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CNN Live Today
Military's Role in Sniper Investigation
Aired October 17, 2002 - 10:20 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 move onto the Pentagon and a newly- recruited element in the investigation. Earlier this week, the Defense Department agreed to provide military equipment and expertise in the hunt for the killer.
Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, is at her post with a closer look at that.
Barbara -- good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, yes, now, the Pentagon, the FBI and the FAA are in the final stages of putting together the plan that will send military planes, spy planes, over Washington, D.C.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STARR (voice-over): To help catch the sniper on the run, if there is another attack, Army reconnaissance planes will fly over Washington, D.C., military eyes in the sky.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld spoke about it for the first time.
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We are leaning forward and have agreed to provide some assistance of a various type.
STARR: The RC-7, known as the airborne reconnaissance low, can operate day or night in all weather, staying aloft for several hours. The plane, with a crew of seven, was originally designed to be used by the military for drug surveillance operations.
It is packed with sophisticated sensors that can survey the ground and record imagery, pictures of what is happening below. It will be able to track vehicles on the move.
Communications gear will allow that information to be transmitted quickly to hundreds of law enforcement personnel on the ground.
A U-21 Beech craft, like this one, with advanced reconnaissance equipment and a crew of eight, will also be part of the mission.
Pentagon officials again emphasize the operation is run by law enforcement. The military will operate the aircraft and pass intelligence to an FBI agent that will be on board. But the FBI will decide if any of that information represents a target to pursue. That will ensure the entire operation is within the law.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Daryn, the Pentagon decided they would disclose the basic outlines of this operation, knowing that these aircraft would be seen in the skies around Washington. But they still hope to keep some of the finer details very private, not wanting to give the sniper any clue as to what's really going on -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon -- 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 October 17, 2002 - 10:20 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We move onto the Pentagon and a newly- recruited element in the investigation. Earlier this week, the Defense Department agreed to provide military equipment and expertise in the hunt for the killer.
Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, is at her post with a closer look at that.
Barbara -- good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Well, yes, now, the Pentagon, the FBI and the FAA are in the final stages of putting together the plan that will send military planes, spy planes, over Washington, D.C.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STARR (voice-over): To help catch the sniper on the run, if there is another attack, Army reconnaissance planes will fly over Washington, D.C., military eyes in the sky.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld spoke about it for the first time.
DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: We are leaning forward and have agreed to provide some assistance of a various type.
STARR: The RC-7, known as the airborne reconnaissance low, can operate day or night in all weather, staying aloft for several hours. The plane, with a crew of seven, was originally designed to be used by the military for drug surveillance operations.
It is packed with sophisticated sensors that can survey the ground and record imagery, pictures of what is happening below. It will be able to track vehicles on the move.
Communications gear will allow that information to be transmitted quickly to hundreds of law enforcement personnel on the ground.
A U-21 Beech craft, like this one, with advanced reconnaissance equipment and a crew of eight, will also be part of the mission.
Pentagon officials again emphasize the operation is run by law enforcement. The military will operate the aircraft and pass intelligence to an FBI agent that will be on board. But the FBI will decide if any of that information represents a target to pursue. That will ensure the entire operation is within the law.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Daryn, the Pentagon decided they would disclose the basic outlines of this operation, knowing that these aircraft would be seen in the skies around Washington. But they still hope to keep some of the finer details very private, not wanting to give the sniper any clue as to what's really going on -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon -- 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.
