News

USIS Washington 
File

04 August 1999

U.S. Efforts to Improve Embassy Security Continue

(Lessons of East Africa bombings are applied worldwide) (720)
By Jane A. Morse
USIA Diplomatic Correspondent

Washington -- The shock waves of the August 7, 1998 terrorist bombings
of two U.S. Embassies in East Africa are still being felt, but the
lessons learned are resulting in improvements in security at U.S.
facilities worldwide, say American officials.

More than 220 Americans, Kenyans and Tanzanians were killed and some
5,000 wounded when powerful bombs almost simultaneously exploded at
the U.S. Embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi a year ago. The
suicide attacks were attributed to Usama bin Laden and Muhammad Atef
who lead the terrorist organization known as "al Qaeda."

During a special noon briefing at the State Department August 4,
Assistant Secretary of State for Administration Patrick Kennedy said
that each and every one of the some 265 U.S. Missions overseas have
implemented improvements in their security -- both in physical
improvements to the property and in increased security personnel.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security Peter Bergin, who
also briefed, noted that 4,000 new local guards have been hired to
protect U.S. Missions abroad and more than 200 Diplomatic Security
special agents have been deployed overseas temporarily to augment
security. Another 140 new Diplomatic Security special agent positions
overseas have been established, and 337 new Diplomatic Security
special agents, security engineers, security technicians, diplomatic
couriers, and civil servants have been hired and trained, he said.

In a number of cities overseas, the United States has worked with host
governments to close streets or change traffic patterns near the U.S.
Missions, according to Bergin. To achieve the proper setbacks (the
space between U.S. buildings and public streets or other property),
the State Department has purchased surrounding properties at 30 posts,
he said.

The improvements were made possible with the Fiscal Year 1999 security
supplemental appropriation of $1.489 billion approved by the U.S.
Congress. President Clinton has asked Congress for $300 million for
embassy security projects in the Fiscal Year 2000 budget amendment. In
addition, the Clinton Administration is planning a 10-year embassy
security program that would require nearly $11.4 billion.

But money and improved security alone won't solve the problem of
terrorist attacks, U.S. officials point out. To undercut terrorist
activities, the U.S. government has intensified its cooperation with
other governments to seize terrorist finances, shut down illegal
activities, disrupt terrorist training, break up support cells, and
bring suspects to justice, they said.

"We can never know how many attempted (terrorist) acts we may have
thwarted as a result of such cooperation, but we do know that
terrorists have been constrained by our efforts, says Ambassador
Michael Sheehan, the State Department's acting coordinator for
counter-terrorism, who also briefed August 4.

In the East Africa case, the U.S. Department of Justice has charged
bin Laden and 16 associates involved in those bombings. Five suspects
are now in U.S. custody and three more are in custody in the United
Kingdom, pending extradition to the United States, Sheehan said.

"We remain determined to bring all of those responsible to justice,"
he said.

But bin Laden remains in Afghanistan under the protection of the
Taliban, an ultra-conservative Islamic militia that controls most of
that country. The United States conducted a bombing run against bin
Laden's facilities there once. The United States, Sheehan said, will
use military force again, "if necessary to defend our people and
interests."

Sheehan pointed out that U.S. interests overseas will never be
invulnerable to attack. "When we represent our people overseas, we
will always face risks," he said. "But we will not be deterred from
doing the business we are charged to do."

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will host a special
commemorative ceremony for the victims of the East Africa terrorist
bombings on Saturday, August 7 at the State Department. National
Security Advisor Sandy Berger will be there to deliver a Presidential
Message.

Albright has taken a keen personal interest in the safety of American
diplomats working overseas, according to her spokesman, James Rubin.

"She meets every morning, first thing in the morning, with the head of
Diplomatic Security," Rubin said at the August 4 briefing. "I think
that has contributed to insuring that from the top down this
Department has put embassy security as a top priority the way it
should be."