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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: Latest Investigation and Military Buildup Information

Aired September 27, 2001 - 08:34   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.
JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: We checked in just a moment ago with three of our correspondents around the country keeping track of the potential -- and we emphasize "potential" -- of a bioterrorism or hazardous materials attack in the wake of the terrorist strikes of a little more than two weeks ago. That is also a subject of concern in the ongoing investigation.

And for more on that we now bring in our Eileen O'Connor here in Washington.

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, a cause for concern, and the Justice Department and the attorney general doing something about it. The Justice Department says at least 10 people, including four Iraqis, were arrested in three states for allegedly trying to fraudulently trying to obtain commercial trucking licenses; that would allow them to transport hazardous materials.

Now, sources tell CNN the FBI has already began compiling a list of all companies that carry such materials. They will begin checking the licenses of all their employees.

Now,in New York, trucks are being inspected. In other states, routine inspections are being conducted even more carefully. The attorney general says, law enforcement are on a heightened state of alert, with the possibility of a future attack not ruled out.

So far the arrests of those individuals in Seattle, Detroit and Kansas City areas have not been tied to this terrorist plot or any terrorist plot. All of the licenses were issued in Pittsburgh, beginning in July of 1999.

Now, the most recent license was issued in January of 2000, and, according to court documents filed, a state examiner was given $50 to $100 for each license granted. Those applying did not complete the required courses or they did not have valid licenses themselves.

Now, the men are charged with conspiracy to possess and obtain false and fraudulent identification documents, specifically commercial drivers licenses, with those hazardous materials endorsements.

Overseas, police have arrested three people in Lester, England under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. French authorities say that one of them, a French citizen of north African ancestry, is wanted by authorities in connection with those planned attacks on U.S. interests in France. As you may remember, there have been 12 arrested in France in connection with, what they said, was an alleged plot to attack U.S. interests in Europe -- John.

KING: Eileen O'Connor, latest on the investigation, thank you very much.

And as that investigation continues, so too does the military buildup.

For the latest on that we want to bring in our Bob Franken at the Pentagon.

Bob, the United States briefing the NATO alliance on its military plans, and one gets the impression that despite all these pictures of a rapid military buildup, action is not imminent?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is what they keep saying, and of course those of us who have been in Washington a while know that statements to the fed (ph), that effect could mean that in fact something is coming up right away and this is just a bit of a subdiffuse to confuse the adversary.

But in any case, that is a consistent message. We here it from the secretary of defense, Paul (ph) Rumsfled, who, by the way, will be having another briefing today. We heard it from the assistant secretary of defense, Paul Wolfowitz, who was in Brussels yesterday at the NATO meeting. He said repeatedly, no military imminent. He said it even chance he could, even when he was talking about his encounter with his NATO counterparts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL WOLFOWITZ, DEPUTY DEFENSE SECRETARY: What we got from this meeting this morning was very important reaffirmation, not just of the commitment to common defense, but the commitment to a common strategy, a strategy, as I said, is not based on some single spectacular action or spectacular series of actions, but has to be a very broad campaign over a very long period of time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FRANCIS: So you heard it this time, he called it a "spectacular action." No spectacular actions, he says, contemplated, but what they are doing, John, as you know, is putting military forces in place, fanning out around the globe so whenever that spectacular action occurs they will be in position to do so; that's the consistent message -- John.

FRANCIS: Bob, on the very first day of this crises the president made a very difficult decision, authorizing the military, if necessary, to shoot down commercial jetliners with passengers aboard if they believe those jetliners had been hijackers and posed a threat to civilians on the ground. Does that order remain in place?

FRANCIS: Well, the order remains in place. The "New York Times" is reporting that the president has now delegated his authority to make that terrible decision if he cannot be reached. The plan, according to the "Times," and we're getting sort of partial confirmation of it, would be that if necessary, if such a horrendous decision has to be made and it was not possible to reach the president that there would be a procedure in place to allow military subordinates to make that decision.

KING: Bob Franken at the Pentagon, thank you very much for the latest.

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