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American Morning

Homeland Security: After New Terrorist Threats, Golden Gate Bridge Under Increased Watch

Aired November 02, 2001 - 10:01   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 want to begin this hour with the terrorism alert that has put eight different states in the West on guard.

CNN's Rusty Dornin is live from San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, one that was talked about yesterday as a potential target in the West.

Rusty, good morning.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, the sun is just peaking out over the fog bank. You can see one of the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge. A few minutes ago, we could see the bridge. We are in the midst of the rush hour commute, the first day of these days of warnings, extending from November 2 through November 7.

Traffic was very light from what we could see a few moments ago. But it is Friday, and the commute is much lighter, usually, on Fridays, so it is more difficult to determine exactly whether the lighter commune is due to the fact it is Friday or because people are staying home.

Gov. Gray Davis issued his warning about four bridges in California: the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a national icon; the Bay Bridge, which is the most heavily traveled bridge in the state, 270, 000 cars or trucks traveling across that everyday; the Vincent Thomas Bridge, which spans the Port of Los Angeles; and the Coronado Bridge, which spans San Diego to Coronado Island, which is the home of the North Island Naval Air Station, where U.S. carriers often dock when they are on the West Coast.

We are talking to some commuters, bicycle and drivers on the Coronado Bridge. They have their opinions about the warnings.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have full confidence that our military will overcome this. And it's the fear factor. I'm not fearful. I have faith that we are a powerful country. I think we will survive this.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I am worried. I am worried because he goes over everyday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not too worried about it. I feel safe, being that we have bases on both sides of the bridge. I feel safe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DORNIN: Gov. Davis did order the National Guard to all bridges, to assist in the security issues. The National Guard units have arrived at the Golden Gate Bridge. They will be stationed at both the north and the southern portions of the bridge, and they'll be assisting the highway patrol units that are already in place.

The U.S. Coast Guard has also beefed up their patrols below the bridge as well as the National Park Rangers, which also patrol both the north and south side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Security measures were already in place. They have just been beefed up.

But they are still allowing people to walk and bicycle across the bridge, saying it is perfectly safe, but we are taking extra security measures it make sure -- Bill.

HEMMER: Rusty, help clarify this. We talked about eight Western states. Why is it that just the governor of California has come out in such a public manner?

DORNIN: Gov. Davis came out even after September 11 attacks and came forward with some information that he felt hadn't been brought forth that maybe could have helped talk about possible targets that were in California even then. He feels very strongly about coming out, making it public. He feels that if you make it public, that lets the terrorists know we are aware of what they're doing, and that might prevent any terrorist attack from taking place because the security measures would be beefed up.

Federal officials wanted to downplay this a little bit because they had not corroborated the specific threats and did not want it go public with them yet. But Gov. Davis just felt it was in a matter of public safety, and he felt it was the right thing do, to go public with it.

HEMMER: Here's who hoping the governor is right. As the sun comes up and the fog rolls into the bay area, Rusty Dornin, live in San Francisco, with us. Rusty, thanks to you.

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