-Caveat Lector- U.S. Terrorist Threats Detailed By DAVID BRISCOE .c The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Concerned about a series of doomsday scenarios ranging from an anthrax release in Boston to an Iraqi nerve gas attack on U.S. troops, a government commission proposes a far-reaching reform of agencies now handling such threats. President Clinton said the recommendations ``deserve serious consideration.'' He directed his national security adviser, Sandy Berger, to coordinate an interagency assessment and to report back within 60 days. The commission's report released Wednesday details a plan to give the vice president the lead role in preventing and dealing with the threat of weapons of mass destruction and calls for appointment of a high-profile national director for nonproliferation In a separate report, a congressional study estimated it would cost a city of 500,000 about $1.3 million to acquire basic equipment to prepare for a hazardous material incident and $12 million to be ``highly prepared'' for a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event. The commission's main proposals and conclusions were disclosed last week in interviews, but former CIA Director John Deutch, who headed the panel, released details of its work Wednesday. ``We believe the country needs to be better protected,'' Deutch said, introducing his congressionally-established 12-member panel at the Capitol. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the commission's vice chairman, announced plans to introduce legislation today that would tighten export controls on items that might be used to manufacture heavily destructive weapons, including requiring electronic registration of all sales of such products- a practice he said should be adopted worldwide. ``We are woefully unprepared, and we would like to see something done before some incident occurs,'' Specter said. The commission concludes that the top levels of government are ``not effectively organized to combat proliferation'' and recommends more presidential and vice presidential involvement in the issue, as well as a reorganization of the nearly 100 agencies now dealing with the issue. One commission member, former Democratic Sen. James Exon of Nebraska, dissenting from the report's main recommendation, urged greater Cabinet-level involvement and a nonproliferation director who would report directly to the president. ``What has been crafted, in my opinion, is another lower-level 'working group,''' Exon said. To underscore the motivation for its proposals, the commission listed four scenarios it said could occur: Anthrax is released in a Boston subway station during rush hour, sending 6,000 people to hospital emergency rooms. Analysts estimate that North Korean scientists have assembled 10 nuclear weapons, and intelligence reports say North Korea is planning to sell two. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein orders Scud missiles carrying nerve agents fired upon U.S. troops in Turkey and Saudi Arabia. A disgruntled Russian scientist at Ozersk acquires 44 pounds of highly enriched uranium and sells it to Iran. ``These events have not taken place,'' it said. ``But they could.'' In the separate General Accounting Office report, investigators compiled estimates of the resources it would take to meet a catastrophic attack on a U.S. city of 500,000. The report cautions that the estimates and accompanying list of needed supplies are meant only to be illustrative of possible needs. For a typical hazardous materials incident, it estimated $1.3 million to procure materials ranging from duct tape to mobil comand posts and another $3.3 million to sustain the preparedness over 10 years. For a high level of preparation, the estimates were $12.2 million for initial procurement and $42.9 million over a decade. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
