Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Nation's Terror Alert Level to Remain at Orange Through Week
Aired December 30, 2003 - 08:03 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: Earlier here on AMERICAN MORNING, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that he expects the nation's terror alert level to remain at orange through the end of the week. And as he has said in the past, Secretary Ridge said it is clear that al Qaeda is still interested in using commercial aviation against U.S. targets.
To combat that possibility, the U.S. is now telling foreign airlines when it wants some armed marshal on some flights coming into the United States.
Barbara Starr has got more on all of this and she joins us this morning from the Pentagon -- Barbara, good morning again.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again to you, Soledad.
Well, indeed, Secretary Ridge continuing to address the intelligence information that the al Qaeda is interested in the U.S. airline industry, even the international aviation industry, possibly even having trained pilots out there capable of flying large commercial airliners.
Here's what the Secretary had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The credibility of the source is one matter. But since we know that they've trained pilots before, we take it as a fact that there may be some out there that have been trained. How completely trained we don't know, but that's one of the reasons we continue to add more and more security in the United States. We continue to look to our partners around the world to add security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: So all of this, these concerns about the al Qaeda's continuing interest in the airline industry around the world and the threat that that poses now leading to the decision by the Department of Homeland Security to order international carriers to be prepared to put armed air marshals on board flights flying through the United States.
In addition, Soledad, of course, growing concern now as the code orange continues about potential threats on New Year's Eve, although there is no specific information about that at the moment. However, a number of cities reacting to that. Of course, in New York City, the air space over Times Square will be closed. In Las Vegas, the air space over the famous Las Vegas Strip also closed, part of the precautions as code orange continues -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us this morning.
Barbara, 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
Week>
Aired December 30, 2003 - 08:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Earlier here on AMERICAN MORNING, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said that he expects the nation's terror alert level to remain at orange through the end of the week. And as he has said in the past, Secretary Ridge said it is clear that al Qaeda is still interested in using commercial aviation against U.S. targets.
To combat that possibility, the U.S. is now telling foreign airlines when it wants some armed marshal on some flights coming into the United States.
Barbara Starr has got more on all of this and she joins us this morning from the Pentagon -- Barbara, good morning again.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again to you, Soledad.
Well, indeed, Secretary Ridge continuing to address the intelligence information that the al Qaeda is interested in the U.S. airline industry, even the international aviation industry, possibly even having trained pilots out there capable of flying large commercial airliners.
Here's what the Secretary had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM RIDGE, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: The credibility of the source is one matter. But since we know that they've trained pilots before, we take it as a fact that there may be some out there that have been trained. How completely trained we don't know, but that's one of the reasons we continue to add more and more security in the United States. We continue to look to our partners around the world to add security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STARR: So all of this, these concerns about the al Qaeda's continuing interest in the airline industry around the world and the threat that that poses now leading to the decision by the Department of Homeland Security to order international carriers to be prepared to put armed air marshals on board flights flying through the United States.
In addition, Soledad, of course, growing concern now as the code orange continues about potential threats on New Year's Eve, although there is no specific information about that at the moment. However, a number of cities reacting to that. Of course, in New York City, the air space over Times Square will be closed. In Las Vegas, the air space over the famous Las Vegas Strip also closed, part of the precautions as code orange continues -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us this morning.
Barbara, 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
Week>
