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CNN Live At Daybreak
Saudi Arabia Admits to Gaps in Security
Aired May 15, 2003 - 05:02 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We're talking terrorism again this morning and there is a lot happening, so we want to give you a look at the big picture. We've got the latest on the bombings in Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia now admits to gaps in security.
In the meantime, two suspected al Qaeda operatives will be indicted today for the bombing of the USS Cole and there are also new terror attacks overseas to tell you about. And fears of even more attacks lead to new travel warnings. Plus, an unintentional air scare over New York that brought back some memories of 9/11.
The fear does remain. U.S. intelligence has information suggesting more attacks in Saudi Arabia may follow this week's Riyadh bombings.
CNN's David Ensor reports on other global hot spots vulnerable to terrorism.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the wake of the bloody attacks in Riyadh, which the Bush administration says bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda, officials say there is intelligence suggesting there could be additional terrorist attacks soon.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It does show that they, indeed, remain a threat, and that's why this administration is working so diligently to prosecute this war against al Qaeda, everywhere.
ENSOR: U.S. officials say there is intelligence information about Kenya, scene of the resort attack last year, about the Philippines, dealing with the Muslim insurgency there, and in Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, where a new State Department travel advisory warns of possible attacks like the one in Bali, Indonesia against locations where Westerners congregate.
U.S. officials say there is also intelligence suggesting additional attacks are possible in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials say they are getting tough.
PRINCE BANDAR, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: We are determined to pursue those people who are haters, who are anti-Islam, anti-Arabs, anti-humanity, regardless of how long it takes.
ENSOR: U.S. officials say the Riyadh attacks may be what 9/11 was for the United States, a wake up call for the Saudis.
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bob Graham said he hopes the Saudis get the message.
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D-FL), INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: They have been an uneven and unpredictable ally in the war against terrorism.
ENSOR: Saudi officials are reportedly focusing in on this man, Khalid Mohammed Mosalem al-Jahani (ph), as the possible ringleader. A tape of him holding a Kalashnikov and promising to die in a martyrdom terror operation was found in an al Qaeda safe house in Kabul and made public in January of last year.
(on camera): U.S. officials say al-Jahani did, indeed, make his way back to his homeland and may have played a key role in the Riyadh attacks. But they're also looking at a couple of other al Qaeda operatives as the possible mastermind.
David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
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 May 15, 2003 - 05:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We're talking terrorism again this morning and there is a lot happening, so we want to give you a look at the big picture. We've got the latest on the bombings in Riyadh, where Saudi Arabia now admits to gaps in security.
In the meantime, two suspected al Qaeda operatives will be indicted today for the bombing of the USS Cole and there are also new terror attacks overseas to tell you about. And fears of even more attacks lead to new travel warnings. Plus, an unintentional air scare over New York that brought back some memories of 9/11.
The fear does remain. U.S. intelligence has information suggesting more attacks in Saudi Arabia may follow this week's Riyadh bombings.
CNN's David Ensor reports on other global hot spots vulnerable to terrorism.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the wake of the bloody attacks in Riyadh, which the Bush administration says bore the hallmarks of al Qaeda, officials say there is intelligence suggesting there could be additional terrorist attacks soon.
ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It does show that they, indeed, remain a threat, and that's why this administration is working so diligently to prosecute this war against al Qaeda, everywhere.
ENSOR: U.S. officials say there is intelligence information about Kenya, scene of the resort attack last year, about the Philippines, dealing with the Muslim insurgency there, and in Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia, where a new State Department travel advisory warns of possible attacks like the one in Bali, Indonesia against locations where Westerners congregate.
U.S. officials say there is also intelligence suggesting additional attacks are possible in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi officials say they are getting tough.
PRINCE BANDAR, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: We are determined to pursue those people who are haters, who are anti-Islam, anti-Arabs, anti-humanity, regardless of how long it takes.
ENSOR: U.S. officials say the Riyadh attacks may be what 9/11 was for the United States, a wake up call for the Saudis.
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bob Graham said he hopes the Saudis get the message.
SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D-FL), INTELLIGENCE CHAIRMAN: They have been an uneven and unpredictable ally in the war against terrorism.
ENSOR: Saudi officials are reportedly focusing in on this man, Khalid Mohammed Mosalem al-Jahani (ph), as the possible ringleader. A tape of him holding a Kalashnikov and promising to die in a martyrdom terror operation was found in an al Qaeda safe house in Kabul and made public in January of last year.
(on camera): U.S. officials say al-Jahani did, indeed, make his way back to his homeland and may have played a key role in the Riyadh attacks. But they're also looking at a couple of other al Qaeda operatives as the possible mastermind.
David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
