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CNN Live At Daybreak
Could Similar Attack Happen in U.S.?
Aired November 29, 2002 - 05:18 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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And now we return to our top story this morning, the missile attack in Kenya. The question looms, could a similar attack happen in the U.S.?
Here's Patty Davis with some insight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A narrow escape for this Israeli charter plane. Two portable missiles fired near the Mombasa, Kenya airport missed their target. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: Today they fired missiles at Israeli planes, tomorrow they'll fire missiles at U.S. planes, British planes, planes from every state.
DAVIS: Just weeks ago, U.S. security officials met with airline executives in Washington to discuss, among other issues, the possibility that shoulder fired missiles like this one, shown in an al Qaeda training video, could be used against U.S. commercial airliners. Last May, after an apparent attempt by al Qaeda to shoot down a U.S. military plane in Saudi Arabia with such a weapon, the FBI and the Transportation Security Administration warned airlines and local law enforcement that it could happen in the United States, but did not ask them to take any special precautions.
In fact, in its alert the TSA said, "There is no information indicating that al Qaeda is planning to use man pads or shoulder fired missiles against commercial aircraft." But it added, "The threat cannot be discounted."
ERIC MARGOLIS, AUTHOR/TERRORISM ANALYST: It's unlikely but it is possible if one of these missiles has been smuggled in, particularly a Stinger. There are between 100 and 300 Stinger missiles from Afghan war days back in the 1980s still floating around unaccounted for. They are available on the black market.
DAVIS: Airplanes are most vulnerable to shoulder fired missiles during takeoff and landing. Unlike U.S. military aircraft, U.S. passenger planes are not equipped with chaff and flares to draw heat seeking missiles away, nor do they have technology to confuse an incoming missile's guidance system.
(on camera): So security at airport perimeters is especially important. While airports have beefed up perimeter security since September 11, terrorism experts say they should do more, including being more vigilant about who has access to airport grounds.
Patty Davis, CNN, at Reagan National Airport.
(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
Aired November 29, 2002 - 05:18 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And now we return to our top story this morning, the missile attack in Kenya. The question looms, could a similar attack happen in the U.S.?
Here's Patty Davis with some insight.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A narrow escape for this Israeli charter plane. Two portable missiles fired near the Mombasa, Kenya airport missed their target. BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER: Today they fired missiles at Israeli planes, tomorrow they'll fire missiles at U.S. planes, British planes, planes from every state.
DAVIS: Just weeks ago, U.S. security officials met with airline executives in Washington to discuss, among other issues, the possibility that shoulder fired missiles like this one, shown in an al Qaeda training video, could be used against U.S. commercial airliners. Last May, after an apparent attempt by al Qaeda to shoot down a U.S. military plane in Saudi Arabia with such a weapon, the FBI and the Transportation Security Administration warned airlines and local law enforcement that it could happen in the United States, but did not ask them to take any special precautions.
In fact, in its alert the TSA said, "There is no information indicating that al Qaeda is planning to use man pads or shoulder fired missiles against commercial aircraft." But it added, "The threat cannot be discounted."
ERIC MARGOLIS, AUTHOR/TERRORISM ANALYST: It's unlikely but it is possible if one of these missiles has been smuggled in, particularly a Stinger. There are between 100 and 300 Stinger missiles from Afghan war days back in the 1980s still floating around unaccounted for. They are available on the black market.
DAVIS: Airplanes are most vulnerable to shoulder fired missiles during takeoff and landing. Unlike U.S. military aircraft, U.S. passenger planes are not equipped with chaff and flares to draw heat seeking missiles away, nor do they have technology to confuse an incoming missile's guidance system.
(on camera): So security at airport perimeters is especially important. While airports have beefed up perimeter security since September 11, terrorism experts say they should do more, including being more vigilant about who has access to airport grounds.
Patty Davis, CNN, at Reagan National Airport.
(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
