22 May 1998
Thanks to DN

May 22, 1998
Clinton Backs Cyber-Terror Warnings
Filed at 1:31 p.m. EDT
By The Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) -- Nuclear warheads were the stuff of Cold War
stockpiles and beachheads the battlefields of times gone by. To counter
today's threats, President Clinton told a new class of Naval officers, the
United States must amass germ-warfare vaccines and battle terrorists in
cyberspace. 

"If our children are to grow up safe and free, we must approach these new
21st century threats with the same rigor and determination we applied to the
toughest security challenges of this century," the president said today in
a commencement speech at the U.S. Naval Academy. 

For the 769 graduating midshipmen and 139 midshipwomen whose dress uniforms
shone blindingly white in the sun, Clinton painted a near-apocalyptic
picture of the enemies who threatened their mission beyond the academy. 

"As we approach the 21st century, our foes have extended the fields of
battle from physical space to cyberspace, from the world's vast bodies of
water to the complex workings of our own human body. Rather than invading
our beaches or launching bombers, these adversaries may attempt cyber
attacks against our critical military systems and our economic base,"
Clinton said. 

He ordered the development and unprecedented stockpiling of vaccines and
antibiotics for civilians, and directed that public health and medical
surveillance systems be upgraded to detect and sound the alarm on any
release of bacteria or viruses. 

Clinton also called for an interconnected "cyber-system" that would warn
and minimize damage of attacks on computers that control the stock market,
banking, utilities, air traffic and other so-called "critical
infrastructure." 

In a reminder that the Cold War-era worry over nuclear weapons is still a
concern, Clinton again urged Pakistan to refrain from responding to India's
recent nuclear tests with tests of its own. Before leaving Annapolis,
Clinton stopped at a boathouse to call Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
to again plead for restraint. 

"The president is urging efforts to be made to avoid increasing tensions on
the sub-continent," deputy White House press secretary Amy Weiss Tobe said.
She said she did not know why Clinton felt compelled to call before making
the short flight back to the White House. 

Private companies including IBM, Dell Computers, Bell South and GTE have
already agreed to participate in the "cyber-system," which Clinton wants
to be fully operational by 2003, administration officials said. 

"If we fail to take strong action, then terrorists, criminals and hostile
regimes could invade and paralyze these vital systems, disrupting commerce,
threatening health, weakening our capacity to function in a crisis,"
Clinton said. 

He appointed National Security Council adviser Richard Clarke, who
specializes in such issues as drug trafficking and terrorism, to head a new
office on infrastructure protection and counter-terrorism. Former Sen. Sam
Nunn and Jamie Gorelick, formerly the Justice Department's No. 2 official
and now Fannie Mae's vice chairwoman, will lead a private industry advisory
group. 

On protecting civilians from biological attack, Clinton did not specify how
stockpiles would be maintained or prioritized. One administration official
said in advance of the speech that there is scant support for vaccinating
all civilians as a precautionary measure. 

Coincident to Clinton's announcement, the Defense Department today expanded
its vaccination program against the lethal anthrax bacteria to include not
just troops in the Persian Gulf region, but all active and reserve
personnel. Also, the Pentagon designated ten states -- Massachusetts, New
York, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, Missouri, Colorado, California
and Washington -- where National Guard units will be specially trained for
responding to weapons of mass destruction. 

Clinton acknowledged that any civilian vaccine program requires further
scientific innovation and he took a poke at Congress for resisting his
budget requests on biomedical research. 

"We must not cede the cutting edge of biotechnology to those who would do
us harm," he said. 

Anthrax is the only potential germ weapon for which a vaccine has been
proven safe and approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 

At least two recent White House briefings with experts in chemical and
biological weapons convinced Clinton of the urgency of these initiatives,
presidential spokesman Mike McCurry said Thursday. 

Headlines during Clinton's presidency -- the nerve-gas attack on Tokyo's
subway system in 1995, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing -- also have
underscored the changing nature of national security. 

Establishing vaccine stockpiles for the U.S. cities considered most
vulnerable could cost billions of dollars and take years to achieve. The
Defense Department announced last year that it was stockpiling -- at an
estimated five-year cost of $320 million -- vaccines for anthrax, smallpox
and other diseases for the 2.4 million people in the active and reserve
military. Any civilian stockpile would require far more. 

One group of specialists advising the White House on this issue listed five
agents posing the most immediate threat: anthrax, smallpox, plague,
tuleremia and botulinum toxin. 

Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/Work/052298.html

"If our children are to grow up safe and free, we must approach these 21st Century threats with the same rigor and determination we applied to the toughest security challenges of this century."

- President Bill Clinton
May 22, 1998

Today, in a commencement speech to the graduates of the United States Naval Academy, President Clinton will announce a comprehensive strategy to strengthen America's defenses against the terrorist attacks of the 21st Century, including attacks on our infrastructure, computer networks, and through the use of biological weapons.

Securing America's Safety In The 21st Century. America stands as an unrivaled military power. However, as we move into the 21st Century, the United States is a potential and powerful target for those who commit terrorist atrocities and would undermine our national security. President Clinton recognizes these potential threats and will announce a three part strategy to combat them. The President will: 1) implement a comprehensive strategy to deter, detect, and defend against terrorist attacks; 2) adopt policies to protect the vital elements of our infrastructure; and 3) work to limit the development of dangerous biological weapons and better defend our citizens against them.

A Coordinated Strategy To Meet 21st Century Threats. To ensure our ability to deter and prevent terrorist attacks, the President will issue a directive which will result in a more systematic approach to fighting terrorism. This directive:

• establishes the Office of National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Counter-Terrorism, which will oversee a broad range of policies, including counter-terrorism, protection of critical infrastructure, and preparedness and consequence management for weapons of mass destruction;
  
• clarifies and codifies the role U.S. agencies play in combating terrorism, apprehending and prosecuting terrorists, increasing airport security, enhancing response capabilities and protecting our computer-based infrastructure; and
  
• reinforces the role these agencies play in fighting terrorism.

Protecting Our Infrastructure In The 21st Century. As our society becomes more reliant on technology, the critical parts of our infrastructure -- our power systems, water supply, emergency medical, police, and fire services, air traffic control, and financial services -- have become linked through massive computer networks. The risk of a "cyber-attack" on these networks increases as our society becomes more automated. To help combat these risks, the President announces his intent to:

• create a partnership between the government and private sector to find and reduce the areas of vulnerability we have to such attacks;
  
• develop warning systems, including a national center to alert us to such attacks;
  
• increase cooperation with friendly nations; and
  
• develop the means to minimize damage and recover quickly in the eventuality of an attack.

Fighting the Dangers of Biological Weapons. The President recognizes the significant threat biological weapons pose as we enter the 21st Century. In an effort to prevent their spread, and to protect our citizens, the President announces that he will pursue policies to:

• strengthen the International Biological Weapons Convention through stronger inspection systems to detect and prevent cheating;
  
• inoculate our entire armed service, active and reserve, against the anthrax bacteria;
  
• upgrade our public health systems for detection and warnings against biological weapons;
  
• train and equip local authorities on how to handle emergencies involving weapons of mass destruction;
  
• stockpile medicine and vaccines that can be used against biological attacks.

Date:         Fri, 22 May 1998 14:15:03 -0400
From: dlnews_sender@DTIC.MIL
Subject:      DoD News Releases
To: DODNEWS-L@DTIC.MIL

= N  E  W  S      R  E  L  E  A  S  E
=
= OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
= (PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
= WASHINGTON, D.C. 20301
=
= PLEASE NOTE DATE
====================================================

No. 255-98
(703)695-0192(media)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 1998
(703)697-5737(public/industry)
TOTAL FORCE ANTHRAX VACCINATION DECISION ANNOUNCED

Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen has directed the military 
to proceed with the previously publicized plan to vaccinate all 
active duty personnel and Selected Reserves with the FDA-licensed 
Anthrax vaccine.  Total Force vaccinations for about 2.4 million 
military Service members are expected to begin this summer.

Cohen explained that, "I have approved implementation of the 
Anthrax Vaccination Program for the total force.  This is an 
efficient, effective and safe way to protect our forces against 
an emerging threat.

"On December 15, 1997, I made implementation of the program 
contingent on the successful completion of four conditions: 
supplemental testing of the vaccine; assured tracking of 
immunizations; approved operational and communications plans; 
and review of the health and medical aspects of the program by 
an independent expert," Cohen said.  "All conditions for 
implementing the anthrax vaccination program for the total 
force have now been met.  Vaccinations of the active components 
and Selected Reserve shall proceed consistent with all 
specifications of the Food and Drug Administration approved 
product labeling."

Today, during his commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy, 
President Clinton emphasized the importance of this initiative.  
Clinton said, "Because our troops serve on the frontline of 
freedom we must take special care to protect them.  So we have 
been working on vaccinating them against biological threats and 
now we will inoculate all our armed forces, active duty and 
reserves against deadly anthrax bacteria."

The Secretary of the Army will be the Executive Agent for the 
Department's Anthrax Vaccination Program. The Army, on behalf of 
the Executive Agent, will manage and administer the overall 
program and monitor the Services' progress of their respective 
implementation plans.

After a three-year review, Cohen concluded that the vaccination 
is the safest way to protect highly mobile U.S. military forces 
against a potential threat that is 99 percent lethal to unprotected
individuals.  "This is a force protection issue that was 
recommended by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff," Cohen 
said. "To be effective, force health protection must be 
comprehensive, well-documented and consistent.  I have instructed 
the military to put such a program in place."  Cohen and Gen. 
Henry H. Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have both 
started taking the anthrax vaccinations.

Immunization for our troops is a prudent action. The immunization 
program will consist of a series of six inoculations per Service 
member over an 18-month period, followed by an annual booster.  
Although protection levels increase as shots in the primary series 
are given; the entire six-shot series is required for full 
protection, as determined by the FDA.

The total force anthrax vaccination plans were first announced in 
December 1997.  In March 1998, the vaccination program was 
accelerated for troops assigned or deploying to Southwest Asia 
after all four conditions for implementation had been successfully 
met in theater.  The estimated cost to vaccinate the total force 
over a six to seven-year period is approximately $130 million. 
This includes associated costs for transportation, storage, and 
administration of the program.

The phased vaccination program will take six to seven years to 
complete.  Next in priority after those in Southwest Asia and 
Northeast Asia are early deploying forces.  The remainder of the 
force, including the reserves and National Guard, and new recruits 
will follow.  Annual booster vaccinations for all Service members 
will become a routine part of force health protection.

More information about the Defense Department's anthrax vaccination
program is available on the World Wide Web at: 

http://www.defenselink.mil/other_info/protection.html

-END-