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CNN Live Today
Alert Level Lowered from Orange to Yellow
Aired September 24, 2002 - 11:02 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to get more on what Tony Blair had to say in front of the House of Commons in a moment.
We want to bring in our senior White House correspondent, John King, for reaction on that.
But, John, before you go there, our other developing news in that we've been watching the level of the terrorism alert. We are expecting it to change, and now, I guess we are getting word with it is changing, indeed.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, CNN learned that President Bush has signed off on dropping the nation's terrorist alert level from orange, which is a high threat of a terrorist attack here in the United States, back to yellow, which is still an elevated risk of a terrorist attack here in the United States.
The president signed off on that this morning after reviewing his latest intelligence data, we are told. A written statement is being prepared by the Justice Department, and that statement should be out within the hour or so, we are told.
Again, the nation's threat of domestic terrorism going back from orange, which is high, to yellow, which is elevated.
It went up from yellow to orange just prior to September 11 based on what U.S. officials said was intelligence suggesting the possibility of a terrorist strike here in the United States. A great deal of deliberations within the administration over just when and how to drop back down, given the sensitivity of this information, not only to the general public, but obviously to law enforcement authorities across the country.
But CNN has learned the president this morning signed off on dropping back from orange to yellow.
In that statement, though, that we are told is being finalized at the Justice Department, look for the government to make clear that this still is an elevated risk assessment of terrorism here in the United States, but just not at the high level they believed right around anniversary of September 11.
KAGAN: All right, let's go ahead and talk Iraq. The words that Tony Blair spoke before the House of Commons earlier today must have been welcomed warmly by the White House. KING: Welcomed warmly, and closely coordinated with the White House. President Bush has been working closest, of course, with Prime Minister Blair in making the case against Iraq.
The White House press secretary used the term "frightening" to describe the evidence laid out in that British dossier about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.
The White House hoping that this is more evidence that convinces the United Nations Security Council to adopt what the president has been asking for: a tough, new resolution that puts Saddam Hussein on notice, comply with all of your commitments to the United Nations, not even just disarmament, all of your commitments to the United Nations, or face the prospect of military strikes.
That has been a tough sell in the Security Council. The United States hoping this forceful statement from Prime Minister Blair helps make the case.
And the White House playing down -- trying to forget about, but playing down for now, the one disagreement you see between these two leaders. The prime minister of Great Britain saying he would be happy to see Saddam Hussein go, but that regime change is not a stated policy of his government, nor would it be the goal if any British troops were involved in a military operation.
President Bush, of course, says he would like to be part of making a new regime come to power in Baghdad. That is one difference between the two leaders. The White House saying it is not significant on the issues before us at the moment.
KAGAN: John King at the White House -- John, thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired September 24, 2002 - 11:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to get more on what Tony Blair had to say in front of the House of Commons in a moment.
We want to bring in our senior White House correspondent, John King, for reaction on that.
But, John, before you go there, our other developing news in that we've been watching the level of the terrorism alert. We are expecting it to change, and now, I guess we are getting word with it is changing, indeed.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, CNN learned that President Bush has signed off on dropping the nation's terrorist alert level from orange, which is a high threat of a terrorist attack here in the United States, back to yellow, which is still an elevated risk of a terrorist attack here in the United States.
The president signed off on that this morning after reviewing his latest intelligence data, we are told. A written statement is being prepared by the Justice Department, and that statement should be out within the hour or so, we are told.
Again, the nation's threat of domestic terrorism going back from orange, which is high, to yellow, which is elevated.
It went up from yellow to orange just prior to September 11 based on what U.S. officials said was intelligence suggesting the possibility of a terrorist strike here in the United States. A great deal of deliberations within the administration over just when and how to drop back down, given the sensitivity of this information, not only to the general public, but obviously to law enforcement authorities across the country.
But CNN has learned the president this morning signed off on dropping back from orange to yellow.
In that statement, though, that we are told is being finalized at the Justice Department, look for the government to make clear that this still is an elevated risk assessment of terrorism here in the United States, but just not at the high level they believed right around anniversary of September 11.
KAGAN: All right, let's go ahead and talk Iraq. The words that Tony Blair spoke before the House of Commons earlier today must have been welcomed warmly by the White House. KING: Welcomed warmly, and closely coordinated with the White House. President Bush has been working closest, of course, with Prime Minister Blair in making the case against Iraq.
The White House press secretary used the term "frightening" to describe the evidence laid out in that British dossier about Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.
The White House hoping that this is more evidence that convinces the United Nations Security Council to adopt what the president has been asking for: a tough, new resolution that puts Saddam Hussein on notice, comply with all of your commitments to the United Nations, not even just disarmament, all of your commitments to the United Nations, or face the prospect of military strikes.
That has been a tough sell in the Security Council. The United States hoping this forceful statement from Prime Minister Blair helps make the case.
And the White House playing down -- trying to forget about, but playing down for now, the one disagreement you see between these two leaders. The prime minister of Great Britain saying he would be happy to see Saddam Hussein go, but that regime change is not a stated policy of his government, nor would it be the goal if any British troops were involved in a military operation.
President Bush, of course, says he would like to be part of making a new regime come to power in Baghdad. That is one difference between the two leaders. The White House saying it is not significant on the issues before us at the moment.
KAGAN: John King at the White House -- John, thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
