http://www.fayettevillenc.com/foto/news/content/1999/tx99dec/n23bragg.htm

Terrorist watch stepped up Some fear Bragg may be target By Laura Kinsler Staff writer As U.S. officials continue to warn of terrorist plots aimed at Americans during the holidays, some local residents are worried that Fort Bragg could be a target.

Paulsen Michael Paulsen, a Fort Bragg soldier who lives on post, said he wouldnt mind seeing heightened security at the entrance points.

Security on Fort Bragg is a concern for me, Paulsen said.

He said the Fort Bragg military community learned a painful lesson about having an open base in 1995 when a disgruntled soldier hid in the woods and shot 19 soldiers during their morning calisthenics.

There are several potential targets, he said. Youve got the Special Operations Command, the 18th Airborne Corps Command. I wouldnt mind if they stopped vehicles going on and off the base.

Secretary of State Madeline Albright has warned that American tourists and military personnel overseas may be terrorist targets over the holidays. And the arrests of suspected terrorists trying to enter the United States from Canada have raised concerns about domestic attacks and prompted some people to change their New Years Eve plans.

Fort Bragg spokeswoman Jackie Thomas would not comment on security plans other than to say that the Army is ready to respond to any contingency.

The Public Affairs Office at Pope Air Force Base said the base has enhanced its security on the orders of the State Department.

Fayetteville residents June Papaspiros and Betty Ward said they take the terrorism warnings seriously.

I think its a definite possibility that it could happen anywhere in the world, Ward said.

Papaspiros said that any time Americans are threatened abroad, she worries about soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg. Its a concern when you have so many military people in one place, she said. If anyone were trying to get to Americans, I would think theyd attack Fort Bragg.

Carnell Mosley, who works at a naval base in Maryland, was visiting Fayetteville for Christmas. He said he, too, worries about military facilities being targeted.

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-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 26, 1999

Answers

"Public Affairs officers at every other major U.S. military base, when asked for their opinion, hastily agreed: "Yeah, Fort Bragg's probabably the target", was the typical response. "Nothing worth attacking here", added some. "That's F-O-R-T B-R-A-G-G," said one, "Make sure you spell it right so that there are no mistakes and they don't, um, end up here."

-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), December 27, 1999.