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New Terror Threat Announcement Causes More Frustration Than Concern

Aired July 08, 2004 - 11:30   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's bring in our Kelli Arena who's been listening in to this in part of her regular beat. Kelli, help me here. I didn't hear anything new that we haven't heard before.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: No, and you're right, Daryn. It is a consistent drum beat coming from intelligence officials over the last few months.

What -- bottom line here is that they continue to get intelligence and information that suggests that there is a major attack being planned on U.S. soil. The analysts go with that information to try to figure out what the likely targets are. Much of that analysis has pointed toward the conventions and the November elections based on what they have seen al Qaeda and related groups do overseas.

You heard a specific question asked about the mass transportation systems. As you know, in New York, for example, where the convention is being held in Madison Square garden, subways run right under that building. Was there any specific information that led to increased concern about mass transit? No, no specific information. But we have seen al Qaeda and other groups attack mass transit elsewhere.

So this is just general information and intelligence coming in that analysts are piecing together to try to make sure that they're covering all their bases.

And, Daryn, you know something that I've been asked a lot by just friends and relatives who are trying to make sense of this is when they hear things like, well, the information is coming from credible sources. And again, you heard Secretary Ridge say it today. But we're trying to make sure that the information itself is accurate.

Well how do those two situations come together? And I described it like this. And forgive me for the simplicity of this. But let's say you are considered, Daryn, a very credible source. You have not lied before. And you and I are having a conversation. And you ask me, Kelli Arena, how old are you? And I say 21. And you repeat that, Kelli Arena says she's 21.

Well you are considered source, but is that information accurate? And I'm embarrassed to say, it's not. But that is a very simplistic way to explain exactly what they're talking about because all of this is very confusing to people who are trying to figure out what to do.

So I think you're very right in saying this is not new, but the administration does seem to feel compelled to remind the public that the danger and the threat still exist and that they're on top of it.

KAGAN: All right, Kelli Arena. No matter what age, you're looking good, my friend. And thanks for making me a credible source in your example, appreciate that.

Want to bring Jim Walsh back in. Our security analyst from the Belfer Center at Harvard University. Jim, tell me what you heard, or perhaps, just as importantly, what you didn't hear that you found significant about Secretary Ridge's announcement today?

JIM WALSH, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Well, Daryn, before I do anything, I want to say that Kelli looks 21 to me. So it seems like that's a credible report.

KAGAN: Now that we've established that...

WALSH: Listen, I have great respect for Governor Ridge. But I have an increasing sense of frustration about these press conferences. By my count, this is something like the third press conference in the last month and a half that has been offered as, quote, "an update to the American people." And yet there's no information in it.

The press conference started out with Governor Ridge saying they are concerned about the Democrat and Republican Conventions. And then the rest of his prepared remarks were simply a laundry list of the things the Homeland Security Department has been doing. Charitably, maybe that is meant as a deterrent to potential attackers. But it ran like sort of a commercial for the Department of Homeland Security.

The first question after the press conference was do you have any specific or credible information about attacks against the convention? And his answer was no. I mean we know when the Democratic and Republican Conventions are, we know the time, we know the location.

So if we have evidence about it, we should have what we need to be able raise the threat level, and yet we don't. So I think this is probably confusing for the American people, and it's certainly frustrating for me.

KAGAN: All right, Jim, you stay with us.

Let's go right to the site of what will be the Republican National Convention, that is New York City. Our Jason Carroll on streets there about what is being done about security and perhaps what could be a similar level of frustration about people living there -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, you talk to New York City's police commissioner and he'll tell you that all of the necessary precautions have been taken.

Right now, I'm standing in front of Madison Square Garden. When the Republican National Convention takes place here at the end of the month, a 19-block area will be cordoned off, sectioned off here.

In addition to that, many other security measures are going to be taken as well, including sealing off manholes. They will be also taking out the trash cans in the area.

In addition to 10,000 police officers, will be patrolling the area. They will be working with the Secret Service to talk about and work around the subway areas and the train system, the mass transit system. In addition to that the Coast Guard will be patrolling the waterways. Police officers will be checking out the ventilation system in the hotels that some of the delegates will be staying in.

Some of the precautions that will be taking place here will also be taking place in Boston as well.

But as you heard during the press conference, the question was raised to Tom Ridge, what about complacency? With so many warnings going on, are the people and the public becoming complacent? I want to talk to two people who we've just found just recently. They've heard what happened during the Tom Ridge press conference.

And, Keisha (ph), you say you're not complacent, you just want more information.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Correct. Well, I'm not complacent at all. And I don't think anyone here is complacent. In fact, we're more aware of what's going on. So we want more details so we can prepare for security within our family and as a whole. We just want to know what is going on so that we can make preparations for safety.

CARROLL: OK, I'm going right now over to Bill DiLia (ph). Bill, what are some of your thoughts about this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I'm concerned like everybody else. But I don't know that I'm -- you know, there's anything else you can do or just keep your eye out for things, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) just be aware of what's going on. But I'm not going to change my routines or anything.

CARROLL: All right, thank you very much for that, for that both of you.

Again, basically, in terms of complacency, when you talk to many New Yorkers like the ones that we just spoke to, they'll tell you that there is no complacency here. Just the need for more information about a specific threat. Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Jason Carroll, on streets of New York City where, as he mentioned, the Republican National Convention takes place next month.

Let's go back to the White House. Our senior White House correspondent John King standing by. He's been with us most of the morning and listening into Tom Ridge as well -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And, Daryn, in the few minutes since Tome Ridge finished, Secretary Ridge finished speaking, you are having the debate here, on our air, live television, that the White House knew would come. Officials describe this -- and excuse my language -- as one of these damned if you do, damned if you don't situations. They know they will be criticized in some quarters for going public and saying there is a continuing stream of intelligence suggesting al Qaeda wants to attack, perhaps around the conventions, more specifically around the election, but we can't tell you when, we can't tell you how and we can't tell you where.

They know they will be criticized for that. They have made a decision long ago in this administration that they will go public. That is why you heard Secretary Ridge, a man who has great credibility, he served in the House of Representatives, he does have great credibility among both parties on Capitol Hill, saying that this is, quote, "not conjecture or mythical information."

And while he can't be very specific, he did say there is new information in his view from the interrogations of suspects arrested recently in England, Jordan and Italy. And we are told from other administration officials that from those interrogations and other intelligence, they do believe that there are al Qaeda operatives in this country and that they have the capability, those al Qaeda operatives, to launch such attacks.

That is why the Homeland Security secretary says he want to periodically raise public attention. The White House of course signed off on this. Some Democrats on Capitol Hill say this is the right strategy and that they find this information troubling.

We are in a political campaign, though, Daryn. And other Democrats already questioning the timing of this. They say perhaps the White House trying to steer attention away from what is a big week for the Democratic ticket. Of course the new vice presidential nominee, John Edwards, announced. The White House says this flatly is not true.

But we have to be honest about this. Four months to an election, anything this president does, whether it's about taxes, about the economy or about the more serious subject of homeland security, will be viewed through a political prism.

KAGAN: Kerry-Edwards campaign on the road today in Florida. We'll be able to go live to our Candy Crowley in just a moment.

First, though, John, political question to you, and not political in terms of parties, political in terms of agencies. As these announcements have come out in recent months, sometimes we see Attorney General John Ashcroft up there, you see the FBI director, and today we see Tom Ridge. What about the struggle and the political power balance that's taking place between Justice and Homeland Security?

KAGAN: Oh there has been, make no mistake about i, in the past tension between these agencies. The administration says that is, with a few minor exceptions, now in the past. And that the attorney general comes forward when he wants to talk about specific information about possible criminal activity. That it's the homeland security secretary's job to talk more broadly about the issue of homeland security.

I can tell you that privately here at the White House, officials will tell you privately they believe Tom Ridge is a better messenger because he is viewed as a less political figure than the Attorney General John Ashcroft.

And you mentioned Kerry and Edwards campaigning in Florida. I do want to add this -- the White House says, and other agencies are telling us that both campaigns, senior officials in both the Bush- Cheney campaign and the Kerry-Edwards campaign have been offered a briefing, not only on this new threat information and on the intelligence, but on the security preparations under way in Boston, in New York.

And, of course, as Secretary Ridge himself noted, both candidates, all four candidates, if you count the vice presidential nominees, have Secret Service protection with them at all times.

KAGAN: And we heard Tom Ridge talk about that as well. John King at the White House, thank you to that.

To Kelli Arena and Jim Walsh as well.

We're going to take a break. We'll work on getting Candy Crowley live out of Florida on the Kerry-Edwards campaign trail. Right now looks like a good time to take a break. We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right, let's get more on the information we just received, or perhaps some would say lack of information we received from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Our Judy Woodruff standing by in Washington D.C. to talk about that, also the Kerry-Edwards campaign today, on the road today in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Judy, good morning.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Daryn.

You're absolutely right. We are watching this both from a homeland security perspective, a terrorist perspective, but always from a political perspective.

As our White House correspondent John King just said, we are in the middle of a campaign. Democrats are saying already, you know, what about the timing of this? Where is the new information here that warrants it being released on this -- in this week when John Kerry has rolled out his running mate?

And I think that -- you know, we're -- reporters are going to continue to ask the sort of questions we just heard asked of Tom Ridge. That is, why are you saying this now if there have no new specific information? We're going to keep poring over everything they say. I will tell you, Daryn, that John Kerry's campaign did put out a statement a little over an hour ago in which they said terrorists should know John Kerry, if he is president, he will use every weapon in our arsenal to destroy them, and he goes on to say that he believes you should go after the terrorists at their source, rather than waiting for them to attack the homeland.

This is very much going to be a part of the campaign. Reporters and the people who are making the decisions in these campaigns are going to be watching for every clue coming out of this administration.

KAGAN: All right, Judy, stand by with us. Our Candy Crowley actually is live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so let's bring her in -- Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi.

A couple things to add to what Judy just said. They did indeed put out a statement, and you will notice that publicly there is absolutely no intimations from the Kerry campaign that the timing of this is suspect.

A couple things to give you kind of backing up. Earlier this week, the Kerry campaign did receive an offer from the Bush administration for a briefing on intelligence activities. Now the Kerry campaign assumes it was about what Ridge was talking about in his news conference. They have yet to be able to get that briefing, because as you know, he's especially busy this week, picking a vice presidential nomination and hanging out in hot airport hangars in Florida. So they haven't yet had that briefing, but they assume that in that briefing is some of what administration officials are acting on.

Now, about the timing of it, because that briefing is in the offing, it's not something that right now the Kerry campaign would be comfortable in questioning, nor are they the least bit comfortable with the suggestion that terrorists are trying to influence the U.S. elections. Repeatedly, they will tell you, this sort of thing has come up in the past, as it came up today, look, Americans are going to decide the election, not terrorists.

John Kerry's mission right now is to say, no safe haven here, I am just as tough, I am more tough, I have a better plan than George Bush does. So lots of distance here from the political realm. What John Kerry wants to do is say, I will make Americans safe, in fact, safer, than George Bush. So that, so far, has been the gist of their very brief remarks on this, which were put out on paper. We actually haven't heard from the candidate, or his vice presidential candidate. We do expect that this weekend they will take the administration up on that offer to get a briefing.

KAGAN: All right, Candy Crowley, working over the noise of the crowd and the music there in Ft. Lauderdale in the hangar. Good work. Appreciate that.

And we are going to take a break, and we're back after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta. Let's check what is happening now in the news this Thursday, July 8th.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warning just moments ago -- you saw it live here on CNN -- that al Qaeda's threats to the U.S. remains real. He says the terrorist plans a large-scale attack on the United States, quote, "in an effort to interrupt the democratic process before the November elections."

The new Democratic presidential ticket is rallying Florida voters this hour. John Kerry and John Edwards are on the stump in Ft. Lauderdale. They fly to New York for a celebrity fund-raiser at Radio City Music Hall later tonight.

Secretary of State Colin Powell is on Capitol Hill this morning to discuss U.S. policy on Africa. The conference focuses on U.S. assistance to combat the spread of AIDS on continent and the need to develop its economy.

You don't have to be a spy to have a yen for espionage and intrigue. In fact, a new book claims the same tactics used by the CIA and KGB could add a bit of 007 to your everyday life. It is "The International Spy Museum Handbook of Practical Spying."

Joining us from Washington D.C., Peter Earnest, executive director of the International Spy Museum. He wrote the introduction to the manual.

Peter, good morning. Good to have you with us here again.

PETER EARNEST, EXEC. DIR., INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM: Thank you. Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: I think we had you on the phone with us the day that George Tenet decided to step down.

EARNEST: I think you did.

KAGAN: Yes.

EARNEST: By the way, I can't imagine a better time to come on the air. You know, we have a special exhibit at the museum on terror in America, 1776 to the present.

KAGAN: Really?

EARNEST: Yes.

KAGAN: Well, you make an interesting point there that -- about how you dated that exhibit, going back to 1776. This is not a new thing that this country is facing.

EARNEST: No. The whole point of the exhibit is this country has known terror since the very beginning. And so, we take you right through about nine key periods in American history, when Americans have known terror on their own soil. So...

KAGAN: Very interesting...

(CROSSTALK)

EARNEST: Yes.

KAGAN: Well, finish your thought, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you.

EARNEST: No, I was just going to say, so it's not a new thing. What makes it new, of course, is these terrible weapons of mass destruction and -- that the terrorists may get their hands on.

KAGAN: New types of weapons.

Also interesting that -- and I think one of the reasons we decided to get you in here today, when you listen to Tom Ridge, the homeland defense secretary talking, and he's asking Americans to remain vigilant, maybe he's not going so far as asking Americans to become spies, but he is asking people to be aware.

EARNEST: Well, you know, intelligence is simply information gathering. By the way, I would cast my vote.

I think Kelli Arena could get by for 21. But in fact, if you had reported that Kelli Arena says she's 21, you would be a very accurate reporter and that would be credible.

KAGAN: Thank you so much.

You know, they're -- in the book you talk to people about how to be thinking like a spy.

EARNEST: Yes.

KAGAN: Let's look at some of these tips here.

EARNEST: Sure.

KAGAN: We're going to start at number one. No matter where you are, act like you belong.

EARNEST: Act like you belong. Act purposefully.

You know, the whole thrust of that first section is the essence of being a spy or doing any kind of intelligence work is in a sense to enter into a state of heightened awareness -- know what's going on around you, where you are, what are you doing, who's speaking to you, who's approaching you. And all of these things revolve around that business of being heightened awareness.

KAGAN: Moving on down the list -- to blend in become a gray man or a gray woman, as the case might be. You don't really want to stand out if you're going to get good intelligence. EARNEST: No. Where the movies get it wrong is very often when someone is a spy in the movies, they're looking over their shoulder, they're looking in the reflections of department store glass and so forth, they're doing all the things that say -- as if they had it written on their forehead, I am a spy.

KAGAN: I think number five is good and it does play into what Tom Ridge is asking Americans to do: Learn to trust your instincts and to make decisions. I think in this case if something in your gut is telling you that somebody doesn't really fit or something's not right, that's something you want to call in.

EARNEST: Daryn, I couldn't have put it better.

I think the authorities -- look, we are struggling with a terrible problem and we are an open society. We're a democracy. There will be, inevitably, a tension between how much any administration can divulge and how much they actually have in intelligence. Because if you give the public all the details, they will be totally overwhelmed. That's the nature of the business.

KAGAN: In the final seconds we have left, tell us exactly where people can find the museum and if you have a Web site.

EARNEST: OK. The exhibit is there. The Web site is www.spymuseum.org, O-R-G. The exhibit will be up for a limited time, and it opened on May 6th. And it takes the public through these nine periods where we in our country have known terror on our own soil, either created from within or brought by outsiders.

KAGAN: Peter Earnest with the International Spy Museum, thanks for your time today, sir.

EARNEST: Thanks for inviting me.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

We're going to have a look at business news -- that is coming up after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MARKET UPDATE)

KAGAN: That's going to do it for me, Daryn Kagan. I will see you right back here tomorrow morning.

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 July 8, 2004 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's bring in our Kelli Arena who's been listening in to this in part of her regular beat. Kelli, help me here. I didn't hear anything new that we haven't heard before.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: No, and you're right, Daryn. It is a consistent drum beat coming from intelligence officials over the last few months.

What -- bottom line here is that they continue to get intelligence and information that suggests that there is a major attack being planned on U.S. soil. The analysts go with that information to try to figure out what the likely targets are. Much of that analysis has pointed toward the conventions and the November elections based on what they have seen al Qaeda and related groups do overseas.

You heard a specific question asked about the mass transportation systems. As you know, in New York, for example, where the convention is being held in Madison Square garden, subways run right under that building. Was there any specific information that led to increased concern about mass transit? No, no specific information. But we have seen al Qaeda and other groups attack mass transit elsewhere.

So this is just general information and intelligence coming in that analysts are piecing together to try to make sure that they're covering all their bases.

And, Daryn, you know something that I've been asked a lot by just friends and relatives who are trying to make sense of this is when they hear things like, well, the information is coming from credible sources. And again, you heard Secretary Ridge say it today. But we're trying to make sure that the information itself is accurate.

Well how do those two situations come together? And I described it like this. And forgive me for the simplicity of this. But let's say you are considered, Daryn, a very credible source. You have not lied before. And you and I are having a conversation. And you ask me, Kelli Arena, how old are you? And I say 21. And you repeat that, Kelli Arena says she's 21.

Well you are considered source, but is that information accurate? And I'm embarrassed to say, it's not. But that is a very simplistic way to explain exactly what they're talking about because all of this is very confusing to people who are trying to figure out what to do.

So I think you're very right in saying this is not new, but the administration does seem to feel compelled to remind the public that the danger and the threat still exist and that they're on top of it.

KAGAN: All right, Kelli Arena. No matter what age, you're looking good, my friend. And thanks for making me a credible source in your example, appreciate that.

Want to bring Jim Walsh back in. Our security analyst from the Belfer Center at Harvard University. Jim, tell me what you heard, or perhaps, just as importantly, what you didn't hear that you found significant about Secretary Ridge's announcement today?

JIM WALSH, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Well, Daryn, before I do anything, I want to say that Kelli looks 21 to me. So it seems like that's a credible report.

KAGAN: Now that we've established that...

WALSH: Listen, I have great respect for Governor Ridge. But I have an increasing sense of frustration about these press conferences. By my count, this is something like the third press conference in the last month and a half that has been offered as, quote, "an update to the American people." And yet there's no information in it.

The press conference started out with Governor Ridge saying they are concerned about the Democrat and Republican Conventions. And then the rest of his prepared remarks were simply a laundry list of the things the Homeland Security Department has been doing. Charitably, maybe that is meant as a deterrent to potential attackers. But it ran like sort of a commercial for the Department of Homeland Security.

The first question after the press conference was do you have any specific or credible information about attacks against the convention? And his answer was no. I mean we know when the Democratic and Republican Conventions are, we know the time, we know the location.

So if we have evidence about it, we should have what we need to be able raise the threat level, and yet we don't. So I think this is probably confusing for the American people, and it's certainly frustrating for me.

KAGAN: All right, Jim, you stay with us.

Let's go right to the site of what will be the Republican National Convention, that is New York City. Our Jason Carroll on streets there about what is being done about security and perhaps what could be a similar level of frustration about people living there -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, you talk to New York City's police commissioner and he'll tell you that all of the necessary precautions have been taken.

Right now, I'm standing in front of Madison Square Garden. When the Republican National Convention takes place here at the end of the month, a 19-block area will be cordoned off, sectioned off here.

In addition to that, many other security measures are going to be taken as well, including sealing off manholes. They will be also taking out the trash cans in the area.

In addition to 10,000 police officers, will be patrolling the area. They will be working with the Secret Service to talk about and work around the subway areas and the train system, the mass transit system. In addition to that the Coast Guard will be patrolling the waterways. Police officers will be checking out the ventilation system in the hotels that some of the delegates will be staying in.

Some of the precautions that will be taking place here will also be taking place in Boston as well.

But as you heard during the press conference, the question was raised to Tom Ridge, what about complacency? With so many warnings going on, are the people and the public becoming complacent? I want to talk to two people who we've just found just recently. They've heard what happened during the Tom Ridge press conference.

And, Keisha (ph), you say you're not complacent, you just want more information.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Correct. Well, I'm not complacent at all. And I don't think anyone here is complacent. In fact, we're more aware of what's going on. So we want more details so we can prepare for security within our family and as a whole. We just want to know what is going on so that we can make preparations for safety.

CARROLL: OK, I'm going right now over to Bill DiLia (ph). Bill, what are some of your thoughts about this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think I'm concerned like everybody else. But I don't know that I'm -- you know, there's anything else you can do or just keep your eye out for things, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) just be aware of what's going on. But I'm not going to change my routines or anything.

CARROLL: All right, thank you very much for that, for that both of you.

Again, basically, in terms of complacency, when you talk to many New Yorkers like the ones that we just spoke to, they'll tell you that there is no complacency here. Just the need for more information about a specific threat. Back to you, Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Jason Carroll, on streets of New York City where, as he mentioned, the Republican National Convention takes place next month.

Let's go back to the White House. Our senior White House correspondent John King standing by. He's been with us most of the morning and listening into Tom Ridge as well -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And, Daryn, in the few minutes since Tome Ridge finished, Secretary Ridge finished speaking, you are having the debate here, on our air, live television, that the White House knew would come. Officials describe this -- and excuse my language -- as one of these damned if you do, damned if you don't situations. They know they will be criticized in some quarters for going public and saying there is a continuing stream of intelligence suggesting al Qaeda wants to attack, perhaps around the conventions, more specifically around the election, but we can't tell you when, we can't tell you how and we can't tell you where.

They know they will be criticized for that. They have made a decision long ago in this administration that they will go public. That is why you heard Secretary Ridge, a man who has great credibility, he served in the House of Representatives, he does have great credibility among both parties on Capitol Hill, saying that this is, quote, "not conjecture or mythical information."

And while he can't be very specific, he did say there is new information in his view from the interrogations of suspects arrested recently in England, Jordan and Italy. And we are told from other administration officials that from those interrogations and other intelligence, they do believe that there are al Qaeda operatives in this country and that they have the capability, those al Qaeda operatives, to launch such attacks.

That is why the Homeland Security secretary says he want to periodically raise public attention. The White House of course signed off on this. Some Democrats on Capitol Hill say this is the right strategy and that they find this information troubling.

We are in a political campaign, though, Daryn. And other Democrats already questioning the timing of this. They say perhaps the White House trying to steer attention away from what is a big week for the Democratic ticket. Of course the new vice presidential nominee, John Edwards, announced. The White House says this flatly is not true.

But we have to be honest about this. Four months to an election, anything this president does, whether it's about taxes, about the economy or about the more serious subject of homeland security, will be viewed through a political prism.

KAGAN: Kerry-Edwards campaign on the road today in Florida. We'll be able to go live to our Candy Crowley in just a moment.

First, though, John, political question to you, and not political in terms of parties, political in terms of agencies. As these announcements have come out in recent months, sometimes we see Attorney General John Ashcroft up there, you see the FBI director, and today we see Tom Ridge. What about the struggle and the political power balance that's taking place between Justice and Homeland Security?

KAGAN: Oh there has been, make no mistake about i, in the past tension between these agencies. The administration says that is, with a few minor exceptions, now in the past. And that the attorney general comes forward when he wants to talk about specific information about possible criminal activity. That it's the homeland security secretary's job to talk more broadly about the issue of homeland security.

I can tell you that privately here at the White House, officials will tell you privately they believe Tom Ridge is a better messenger because he is viewed as a less political figure than the Attorney General John Ashcroft.

And you mentioned Kerry and Edwards campaigning in Florida. I do want to add this -- the White House says, and other agencies are telling us that both campaigns, senior officials in both the Bush- Cheney campaign and the Kerry-Edwards campaign have been offered a briefing, not only on this new threat information and on the intelligence, but on the security preparations under way in Boston, in New York.

And, of course, as Secretary Ridge himself noted, both candidates, all four candidates, if you count the vice presidential nominees, have Secret Service protection with them at all times.

KAGAN: And we heard Tom Ridge talk about that as well. John King at the White House, thank you to that.

To Kelli Arena and Jim Walsh as well.

We're going to take a break. We'll work on getting Candy Crowley live out of Florida on the Kerry-Edwards campaign trail. Right now looks like a good time to take a break. We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right, let's get more on the information we just received, or perhaps some would say lack of information we received from Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

Our Judy Woodruff standing by in Washington D.C. to talk about that, also the Kerry-Edwards campaign today, on the road today in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Judy, good morning.

JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Daryn.

You're absolutely right. We are watching this both from a homeland security perspective, a terrorist perspective, but always from a political perspective.

As our White House correspondent John King just said, we are in the middle of a campaign. Democrats are saying already, you know, what about the timing of this? Where is the new information here that warrants it being released on this -- in this week when John Kerry has rolled out his running mate?

And I think that -- you know, we're -- reporters are going to continue to ask the sort of questions we just heard asked of Tom Ridge. That is, why are you saying this now if there have no new specific information? We're going to keep poring over everything they say. I will tell you, Daryn, that John Kerry's campaign did put out a statement a little over an hour ago in which they said terrorists should know John Kerry, if he is president, he will use every weapon in our arsenal to destroy them, and he goes on to say that he believes you should go after the terrorists at their source, rather than waiting for them to attack the homeland.

This is very much going to be a part of the campaign. Reporters and the people who are making the decisions in these campaigns are going to be watching for every clue coming out of this administration.

KAGAN: All right, Judy, stand by with us. Our Candy Crowley actually is live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so let's bring her in -- Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi.

A couple things to add to what Judy just said. They did indeed put out a statement, and you will notice that publicly there is absolutely no intimations from the Kerry campaign that the timing of this is suspect.

A couple things to give you kind of backing up. Earlier this week, the Kerry campaign did receive an offer from the Bush administration for a briefing on intelligence activities. Now the Kerry campaign assumes it was about what Ridge was talking about in his news conference. They have yet to be able to get that briefing, because as you know, he's especially busy this week, picking a vice presidential nomination and hanging out in hot airport hangars in Florida. So they haven't yet had that briefing, but they assume that in that briefing is some of what administration officials are acting on.

Now, about the timing of it, because that briefing is in the offing, it's not something that right now the Kerry campaign would be comfortable in questioning, nor are they the least bit comfortable with the suggestion that terrorists are trying to influence the U.S. elections. Repeatedly, they will tell you, this sort of thing has come up in the past, as it came up today, look, Americans are going to decide the election, not terrorists.

John Kerry's mission right now is to say, no safe haven here, I am just as tough, I am more tough, I have a better plan than George Bush does. So lots of distance here from the political realm. What John Kerry wants to do is say, I will make Americans safe, in fact, safer, than George Bush. So that, so far, has been the gist of their very brief remarks on this, which were put out on paper. We actually haven't heard from the candidate, or his vice presidential candidate. We do expect that this weekend they will take the administration up on that offer to get a briefing.

KAGAN: All right, Candy Crowley, working over the noise of the crowd and the music there in Ft. Lauderdale in the hangar. Good work. Appreciate that.

And we are going to take a break, and we're back after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta. Let's check what is happening now in the news this Thursday, July 8th.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warning just moments ago -- you saw it live here on CNN -- that al Qaeda's threats to the U.S. remains real. He says the terrorist plans a large-scale attack on the United States, quote, "in an effort to interrupt the democratic process before the November elections."

The new Democratic presidential ticket is rallying Florida voters this hour. John Kerry and John Edwards are on the stump in Ft. Lauderdale. They fly to New York for a celebrity fund-raiser at Radio City Music Hall later tonight.

Secretary of State Colin Powell is on Capitol Hill this morning to discuss U.S. policy on Africa. The conference focuses on U.S. assistance to combat the spread of AIDS on continent and the need to develop its economy.

You don't have to be a spy to have a yen for espionage and intrigue. In fact, a new book claims the same tactics used by the CIA and KGB could add a bit of 007 to your everyday life. It is "The International Spy Museum Handbook of Practical Spying."

Joining us from Washington D.C., Peter Earnest, executive director of the International Spy Museum. He wrote the introduction to the manual.

Peter, good morning. Good to have you with us here again.

PETER EARNEST, EXEC. DIR., INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM: Thank you. Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: I think we had you on the phone with us the day that George Tenet decided to step down.

EARNEST: I think you did.

KAGAN: Yes.

EARNEST: By the way, I can't imagine a better time to come on the air. You know, we have a special exhibit at the museum on terror in America, 1776 to the present.

KAGAN: Really?

EARNEST: Yes.

KAGAN: Well, you make an interesting point there that -- about how you dated that exhibit, going back to 1776. This is not a new thing that this country is facing.

EARNEST: No. The whole point of the exhibit is this country has known terror since the very beginning. And so, we take you right through about nine key periods in American history, when Americans have known terror on their own soil. So...

KAGAN: Very interesting...

(CROSSTALK)

EARNEST: Yes.

KAGAN: Well, finish your thought, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you.

EARNEST: No, I was just going to say, so it's not a new thing. What makes it new, of course, is these terrible weapons of mass destruction and -- that the terrorists may get their hands on.

KAGAN: New types of weapons.

Also interesting that -- and I think one of the reasons we decided to get you in here today, when you listen to Tom Ridge, the homeland defense secretary talking, and he's asking Americans to remain vigilant, maybe he's not going so far as asking Americans to become spies, but he is asking people to be aware.

EARNEST: Well, you know, intelligence is simply information gathering. By the way, I would cast my vote.

I think Kelli Arena could get by for 21. But in fact, if you had reported that Kelli Arena says she's 21, you would be a very accurate reporter and that would be credible.

KAGAN: Thank you so much.

You know, they're -- in the book you talk to people about how to be thinking like a spy.

EARNEST: Yes.

KAGAN: Let's look at some of these tips here.

EARNEST: Sure.

KAGAN: We're going to start at number one. No matter where you are, act like you belong.

EARNEST: Act like you belong. Act purposefully.

You know, the whole thrust of that first section is the essence of being a spy or doing any kind of intelligence work is in a sense to enter into a state of heightened awareness -- know what's going on around you, where you are, what are you doing, who's speaking to you, who's approaching you. And all of these things revolve around that business of being heightened awareness.

KAGAN: Moving on down the list -- to blend in become a gray man or a gray woman, as the case might be. You don't really want to stand out if you're going to get good intelligence. EARNEST: No. Where the movies get it wrong is very often when someone is a spy in the movies, they're looking over their shoulder, they're looking in the reflections of department store glass and so forth, they're doing all the things that say -- as if they had it written on their forehead, I am a spy.

KAGAN: I think number five is good and it does play into what Tom Ridge is asking Americans to do: Learn to trust your instincts and to make decisions. I think in this case if something in your gut is telling you that somebody doesn't really fit or something's not right, that's something you want to call in.

EARNEST: Daryn, I couldn't have put it better.

I think the authorities -- look, we are struggling with a terrible problem and we are an open society. We're a democracy. There will be, inevitably, a tension between how much any administration can divulge and how much they actually have in intelligence. Because if you give the public all the details, they will be totally overwhelmed. That's the nature of the business.

KAGAN: In the final seconds we have left, tell us exactly where people can find the museum and if you have a Web site.

EARNEST: OK. The exhibit is there. The Web site is www.spymuseum.org, O-R-G. The exhibit will be up for a limited time, and it opened on May 6th. And it takes the public through these nine periods where we in our country have known terror on our own soil, either created from within or brought by outsiders.

KAGAN: Peter Earnest with the International Spy Museum, thanks for your time today, sir.

EARNEST: Thanks for inviting me.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

We're going to have a look at business news -- that is coming up after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MARKET UPDATE)

KAGAN: That's going to do it for me, Daryn Kagan. I will see you right back here tomorrow morning.

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