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American Morning
Government Urges Precaution
Aired February 11, 2003 - 09:07 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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile the government, our government, is urging Americans to take precautions against terror attacks as the nationwide terror alert warning remains at its second- highest level.
Homeland Security officials are telling all of us to stock up on enough food and water for three days, keep an emergency supply kit at home and in our cars, buy duct tape and plastic sheeting. That is recommended for sealing a home in the case of a chemical or biological attack, and have extra batteries for radios. Threats to national security will be the subject this morning when the directors of the CIA and FBI go before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena joins us now from our Washington bureau with a preview -- good morning, Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. Well, the nation's lead intelligence gathers say that al Qaeda still poses the biggest threat to the United States. In fact, sources tell CNN that al Qaeda is trying to communicate in new ways using disposable cell phones, one time e-mail accounts. As you said, the head of the FBI and the CIA, along with the Defense Intelligence Agency and a representative from the State Department are expected to cover a variety of issues ranging from al Qaeda, other terrorist groups to Iraq and North Korea.
Now, this is first time that the FBI director will participate in this annual threat assessment. That, of course, reflects the FBI's new role in preventing terrorism rather than prosecuting criminals. During the public part of the hearing, officials are expected to describe al Qaeda as a very viable organization. Now, that is despite the U.S. military action in Afghanistan. Officials are also expected to address the threat of chemical, biological, or a radiological attack. Sources have told CNN that new intelligence suggests a greater likelihood of such an attack. In fact, it is one of the factors that led officials to raise that threat level to orange last Friday -- back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: Thank you.
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 February 11, 2003 - 09:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Meanwhile the government, our government, is urging Americans to take precautions against terror attacks as the nationwide terror alert warning remains at its second- highest level.
Homeland Security officials are telling all of us to stock up on enough food and water for three days, keep an emergency supply kit at home and in our cars, buy duct tape and plastic sheeting. That is recommended for sealing a home in the case of a chemical or biological attack, and have extra batteries for radios. Threats to national security will be the subject this morning when the directors of the CIA and FBI go before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena joins us now from our Washington bureau with a preview -- good morning, Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Paula. Well, the nation's lead intelligence gathers say that al Qaeda still poses the biggest threat to the United States. In fact, sources tell CNN that al Qaeda is trying to communicate in new ways using disposable cell phones, one time e-mail accounts. As you said, the head of the FBI and the CIA, along with the Defense Intelligence Agency and a representative from the State Department are expected to cover a variety of issues ranging from al Qaeda, other terrorist groups to Iraq and North Korea.
Now, this is first time that the FBI director will participate in this annual threat assessment. That, of course, reflects the FBI's new role in preventing terrorism rather than prosecuting criminals. During the public part of the hearing, officials are expected to describe al Qaeda as a very viable organization. Now, that is despite the U.S. military action in Afghanistan. Officials are also expected to address the threat of chemical, biological, or a radiological attack. Sources have told CNN that new intelligence suggests a greater likelihood of such an attack. In fact, it is one of the factors that led officials to raise that threat level to orange last Friday -- back to you, Paula.
ZAHN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
