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CNN Live At Daybreak
Wake-Up Call: War on Terror
Aired March 04, 2003 - 06:37 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: When Ashcroft, Mueller and Ridge appear a couple of hours from now before the Senate Judiciary Committee, it will be the first time they've appeared together, and the timing could not be better following last weekend's big arrest in Pakistan.
Let's wake up our Homeland Security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve, to talk about today's hearing.
Good morning -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
The three are going to talk in their statements about progress in the war on terrorism, but senators are going to meet them with a barrage of questions on a number of areas. They're likely to press for more detail about the apprehension of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the names and information found in his computer.
The possibility of war with Iraq and its fallout, including possible terrorist strikes against the U.S. and its interests another likely line of questioning. Senators are likely to press the panel on what preparations they are making or contemplating.
Another possible topic: proposed revisions to the Patriot Act. A draft has been leaked, which calls for a relaxation of the rules governing wiretaps and lengthening of detentions of people suspected of having terrorist links. The Justice Department has said revisions had been made to that draft, but senators may want to know exactly what those are.
So, you can expect a broad range...
COSTELLO: You know...
MESERVE: ... and hopefully a live exchange there.
COSTELLO: Yes, you know, I was wondering if anything will be asked about this color-coded threat alert system that the Homeland Security Department has. Do you think that senators will be concerned about that and how it's sort of confusing many Americans?
MESERVE: I think that's a good possibility that that's something they're going to talk about. They're going to ask about that color- coded system, just how that information is transmitted. Also probably going to have some broader questions about just how information and intelligence is being transmitted from the federal government down to state and local. That's been another issue of strong debate.
COSTELLO: Jeanne Meserve, thanks for waking up early with DAYBREAK.
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 March 4, 2003 - 06:37 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: When Ashcroft, Mueller and Ridge appear a couple of hours from now before the Senate Judiciary Committee, it will be the first time they've appeared together, and the timing could not be better following last weekend's big arrest in Pakistan.
Let's wake up our Homeland Security correspondent, Jeanne Meserve, to talk about today's hearing.
Good morning -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
The three are going to talk in their statements about progress in the war on terrorism, but senators are going to meet them with a barrage of questions on a number of areas. They're likely to press for more detail about the apprehension of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the names and information found in his computer.
The possibility of war with Iraq and its fallout, including possible terrorist strikes against the U.S. and its interests another likely line of questioning. Senators are likely to press the panel on what preparations they are making or contemplating.
Another possible topic: proposed revisions to the Patriot Act. A draft has been leaked, which calls for a relaxation of the rules governing wiretaps and lengthening of detentions of people suspected of having terrorist links. The Justice Department has said revisions had been made to that draft, but senators may want to know exactly what those are.
So, you can expect a broad range...
COSTELLO: You know...
MESERVE: ... and hopefully a live exchange there.
COSTELLO: Yes, you know, I was wondering if anything will be asked about this color-coded threat alert system that the Homeland Security Department has. Do you think that senators will be concerned about that and how it's sort of confusing many Americans?
MESERVE: I think that's a good possibility that that's something they're going to talk about. They're going to ask about that color- coded system, just how that information is transmitted. Also probably going to have some broader questions about just how information and intelligence is being transmitted from the federal government down to state and local. That's been another issue of strong debate.
COSTELLO: Jeanne Meserve, thanks for waking up early with DAYBREAK.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
