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CNN Live At Daybreak

Target: Terrorism - Official Warns of 100 Percent Chance of More Terrorism on America if Afghanistan Attacked

Aired October 05, 2001 - 08:08   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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A warning today from a U.S. intelligence official quoted by the "Washington Post." The official says there is a 100 percent chance of another terrorist attack on the United States if the U.S. strikes Afghanistan.

The reaction at the White House -- our correspondent there is Kelly Wallace with that -- good morning, Kelly.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Miles.

Well, the White House not commenting about that report other than to say, Miles, that Americans should continue to remain on alert -- that there still are threats out there to Americans.

Now, we do have some new information, though, as you noted, coming from the "Washington Post." Apparently, U.S. intelligence officials briefed members of Congress earlier this week at a classified briefing, and they said based on what they called credible new information, these officials saying it is highly probable that terrorists linked to Osama bin Laden will attempt an attack against Americans in the U.S. or abroad in the near future.

Now, based on this article, officials saying some of this information is -- quote -- "very real." But they also say some of the information could be intentional disinformation to try to prevent or scare off the U.S. from engaging in any retaliatory strikes against Afghanistan.

Now, we do know U.S. officials telling my colleague, CNN's David Ensor -- these officials saying -- quote -- "the number of threats have gone up dramatically since September 11."

And these officials saying they like to break these threats down into credible and specific details. Multiple threats apparently coming in from credible sources, but not having any specific details. Multiple threats, though, that do have specifics apparently not coming from credible sources.

Now, just last weekend on the Sunday talk shows, Attorney General John Ashcroft talked about -- he said -- talked about this. He said that there will definitely be a higher probability of attacks -- of terrorist attacks if and when the U.S. retaliates.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: We believe there are substantial risks of terrorism still in the United States of America. And as we as a nation respond to those -- to what's happened to us, those risks may, in fact, go up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: And so, Miles, what you're likely to continue to hear from the attorney general, from President Bush, from top advisers in this administration is really two messages: One, Americans should continue to be on alert -- to be on alert for anything strange around them, but at the same time to try to encourage Americans to get back to their normal lives -- to return to some normalcy. And we keep pointing out it's obviously a difficult balancing act -- those two messages coming out to Americans at the same time -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: CNN's Kelly Wallace at the White House -- thank you very much.

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