European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 20, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Air Force general recalls the close Calls by Rosemary Sawyer Brussels Bureau every time Brig. Gen. John w. Douglass travelled Between his Home and his office at nato Headquarters in Brussels Belgium his Driver took a different route. The Security conscious Douglass treated information about his schedule and whereabouts like the classified documents that crossed his desk. For a Long time the air Force officer had no particular reason to feel threatened he simply made personal Security a Way of life. But in the fall of 1990, Douglass became the target of a series of attacks and apparent kidnapping attempts. He says that following the simple precautions Likely saved his life. Personal Security became very personal for the recently retired one Star in 1990, shortly after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and the United states began its troop build up in the Middle East. The . Embassy and the . Mission to nato had been getting a variety of threatening Calls and officials mindful of the More than 200,000 muslims living in Brussels tightened Security Douglass said during an interview that a True to form a he asked not be published until he moved Back to the United states. The Deputy . Representative to the nato military committee and Brussels Community commander said that at the time he was a almost totally focused on other  Quot it had not crossed my mind that they would try something against  however at about 7 . On sept. 25, while Douglass was vacationing in Portugal a Man dressed As a belgian policeman appeared at his Home. His Driver and bodyguard answered the door and when the army staff sergeant turned to Call the general a aide to translate the Man knocked him to the floor. While the police impostor held a gun to his head several accomplices rushed in and fanned out Over the House. The assailants threatened the sergeants life while grilling him for information about when Douglass would be returning. Several hours later they left. The bound and gagged bodyguard was discovered about Midnight. When Douglass returned to Brussels he was moved to a Safe House. Security also was stepped up to protect the Community a five general officers three ambassadors and Many senior level diplomats. Recalling the incident Douglass said Quot the first Shock that comes Home is when you know somebody has picked you out of the crowd and targeted you As an  what the former National Security Council staff member did t know at the time was that his second Shock would come about 10 Days later when he discovered Quot they Don t just give up on the first  one night after work a new Driver was Chau Feuring him toward the Safe House when they noticed they were being tailed Douglass said. They radioed to authorities then headed for the . Embassy and the Security of armed Marine guards. Suddenly a car sped from a Side Street in front of them and tried to Block the Road while the car that had been following tried to Block them from behind Douglass said. Each car was occupied by four Quot arabic looking males Quot dressed identically in White to shirts Douglass  action Linea Afes credit system avoids balloon payments Roc Vivod notification from cafes App office that my balance was decreased because of my Deros Date of reassignment. That month i overpaid to avoid the balloon payment. My next statement was a copayment due. Why does t cafes set a minimum payment once it notifies you of reduced balance due to Deros sgt. 1st class Grayling Batchelor Baum older Germany be it. Col. Joe Cato chief Public affairs office he cafes Europe replies we do set a minimum payment based upon the Quot just like in the movies Quot Douglass Driver dodged other vehicles even knocking Over chairs in sidewalk cafes he  assailants drove up on both sides of Douglass car. Again his Driver steered them through. After failing their second Man Euver one car drove against traffic to assume a Vantage Point that totally blocked traffic while the other car trapped them from behind. Quot at that Point we figured that it was starting to look bad and we were seriously considering that we might have to use our weapons but just by the Grace of god along came a belgian police Van Quot Douglass said. The cars which they later Learned bore bogus plates took Sis rom my Sawyer retired Brig. Gen. John w. Douglass off and Douglass and his Driver sped to the embassy. After the second incident an extra guard began Riding with Douglass arid a Chase car was employed. Three weeks later the Chase car got a workout when Douglass was returning from the supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Casteau about 40 Miles South of Brussels. Quot we had a Mercedes full of again what appeared to be Young Arab males make some very aggressive moves toward us on the Highway Quot Douglass said. Quot because we had a Chase car it sort of became a game of who was chasing  eventually the car broke off Pursuit. Again the License plate was found to be phony he said. Officials investigating the three incidents never determined who the perpetrators were or what their motive was Douglass said. Quot when it was All Over there were several schools of thought As to what had transpired. But no one is sure in the final analysis because we did no to catch them and they did t catch me Quot Douglass said shortly before leaving Brussels to Start work As a professional staff member on the Senate armed sen ices committee. Douglass said he subscribes to the theory that the Abu Nidal group wanted to obtain a hostage to use to bargain for the release of one of its people who was then jailed in Belgium. Douglass said Reading classified analyses also led him to think the operation was centrally directed from the Middle East. Douglass downplayed the possibility of a connection Between the incidents and his involvement in planning the 1986 . Bombing of Libya. A photograph above his desk at nato attested to his connection. It showed the Day he sat in a room with former president Reagan defense Secretary Frank Carlucci and Secretary of state George Schulz As they were briefed on the operation. The Miami native called his role  at Best he could be called a Quot technical adviser to the operation a he said. Quot it would seem far fetched to me that they would have somehow found that out and therefore targeted  regardless of the motive Douglass said he plans to remain vigilant even when safely Back in Washington. Quot lets put it this Way when you retire from the military they give you the option to buy your personal weapons and i bought  Douglass refuses to let the threat limit him however. Quot if you let them ruin your life or if you let them Force you to live in a fortress then they through their act of terrorism have actually gotten the upper hand on you Quot he said. However it would be Quot silly Quot to say the incidents Haven t affected his life he said. Quot there has not been a Day that s gone by since i be been in Europe that i did not think about  for a your Douglass shared his House with armed guards. Quot you can imagine what that did to my social life Quot the 51-year-old Bachelor said. Quot it s pretty hard to bring a Date Home for a romantic dinner when there a a couple of kids with uzis hanging around the  the events also caused his two children and father much worry Back in the states he said. In addition to Good Security Douglass credits his two army Drivers for his Good Fortune. He declined to name them for Security reasons. A i leave this assignment with an enormous affection for the Young army people who guarded my life during this time Quot Douglass said. After undergoing psychological and physical rehabilitation the first Driver eventually returned to the Job. It some May say he made a mistake when he turned his Back on that policeman Quot Douglass said. Quot he a a hero in my Book. He took the beating for  in his new Capitol Hill Job Douglass will employ his expertise in High technology and weapons acquisition working directly for sen. Jeff Bingaman d-n.m., chairman of the Senate subcommittee on science technology and Industry. Douglass a military history Buff who combed Many a Battlefield during his nearly three years in Belgium said he plans to come Back to visit Europe. Quot but Quot he added Quot i m not going to Tell anybody when i m  maximum affordable monthly payment you directed on your account the number of months remaining before you Deros and your current account balance. However this minimum payment can change because of additional App charges returns of merchandise Deros Date adjustments or extra payments you be made other than your regular monthly payment. Our notification to you of an approaching Deros does not result in a balloon payment due it just lets you know your available credit will diminish As you approach your Deros Date. This procedure allows you to pay off your account two months prior to Deros and protects you from having a Ballon payment at Transfer time. Should you pay More than the payment due on your App the excess amount is applied to your next Billing statement. Sometimes this results in no payment being due the next month. However you can continue to make additional payments if you desire. One advantage of this feature is that people going on extended try temporary duty can pay in Advance and protect themselves from an account going into overdue status due to Lack of payment. To write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 the stars and stripes wednesday May 20, 1992