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U.S. Military On High Alert Following Terrorism Attacks

Aired September 11, 2001 - 12:59   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.
AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Taliban official in Tabul, the relevance here, of course, is that United States government has blamed the Afghani government for harboring Osama Bin Laden, who may or may not be responsible for these events that have happened here in the country today, and therefore the Taliban response.

The president, who was in Sarasota, Florida when -- President Bush -- when the first attack on trade center took place, issued a statement then. He has left Sarasota. He is not going back to White House, at least not yet. But he has told reporters, quote, "We have taken all appropriate security precautions to protect the American people. Make no mistake," said the president "the United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts."

The president said the U.S. military has been put on a high-alert status, and said he had taken security precautions to ensure that the government continues to function. And as we said, the president at this moment is not going back to Washington. He has been taken elsewhere for his own safety.

There's no reason, by the way at this point, to believe there are continuing threats, but that doesn't mean there are not any. The secret service is taking no chances. We can't recall anything even approaching that.

We also have a report coming out London from the associated press that followerers of Osama Bin Laden had warned three weeks ago that they would carry out a huge and unprecedented attack on U.S. interests. That according to London-based Arab journalist. He adds, they said it would be huge and unprecedented, but did not specify what it was. We will not assume that this is what it was. But obviously, a lot of people are wondering.

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