European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - July 27, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Helping . Teens transition after years abroad by Carol Rose new York times Hen Theresa j. Lauderdale moved Back to the United states at the age of 16, she had lived in live countries and spoke our languages. Yet her High school Peers had Little interest in the outside world she says and she found it difficult to make friends. David c Fouche who returned to the United slates at the age of 13. Says he was thrilled with the fast food chains but the crime in America shocked him. We tend to glorify the United states when we Are overseas said Fouche now 16, who had lived in members of around the world in a lifetime help other teens adjust to life i the United states. New Yortis Tom photo Barcelona and Madrid in Spain and la ?., Bolivia for seven years. But then you come Back and see the crime and drugs and you realize it is not All that  Lauderdale and Fouche Are among the thousands of children of foreign service employees who spend their formative years abroad. In addition to learning other languages their skills also include the ability to behave gracefully at formal banquets and to Man Euver around major International airports. Yet like Many foreign service teen agers Lauderdale and Fouche found coming Home the toughest transition. Three years ago Lauderdale now 24, Fouche and a handful of teen agers started a group to help children of foreign service employees returning to the United bureaucratic gridlock stalls embassy Security Steps by Jim Anderson United press International Ost overruns and bureaucratic gridlock uncovered by congressional investigators have cast doubt on the state department s ability to carry out its planned $4 billion beefing up of embassy Security around the world. The problems were summarized by the general accounting office the investigative Arm of Congress in a report that found big gaps in embassy Security systems including electric Barrier systems that did not work and an ambassador who demoralized his Security guards by having them walk his pet poodle. The stale department agreed with Many of the Gao criticisms of the project which was rushed into action following the bombing of the american embassy in Beirut in september 1984. The project Over five years will Cost More than $4 billion. The Gao probe covered the project s first hectic year of operation in which nearly $350 million was spent. In Moscow an embassy construction project that was to Cost $30 million has already Cost $167 million partly due to delays by local contractors hired by the soviet government. In Cairo partly because of disagreement about whether an embassy building should have 20 stories or 16, the estimated Cost had grown from $27 million to $43 million and the construction project is Way behind schedule. Another project in Cairo the ambassador s residence was finally abandoned after costs had More than trebled and Security doors did not work an earlier report said. The Gao summary said the state department agreed that bureaucratic gridlock has often prevented action on Security  officials said there was often disagreement Between workers for the . Information Agency who want to be accessible to the population and embassy Security people who want the installations isolated for Protection against car bombs and other attacks. The department bought and shipped overseas 200 electronic barriers at a Cost of More than $2 million. Six months after they had arrived the Gao reported they still were unused because the wrong wiring diagrams had been shipped with the equipment. When the american embassy in Beirut was bombed in 1984, the Barrier Gates were lying unused alongside the Road leading to the Gate where the car bombers attacked the building. In some overseas posts the report said local cleaning Crews also served As Security guards. In other posts Security guards were ordered to perform other duties such As washing cars or trimming shrubs. In one Post examined by the Gao the ambassador ordered the Security guards to walk his pet poodle around the  several guards quit because they considered the Job degrading. In another embassy identified in the report Only As Post a the owner of the building occupied by the american personnel decided to reinforce windows with Concrete panels. The state department discovered later that the reinforcements would protect against sniper fire but in the event of an explosion the Concrete inserts will become secondary  in one of the High risk cities. Damascus a new and More secure embassy has not been started because the syrian government refused to Issue a building permit. In another High risk Post Kuwait permission for a new building has to come from the parliament which has not yet acted on the Issue. The embassy construction program began after an advisory panel decided that the american embassies must be in buildings owned and controlled by the american government. Many Are now in rented space in office buildings. The commission said the buildings have to be Strong and insulated from attacks and eavesdropping and that where this is not possible or financially feasible America should consider closing up the diplomatic posts. Page 16 the stars and stripes additional police Van at the . Consulate in Amsterdam it part of Security increase. Sunday. July 27,1986 in photo