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Allen in Charge; Hostage Situation Underway in Baltimore

Aired April 13, 2006 - 13:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, it's hard to believe, but hurricane season is almost here, again. The start date, June 1st. Is everybody ready? Well, the leaders of FEMA and Homeland Security are at this week's National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, along with Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen. You remember Allen from the aftermath of Katrina. Yesterday, he said everybody should plan for the worst in 2006.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VICE ADM. THAD ALLEN, U.S. COAST GUARD: We have to make our own luck. That means an increased sense of responsibility at the federal, state, local and personal level. I think we have to be prepared to exist in our own homes for a while until help gets there. I think we need to sit down and have a serious conversation with our families, our coworkers at work, and I think we need to put a lot of thought into how we're going to get ready for the next hurricane season.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: You're going to remember that Allen came to the Gulf Coast at a critical moment. FEMA was stumbling, people were dying and hurricane survivors need help fast. He quickly showed that he was the right man for the job. And next month, he'll become commandant of the Coast Guard, and elevated to four-star admiral. We're glad to have him here for this exclusive look at hurricane preparedness and his involvement in the war on terror.

Congratulations. Great to have you with us.

ALLEN: Thank you Kyra.

PHILLIPS: It doesn't surprise me, though.

I want to talk about Katrina and the conference in Orlando. Give me some specifics about what you recommended.

ALLEN: I think it wasn't just me, it was General Russel Honore, it was the folks who worked on the (INAUDIBLE) Report with Fran Townsend.

Things we need to do to get ready for the next hurricane season, we need to look at communications coordination, evacuation routes, delivery logistics, food, water and ice and those sort of things.

And the secretary and I both spoke yesterday about the need to be prepared for this season. PHILLIPS: What about, also, the state, and the federal and the local leaders all communicating and making a joint decision, versus, well, that person should have made a decision, no, that person should have made a decision. I mean, we saw the finger-pointing, and that led to procrastination and not getting what the people needed in New Orleans and around the Gulf Coast.

ALLEN: Well, there's a new level of preparedness staffing at the different FEMA regions, and we're actually looking at evacuation plans, and we're trying to work with the state and local governments in advance so we both understand what will have to be done in the event an evacuation is necessary, and we plan to test and exercise those evacuation plans before hurricane season.

PHILLIPS: Well, that's good to hear.

Now let's talk about the role of the military. When NORTHCOM was created, the focus was when there was a disaster at home, the military would be able to play a crucial part. We saw that in the Gulf Coast, you, Honore, all parts of the military getting involved. Are we going to see more of that, because we definitely learned a major lesson, and that is the military sure knows what it's doing, and it helped out when other agencies weren't quite sure what to do.

ALLEN: We've been talking extensively with DoD since the last hurricane season. In fact, Lieutenant General Clarke, as you know, was the 5th Army, and he was the JTF commander for Rita, was at the hurricane conference with us the last couple of days. And so we're working through NORTHCOM, things like how to restore tactical communications, should they be lost. And I think there's a much higher level of coordination than there was before the last hurricane season. We're feeling pretty good about it.

PHILLIPS: Well, on a personal note, too, you really had a chance -- we have a number of pictures that we gathered through that whole time. You had a chance to meet people from the shelters, to the businesses to the evacuees in other areas. Going through the confirmation hearings, going through all these conference, do you still think about those people and their stories?

ALLEN: Oh, sure you do. One of the first things I told the folks when I got to Baton Rouge was they were going to treat everybody involved in this event like they were a member of their family, like they were their brother, their sister or their mother. If they did, they would be less prone to make a mistake. You can't be down there for the time that we were and not continue to think about those people or the amount of destruction and the significant work that remains to be done.

PHILLIPS: Will you go back to the Gulf Coast?

ALLEN: Oh, I'm sure I'll be back sometime. It's not on the schedule yet. But there's a little piece of me still down there.

PHILLIPS: Understandable. I want to talk about port security. This was, wow, a huge issue for weeks, and the whole controversy. And finally Dubai Ports World decided to pull out. You're going to be the head of the entire Coast Guard, working very closely with INS on checking cargo, making sure our ports are safe. Are we safe?

ALLEN: Well, you can't have a virtual certainty that the ports are safe. You know, water is ubiquitous. You know, we're bounded by our oceans. but we're not protected by them. What you really need is a layered approach. We need to be working in the ports, we need to be working offshore, but you need to be working in the ports where those containers are shipped from, and working with CBP. The Coast Guard is working at both ends of the supply chain, if you will. Secretary Chertoff, Deputy Secretary Jackson working very, very hard on supply chain assurance.

But beyond that, you need a presence in the port. You need to be able to sense what's offshore, locate where those vessels are at, and have what we would call a common operating picture, and it's layered defense is what we're trying to build.

PHILLIPS: Do you think all the cargo should be checked? There were a lot of people came forward saying every ounce of cargo, especially the cargo come from overseas, needs to be checked out. Do you think that's true?

ALLEN: Well, I think what we need to do is we need to have sensors allow us to understand what's inside the containers. And if there's a threat there, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office was set up in Department of Homeland Security to do that. We're looking at non-intrusive technology that will allow us to be able to look inside the containers and understand if there's a threat there, and that is the best way to do that.

PHILLIPS: Interesting. So the technology is being looked at, and of course that takes money, so -- but that's in the works?

ALLEN: Advanced metroscopic (ph) portals is what we call them, and they're able to detect radiation, actually look in more than just receiving the emitters that will be coming out, and that's all being tested right now. We'll deploy those as soon as we can.

PHILLIPS: Let's talk about also the potential for maritime terrorist attacks. After 9/11, I remember a lot was done within the Coast Guard, a lot of first-time efforts from Iraq. I met a lot of armed Coast Guard teams that were working on the interdiction operations, all the way to the SWAT teams that were being put together here in the United States. I want to ask you specifically about a report that came out just talking about the Coast Guard and the FBI.

ALLEN: Right.

PHILLIPS: And who's going to have the jurisdiction? Who's going to respond? Who's ready? And this came out in a report by the Justice Department, inspector General Glen Fine said, "In our judgment, unless such differences over roles and authorities are resolved, the response to a maritime incident could be confused and potentially disastrous."

First of all, who's going to have jurisdiction? Will it be you and your men and women, or will it be the FBI?

ALLEN: Actually depending on the incident itself and the nature of the event we're trying to respond to, it could be FBI or the Coast Guard or both of us working together. The report you referred to is really talking about the (INAUDIBLE) exercise that occurred last year.

Since then, we've had coordinating meetings inside the administration. We're working very closely with the FBI. And I think some of that information is probably a little dated. But I myself met with the FBI leadership at my level, and we're working closely to put those two teams together, so that when we operate together, we have clear roles and missions that are defined, and we're operating in the best interests of the country.

PHILLIPS: What are the threats? When we talk about a maritime terrorist threat, what are we talking about? What are you concerned about, and what will you be looking for and monitoring as head of the Coast Guard?

ALLEN: Well, the three elements you need to be concerned about, you need to be concerned about people, cargo and conveyances. And of course we've gone out since 9/11 in the top 55 ports of the United States we've done both threat and vulnerability assessments. And there is a threat that's constituted by the container traffic, but also small boats carrying improvised explosive devices, a Cole type of attack. You need to look at all of those things and take a risk- management approach on how're you're going to put resources against them. And it includes better intelligence in the ports, more presence on the waters, but also understanding where the shipping's at and keeping track of it offshore.

PHILLIPS: All right, well, let's talk about the MSST training, aka SWAT teams. That's how we know it. What are these men and women able to do? How are they trained? How can they respond if indeed an incident takes place?

ALLEN: Well, they're divided up into boat teams and tactical teams. So you can put an on-water presence. You conduct boardings. You can also conduct security operations at waterfront facilities. And we've tailored these teams to be able to put into a port if there's a surge operation going on, such as a military out-load or heightened threat condition. They're deployable and they come in different packages, and we create those packages based on the risk that was inherent in the port, and that's what we train to do.

PHILLIPS: What about air defense with the Coast Guard? I know that the armed aircraft training has been very successful for drug interdiction, and you still will be in charge of that. Could those men and women and those assets be used to prevent any type of terrorist activity?

ALLEN: Well, i think under the right doctrine with the right policy guidance to make sure that we're mindful of all the laws that apply, you can force package airborne use of force with our maritime safety and security teams if that's required. We haven't done that right now, but in the future, we're planning on integrating airborne use of force into all the spectrum of the Coast Guard operations where we can apply it.

PHILLIPS: What about drug interdiction? How involved will the Coast Guard be in that looking forward? It's interesting, we used to talk a lot about Colombia and a lot of these other countries, and we were very concerned about trafficking and drugs, and every now and then we're reporting on a pretty in-depth story about marijuana being seized, cocaine being seized, certain drug lords being taken down. Is that important to you, drug interdiction?

ALLEN: It's extraordinarily important. And we have not diminished our fight in the drug war, if you will. While we vary in our resources we are able to put against it, the fact of the matter is, in recent year our intelligence has gotten so much better. We're on our third consecutive year of record seizures, and we continue to fight that war down there.

PHILLIPS: Vice Admiral Thad Allen, we're going to take a quick break, talk about a couple more issues right after. All right.

Well, we're going to get straight to Carol Lin. Before we do that, though, I'm being told we have a developing story in Baltimore. Is this where this standoff was taking place, Carol?

CAROL LIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra. And we know a little bit more about how this went down. Right now, the situation is that a narcotics suspect is holding a civilian employee hostage inside a police substation. Now, about an hour ago, an officer was bringing in this suspect into the substation and somehow, the suspect overpowered the arresting officer. The officer was injured. The injuries are not life threatening. But in the meantime, the suspect runs to the back room, where he's now holding this civilian employee hostage.

According to local reporting and reporting on the wires, the suspect has some kind of sharp-edged weapon. The hostage negotiating team is on the site, as well as a tactical SWAT team. But, Kyra, a very serious situation. It's now beginning to affect the surrounding neighborhood. Morgan State University, according to affiliate WMAR out there, reporting Morgan State University is under lockdown, presumably just in case the suspect ends up running out of the substation or something goes down that gets pretty ugly, so they want to prepare for the very worst. That's the situation right now.

PHILLIPS: All right, Carol, we'll continue to check in with you for that. And also right after the break, more of our exclusive interview with Vice Admiral Thad Allen, U.S. Coast Guard.

The news keeps coming. We'll keep bringing it to you. More LIVE FROM next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Continuing our conversation now with Vice Admiral Thad Allen, soon to be head of the U.S. Coast Guard, in addition to Admiral Allen, no more vice.

I want to ask you about immigration. We've seen these protests across the country, talking about fences, talking about land borders. But maritime borders -- could illegals start using the waterways if they're forced away from ground border issues? And is this a concern for you?

ALLEN: Well, we're certainly (INAUDIBLE) increased border enforcement and how that might spread into the maritime corners of our country, if you will. You know, there is a maritime boundary. We do have immigration issues, and we have a long, really good history of working with customs and borders protection together on the water side of the border. And we expect that may happen, and we're planning for that.

PHILLIPS: Tough confirmation hearings, yes? You got hit with a lot of issues.

ALLEN: Well, we do a lot things in the Coast Guard. We're a multimission service and a lot of questions need to be answered and I'm more than happy to do that.

PHILLIPS: Well, and you passed it fine, and now you're on your way. Final question, and that is, every time I have heard you speak or been in a -- more of a personal environment, or when you're addressing the men and women, especially in Katrina, you always brought up your father. Coast Guard, a Coastie. Bill, real name Clyde, I understand, but we call him Billy. Been a huge influence in your life, and no doubt smiling on your life and your career right now.

ALLEN: Well, both he and my mother, they're huge influences, as is my wife Pam. They've done a great job standing by me and helping me be successful in my career. And to the extent you're a collection of the experiences that you had over your life, you know, part of them is being promoted with me.

PHILLIPS: Well, tell us about this picture.

ALLEN: That's a picture that was in an old scrapbook. My dad is on the left hand side, holding me. I think I'm about eight or nine months old. My mother is on the right hand side at the end. And that was in Groton, Connecticut, about 1949.

PHILLIPS: What have they said to you about being the head of Coast Guard? I mean, here's your dad, a young sailor, holding his little son, and now you are going to run the entire operation.

ALLEN: Well, he tells me sometimes that he knew it was going to happen all along.

PHILLIPS: That this was his goal. ALLEN: But no, we've traveled a lot as a family, we moved to a lot of places. The Coast Guard has been very good to us. It's been kind of the glue that we've always managed our family around when we travel. It's always been a family experience. Going to new places was a growth experience for all -- everybody in the family. So it's been a great life.

PHILLIPS: Well, I know it hasn't been easy, but it has been a great career and you're just getting started. We're extremely excited for you.

ALLEN: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thanks so much, Admiral.

ALLEN: Thanks.

PHILLIPS: Well, the games people play, especially really young people. What's underneath this minivan? Precious cargo with a guardian angel working overtime above. Both are on next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Another death at Disney World and it may be linked to one of the park's top attractions. A woman who reported dizziness and nausea after stepping off the "Mission: Space" ride Tuesday died at a hospital yesterday. Disney says that she may have had pre-existing health problems, though.

Florida inspectors and Disney engineers have decided there's nothing wrong with the ride, which spins riders at twice the force of gravity. It reopened this morning. A 4-year-old boy who died after taking the ride in June was later found to have had a heart condition.

Well, ready or not, here I come. Every kid plays it. But hide and seek almost cost a Utah boy life and limb, all because of where he decided to hide. Here's reporter Nadine Wimmer from our Salt Lake City affiliate KSL.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBYN STONE, NEIGHBOR: Everyone was out looking, calling his name. We walked up ask down anywhere we could think of.

NADINE WIMMER, KSL REPORTER (voice-over): Neighbors tried not to panic when 4-year-old Taylor Harris disappeared.

STONE: I looked in my car. I looked in the back of my car. I looked everywhere that I thought I could at my house.

RACHEL HARRIS, TAYLOR'S MOTHER: Well, as a parent, sometimes when you have something bad happen, automatically you go to the worst- case scenario and I just couldn't allow myself to go to that point yet.

STONE: I thought well I'm going to take -- I've got to do something. I've got to get in the car and go. Just said a little prayer. Please help me find him and let him be OK. I thought I was crazy, but I could hear him crying.

WIMMER: She wasn't crazy. He had crawled underneath her car and was holding on for dear life to the shaft between the wheels near the spare tire.

STONE: I looked down and I just pulled him out as fast as I could and held him out and made sure, you know, he was all together.

HARRIS: There's not a scratch on him. He wasn't hurt. We all just stood in absolute shock. I still can't believe that he held on that tight. But, bless his heart, he made it and he -- we believe that it was a miracle from the Heavenly Father that helped him to hold on and that there must have been angels around him to help him hold on. We learned a valuable lesson today that no place is too small for a child to hide.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: That story from KSL. Experts say to follow the walk around rule if you or your neighbors have small children. Always walk around the car and look underneath the car before driving away.

Well, if you want to make an omelet, you've got to have some eggs. Same deal applies if you want to make a statement, at least in this case. The White House Egg Roll has been a tradition since the mid-1800s, and thousands of free tickets will be handed out Saturday for this year's affair on Monday.

Hundreds of gay parents will be standing in line to get them. Organizers say they won't carry signs or protest at the event, but will wear rainbow-colored leis to identify themselves. Their goal is to show that gay and lesbian families are everywhere. Some say they're playing politics, but Laura Bush's office issued a statement saying all families are welcome.

At the Vatican today, his holiness marks Holy Thursday. Pope Benedict uses a mass at St. Peter's Basilica to honor a priest killed in Turkey during Muslim protests over cartoon depictions of the Prophet Mohammed. This holy week is Benedict's first as leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Jews the world over have begun the feast of Passover. This is the first full day of the celebration commemorating the flight of the ancient Israelites from Egypt. Here's a fact check.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIN (voice-over): Passover starts with the seder, a ritual gathering where the story of the exodus is told through words and food. Led by the Prophet Moses, some 600,000 Hebrews resolved to flee slavery in Egypt.

They had to move quickly and they had to pack food. That's where matzah comes in. It's different from tradition breads. It's a simple mixture of flour and water and it requires no time to rise. The Hebrews believe it helped them get the jump on the Pharoah's pursuing army.

The seder begins at sunset. The word itself means order, a reference to the telling of the story and the order of the meal. The foods include bitter herbs to symbolize the Hebrews' oppression. Fruits, nuts and wine stand for the mortar they used as slaves.

Green vegetables stand for rebirth, the Jews' liberation, and the coming of spring. Passover ends a week later with an expression of longing for the promised land, next year in Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Almost five years after September 11, 2001, did this New York police officer die because he worked at Ground Zero? Startling new finding when LIVE FROM returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Let's go straight back to Carol Lin and more information on the developing story in Baltimore -- Carol.

LIN: That's right, Kyra. The situation, in case people are just tuning in, is that there is a hostage situation taking place at a police substation in Baltimore, Maryland.

The situation, as we know it, is that there was an officer bringing in a drug suspect for questioning. Somehow this drug suspect got free of his restraints and attacked the officer. That officer was taken to the hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening.

Now what happened next is that the suspect apparently ran to a back room, and en route, took a civilian employee hostage. "The Baltimore Sun's" Web site is reporting that he has a pair of scissors, but we do know he has some sort of sharp object in his hand.

The hostage negotiators are on the scene right now, but no word yet as to whether they've been able to get him on the telephone to talk to him. But in the meantime, the area around the substation is taking precautions. Morgan State University is in a lockdown situation, just in case this suspect gets loose.

So, Kyra, obviously we're concerned for the officer, that civilian employee who is being held hostage as you and I speak, and what may happen next. We're staying right on top of it.

PHILLIPS: All right, Carol. Thanks.

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