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American Morning
Orange Alert
Aired December 22, 2003 - 09:03 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: Law enforcement officials across the nation are increasingly watchful this morning after the nation's terror alert level was raised from yellow to orange. For the latest we go to national security correspondent David Ensor. He is in our Washington bureau this morning.
David, good morning.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATL. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, U.S. officials are saying that the quantity and quality of intelligence suggesting an attack is plotted against the American homeland is greater than at any time since the 9/11 attacks two years ago. Intelligence suggesting that al Qaeda terrorists hope to pull off an unspecified, but spectacular attack. Once again, the information suggests an interest possibly in using aircraft as weapons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECY.: There is a continue use stream of reporting, literally for the past three 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 the security measures we've had in play for a long, long time at our airports when we go to orange, we do substantially more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: U.S. intelligence officials say the information comes from all types of sources, human intelligence, intercepted communications, Web sites and others. Another reason for concern, officials say, last week's audio tape from al Qaeda's No. 2-man, Aywan Al-Zawarhi (ph). It could be -- could be -- a go signal to a sleeper cell in the United States, officials say. Though there is no specific information as to targets, officials say that New York, Washington and Los Angeles are sometimes mentioned by terrorists.
There's a scene, we have, I think in a moment we're going to be able to show you preparations in another place, near Chicago, where they're also taking no chances. This is a location where they put up flags to show what the alert level is. And there you see orange going up.
As to how long the period of heightened concern will last, officials say certainly through the holidays and perhaps somewhat beyond. Secretary Ridge and other officials are saying the decision to go orange would be obviously increased costs and the wear and tear on people's nerves was judged worthwhile given the intelligence information, because they know from experience that increased security at key facilities, and increased vigilance by the public can and has helped disrupt, or even prevent, terrorist attacks -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: David Ensor for us this morning. David, thanks.
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 - 09:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Law enforcement officials across the nation are increasingly watchful this morning after the nation's terror alert level was raised from yellow to orange. For the latest we go to national security correspondent David Ensor. He is in our Washington bureau this morning.
David, good morning.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATL. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
Well, U.S. officials are saying that the quantity and quality of intelligence suggesting an attack is plotted against the American homeland is greater than at any time since the 9/11 attacks two years ago. Intelligence suggesting that al Qaeda terrorists hope to pull off an unspecified, but spectacular attack. Once again, the information suggests an interest possibly in using aircraft as weapons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECY.: There is a continue use stream of reporting, literally for the past three 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 the security measures we've had in play for a long, long time at our airports when we go to orange, we do substantially more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ENSOR: U.S. intelligence officials say the information comes from all types of sources, human intelligence, intercepted communications, Web sites and others. Another reason for concern, officials say, last week's audio tape from al Qaeda's No. 2-man, Aywan Al-Zawarhi (ph). It could be -- could be -- a go signal to a sleeper cell in the United States, officials say. Though there is no specific information as to targets, officials say that New York, Washington and Los Angeles are sometimes mentioned by terrorists.
There's a scene, we have, I think in a moment we're going to be able to show you preparations in another place, near Chicago, where they're also taking no chances. This is a location where they put up flags to show what the alert level is. And there you see orange going up.
As to how long the period of heightened concern will last, officials say certainly through the holidays and perhaps somewhat beyond. Secretary Ridge and other officials are saying the decision to go orange would be obviously increased costs and the wear and tear on people's nerves was judged worthwhile given the intelligence information, because they know from experience that increased security at key facilities, and increased vigilance by the public can and has helped disrupt, or even prevent, terrorist attacks -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: David Ensor for us this morning. David, thanks.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
