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CNN Live Event/Special

America's New War: Pentagon Security is Tight

Aired September 18, 2001 - 05:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Information continues to pour in in the aftermath of last week's terrorist strike, and what the voices and sounds were like in the calls for help.

CNN's Mark Potter has a look at those tapes. Mark is at the Pentagon this morning.

Good morning, Mark.

MARK POTTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

We'll see -- we'll view those tapes in a second, but let me tell you first that officials here at the Pentagon seem to have some renewed security concerns. Yesterday and overnight, the parking lots -- some of the parking lots near the building were cleared out. The security perimeter was moved away from the building. New security checkpoints were set up, and dogs are being used to check the cars coming in.

Now, even the day care center here has been closed down now because of concerns that it could be targeted by terrorists.

Now, as you mentioned, we have obtained a videotape taken at the Pentagon shortly after American Airlines flight 77 crashed into the building a week ago. We see the tape now -- the smoke billowing up. An estimated 188 people were killed in that attack.

Recovery workers are still here today, 24 hours a day, shoring up the building, removing debris and remains. FBI agents still gathering evidence.

And this was the scene shortly after the plane slammed into the building, and we can see the firefighters and the smoke billowing up. It was quite a scene here. On the day of the attack, calls came into 911 right after the hijacked 757 hit the building, and then the police dispatchers went to work.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DISPATCHER: OK. Any unit responding to check the area of the Pentagon, advise on Channel One, please.

I have delta 35, cruiser 34, delta 45, too.

OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Officer Ragden (ph), there is visible smoke coming from that area -- high visible smoke.

DISPATCHER: Motor 11 direct.

Units once again.

Keep all traffic on 1 Adam restricted until further notice. Units responding for the report on the plane crash, advise on One-Adam one at a time. I have motor 11, cruiser 34, cruiser 49, delta 10, delta 453, delta 35, and delta 452.

Any other units, stand by response there, let cruiser 59 notify further.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unit 23, I'm going to be clear 304, and I'll be standing by for further instructions.

DISPATCHER: Unit 23, thank you.

Cruiser 50?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

DISPATCHER: Ten-four.

Is that enough units to respond for now, or do you request additional?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. Stand by until we see what we got.

DISPATCHER: Ten-four.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Section will respond for traffic.

DISPATCHER: Who is responding for traffic?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Motor two.

DISPATCHER: Motor two responding for traffic also.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Motor 11.

DISPATCHER: Motor 11.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm on 110, and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) hit bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

POTTER: A very dramatic and terrifying scene.

Now, as for the war on terrorism, U.S. officials say it will be a years-long unconventional war, but they are not revealing any specific details. In fact, when President Bush was here at the Pentagon earlier, he said his Administration will not be talking about what it may or may not be doing. He does not want to jeopardize the lives of American military personnel.

Now, sources say that this war will be conducted under unprecedented security so that terrorists or those who support them will not be tipped off by media reports. Reporters will not be allowed to be deployed with troops or to report from ships as they have in the past, and planning for this war will be highly compartmentalized so fewer people will have access to classified plans.

Meanwhile, 35,000 reservists are being called up to take part in rescue and recovery efforts and also to protect the country. That activation is being called Operation Noble Eagle.

Carol , back to you.

LIN: Do you have yet a sense from the Pentagon as to the timing of any sort of military operation or action?

POTTER: No. The only thing that we believe we understand is that it is not imminent in terms of the next few days. But we don't really know that. This is being held very closely to the vest, and it's much harder for reporters working at the Pentagon than it has been in the past, and that's by design. They are very concerned about security and secrecy. They don't want to tip the hands of the terrorists, who often get their information by watching television.

LIN: Certainly.

POTTER: Back to you.

LIN: Mark , a quick question about the security concerns you were talking about at the Pentagon. Are you saying that Pentagon officials might have new information that they could yet again be targeted and attacked, and therefore they're responding right now?

POTTER: No, I'm not saying that directly. We don't know that for sure. We're just seeing signs that there are some concerns, and the perimeters, as I've said before, are being moved back. The parking lots cleared out -- even the VIP parking lot at the -- at the front of the building has been cleared out. And coming into the building myself tonight, I had to go through a checkpoint that was farther out on the road than the ones I've faced before.

LIN: All right. Thank you very much, Mark Potter. Of course, we'll be staying with you throughout the morning.

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