT AGAINST BELL ATLANTIC ENDED IN ITS THIRD DAY WITH A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT. BELL ATLANTIC STOCK WENT AGAINST THE WALL STREET TREND BY RISING ON THE NEWS OF A SETTLEMENT.

ANOTHER BRIGHT LIGHT WAS THE STOCK OF GEOCITIES, AN INTERNET COMPANY, WHICH GAINED MORE THAN 100 PERCENT IN ITS FIRST DAY OF TRADING ON THE NASDAQ MARKET.

THE APPLE COMPUTER COMPANY SAYS ITS NEW COMPACT, LOW PRICED DESK TOP UNIT LOOKS LIKE A BIG SUCCESS. THE COMPANY SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN 150 THOUSAND ADVANCE ORDERS FOR THE "I-MAC." PRICED AT LESS THAN 13 HUNDRED DOLLARS, THE "I-MAC" WILL BE FORMALLY INTRODUCED LATER THIS MONTH.(SIGNED)
NEB/NY/BA/LSF
11-Aug-98 5:10 PM EDT (2110 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

[06] TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS BY ANDREW N. GUTHRIE (WASHINGTON)

INTRO: THE AFTERMATH OF THE EMBASSY BOMBINGS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT RETALIATION CROWD THE EDITORIAL COLUMNS OF THE NATION'S DAILY NEWSPAPERS THIS TUESDAY. OTHER SUBJECTS INCLUDE THE U-S POLICY TOWARD CUBA; THE CURRENT TROUBLE WITH INSPECTING IRAQ FOR WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION; THE BATTLE FOR CAMPAIGN REFORM AND THE LATEST EPISODE IN BURMA'S STRUGGLE FOR DEMOCRACY. NOW, WE WELCOME ___________________ TO OUR MICROPHONE WITH A CLOSER LOOK AND SOME QUOTES IN TODAY'S EDITORIAL DIGEST.

TEXT: WE BEGIN IN THE CAPITOL OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, WHERE "THE TOPEKA CAPITAL JOURNAL" IS ANGRY ABOUT THE BOMBING AND CALLS FOR STRONG RETALIATION.

VOICE: ...AS ALWAYS WITH OUTRAGEOUS ACTS OF TERROR SUCH AS THESE, THE QUESTION REMAINS: WHAT SHALL WE DO ABOUT IT? ... IF NOTHING RESULTS, GOD HELP US. IT WILL ONLY EMBOLDEN AMERICA'S ENEMIES. .... IDLE THREATS WON'T DO. FORCE IS THE ONLY THING SUCH PEOPLE UNDERSTAND. THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION HAS APPEARED TO BE ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL WHEN IT COMES TO TERRORISM. THE BARRACKS BOMBING IN SAUDI ARABIA HAS GONE UNPUNISHED. AND THAT DOESN'T GO UNNOTICED IN THE TERRORIST WORLD. /// OPT /// ... WE HAPPEN TO HAVE A LAWYER IN THE WHITE HOUSE. SOMETIMES WHAT WE NEED IS A STREETWISE MILITARY STRATEGIST. IF THE PRESIDENT CAN'T BE ONE, HE SHOULD FIND ONE AND LISTEN. /// END OPT /// THIS CASE CANNOT BE ALLOWED TO DRAG ON WITHOUT RESOLUTION. ... LET'S SOFTEN OUR SPEECH AND LENGTHEN OUR STICK JUST A BIT.

TEXT: IN MAINE, THERE IS A CAUTION FROM "THE PORTLAND PRESS HERALD" ABOUT BLAMING ANYONE OR ANY ETHNIC GROUP BEFORE THE EVIDENCE IS IN.

VOICE: ... THE EVIDENCE POINTS STRONGLY TO STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM, YET THE WORLD SHOULD BE CAREFUL ABOUT DRAWING CONCLUSIONS. SHORTLY AFTER THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING OF 1995, SUSPICIONS FELL ON MIDDLE EASTERN SOURCES. THAT SPECULATION TURNED OUT TO BE SPECTACULARLY WRONG, AND TODAY TWO AMERICANS STAND CONVICTED OF THAT HORRIBLE CRIME. ... UNFORTUNATELY, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS SUGGESTED THE BOMBINGS MIGHT BE TIED TO ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALISTS. THAT'S NOT PRODUCTIVE. ... U-S SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT'S RESOLUTE POSTURE, ONE DENOUNCING THE BOMBERS WITHOUT POINTING FINGERS, IS THE RIGHT APPROACH.

TEXT: TODAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" POINTS OUT THAT 13 YEARS AGO A SPECIAL STATE DEPARTMENT ADVISORY PANEL RECOMMENDED A THREE-POINT-FIVE-BILLION DOLLAR SECURITY UPGRADE FOR AT LEAST 100 OF THE NATION'S EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES, BUT LESS THAN A THIRD OF THAT MONEY WAS EVER APPROVED BY CONGRESS, AND EVEN THEN, MUCH OF THE WORK WAS NEVER DONE. THAT LEADS "THE TIMES" TO SUGGEST:

VOICE: IN AN ERA WHEN TERRORISM PRESENTS AS GREAT A THREAT TO THE SECURITY OF AMERICANS OVERSEAS AS DO FOREIGN ARMIES, SPENDING THE EQUIVALENT OF SLIGHTLY MORE THAN ONE PERCENT OF THE ANNUAL DEFENSE BUDGET ON EMBASSY SECURITY IS HARDLY UNREASONABLE. /// OPT /// NOR IS THE SAFETY OF AMERICAN DIPLOMATS LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE ESTHETIC QUALITY OF EMBASSY BUILDINGS. /// END OPT ///

TEXT: TAKING A HOPEFUL VIEW, THAT WE ARE NOT ENTERING A NEW AGE OF TERROR, IS "THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR" WHICH REMINDS READERS THAT EVEN THE POWERFUL TERRORIST GANGS OF THE RECENT PAST, WERE EVENTUALLY CAPTURED BY POLICE.

VOICE: ... RECALL ALSO THE SUPPOSED TACTICAL SUPERIORITY OF THE BADER MEINHOF GANG IN GERMANY, THE MAOISTS IN ITALY, ASSORTED TERRORISTS IN FRANCE, AND THE TECHNICALLY SKILLED AUM, SHINRI KYO IN JAPAN. ALL ULTIMATELY FAILED. INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES AND POLICE PAINSTAKINGLY TRACKED DOWN AND BROUGHT TO JUSTICE SUCH PAST WOULD-BE ASSASSINS OF THE PEACEABLE GLOBAL VILLAGE. WE ARE CONFIDENT U-S AND INTERNATIONAL INVESTIGATORS WILL DO THE SAME TO THOSE WHO KILLED SO MANY TOTALLY INNOCENT PEOPLE IN EAST AFRICA.