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CNN Live Today

Threat Against New York's Subways; Bird Flu Fears

Aired October 07, 2005 - 11:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: It's a developing story we've been following this morning at New York's Penn Station. It appears to have been a hoax. Authorities say green dye and a nontoxic substance that foams were found in a soft drink can. The investigation caused a temporary clearing of Amtrak's main platform. And Amtrak spokesman says the trains continue to run normally.
On Capitol Hill, the Senate has given unanimous approval to the Pentagon's new $445 billion budget. The funding includes an additional $50 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senate bill must still be reconciled with the House version before Congress can give final approval.

In the Middle East, there's movement today expected to lead to another summit of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Senior advisers for the two have been meeting to work out the details. Both leaders agreed to meet during a recent telephone call in which they exchanged respective holiday greetings.

And senior White House adviser Karl Rove could be back before a federal grand jury soon, possibly today. The panel is investigating the leak of the name of CIA agent Valerie Plame to reporters. This would be Rove's fourth appearance before this grand jury.

Now more on today's top story, the threat against New York's subways. More police on subway platforms, more random searches in a raid in Iraq nabbing several people suspecting of Al Qaeda involvement. In New York, to help us assess the threat, William Daly of the security consulting firm Controlled Risks Group. He is a 10- year veteran of the FBI, and he got to our bureau by taking the subway.

William, good to talk to you. William, can you hear me? I'm not sure he can. William, are you there? I think the answer is no. OK, we'll check back with William. We'll get our technical problems sorted out.

Do we have him now?

Bill, how are you? Good morning.

WILLIAM DALY, CONTROLLED RISKS GROUP: I'm good. How are you?

HARRIS: Good to talk to you.

DALY: And I did take the subway here. HARRIS: And did you take the subway. Oh, boy.

All right, let me first start by asking you, you know, there's already some conversation, some discussion that maybe this was an overreaction by the officials in New York. What's your take?

DALY: Well, you know, I think that New Yorkers always err on the side of caution. And I think, from what we're hearing, it that sounds as though there were some credible reasons to believe that a plot may have been in the works, under way, and I think New Yorkers decided, much like they have all along, to really go forward and to take additional security precautions that we're seeing today, even though it diverges a little bit from Homeland Security.

HARRIS: What does this tell us about -- I mean, it was confusing to hear the two messages, one coming out of Homeland Security and officials at the White House, and then to hear and see New York's response. What does this tell us about whether or not cities and Homeland Security are actually on the same page?

DALY: Well, I think, to a certain degree, they are. I think the president actually just a little while ago said something which I think makes the point, is that they provided the intelligence, they provided the information to the New York authorities, and New Yorkers made their decision as to how they will handle this. Homeland Security may have their own perspective, but I believe New York all along has taken this higher road approach to security, more security. And I think in this case, if they were about to come out and tell the people of New York there's a threat, they need to be doing something, and that's what they're doing.

HARRIS: Well, Bill you know, it is a huge target, and you know in your heart that terrorists would like nothing more than to strike that kind of a high-value target. It is almost incumbent upon the officials in New York to respond to just about anything they get, isn't it?

DALY: It is. And I certainly think even the demonstration as to how quickly the police department can be deployed, the fact that there are undercover people involved, it goes to show really the organization that's here. So in some ways, this also provides some deterrent effect for either some people planning anything currently, instantly, or perhaps in the future, that they're dealing with a very much more difficult target than perhaps elsewhere.

HARRIS: And it builds public confidence, too, doesn't it, to see, a, the mayor jumping on the system, saying you know what, I trust that we have taken all of the proper precautions. So in a sense, it does build a bit of a public confidence.

DALY: Well, I can tell you, as I said just a few minutes ago, personally, as well as other people i've seen riding on the subway, feel very relieved the fact there there's a police presence at the entrances, there's a lot of activity. I think people are reassured by that. That's all part of it, as people say, go about your normal activities, don't let it disrupt things. Well, you know, it's difficult when you hear a threat. But when you say the mayor taking the subway, when you see police there, when you see fellow commuters out taking the subway, it does instill a sense of confidence. I think people also then say, listen, I need to make my own decision. I'll take my risk if I want to do it. If not, then I'll take a taxi, or walk or take some other means of transportation.

HARRIS: We see this, and we're still very mindful of what happened in London in July. When you take a look at a situation in New York and hearkening back to the situation in London, that's a place where there were cameras everywhere. Is there more that you would like to see done to prepare New York City?

DALY: Well, you know, I believe in the past two to maybe three years, and talk to people in city government, people from both the police department as well as emergency planning, is that they've really taken a look at what goes into preplanning something like this and trying to become a tougher target, as well as what happens if something does occur, of which people can never give a 100 percent guarantee that nothing will occur.

So I believe we're rally at a high state of planning. The police department has gone out and actually gathered known intelligence. They have their own unit. They work very closely with the federal authorities. And I think we're doing really about anything you could in an open and free society that has a mass transit system threading its way in and out of caverns in the great city.

HARRIS: It is huge. Bill Daly, good to see you, as always. Thank you, sir.

DALY: Good to see you.

HARRIS: CNN Security Watch keeps you up to date on safety. Stay tuned day and night for the most reliable news about your security. And once again, we're standing by to hear the comments from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the situation in New York, and just the precautions that were taken today in light of the threat, the very specific threat made to the New York City subway station. When he begins to talk specifically about the situation in New York City, we will dip in and listen. We'll be right back with more of CNN LIVE TODAY right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The Bush administration is trying to get ahead on any potential outbreak of avian flu in the United States. In a few hours, President Bush will meet with drug company representatives about coming up with a vaccine and the State Department is hosting an international conference focusing on preventing the spread of the virus.

Federal health officials are obviously taking the bird flu threat very seriously, but how big a threat is it really? Dr. Pascal Imperato is a leading authority on influenza. He literally wrote the book on it about 30 years ago. Dr. Imperato is also the former health commissioner for the city of New York, and he joins us with his perspective on bird flu concerns.

Doctor, good to talk to you.

DR. PASCAL IMPERATO, SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER: Good to talk to you.

HARRIS: Well, I hope we can sort of bring some perspective to everything that we're hearing about this. Let's at least try. We have heard the word "pandemic" attached to avian flu. How real a threat is it? And how much fear mongering do you believe has become a part of the discussion so far?

IMPERATO: Unfortunately, it's very difficult to tell at this point whether this avian flu virus, the H1N1 virus, will, in fact, become the next pandemic virus. What has given rise to that concern is the fact that it has spread very rapidly throughout Asia in bird populations. But that, in and of itself, does not predict that it will acquire the ability to spread from human to human. So, as with all pandemics of influenza, unfortunately we just really don't know at this point in time whether it will be, in fact, the next pandemic virus.

HARRIS: Well, doctor, let's clear this up. Has it jumped from birds to humans yet?

IMPERATO: It has only jumped directly from birds to humans, which is not unusual with avian flu viruses. There are several of these viruss and historically, people who work in the poultry industry have become infected. However, there is no definite proof that it has proved from one human to another. Right, and that's the critical issue. It does not have that ability at this point in time.

HARRIS: OK. The U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services, Mike Leavitt, says the world is woefully unprepared. Do you agree with that assessment?

IMPERATO: We're unprepared only in the sense that we currently do not have a vaccine against this strain of virus, and we don't have adequate numbers of doses of the anti-viral agents that could be used to protect people if a pandemic did indeed occur. Nonetheless, we have a number of mechanisms to deal with the pandemic, if it were to occur. Very simple measures that we always advocate over the years, which is that people should cover their coughs and sneezes, wash their hands frequently, avoid crowded conditions.

And there are other measures in the event a pandemic that can be implemented, such as furloughing children from school to keep them out of classrooms where they would contaminate one another. And a variety of other quarantine measures that have also proven effective in the past.

HARRIS: I've got to ask you a final question. The president is meeting with representatives from U.S. pharmaceutical companies right now, in essence to encourage them, to convince them to get involved in developing a vaccine. Why is the president in a position with this looming pandemic, whatever it is, out there, having to convince U.S. pharmaceuticals to get in the game here?

IMPERATO: There are very good reasons for this. The pharmaceutical industry generally has gotten out of the business of producing flu vaccines for two very good reasons. One has to do with the litigation, but more importantly, the vaccine is only valid for one year. And at the end of the flu season, they're left with surpluses and financial losses. And therefore, they have been hesitant to the produce this vaccine year in and year out. And, therefore, that is why the president is trying to convince them to get into the business of producing a vaccine against the avian flu.

HARRIS: Got you. Dr. Imperato, thanks for taking the time to talk to us.

IMPERATO: Thank you.

HARRIS: From a very busy New York City.

In fact, the mayor of New York is speaking right now. When he speaks specifically about the situation on the ground, with regard to threats to the subway system, we will take you to those comments live. More of CNN LIVE TODAY right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Just another reminder. We're standing by for comments from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the ongoing situation, the threat to the New York City subway station. When the mayor speaks specifically about the situation on the ground in New York City, we will take to you New York for those comments live.

The Beatles marked a -- I should have come up with a better transition than that. The Beatles marked a seismic shift in pop culture, and much has been written about the Fab Four over the past 40 years. Cynthia Lennon, the former wife of the late John Lennon, had a front-row seat to the entire phenomenon. From the band's earliest days as unknowns to the full flowering of Beatle-mania, Cynthia Lennon lived through it all. Her memoirs of that era are chronicled in the new book "John."

Cynthia Lennon joins us this morning from New York. Cynthia, good to talk to you.

CYNTHIA LENNON, FMR. WIFE OF JOHN LENNON: Good morning.

HARRIS: Well, I have to ask you. You know, it's the basic question, but maybe it's the most important question. Why, after all these years, did you decide to write this book?

LENNON: I think the most important thing about the timing is the fact that I haven't got much time left, which is not thinking negatively. But it's a time that I've had the experience, the time that I can reflect, a time that I felt was right. I'm in the right space. My son has encouraged me. I've had so many people saying, Cyn, when are you going to write your book? When are you going to actually write the other side of the story that people are desperate to know about?

HARRIS: Did you feel -- I know that the history of the Beatles is so amazing. But, you know, as a private person, did you feel you had a particularly compelling story to tell? I know folks are asking you to write it and write it, but I mean, personally, inside, what did you think? Did you feel like you had something that you really wanted to say?

LENNON: Yes, a lot. A great deal to say. A great to deal to say, because I did write a book in 1978, which was a very small and very intimate book. And it was a message to John. But it went from birth to divorce. But I mean, the experiences that my son and I have had since then, I mean, it's such a saga, and it's such a legend. And it's something that I had to write about to balance the scales of the story of John's history and the story of the Beatles' history.

HARRIS: Yes. Cynthia, what -- you talk about wanting to write the real John, the story of the real John. What is different in that real story, according to you, than the John Lennon that we think we know?

LENNON: Well, because I lived with him for ten years.

HARRIS: Sure.

LENNON: And I think -- and I was the one that, in the beginning, we were students. And when they started out as the Beatles, very beginning, very early days, I was the one that was washing his socks and his underpants and his shirts and doing the ironing. I mean, that's the basics of it. That's the root of where we began and how it started. And I think that there are lots of things that the devotees and the fans of John deserve to read about, because if they're going to get the full history, then this is part of the jigsaw puzzle of that history.

HARRIS: How did the success -- you talk about starting there at the very beginning -- how did the success impact him, affect him?

LENNON: I think there's no such thing as a free lunch. And I think with success, with the kind of success that the Beatles had and John had, had to change him. I mean, it would change anybody. But it could send people crazy. I mean, he didn't go crazy, and neither did any of the rest of them, but I mean, that kind of pressure that they went through and that kind of lifestyle that they experienced was extremely intense for six years. And obviously we're all going to change under those circumstances.

HARRIS: Yes, here's the book. John, I'm holding it up for you, Cynthia, Cynthia Lennon.

LENNON: Thank you.

HARRIS: Out now, available now, from Cynthia Lennon. We appreciate it. Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Cynthia.

LENNON: Thank you very much. HARRIS: We'll have a check of weather and business news next, and also, we're standing by for comments from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg when he begins to talk about the situation on the ground and to give us an update on the situation, the threat affecting, impacting the entire New York City subway station. We'll bring you those comments live.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Once again, standing by -- oh, pictures out of Columbus, Ohio right now. Take a look at these pictures, members of a Marine Corps unit that lost 48 Reservists in Iraq. We told you many times about the Lima Company, out of Columbus, Ohio, arriving back home now to what is just a hero's welcome, a welcome home rally. Our pictures, our coverage from WBNS in Columbus. We want to listen in just a little bit to this welcome home rally.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And there it is. And there it is. Welcome home, Lima Company. Glad to have you here. Just an incredible sight for these people.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Everybody searching for their own family.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Absolutely.

Here's a family. Look at the live pictures here from up above. You can see all the hugs, the joy from all of these people here today, family members finally being able to greet their members from Lima Company, all 140 here today.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: You know what, I have a member of the Lima Company right here with me right now. Has not even seen his family.

What's your name?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Sergeant Osborne (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And who are you expecting here today?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My girlfriend and the rest of my family.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: All right. Where are you from?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cincinnati, Ohio.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Cincinnati.

Thank you so much for being with us today.

Let's see, I'm trying to figure out, I don't know what your family looks like. Did you point them out in the crowd yet?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not yet. There's a lot of people here right now, so it's kind of tough to tell.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Obviously the emotions you're going through right now have got to be amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes, it's an awesome experience. It's a pretty small town feeling coming here. And just to see this amount of people coming up, it's quite enthusiastic.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: We are so excited for you. Thank you for all your hard service. Are there things that you're anticipating as you're entering a new dimension in your life?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, really, I'm anticipating watching the Bengals win the Super Bowl and getting a three-way at Skyline. But enjoying off time with my family and just getting back in the scheme of things, you know.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thank you so much for being with us today. Appreciate it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Now go find your girlfriend and your family!

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Good luck to you. You're looking at some other members here as well. It's their first welcome home. They just kind of met up here just a couple of seconds ago, as well as this one right here. This is going on throughout this entire area here, of everybody finally being able to see their loved ones come home. This is just such an emotional time.

Can I welcome you home, sir? Your name is?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sergeant Steve Hicks.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Welcome home very much. You finally saw one of your loved ones here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A friend of mine.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Is it great to be home?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's awesome. It's really good.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What did you miss most?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the weather. Really I missed the weather.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: This is good weather?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's not hot, and there's no sand. So it's really nice.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: When you saw the crowd coming in off the busses here, did you anticipate this big of a welcome home parade?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We didn't expect like this at all. We were on the bus saying this is what it's like to be rock stars, I guess, so it's really good.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And you are stars today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At least for today.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: What was everybody saying on the bus? I mean, what was the feeling, now that you touched down on Columbus soil?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody was just excited. We just couldn't believe all these people showed up. It's amazing, really amazing.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: We are so glad to have you home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: All right, have a great one while you're home, OK.

And this is just an incredible sight for these people. Again, we're seeing scene after scene of all these people hugging, kissing, tears, emotions. They're just incredible.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Can we talk to you for a second?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm looking for somebody.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: They've much more important things to do.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Everybody's still searching.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And I don't blame them a bit.

Do you mind if we talk to you guys? You want to hold off. That's all right, too.

Obviously we want to respect everything that they are going through, because this is such an emotional time for the family. They don't really care to see reporters' faces; they want to see the loved ones that matter the most. And so we just kind of want to follow the camera around, and if we're able to talk to somebody, great; if not...

HARRIS: How about these pictures out of Columbus, Ohio, a welcome home rally in Columbus for the 3rd Marine Battalion, Lima Company. This is a group that lost 48 Reservists in Iraq, returning home. It's a wonderful rally. There was a parade 20 miles long, a parade through the city to welcome these brave soldiers home. A welcome home rally in Columbus, Ohio for the 3rd Marine Battalion, Lima Company.

We'll Take a break. More CNN LIVE TODAY on the other side of the hour. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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