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American Morning
U.S. Raised Threat Level to Orange, or High
Aired May 21, 2003 - 07:04 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: Back to the nation's heightened terror alert again. Homeland Security officials raised that alert to orange from yellow yesterday, citing intelligence al Qaeda might be planning an attack somewhere here in the United States.
To D.C. straightaway, Jeanne Meserve is watching all of this.
Jeanne -- what do we know more today than yesterday? Good morning there.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
This is the fourth time the terror alert has been raised to orange. The three previous times there had been no attacks, and officials hope and believe that raising the threat level in and of itself might have a deterrent effect.
Now, as to why they raised it this time, one of the factors: clearly increased intelligence chatter. That had gone up, and in the words of one official that was reasonably spooky stuff. In addition, we know from Defense officials that there were some intercepted communications apparently between al Qaeda members, according to one source. Some of those communications indicated the possibility of there being multiple attacks.
Now, officials here in the U.S. say although there has been increased specificity about the threat there is not increased specificity about the target. They do talk somewhat, though, about the possible mode of attack.
Here is Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASA HUTCHINSON, HOMELAND SECURITY UNDER SECRETARY: The use of tactics similar to those that we have seen in recent terrorist attacks have to be considered. They cannot be discounted. Those would include use of small armed equipped assault teams, large vehicle-borne explosive devices and suicide bombers. This is not to indicate this is going to happen in the United States, but when we see a pattern of activity overseas directed at United States' targets, we certainly have to be aware that there remains that potential.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Here in the nation's capital, which is always a potential target, they have raised the local threat alert level. They have also activated the joint operations command center. This has a series of closed-circuit cameras, which are mounted throughout the city. It can zoom in on virtually any important landmark here and discern what is going on; similar steps taken in other cities around the country. You've seen increased patrols around infrastructures, like bridges and tunnels, power plants; also increased security around crowded events.
Officials complaining about how much all of this costs, as Bill mentioned earlier. Governor Gray Davis saying they've only been reimbursed for about 30 cents of the dollar of their security costs.
I should mention, however, that there are officials around the country above the state and local level who are not doing anything in particular to this rise in the threat alert level. They believe that the risk simply does not apply to them.
Bill -- back to you.
HEMMER: You've raised a number of issues, Jeanne. Thanks for that. Jeanne Meserve in Washington.
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 May 21, 2003 - 07:04 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Back to the nation's heightened terror alert again. Homeland Security officials raised that alert to orange from yellow yesterday, citing intelligence al Qaeda might be planning an attack somewhere here in the United States.
To D.C. straightaway, Jeanne Meserve is watching all of this.
Jeanne -- what do we know more today than yesterday? Good morning there.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
This is the fourth time the terror alert has been raised to orange. The three previous times there had been no attacks, and officials hope and believe that raising the threat level in and of itself might have a deterrent effect.
Now, as to why they raised it this time, one of the factors: clearly increased intelligence chatter. That had gone up, and in the words of one official that was reasonably spooky stuff. In addition, we know from Defense officials that there were some intercepted communications apparently between al Qaeda members, according to one source. Some of those communications indicated the possibility of there being multiple attacks.
Now, officials here in the U.S. say although there has been increased specificity about the threat there is not increased specificity about the target. They do talk somewhat, though, about the possible mode of attack.
Here is Under Secretary Asa Hutchinson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASA HUTCHINSON, HOMELAND SECURITY UNDER SECRETARY: The use of tactics similar to those that we have seen in recent terrorist attacks have to be considered. They cannot be discounted. Those would include use of small armed equipped assault teams, large vehicle-borne explosive devices and suicide bombers. This is not to indicate this is going to happen in the United States, but when we see a pattern of activity overseas directed at United States' targets, we certainly have to be aware that there remains that potential.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MESERVE: Here in the nation's capital, which is always a potential target, they have raised the local threat alert level. They have also activated the joint operations command center. This has a series of closed-circuit cameras, which are mounted throughout the city. It can zoom in on virtually any important landmark here and discern what is going on; similar steps taken in other cities around the country. You've seen increased patrols around infrastructures, like bridges and tunnels, power plants; also increased security around crowded events.
Officials complaining about how much all of this costs, as Bill mentioned earlier. Governor Gray Davis saying they've only been reimbursed for about 30 cents of the dollar of their security costs.
I should mention, however, that there are officials around the country above the state and local level who are not doing anything in particular to this rise in the threat alert level. They believe that the risk simply does not apply to them.
Bill -- back to you.
HEMMER: You've raised a number of issues, Jeanne. Thanks for that. Jeanne Meserve in Washington.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
