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American Morning
Third Time This Year Terror Alert Elevated
Aired May 21, 2003 - 07:31 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 get to the White House right now. This is the third time this year the terror alert has been elevated.
Suzanne Malveaux watching the story on the front lawn, live with us today.
How much sensitivity was given to raising this decision, knowing the cost right now that will be passed on to cities counties and states?
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
You bring up a very good point. As you know, it is not an easy decision for the Bush administration to make. As you had mentioned before, it costs millions of dollars for local and state governments to increase their security level. The Bush administration very much aware of this frustration. The president hearing it from governors across the country who have complained before, saying they do not have adequate resources, they don't have the funds to bolster their homeland security. Some of them suggesting that they paid millions of dollars in overtime to police and the police don't necessarily even know, with the vague nature of these threats, what it is that they're looking for.
Well, yesterday, secretary of homeland security, Tom Ridge, was on the phone to those officials, trying to explain the rationale of all of this. Also, aides to the president saying that it is not a recommendation that the president necessarily makes. Yes, that that meeting took place here at the White House with the homeland security agency, but it was chief of staff Andy Card who told the president, who was not in that meeting, about that recommendation and, of course, the president said it was a good idea. He signed off on that recommendation.
I also should mention, as well, Bill, the White House is responding to some criticism, some complaints that perhaps the president overstated the success when dealing with al Qaeda, saying that yes, they're on the run, that half of the operatives are no longer operating.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer responding to those critics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think what the president said is the tide has turned and, as you know, tides have a way of coming in and going out. And then the next sentence the president said is that al Qaeda has been diminished, but not destroyed. And that's what we're seeing. We know that there are terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda, that still desire to hit us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And, Bill, of course, the president not taking that warning lightly, not taking this lightly at all, as a matter of fact. But at the same time the Bush administration is emphasizing that they have removed a sanctuary for al Qaeda in Afghanistan with the Taliban. But still these threats across the world still continue and yes, that Americans should be vigilant -- Bill.
HEMMER: We're going to talk with three police chiefs across the country, their take today, a bit later here on AMERICAN MORNING. We'll raise these issues again.
Suzanne Malveaux on the front lawn today.
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 - 07:31 ET
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 get to the White House right now. This is the third time this year the terror alert has been elevated.
Suzanne Malveaux watching the story on the front lawn, live with us today.
How much sensitivity was given to raising this decision, knowing the cost right now that will be passed on to cities counties and states?
Suzanne, good morning.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
You bring up a very good point. As you know, it is not an easy decision for the Bush administration to make. As you had mentioned before, it costs millions of dollars for local and state governments to increase their security level. The Bush administration very much aware of this frustration. The president hearing it from governors across the country who have complained before, saying they do not have adequate resources, they don't have the funds to bolster their homeland security. Some of them suggesting that they paid millions of dollars in overtime to police and the police don't necessarily even know, with the vague nature of these threats, what it is that they're looking for.
Well, yesterday, secretary of homeland security, Tom Ridge, was on the phone to those officials, trying to explain the rationale of all of this. Also, aides to the president saying that it is not a recommendation that the president necessarily makes. Yes, that that meeting took place here at the White House with the homeland security agency, but it was chief of staff Andy Card who told the president, who was not in that meeting, about that recommendation and, of course, the president said it was a good idea. He signed off on that recommendation.
I also should mention, as well, Bill, the White House is responding to some criticism, some complaints that perhaps the president overstated the success when dealing with al Qaeda, saying that yes, they're on the run, that half of the operatives are no longer operating.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer responding to those critics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ARI FLEISCHER, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think what the president said is the tide has turned and, as you know, tides have a way of coming in and going out. And then the next sentence the president said is that al Qaeda has been diminished, but not destroyed. And that's what we're seeing. We know that there are terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda, that still desire to hit us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And, Bill, of course, the president not taking that warning lightly, not taking this lightly at all, as a matter of fact. But at the same time the Bush administration is emphasizing that they have removed a sanctuary for al Qaeda in Afghanistan with the Taliban. But still these threats across the world still continue and yes, that Americans should be vigilant -- Bill.
HEMMER: We're going to talk with three police chiefs across the country, their take today, a bit later here on AMERICAN MORNING. We'll raise these issues again.
Suzanne Malveaux on the front lawn today.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
