European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 5, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Tuesday March 5, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 3 in the Gulf Security pressure curbed terrorism experts say threat remains could even increase by Michael wines the new York times Washington a a a a staggering global Security Effort and the reluctant cooperation of other terrorist sponsors in the Region probably succeeded in averting spectacular acts of terrorism by Middle Eastern groups during the persian Gulf War government intelligence officials say. But those officials and other private experts warned that the threat of major terrorist strikes did not end with the cease fire and in fact was Likely to increase markedly in coming months. Western intelligence agencies have seen no slackening of activity by members of terrorist groups previously known to be planning attacks they said. The resounding defeat and huge casualties suffered by iraqi forces in the 43-Day War also May give Radical palestinians and fanatical Muslim factions new motives to retaliate against the United states and its allies. The american officials who refused to be identified said that Western intelligence services had foiled a number of planned terrorist efforts and that the expulsion of iraqi diplomats from Western nations probably had averted Many More. In addition the officials said diplomatic pressure by Syria and other Arab countries had succeeded in reining in terrorist groups including those sponsored by Libya. Moreover they said Allied bombing May have disrupted Baghdad a ability to communicate with terrorist cells outside. Iraq and the inter rational Trade embargo May have deprived the iraqi president Saddam Hussein of the Money or the equipment to sponsor violence by free Lance terrorist groups. The officials rejected suggestions that warnings of Gulf related terrorism had been exaggerated. On the contrary they said attacks against Western targets have risen sharply since August and even More dramatically when the bombing of Iraq began. An administration official said that roughly 120 terrorist attacks against american targets had been recorded since War broke out compared with 17 in the same period in 1990. A worldwide acts of terror have roughly tripled since the War began said Brian Jenkins a leading expert on terrorism who is a senior managing director of Kroll associates an International investigative company. A they were primarily symbolic protests a Jenkins said. A less than 5 percent involved fatalities whereas normally about 20 percent of terrorist attacks  Overall Only eight people have died in terrorist acts since the invasion of Kuwait. But Western services uncovered or foiled a number of terrorist plots in Europe and Asia that could have caused great loss of life officials said. The Best known was the planned destruction of an american cultural Center and office Complex in Manila which failed in january when one bomb exploded prematurely killing a terrorist. The French police also broke up an iraqi plot in mid january to attack a major Oil port near Marseilles. The officials said that Many other plots had probably been aborted by the systematic arrest expulsion or interrogation in the last seven months of thousands of iraqi intelligence agents diplomats and terrorist sympathizers worldwide. Tto. One administration official said that global .cooper-., action in the counter terrorism Effort involving private businesses such As airlines and once recalcitrant governments such As Greece had been a absolutely  a so far the big boys Haven to played in this game a the official said. A the fact is that the preemptive measures such As expulsions combined with the awesome Security went a Long Way toward disrupting some of the apparatus that these groups had been putting in place since  v. A a a a. Officials said that Egypt and other Arab nations had persuaded libyans Leader Gol. Foam near Qadhafi to rein in terrorist groups under his sponsorship. Syrians president Hafez Al Assad also pledged last fall to discourage Syria based terrorists from attacking Western targets out Side Israel during the Gulf crisis they said. Lbs newsmen relate iraqi beatings narrow escape from bomb hit let a v .1 1�?12jbtu splines of mines an explosives expert in the French army pulled out of the Beach where extensive lines up iraqi mines on the Beach Mon defensive arrangements had been made Day at Kuwait City. The mines were by iraqi troops. New York up Veteran lbs newsman Bob Simon said he and three colleagues held prisoner in Iraq for a month were beaten with canes by iraqi intelligence officers and narrowly escaped death when their prison took a direct hit in an Allied bombing raid. Simon described the intelligence officers As  _ a i think they should die soon and painfully a he told can in London. Simon 49, a Veteran of the network for More than 20 years Peter Bluff,-47, lbs news London Bureau chief Roberto Alvarez 37, a cameraman and Juan Caldera 27, a television sound Man were released after 40 Days in iraqi custody. They flew to London from Amman after driving from Baghdad to the jordanian capital. A a Bluff told can monday that when they were captured in january Simon was wearing . Military fatigues in order to get them up to the Border through . And Allied checkpoints. A Bob put on fatigues and every time they let us through. He looked like an officer a Bluff said. He said the four drove up near the Border and were taking pictures of the vast expanse of desert when a jeep filled with iraqi soldiers drove up. Bluff said it a did no to seem sensible to try to run Back to their vehicle so he walked up to one iraqi Soldier and a Shook hands with  a the did no to let go of my hand and i realized it had gone wrong. That was the beginning of the 40 Days and 40 nights a he said. A despite repeated beatings the former captives said the worst part of. Their ordeal was the bombing. Simon told a a lbs this morning monday that when the bombs hit the four newsmen discussed whether to use the confusion to try to escape. A a a we can to make it we can to survive on the streets of Baghdad a i told them. A we Don t speak the language they a know we were americans a a Simon said. Caldera said sunday a i heard the bombs then 1 heard the bomb coming. The sounds were incredible and i knew i knew it was coming to my. So i1 just crouched into a Corner and there was a big door and rubble  Simon saut bust after that bombing a i had a certain faiths that  leave me that a this is As close a Call As you la Ever  a a the Veteran correspondent said his iraqi captors would torment him by beating his three fellow prisoners within earshot during interrogations. Their captors repeatedly accused the four of being spies and kept taunting them by mentioning the name of British journalist Farod Bazot who was executed by the iraqis. ,. Doctors who examined the four after their release said they appeared healthy. A i find them in remarkably Good shape a or. Stuart Sanders Stuart told lbs news. He said it did not appear the four were tortured but were a beaten on occasion.�?�, from a medical perspective he said the beatings were not severe. Lbs spokeswoman Donna Dees said the four were taken first to London  cause the trip was a a Shorter than to new York. She also noted Bluff is British and that lbs has a Bureau in Britain. The Crew members were the first americans to be released since president Bush declared a cease fire on feb. 27, Simon said that during their ordeal they had seen american British and kuwaiti captives. J the lbs Crew left Dhahran saudi Arabia on Jan. 2 1 for the saudi Kuwait Border. The men were expected Back in Dhahran the next night. Two Days later a saudi military patrol found their four wheel strive land Cruiser abandoned at the Border. ,