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DATE=12/15/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-243027 TITLE=GULF TERRORISM ALERT BYLINE=JIM RANDLE DATELINE=PENTAGON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: U-S FORCES IN THE PERSIAN GULF REGION HAVE BEEN PUT ON AN UNUSUALLY HIGH STATE OF ALERT FOLLOWING THREATS OF TERRORIST ATTACK. V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS FROM THE PENTAGON, WHERE OFFICIALS CALL THE REPORTED THREATS "DISTURBING." TEXT: PENTAGON SPOKESMAN KEN BACON SAYS U-S MILITARY COMMANDERS IN THE PERSIAN GULF REGION ARE TELLING TROOPS TO STAY ON BASES, AVOID TRAVEL IN LARGE GROUPS, AND TO MAKE THEIR ACTIVITIES LESS PREDICTABLE AND THUS LESS VULNERABLE TO CAR BOMBS AND OTHER ATTACKS. /// BACON ACT /// INTELLIGENCE HAS BEEN RECEIVED INDICATING THAT SOME FORM OF TERRORIST ACTION IS IMMINENT. WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE SIGNIFICANT, CREDIBLE INTELLIGENCE SUGGESTING THE POSSIBILITY OF AN IMMINENT TERRORIST ACTION IN THE MIDDLE EASTERN REGION. /// END ACT /// MR. BACON SAYS THREATS ARE MADE AGAINST U-S FORCES ALL THE TIME, BUT HE SAYS THIS PARTICULAR THREAT IS BEING TAKEN "VERY SERIOUSLY." HE WOULD GIVE NO DETAILS OF THE NATURE OF THE THREAT, BUT SAID THERE HAVE BEEN TWO DEADLY BOMB ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS IN SAUDI ARABIA SINCE 1994. ONE SUCH ATTACK WRECKED AN AIR FORCE BARRACKS CALLED KHOBAR TOWERS, KILLING 19 AMERICANS. MR. BACON SAYS THAT INCIDENT PROMPTED U-S FORCES TO DEVOTE MUCH MORE ATTENTION, EQUIPMENT AND MONEY TO PROTECTING TROOPS. MR. BACON SAYS THIS LATEST ALERT FOR U-S TROOPS IS BASED ON THE SAME INFORMATION THAT PROMPTED THE U-S STATE DEPARTMENT TO URGE DIPLOMATS AND OTHER U-S CITIZENS IN THE MIDDLE EAST TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS OVER THE LAST FEW DAYS. (SIGNED) NEB/JR/GE 15-Dec-98 3:40 PM EST (2040 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .