Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Washington Abuzz With Anti-Terror Measures
Aired February 14, 2003 - 14:07 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Are such worries over another possible attack keeping folks from seeing the sights? After all, we're heading into a holiday weekend, normally a boon for the tourist trade.
CNN's Bob Franken took a poll of sorts along the National Mall of those that are visiting and those that live and work there. He's back with us with the results -- hi, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it's interesting how this has sort of permeated our lives, and has permeated Washington, where the nerves are rubbed raw by fears that have followed everything from the attack on the Pentagon to the anthrax attacks to the sniper assaults.
All of those, of course, are followed by this. So this is an area that is already very jittery. There's also, on the hands of many people, quite a bit of skepticism about, perhaps, some exaggerated warnings and concerns that they are going to be overlooked. But it has permeated, as I said.
For instance, at the capital complex in back of me, flower deliveries, which are already somewhat curtails on this Valentine's Day are seriously curtailed because of the current jitters.
In schools around the area, once again, there are severe plans in place for children perhaps to be locked down in case of an attack. Different schools have different ideas of whether parents should be allowed to come and pick up their children. They are stocking up, et cetera.
In the Metro system in Washington, Washington's subway system, which, of course, is considered vulnerable to any sort of gas attack. There is increased, very visible security. That is something that has been very noticeable to those who commute that way for the last several days. It's intentional. The authorities want people to know that the Metros are not as vulnerable as they might think that they are.
In many of the government agencies, precautions are being taken, one sort or another. At the Pentagon it was really quite noticeable. At the Pentagon they were passing out fliers to all the thousands upon thousands of people who enter there. It is about 24,000 people a day. They were putting out fliers, and it's really quite chilling. In the event of an emergency, the PA system and computer notification system will tell you what is happening. It goes on. We will tell you what to do. Either stay still, we may shelter in place. Evacuate your area, we may relocate within the building, or evacuate the building, or a combination of the above.
This, of course, is the kind of thing that is not designed to build confidence in people. Of course, it's not exactly a confidence building measure to look around the city and see that there are missile batteries set up. That, of course, is something that is a product of the times after September 11. Missile batteries, choppers in the sky. Military choppers, planes flying overhead. Even with all of this, Kyra, there is a feeling among the people who are in town, visitors and residents, a feelings that is mixed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: More aware of everything, definitely more cautious of what we do, what we see around. It seems today that there's been a little tension in the air.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have great confidence in the law enforcement agencies and the first responders. And I also think that whatever the terrorists could do would be on a fairly limited scale.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only thing the government is giving out here quite truly is fear, and very little else.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never feel like the government gives us appropriate information. I always feel like they hold something back. They don't tell us everything. Because if they did, we all would be panicking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: So, as you can see, Kyra, there is a combination of feelings. Some people believing that the government is overreacting, but government agencies say even worse would be if they underreact -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Bob Franken, thank you.
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 February 14, 2003 - 14:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Are such worries over another possible attack keeping folks from seeing the sights? After all, we're heading into a holiday weekend, normally a boon for the tourist trade.
CNN's Bob Franken took a poll of sorts along the National Mall of those that are visiting and those that live and work there. He's back with us with the results -- hi, Bob.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, it's interesting how this has sort of permeated our lives, and has permeated Washington, where the nerves are rubbed raw by fears that have followed everything from the attack on the Pentagon to the anthrax attacks to the sniper assaults.
All of those, of course, are followed by this. So this is an area that is already very jittery. There's also, on the hands of many people, quite a bit of skepticism about, perhaps, some exaggerated warnings and concerns that they are going to be overlooked. But it has permeated, as I said.
For instance, at the capital complex in back of me, flower deliveries, which are already somewhat curtails on this Valentine's Day are seriously curtailed because of the current jitters.
In schools around the area, once again, there are severe plans in place for children perhaps to be locked down in case of an attack. Different schools have different ideas of whether parents should be allowed to come and pick up their children. They are stocking up, et cetera.
In the Metro system in Washington, Washington's subway system, which, of course, is considered vulnerable to any sort of gas attack. There is increased, very visible security. That is something that has been very noticeable to those who commute that way for the last several days. It's intentional. The authorities want people to know that the Metros are not as vulnerable as they might think that they are.
In many of the government agencies, precautions are being taken, one sort or another. At the Pentagon it was really quite noticeable. At the Pentagon they were passing out fliers to all the thousands upon thousands of people who enter there. It is about 24,000 people a day. They were putting out fliers, and it's really quite chilling. In the event of an emergency, the PA system and computer notification system will tell you what is happening. It goes on. We will tell you what to do. Either stay still, we may shelter in place. Evacuate your area, we may relocate within the building, or evacuate the building, or a combination of the above.
This, of course, is the kind of thing that is not designed to build confidence in people. Of course, it's not exactly a confidence building measure to look around the city and see that there are missile batteries set up. That, of course, is something that is a product of the times after September 11. Missile batteries, choppers in the sky. Military choppers, planes flying overhead. Even with all of this, Kyra, there is a feeling among the people who are in town, visitors and residents, a feelings that is mixed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: More aware of everything, definitely more cautious of what we do, what we see around. It seems today that there's been a little tension in the air.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have great confidence in the law enforcement agencies and the first responders. And I also think that whatever the terrorists could do would be on a fairly limited scale.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The only thing the government is giving out here quite truly is fear, and very little else.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never feel like the government gives us appropriate information. I always feel like they hold something back. They don't tell us everything. Because if they did, we all would be panicking.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: So, as you can see, Kyra, there is a combination of feelings. Some people believing that the government is overreacting, but government agencies say even worse would be if they underreact -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Bob Franken, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
