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Administration Split Over Whether to Raise Nation's Threat Level
Aired December 19, 2003 - 13:03 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: There's a split within the Bush administration over whether or not to raise the nation's threat level as it relates to terrorism. CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena joining us from Washington with a look at heightened terror chatter, the term you're probably familiar with by now, as holidays approach. Tell us about the chatter.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, I wouldn't use the word chatter, I would use the term threat information. Chatter being a very specific term.
But there is an awful lot of information coming in, heading into the holiday season. CNN has reported before about this heightened level of concern about that volume of information. There have been some reports out there today that maybe a little alarming. And what I'm going to do is put this all into context so we know exactly what we're dealing with.
The information that has been coming in has had to do with possible threats against cities including New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Counterterrorism officials stress that those three cities are often listed among the top possible terror targets all throughout the year. They are the most well known, most populated cities in the United States. So, therefore, it's not unusual to hear those cities named.
The holiday season -- we have seen in the past two years -- very busy time for the gathering of threat information. That not unusual. But still, when it does come in, in this sheer volume, that causes concern. There was one specific bit of information not deemed credible but officials are looking into it regarding New Year's Eve, a possible attack on New Year's Eve, the possible use of suicide bombers against soft targets here in the United States. When I say soft targets, I'm talking about things like shopping mall, apartment buildings. But, again, nothing specific, Miles.
So what you have is an increased level of concern on the part of a variety of officials. But this -- the reporting about this information rose to such a level today that we -- we actually had organizations coming out to comment.
For example, we heard from the New York City Police Department, saying, you know, look, we have no credible intelligence pointing to a threat. They felt a need to come out and say that, to try to calm some nerves among residents. We also heard from the White House press secretary.
Here's what he -- what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We have remained concerned about the volume of reporting of threats. And that's why the Department of Homeland Security has sent out several bulletins over the past few weeks to Homeland Security officials and law enforcement personnel, urging all to continue to be on a heightened state of alert, especially as we enter the busy holiday season.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Now, as for the threat level, we have been told by various officials that there's been no decision to raise the nation's threat level at this time. If we get any indication that that has changed, Miles, we will be sure to let you know. Back to you.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Kelli Arena.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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Aired December 19, 2003 - 13:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: There's a split within the Bush administration over whether or not to raise the nation's threat level as it relates to terrorism. CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena joining us from Washington with a look at heightened terror chatter, the term you're probably familiar with by now, as holidays approach. Tell us about the chatter.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Miles, I wouldn't use the word chatter, I would use the term threat information. Chatter being a very specific term.
But there is an awful lot of information coming in, heading into the holiday season. CNN has reported before about this heightened level of concern about that volume of information. There have been some reports out there today that maybe a little alarming. And what I'm going to do is put this all into context so we know exactly what we're dealing with.
The information that has been coming in has had to do with possible threats against cities including New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Counterterrorism officials stress that those three cities are often listed among the top possible terror targets all throughout the year. They are the most well known, most populated cities in the United States. So, therefore, it's not unusual to hear those cities named.
The holiday season -- we have seen in the past two years -- very busy time for the gathering of threat information. That not unusual. But still, when it does come in, in this sheer volume, that causes concern. There was one specific bit of information not deemed credible but officials are looking into it regarding New Year's Eve, a possible attack on New Year's Eve, the possible use of suicide bombers against soft targets here in the United States. When I say soft targets, I'm talking about things like shopping mall, apartment buildings. But, again, nothing specific, Miles.
So what you have is an increased level of concern on the part of a variety of officials. But this -- the reporting about this information rose to such a level today that we -- we actually had organizations coming out to comment.
For example, we heard from the New York City Police Department, saying, you know, look, we have no credible intelligence pointing to a threat. They felt a need to come out and say that, to try to calm some nerves among residents. We also heard from the White House press secretary.
Here's what he -- what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We have remained concerned about the volume of reporting of threats. And that's why the Department of Homeland Security has sent out several bulletins over the past few weeks to Homeland Security officials and law enforcement personnel, urging all to continue to be on a heightened state of alert, especially as we enter the busy holiday season.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: Now, as for the threat level, we have been told by various officials that there's been no decision to raise the nation's threat level at this time. If we get any indication that that has changed, Miles, we will be sure to let you know. Back to you.
O'BRIEN: CNN's Kelli Arena.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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