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American Morning

Interview With Tom Ridge

Aired December 22, 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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. is on higher alert today with increased security at ports and bridges and nuclear power plants. The government yesterday raised the threat level from yellow to orange, which is the second highest level.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned that terrorists abroad are anticipating attacks that could rival or even exceed those of 9/11.

And earlier this morning, I spoke with the secretary from the White House and asked him where these latest intelligence reports are coming from.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: From many, many sources from around the world. We've seen a significant increase in the level and the number of reports with regard to imminent threats against the homeland.

O'BRIEN: So, it's not just more chatter? It's credible sources as well, and it's multiple sources all saying the same thing?

RIDGE: Multiple sources basically saying the same thing, talking about near-term attacks, the scope of which would be similar to or even greater than September 11. And, of course, one of the most important tasks of the intelligence community is to determine whether or not we ought to believe them. Are they credible sources? Have we been able to corroborate what they're saying? And, again, it's both the volume and the credibility that causes us to raise it from yellow to orange.

O'BRIEN: Anything specific about the potential targets? I know you've talked about and answered questions about New York City and Washington, D.C. I think a lot of that is because of the mentions of 9/11 -- bigger than 9/11. But is there any reason to believe that Washington, D.C. or New York City would be specific targets?

RIDGE: I do think that there is a tendency for terrorists to return to previous areas that they've attacked, and it's pretty clear that the nation's capital and New York City would be on any list. But I think if I went back and took a look at all of the reporting over the past two years, I would dare say just about every major urban area in America has been listed.

So, I think it is very appropriate to raise it to orange. We talked yesterday to over 125 governors and mayors and local officials. The announcement yesterday was really giving notice to America, but it really set into play an action plan. I mean, the people who know what to do begun doing it yesterday at 1:30. There were specific actions, specific plans, specific things that they are doing and will continue to do until we reduce the threat level.

O'BRIEN: So, then, what do you expect average citizens to do? Obviously, I know you get on the phone and talk to mayors and you talk to governors and other leaders in the states. But what do you expect regular citizens to do with this information?

RIDGE: Well, first of all, I think there are a couple of things that the average citizen can do just in the course of business -- reporting suspicious packages and vehicles and, you know, activity that they haven't seen before. It's a good time to review the communication plan hopefully they have with their families.

If they're traveling through airports, we ask them to take all if the contents of their pockets out and put it in that tray. Take your computer out of case. Take the coat off. There are certain things that we can do to facilitate travel. And just being vigilant, I think, during the day and reporting any kind of suspicious activity could be helpful as well.

O'BRIEN: I now three months ago you talked about refining the alert system, because I think you have a quote here. You said we worry about the credibility of the system.

RIDGE: Right.

O'BRIEN: And it's very expensive. Every time the alert goes up, of course, you have to pony up a fair amount of money.

RIDGE: That's correct.

O'BRIEN: So, this alert now is based on the new system. And how has that changed and been refined?

RIDGE: Well, we continue to look for ways to refine not only the system, but the kinds of information we can share with state and local officials that they can act upon. Now, the threat was of such a nature this time that it was important to elevate the threat level from yellow to orange nationwide. We do have the capacity to pinpoint regions or even sectors of the economy.

But in addition to that, because this is the fourth time we've gone up, we have specific plans, specific actions, things that people will do over the next couple weeks that will significantly enhance the security of this country.

O'BRIEN: You said in the press conference yesterday that al Qaeda was continuing to consider using aircraft as weapons. Do you think again, is that sort of the specifics that you're hearing in the chatter for the attack that they're talking about this time around?

RIDGE: In spite of the fact that from curbside to the cockpit, we are far more secure traveling by air than we've ever been, and in spite of the fact that they know when we raise it to orange (AUDIO GAP) at airports. And you're going to see more patrolling officers with dogs. There can be perimeter security. They're going to stop more vehicles on the way in. There is a continuous stream of reporting, literally for the past two years, that indicates their preference or desire to use aircraft as a means of attack.

So, we've got to be mindful of that, and that's precisely why, in addition to all of the security measures that we've had in play for a long, long time at our airports when we go to orange, we do substantially more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Secretary Tom Ridge is the secretary of homeland security.

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 December 22, 2003 - 07:04   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. is on higher alert today with increased security at ports and bridges and nuclear power plants. The government yesterday raised the threat level from yellow to orange, which is the second highest level.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned that terrorists abroad are anticipating attacks that could rival or even exceed those of 9/11.

And earlier this morning, I spoke with the secretary from the White House and asked him where these latest intelligence reports are coming from.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: From many, many sources from around the world. We've seen a significant increase in the level and the number of reports with regard to imminent threats against the homeland.

O'BRIEN: So, it's not just more chatter? It's credible sources as well, and it's multiple sources all saying the same thing?

RIDGE: Multiple sources basically saying the same thing, talking about near-term attacks, the scope of which would be similar to or even greater than September 11. And, of course, one of the most important tasks of the intelligence community is to determine whether or not we ought to believe them. Are they credible sources? Have we been able to corroborate what they're saying? And, again, it's both the volume and the credibility that causes us to raise it from yellow to orange.

O'BRIEN: Anything specific about the potential targets? I know you've talked about and answered questions about New York City and Washington, D.C. I think a lot of that is because of the mentions of 9/11 -- bigger than 9/11. But is there any reason to believe that Washington, D.C. or New York City would be specific targets?

RIDGE: I do think that there is a tendency for terrorists to return to previous areas that they've attacked, and it's pretty clear that the nation's capital and New York City would be on any list. But I think if I went back and took a look at all of the reporting over the past two years, I would dare say just about every major urban area in America has been listed.

So, I think it is very appropriate to raise it to orange. We talked yesterday to over 125 governors and mayors and local officials. The announcement yesterday was really giving notice to America, but it really set into play an action plan. I mean, the people who know what to do begun doing it yesterday at 1:30. There were specific actions, specific plans, specific things that they are doing and will continue to do until we reduce the threat level.

O'BRIEN: So, then, what do you expect average citizens to do? Obviously, I know you get on the phone and talk to mayors and you talk to governors and other leaders in the states. But what do you expect regular citizens to do with this information?

RIDGE: Well, first of all, I think there are a couple of things that the average citizen can do just in the course of business -- reporting suspicious packages and vehicles and, you know, activity that they haven't seen before. It's a good time to review the communication plan hopefully they have with their families.

If they're traveling through airports, we ask them to take all if the contents of their pockets out and put it in that tray. Take your computer out of case. Take the coat off. There are certain things that we can do to facilitate travel. And just being vigilant, I think, during the day and reporting any kind of suspicious activity could be helpful as well.

O'BRIEN: I now three months ago you talked about refining the alert system, because I think you have a quote here. You said we worry about the credibility of the system.

RIDGE: Right.

O'BRIEN: And it's very expensive. Every time the alert goes up, of course, you have to pony up a fair amount of money.

RIDGE: That's correct.

O'BRIEN: So, this alert now is based on the new system. And how has that changed and been refined?

RIDGE: Well, we continue to look for ways to refine not only the system, but the kinds of information we can share with state and local officials that they can act upon. Now, the threat was of such a nature this time that it was important to elevate the threat level from yellow to orange nationwide. We do have the capacity to pinpoint regions or even sectors of the economy.

But in addition to that, because this is the fourth time we've gone up, we have specific plans, specific actions, things that people will do over the next couple weeks that will significantly enhance the security of this country.

O'BRIEN: You said in the press conference yesterday that al Qaeda was continuing to consider using aircraft as weapons. Do you think again, is that sort of the specifics that you're hearing in the chatter for the attack that they're talking about this time around?

RIDGE: In spite of the fact that from curbside to the cockpit, we are far more secure traveling by air than we've ever been, and in spite of the fact that they know when we raise it to orange (AUDIO GAP) at airports. And you're going to see more patrolling officers with dogs. There can be perimeter security. They're going to stop more vehicles on the way in. There is a continuous stream of reporting, literally for the past two years, that indicates their preference or desire to use aircraft as a means of attack.

So, we've got to be mindful of that, and that's precisely why, in addition to all of the security measures that we've had in play for a long, long time at our airports when we go to orange, we do substantially more.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: Secretary Tom Ridge is the secretary of homeland security.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.