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American Morning

America Strikes Back: At Airports, Ports, Country Defends Against War

Aired October 08, 2001 - 09:16   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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We are probably stating the obvious when we say today there is a new sense of alertness in the United States now. Security is prominent in people's minds. Three reporters are now covering three locations and watching these safeguards put into place across the country: CNN's Hillary Lane is at Newark International Airport, where National Guard troops were stationed on Friday of last week; CNN's Ed Lavendera is at Dallas/Fort Worth International; and John Zarrella is live at the ocean port of the Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Hillary, we begin in northeast, and we begin with you. Good morning.

HILLARY LANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

The planes are taking off and landing here, as normal, but the security is very visible both outside airport and inside the terminals. We have seen police helicopters hovering. We have seen tow trucks towing unattended vehicles, and when travelers get inside, they will see additional layers of security. On top of the usual police that patrol here, we have also seen, as you mentioned, National Guard troops, Border Patrol agents, and customs agents. The National Guard troops here number about 90. They are rotating around the clock, and it is the first time they have been stationed at this national airport since World War II.

Now let's check in with Ed Lavendera, at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

ED LAVENDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you very much.

The passengers here at DFW International Airport, if there was any anxiety about flying, that anxiety seems to have subsided. The terminal here at one of the American Airlines gates is very heavy with passengers this morning. Of course, security is very tight this morning. The FBI has issued local law enforcement agencies across the country to be on a heightened state of alert in the weeks ahead, and here at the DFW International Airport, as we have seen at airports all over country, we see armed National Guard troops carrying M-16 rifles. Here at the security checkpoints, they seem to kind of just stand back a little bit and watch the rest of the security guards do their work.

There are a lot of lines, as we have seen at airports across the country again, but passengers are saying -- that I have had a chance to speak with -- they are anxious to get back in the air, and a lot of people in line are starting to return to airports across the country.

Now let's go to John Zarrella, in Miami -- John?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Ed, to say that security is heavy here at Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, would be an understatement. You can see behind me Broward Sheriff's Office deputies checking at the entrance to Port Everglades, at this checkpoint, as well as Broward Sheriff's Office SWAT team members across the street, heavily armed -- and there is good reason. Here at Port Everglades, it is not only a cruise ship terminal, it is a containerized cargo terminal, there is an electrical substation here, and it is a transfer point for oil, cargo, and oil tankers coming in to Port Everglades.

So there is heavy security here, and you can also see it out on the water that we can't see here, by the Coast Guard -- stepped up now 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, limits on where recreational boaters can go. Here at Port Everglades, Port of Miami, at all ports across the nation, boaters are subject to federal violations if they do not stay out of the restricted zones. The Coast Guard is going to be broadcasting those over the radio waves, for boaters to stay out of zones.

So it is heightened security, both here on land and in the waters adjacent to the Port of Miami and Port Everglades, and all major ports around the United States.

This is John Zarrella, reporting live from Port Everglades -- Bill.

HEMMER: John, thank you.

Thanks to Ed and Hillary, as well.

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