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American Morning
Senate Holds Hearing on National Security Threat
Aired February 11, 2003 - 07:19 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.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN ANCHOR: With the nationwide terrorist alert at its second-highest level, code orange, the Bush administration is advising Americans on how to prepare for disaster. Homeland Security officials are telling Americans (UNINTELLIGIBLE) stock up on enough food and water for three days, keep an emergency supply kit in your home and in your car, buy duct tape and plastic sheeting -- it's recommended for sealing a home in the case of chemical or biological attacks -- and have batteries for radios on hand.
Threats to national security will be among the subjects this morning when CIA Director George Tenet goes before the Senate.
Justice correspondent Kelli Arena joins us with more on that from our Washington bureau -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Jonathan. It's good to see you.
Not only will we be hearing from the head of the CIA, but the FBI director, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency and a representative from the State Department.
Now, they will all appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee to give their current threat assessment. It is a yearly exercise, but this is the first time that the FBI is participating.
Sources say that Director Robert Mueller will outline for members of Congress the al Qaeda threat and the terror network's capabilities. He's also expected to talk about the threat from other terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, and he will tell Congress how the United States could be vulnerable to an attack. For an example, how so-called soft targets like sports stadiums and schools pose special challenges for law enforcement.
Now, beyond terrorism, the issue of Iraq is expected to come up; also North Korea.
Now, the first part of that hearing is public. We will be able to get a general impression of the terror threat, but much of what Congress will hear will be in a closed session, because the information is classified.
Back to you.
KARL: So, Kelli, is the fact that you see both the FBI director and the CIA director together sending the message that the days of turf wars between the two agencies have come to an end? ARENA: Well, this is actually the first time that the FBI has truly been involved in an intelligence-gathering prevention mode, rather than a responding law enforcement mode. And so, in that capacity, it's the first time that this is an appropriate venue for the FBI director to make this sort of presentation before Congress.
So, there's no real symbolism here. It's just a matter of fact that this is now a new role, and so therefore, it is appropriate.
KARL: All right, Kelli, thanks a lot.
ARENA: You're welcome.
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 - 07:19 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JONATHAN KARL, CNN ANCHOR: With the nationwide terrorist alert at its second-highest level, code orange, the Bush administration is advising Americans on how to prepare for disaster. Homeland Security officials are telling Americans (UNINTELLIGIBLE) stock up on enough food and water for three days, keep an emergency supply kit in your home and in your car, buy duct tape and plastic sheeting -- it's recommended for sealing a home in the case of chemical or biological attacks -- and have batteries for radios on hand.
Threats to national security will be among the subjects this morning when CIA Director George Tenet goes before the Senate.
Justice correspondent Kelli Arena joins us with more on that from our Washington bureau -- Kelli.
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Jonathan. It's good to see you.
Not only will we be hearing from the head of the CIA, but the FBI director, the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency and a representative from the State Department.
Now, they will all appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee to give their current threat assessment. It is a yearly exercise, but this is the first time that the FBI is participating.
Sources say that Director Robert Mueller will outline for members of Congress the al Qaeda threat and the terror network's capabilities. He's also expected to talk about the threat from other terrorist groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah, and he will tell Congress how the United States could be vulnerable to an attack. For an example, how so-called soft targets like sports stadiums and schools pose special challenges for law enforcement.
Now, beyond terrorism, the issue of Iraq is expected to come up; also North Korea.
Now, the first part of that hearing is public. We will be able to get a general impression of the terror threat, but much of what Congress will hear will be in a closed session, because the information is classified.
Back to you.
KARL: So, Kelli, is the fact that you see both the FBI director and the CIA director together sending the message that the days of turf wars between the two agencies have come to an end? ARENA: Well, this is actually the first time that the FBI has truly been involved in an intelligence-gathering prevention mode, rather than a responding law enforcement mode. And so, in that capacity, it's the first time that this is an appropriate venue for the FBI director to make this sort of presentation before Congress.
So, there's no real symbolism here. It's just a matter of fact that this is now a new role, and so therefore, it is appropriate.
KARL: All right, Kelli, thanks a lot.
ARENA: You're welcome.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
