◆ SpookStack

Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R000100330001-5 BALTIMORE SUN 24 May 1984 Pg. D-1l Graduates told of ‘new strategy’ for terrorism By Michael J, Clark Anne Arundel Bureau of The Sun ANNAPOLIS — A lesson gleaned from the terrorist bombing that killed 241 Americans in Beirut last October has led to a “new strategy” of preemptive strikes against terrorist groups in certain situations, the chief of naval operations told a graduating class of 993 midshipmen yes- terday. Addressing the 134th graduating class at the , - U.S. Naval Academy, Adm. James D. Watkins said, “We cannot stand idly by and let any small group of fanatics bend the will and break the spirit of an entire nation. ...” The four-star admiral, a 1949 academy grad- vate who is the nation's top-ranking naval offi- cer, said he helped devise a new strategy to combat terrorists following the bombing in Lebanon, and he came to the conclusion that “there can be ‘moral justification to preempt a — probable terrorist attack.” He cautioned that using military force against terrorist sites where bombs are made or against countries that supply materials and - money to terrorists should be “a last resort” af- ter diplomatic initiatives and political and eco- nomic sanctions are tried. Before undertaking such a military attack, he said, the United States must believe there is “a reasonable hope of success” and ‘‘we must foresee more good than evi) as a result of our actions.” Such a military action should have the goal of deterring aggressors from taking other actions against Americans, and “we should work to make terrorist acts so counterproductive and costly, or seem so costly, that potential perpe- trators will think twice before conducting, or threatening to conduct, terrorist acts,” Admiral Watkins said. ; The graduation, staged on the football field of the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadi- um, was the prelude “to the main event ahead — that’s the fleet,” said Academy Superinten- dent Rear Admiral] Charles R. Larson. Among the midshipmen graduating yester- day before a crowd of 15,000 parents, friends and admirers, 811 were commissioned as Navy ensigns, 165 were sworn in as Marine Corps sec- ond lieutenants, four will become Air Force sec- ond lieutenants and seven foreign nationals will become officers in their countries’ navies. Six graduates had physical disabilities which pre- vented them from receiving a commission. The cost to taxpayers to educate each graau- ating midshipman was $117,000, academy offi- cials said. + ++ SPECIAL EDITION -- TERRORISM -- 26 JUNE 1984 WASHINGTON TIMES 21 May 1984 Pg. 2 U.S. found ill prepared for terrorism By Bob Poos THE WASHINGTON TIMES The Soviet Union's terrorism policy will “play an ever increasing factor” in Soviet-U.S. relations, and the United ‘States is ill-equipped to dea) with it,” a retired senior Navy admiral states. The Soviets’ policies that result in confrontations and terrorism, “have remained remarkably stable over the years.” he said. The Soviets employ guerrilla warfare involving political or religious minor- ities and the United States, said the offi- cer, who spoke at a seminar of the Hudson Institute on the condition that he not be named. The Vietnamese invasion of Kampuc- hea (formerly Cambodia) and terrorist tactics in Lebanon were instances in which Soviet policy has been somewhat effective, he said. The invasion will permit the Soviets to maintain a “high profile role in Southeast Asia, which: they have no intention of relinquishing,” he said. Terrorist tactics in Lebanon were ultimately successful in forcing the U.S. military to retire from that country, he said. One region, the speaker contended, in which the Soviets have only partly suc- ceeded in establishing a presence is ‘Southern Africa. The admiral did not say but it is general knowledge that South Africa is responsible for keeping -the Soviets either out of or off balance _in that area. The Kremlin has learned the wisdom wof “using surrogates or ‘Paladins’ as ithey’re now being calied and will contin- ‘ually grow bolder in using them,” he predicted. The United States must improve its special counter-insurgency forces “which have been neglected in the past” and upgrade its capabilities in human intelligence (HUMINT) gathering to cope with guerrillas, he said. Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP$6-00788R000100330001-5