Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Phoenix Memo Causing More Problems

Aired May 21, 2002 - 11:01   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 COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: First, though, on CNN, the nagging questions and new concerns about terrorism that have America on alert. The questions center around that so-called Phoenix memo, warning about a large number of Arabs seeking flight training in the United States. When did top Justice Department officials learn about the memo?

CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena is live in Washington with an update -- good morning.

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, if you're asking about when the attorney general actually had the memo in hand and received a full briefing, well, the answer is early April. But if you're asking when he was told in general about the concerns expressed in the memo, the answer is just after the September 11th attacks. Now most importantly, though, is what we've been saying all along, which is that the information in that memo was not shared before 9/11.

Now CNN has learned that the agent who wrote the memo is scheduled to go to Capitol Hill this afternoon, as Leon said, for a closed-door meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Officials are hoping that once agent Kenneth Williams provides some context as to why he wrote the memo this whole controversy will be put to rest.

Now in the meantime, the FBI and other government officials are focusing much of their energy on preventing another terrorist attack.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The FBI director says suicide bombers, like those who have attacked in Israel, will almost certainly hit the United States. Responding to questions from local prosecutors, Robert Mueller said -- quote: "I think we will see that in the future. I think it's inevitable."

That echoed a warning from Vice President Cheney over the weekend.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think there is a real possibility that we may see that kind of thing here or in other open societies. ARENA: U.S. officials caution there is no specific or credible information about a target or a time for a possible attack. Still, the threat is a serious one.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The problem is that it's very difficult to defend against. It can occur anywhere. It's essentially the sophistication is in its simplicity, that it revolves around one person who is willing to surrender their lives in the commission of an act.

ARENA: So-called walk-in suicide bombers are not the only concern. The FBI has alerted real estate industry leaders that terrorists might try to rent apartment units and rig them with explosives.

And in Orlando, Florida, security around water purification and distribution centers has been stepped up, after the FBI warned about a vague threat to the area's water supply.

REP. PORTER GOSS (R), INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: You don't want people to think they are 100 percent safe when they are not. That's not fair. On the other hand, you don't want to scare them so much they starve to death, because they didn't go to the supermarket. So you've got to find that right balance and get people to understand and be alert.

ARENA: There is, according to one official, a greater sense of urgency in these past few weeks. That's because intelligence agencies are reporting an increase in activity and communication by suspected terrorist groups, including al Qaeda.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: You have to recognize that we have more in the way of sheer volume of information now. We have detainees in custody. We have kind of worldwide mobilization of the intelligence network, so we are just getting a lot more information and some of it may be sheer volume.

ARENA: Nonetheless, officials say the volume of information currently coming in is similar to the volume just before the September 11 attacks.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com