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Operation Liberty Shield

Aired March 18, 2003 - 13:09   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: It's been many years since America was compelled to bolster homeland defenses for a war abroad. But today, defensive measures are being put in place all around this country.
Justice correspondent Kelli Arena joining us with more on all of that.

Hello, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Miles.

It's called Operation Liberty Shield. It's very much up and running. Among the actions that are being taken are some very obvious ones, increased security of the nation's infrastructure, the railway systems, borders. There's also increased security at airports.

Interestingly, recent intelligence suggests Al Qaeda maintains a strong interest in hitting the airline industry in this country, even after those enhanced security measures went into effect post-9/11.

This morning, at National Airport, which you're looking at right now, the new measures were very evident. They include random screening of cars and more police patrols.

The government, though, also is taking other measures, and those include detaining asylum applicants from nations where terrorist groups are other terrorist groups are known to have operated. Individuals, we're told, will be detained during their entire procession period.

Homeland security director Tom Ridge this morning explained the reasons for hiking the threat level.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECY. DIR.: We have taken these actions because intelligence reporting indicates that while Al Qaeda and those are still a principle threat, the principle threat, Iraqi state agents, Iraqi surrogate groups. Other regional extremist organizations, and ad hoc groups or disgruntled individuals may use this time period to conduct terrorist attacks against the United States and our interests, either here or abroad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Now, on the law enforcement side of this equation, the FBI continues to keep under surveillance a number of Iraqi nationals, as well as other individuals, who, sources say, could possibly pose a threat. And FBI agents are keeping a lookout for what they call suspicious activity.

Miles, back to you.

O'BRIEN: All right, define suspicious activity for us, Kelli.

ARENA: Well, the way it was described to me, was, for example, here in the Washington area, one example there was an individual underneath one of the bridges in Washington D.C. taking photographs of the structure underneath that extension bridge. Is this surveillance? Is this just someone who has an interest in bridges? Is this an architect? These are things that have to be run to the ground.

There was another individual was sitting on the Metro platform, the subway system here in Washington, seemingly timing the arrival of various trains. Now, agents said to me, Kelli, there are people who are just train buffs. I mean, they go around the country, they watch trains, they keep records and logs of schedules and so on, it's just a hobby.

So these are the types of leads that have to be run to the ground. Many of them turn out to be absolutely nothing. But of course, you know, there's always that one situation where they have to be on top of, just in case it is something.

O'BRIEN: Well that begs a question about manpower. If you're running down people who are taking pictures of bridges and timing trains, there's only so much time and so many people out there to do all these kind of things.

ARENA: This is true, which is why there's been a reprioritization at the FBI and at many local and state agencies as well. Many traditional criminal investigations have been curtailed, shelved for a while, temporarily shelved, while all forces are being put toward the counterterrorism, counterintelligence effort.

Most noticeably, obviously, at the FBI. So there is a shifting of priorities, and people are starting to move to shift work rather than hourly work, no days off, command centers manned 24/7. So there will be some very tired agents out there for the next few weeks.

O'BRIEN: To say the least.

Kelli Arena, thank you very much.

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 March 18, 2003 - 13:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's been many years since America was compelled to bolster homeland defenses for a war abroad. But today, defensive measures are being put in place all around this country.
Justice correspondent Kelli Arena joining us with more on all of that.

Hello, Kelli.

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Miles.

It's called Operation Liberty Shield. It's very much up and running. Among the actions that are being taken are some very obvious ones, increased security of the nation's infrastructure, the railway systems, borders. There's also increased security at airports.

Interestingly, recent intelligence suggests Al Qaeda maintains a strong interest in hitting the airline industry in this country, even after those enhanced security measures went into effect post-9/11.

This morning, at National Airport, which you're looking at right now, the new measures were very evident. They include random screening of cars and more police patrols.

The government, though, also is taking other measures, and those include detaining asylum applicants from nations where terrorist groups are other terrorist groups are known to have operated. Individuals, we're told, will be detained during their entire procession period.

Homeland security director Tom Ridge this morning explained the reasons for hiking the threat level.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECY. DIR.: We have taken these actions because intelligence reporting indicates that while Al Qaeda and those are still a principle threat, the principle threat, Iraqi state agents, Iraqi surrogate groups. Other regional extremist organizations, and ad hoc groups or disgruntled individuals may use this time period to conduct terrorist attacks against the United States and our interests, either here or abroad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENA: Now, on the law enforcement side of this equation, the FBI continues to keep under surveillance a number of Iraqi nationals, as well as other individuals, who, sources say, could possibly pose a threat. And FBI agents are keeping a lookout for what they call suspicious activity.

Miles, back to you.

O'BRIEN: All right, define suspicious activity for us, Kelli.

ARENA: Well, the way it was described to me, was, for example, here in the Washington area, one example there was an individual underneath one of the bridges in Washington D.C. taking photographs of the structure underneath that extension bridge. Is this surveillance? Is this just someone who has an interest in bridges? Is this an architect? These are things that have to be run to the ground.

There was another individual was sitting on the Metro platform, the subway system here in Washington, seemingly timing the arrival of various trains. Now, agents said to me, Kelli, there are people who are just train buffs. I mean, they go around the country, they watch trains, they keep records and logs of schedules and so on, it's just a hobby.

So these are the types of leads that have to be run to the ground. Many of them turn out to be absolutely nothing. But of course, you know, there's always that one situation where they have to be on top of, just in case it is something.

O'BRIEN: Well that begs a question about manpower. If you're running down people who are taking pictures of bridges and timing trains, there's only so much time and so many people out there to do all these kind of things.

ARENA: This is true, which is why there's been a reprioritization at the FBI and at many local and state agencies as well. Many traditional criminal investigations have been curtailed, shelved for a while, temporarily shelved, while all forces are being put toward the counterterrorism, counterintelligence effort.

Most noticeably, obviously, at the FBI. So there is a shifting of priorities, and people are starting to move to shift work rather than hourly work, no days off, command centers manned 24/7. So there will be some very tired agents out there for the next few weeks.

O'BRIEN: To say the least.

Kelli Arena, thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com