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Security Threat Level Returned to Yellow

Aired April 16, 2003 - 15:16   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: Well, the military success in Iraq has brought with it a new sense of security on the home front. The Department of Homeland security lowered the national terrorism alert a notch today. Jean Meserve joins us now from Washington with the details -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Down from Orange to Yellow, Kyra. The threat level lowered because the war with Iraq is winding down and because of the current threat assessment. An administration officials said there has been a decrease in the intelligence chatter, as the intelligence that is coming in is from a more limited number of places and from sources that are not considered to be of the highest liability.

Some sources say they continue to be concerned about Hezbollah, which has a tight association with Syria, and about a recent tape purportedly from Osama bin Laden. But an administration official says the Homeland Security Council's decision to lower the level was unanimous.

There were no terrorist attacks in the 29 days the alert level remained at High or Orange. But an official says that during that time, quote, "we do believe there were some people in some locations where they should not have been and investigations continue," he says. The official would not be specific.

Monday evening, the secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, was asked if going to Orange had been a mistake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: America's acceptance of this notion and being on alert, being aware, being empowered with this information, we think is a deterrent factor. And I'm not sure we're ever going to be able to say that because we raised it from Yellow to Orange or because we modified, change or enhanced security at this facility, at this bridge, at this tunnel, that it deterred a terrorist from acting. But we feel very strongly that it is a very, very important part of how we prosecute domestically the war on terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: With a reduction in the threat level, Operation Liberty Shield, the special package of security measures put in place when the threat level went up, is being scaled back. There still will be Coast Guards patrols, for instance, but fewer of them. As yet, no decision to roll back the additional air space restrictions that were put in place over Washington, D.C. and New York City. That, I am told, is under review.

And although the Department of Homeland Security has told state and local officials they no longer need to keep a permanent police presence outside critical infrastructure, there is one city that is remaining on threat level Orange, New York. A statement from Deputy Police Commissioner Michael O'Looney says, "We are maintaining the current alter status because New York remains under a greater risk of terrorism than other parts of the country."

Indeed Secretary Ridge says U.S. targets at home and abroad do continue to be at risk from al Qaeda, those sympathetic to their cause, former Iraqi regime state agents and also their affiliates -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Jeanne, let's talk about other factors that might have influenced this change in the threat level. I guess you could say being in the Orange can put the government in the red.

SAVIDGE: Expense was a big issue here. There was a lot of griping from state and local governments about how much this cost. The National League of Cities estimated for cities alone, one week on threat level Orange cost them an additional $70 million.

Also, I'm told some complaints from private industry that had to ramp up their security. All of that I'm told did come into play. Was a factor in this. Homeland Security anxious to underline today that the president today signed that supplemental funding bill and in there 6.7 billion additional dollars for Homeland Security, much of it to defray the cost of Operation Liberty Shield -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Jeanne Meserve from Washington. Thanks so much Jeanne.

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 April 16, 2003 - 15:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the military success in Iraq has brought with it a new sense of security on the home front. The Department of Homeland security lowered the national terrorism alert a notch today. Jean Meserve joins us now from Washington with the details -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Down from Orange to Yellow, Kyra. The threat level lowered because the war with Iraq is winding down and because of the current threat assessment. An administration officials said there has been a decrease in the intelligence chatter, as the intelligence that is coming in is from a more limited number of places and from sources that are not considered to be of the highest liability.

Some sources say they continue to be concerned about Hezbollah, which has a tight association with Syria, and about a recent tape purportedly from Osama bin Laden. But an administration official says the Homeland Security Council's decision to lower the level was unanimous.

There were no terrorist attacks in the 29 days the alert level remained at High or Orange. But an official says that during that time, quote, "we do believe there were some people in some locations where they should not have been and investigations continue," he says. The official would not be specific.

Monday evening, the secretary of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, was asked if going to Orange had been a mistake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: America's acceptance of this notion and being on alert, being aware, being empowered with this information, we think is a deterrent factor. And I'm not sure we're ever going to be able to say that because we raised it from Yellow to Orange or because we modified, change or enhanced security at this facility, at this bridge, at this tunnel, that it deterred a terrorist from acting. But we feel very strongly that it is a very, very important part of how we prosecute domestically the war on terrorism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: With a reduction in the threat level, Operation Liberty Shield, the special package of security measures put in place when the threat level went up, is being scaled back. There still will be Coast Guards patrols, for instance, but fewer of them. As yet, no decision to roll back the additional air space restrictions that were put in place over Washington, D.C. and New York City. That, I am told, is under review.

And although the Department of Homeland Security has told state and local officials they no longer need to keep a permanent police presence outside critical infrastructure, there is one city that is remaining on threat level Orange, New York. A statement from Deputy Police Commissioner Michael O'Looney says, "We are maintaining the current alter status because New York remains under a greater risk of terrorism than other parts of the country."

Indeed Secretary Ridge says U.S. targets at home and abroad do continue to be at risk from al Qaeda, those sympathetic to their cause, former Iraqi regime state agents and also their affiliates -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, Jeanne, let's talk about other factors that might have influenced this change in the threat level. I guess you could say being in the Orange can put the government in the red.

SAVIDGE: Expense was a big issue here. There was a lot of griping from state and local governments about how much this cost. The National League of Cities estimated for cities alone, one week on threat level Orange cost them an additional $70 million.

Also, I'm told some complaints from private industry that had to ramp up their security. All of that I'm told did come into play. Was a factor in this. Homeland Security anxious to underline today that the president today signed that supplemental funding bill and in there 6.7 billion additional dollars for Homeland Security, much of it to defray the cost of Operation Liberty Shield -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Jeanne Meserve from Washington. Thanks so much Jeanne.

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