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CNN Sunday Morning
Insight & Input
Aired May 25, 2003 - 09:30 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.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Color this weekend orange. As we spend the holiday under a high terrorism threat level, the Homeland Security Department says the threat level is based in part on intelligence reports about terrorist groups' intentions. Asa Hutchinson is undersecretary for border and transportation security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASA HUTCHINSON, HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT: There is concern worldwide as to increased terrorist activity. We know that there is an interest in targeting the United States. Our security measures have been somewhat effective, but we know that they continue to try to exploit any vulnerabilities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: Now, it is time for you to talk to CNN. We have been collecting your e-mails and it's time for some of our folks to field your questions and comments. CNN security analyst Kelly McCann is in Washington. Mike Brooks is in San Francisco, and Sheila MacVicar is on the phone from Saudi Arabia.
Kelly, I'd like to begin with you, with a question from Bill. He writes, "In the two years since 9/11, has anything been done to ensure the safety of the food system? Seems like a huge and easy target for a terrorist attack which would not only cause fear by destroy the economy."
KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Good question, bill. If you'll remember, just as early as last week, Tommy Thompson had brought this up again as an important issue.
There have been significant initiatives. One is custom CTPAT and CSI, which is Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and the Container Security Initiative, which basically goes to the securing of the vessels that would bring foodstuffs into the U.S.
Supply chain security is huge right now in American industry. There's a lot of corporations that are really putting a lot of time and effort into both business continuity issues and, also, supply chains so they know that they get their materials, their food, their components for whatever they're manufacturing to include foodstuffs from trusted and vetted sources, and that it is secure as it's imported into the U.S. It's a great question and there has been significant attention to it.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Mike Brooks, we've got a question for you. From Marguerite, e-mailed in, and it goes like this.
"It feels like we are treating symptoms, not the root cause. What do you feel is the real source of hatred that translates to terror activities, and what do we need to do as Americans to eliminate the basic problem that is creating the climate that fosters the terrorist mindset?"
What do you think, Mike?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've heard from politicians over the years that, you know, United States is looked at as the watch guard over the world. A lot of people are jealous of the power. We look at Europe, and it's been talked about by politicians again that in Europe, they are also jealous of us.
And it also has to do with our relationships with our allies. Many people look at us, especially in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. We go back to the Gulf War, just recently, and also back to 1991 and 1992, where they looked at us as the infidels in their country. You've got two of the three holiest places in the -- in Islam, Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia and they look at the United States as infidels coming into their country trying to tell them what to do and how to operate their own religious system. I think that is one of the root causes of a lot of the hatred towards the United States.
SAVIDGE: You've got the big move now, coming out of Jerusalem today, the road map to peace. That would be a huge step forward if you could settle the Palestinian issue in the Arab world.
BROOKS: It really would, especially with the relationship that a lot of people perceive, U.S. and Israel. They look at U.S. and Israel, basically, as synonymous and it would. That would be a huge step, Marty, just unbelievable step.
SAVIDGE: Thank you, Mike.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: We've got a story out of the Middle East for Sheila MacVicar. And this actually has to do with some comments that have been made out of Tehran, Sheila, by some Iranian officials who are admitting, really, for the first time now, that those private behind-the-scenes meetings that have been taking place between senior U.S. officials and Iranian officials have been broken off due to U.S. allegations that Iran has been harboring al Qaeda officials. What have you heard?
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for some time now, more than 18 months, as a matter of fact, since the battle at Tora Bora in the war in Afghanistan, there have been continuing reports of al Qaeda leaders or senior al Qaeda members either finding safe haven in Iran, or somehow finding transit through Iran. There's also been repeated stories that there is a training camp in the northern part of Iran, near the Caspian Sea.
Now, these are things the Iranian officials have denied in the past. It has come back to the forefront again with the suggestion from some U.S. officials that perhaps the person who gave the green light or authorized the Riyadh bombings may have been a man named Saif Al Adel, who may possibly be in Iran. That's certainly is where he is placed by American -- some American officials.
One of the problems, of course, is that we are dealing with the question of intelligence and the interpretation of intelligence. Of course, that means that we have seen no hard data on any of this. We have simply heard this from various intelligence officials, various intelligence agencies, some security and counter-terrorism analysts. So it's very hard to analyze precisely what the relationship of any al Qaeda members in Iran is to the regime, whether they are being given safe haven, whether they are, in fact, sheltered there, or whether they are there without the, even the knowledge, perhaps, of the regime.
Now, of course, U.S. officials would say it would be impossible for them to be there without the knowledge of the regime. But the -- we are in a situation where the U.S. has been basically indicating that it wishes to see different behavior on the part of the Iranians, not only when it comes to al Qaeda, but also other issues. Most notably, the nuclear issue. There is a suggestion being reported in the United States today that perhaps the United States is considering, or the U.S. administration is considering -- will consider stepping up its actions against the Iranian regime. And it would seem that breaking off contact may be the first step towards doing something like that.
KOPPEL: Sheila, I had spoken to a senior U.S. source at the end of last week, who said that the Bush administration is convinced that there is an enclave in Iran, much as there was, and still is, in Afghanistan, that was really off limits to the government, that perhaps those al Qaeda fugitives are hiding out in and that the government itself wouldn't be able to get their hands on. Does that sound reasonable?
MACVICAR: I know of no part of the Iranian republic that is beyond the control of the government in Tehran. Whether it is beyond the control of the, if you will, civilian leadership, led by President Khatami, or whether it is beyond the control of other institutions, which are at times at odds with the civilian leadership, including institutions like the Revolutionary Guard and other agencies.
I guess we're in a position now where we should be asking the administration to provide us with more information. And we, obviously, are in the post-Iraq war period. We know there is an ongoing analysis about the kind of intelligence we were presented with before the Iraq war that had to do with al Qaeda connections and other matters, including weapons of mass destruction. I think we're in a position now where we should be demanding, if we're going to report these stories, demanding more detail and more credible evidence from U.S. administration officials.
SAVIDGE: I want to bring in Mike Brooks and also Kelly McCann, because we're talking about Memorial Day here in the U.S. Your thoughts, maybe in a sentence each of you, on how this weekend, this event, should be marked. BROOKS: I think, Marty, that people should go about their normal business. If we don't do that, then we are losing the war on terrorism. They have gotten to us, whether it be psychologically or with a national event. But here in San Francisco, for instance, they've shut off a couple roads around the Golden Gate Bridge. There have been exercises all week, we've seen, of terrorist activity.
But the watchword, I think, for this weekend of all U.S. citizens should be vigilance. Asa Hutchinson said this in his initial statement the other day, when we went to orange. I think people have to have a security mindset and be cognizant of their surroundings.
MCCANN: Biggest thing, Marty, is that dates are not important. Our dates are not important to al Qaeda. That's the thing people have to remember. The most important date to al Qaeda operatives is when they think they can be successful. The fact that it's Memorial Day, or July 4th, or whatever doesn't matter to them.
SAVIDGE: Right. All right. Thank you both. We appreciate your insights as well. Have a good weekend.
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 25, 2003 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: Color this weekend orange. As we spend the holiday under a high terrorism threat level, the Homeland Security Department says the threat level is based in part on intelligence reports about terrorist groups' intentions. Asa Hutchinson is undersecretary for border and transportation security.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASA HUTCHINSON, HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT: There is concern worldwide as to increased terrorist activity. We know that there is an interest in targeting the United States. Our security measures have been somewhat effective, but we know that they continue to try to exploit any vulnerabilities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOPPEL: Now, it is time for you to talk to CNN. We have been collecting your e-mails and it's time for some of our folks to field your questions and comments. CNN security analyst Kelly McCann is in Washington. Mike Brooks is in San Francisco, and Sheila MacVicar is on the phone from Saudi Arabia.
Kelly, I'd like to begin with you, with a question from Bill. He writes, "In the two years since 9/11, has anything been done to ensure the safety of the food system? Seems like a huge and easy target for a terrorist attack which would not only cause fear by destroy the economy."
KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Good question, bill. If you'll remember, just as early as last week, Tommy Thompson had brought this up again as an important issue.
There have been significant initiatives. One is custom CTPAT and CSI, which is Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and the Container Security Initiative, which basically goes to the securing of the vessels that would bring foodstuffs into the U.S.
Supply chain security is huge right now in American industry. There's a lot of corporations that are really putting a lot of time and effort into both business continuity issues and, also, supply chains so they know that they get their materials, their food, their components for whatever they're manufacturing to include foodstuffs from trusted and vetted sources, and that it is secure as it's imported into the U.S. It's a great question and there has been significant attention to it.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Mike Brooks, we've got a question for you. From Marguerite, e-mailed in, and it goes like this.
"It feels like we are treating symptoms, not the root cause. What do you feel is the real source of hatred that translates to terror activities, and what do we need to do as Americans to eliminate the basic problem that is creating the climate that fosters the terrorist mindset?"
What do you think, Mike?
MIKE BROOKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've heard from politicians over the years that, you know, United States is looked at as the watch guard over the world. A lot of people are jealous of the power. We look at Europe, and it's been talked about by politicians again that in Europe, they are also jealous of us.
And it also has to do with our relationships with our allies. Many people look at us, especially in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. We go back to the Gulf War, just recently, and also back to 1991 and 1992, where they looked at us as the infidels in their country. You've got two of the three holiest places in the -- in Islam, Mecca and Medina, in Saudi Arabia and they look at the United States as infidels coming into their country trying to tell them what to do and how to operate their own religious system. I think that is one of the root causes of a lot of the hatred towards the United States.
SAVIDGE: You've got the big move now, coming out of Jerusalem today, the road map to peace. That would be a huge step forward if you could settle the Palestinian issue in the Arab world.
BROOKS: It really would, especially with the relationship that a lot of people perceive, U.S. and Israel. They look at U.S. and Israel, basically, as synonymous and it would. That would be a huge step, Marty, just unbelievable step.
SAVIDGE: Thank you, Mike.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN ANCHOR: We've got a story out of the Middle East for Sheila MacVicar. And this actually has to do with some comments that have been made out of Tehran, Sheila, by some Iranian officials who are admitting, really, for the first time now, that those private behind-the-scenes meetings that have been taking place between senior U.S. officials and Iranian officials have been broken off due to U.S. allegations that Iran has been harboring al Qaeda officials. What have you heard?
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for some time now, more than 18 months, as a matter of fact, since the battle at Tora Bora in the war in Afghanistan, there have been continuing reports of al Qaeda leaders or senior al Qaeda members either finding safe haven in Iran, or somehow finding transit through Iran. There's also been repeated stories that there is a training camp in the northern part of Iran, near the Caspian Sea.
Now, these are things the Iranian officials have denied in the past. It has come back to the forefront again with the suggestion from some U.S. officials that perhaps the person who gave the green light or authorized the Riyadh bombings may have been a man named Saif Al Adel, who may possibly be in Iran. That's certainly is where he is placed by American -- some American officials.
One of the problems, of course, is that we are dealing with the question of intelligence and the interpretation of intelligence. Of course, that means that we have seen no hard data on any of this. We have simply heard this from various intelligence officials, various intelligence agencies, some security and counter-terrorism analysts. So it's very hard to analyze precisely what the relationship of any al Qaeda members in Iran is to the regime, whether they are being given safe haven, whether they are, in fact, sheltered there, or whether they are there without the, even the knowledge, perhaps, of the regime.
Now, of course, U.S. officials would say it would be impossible for them to be there without the knowledge of the regime. But the -- we are in a situation where the U.S. has been basically indicating that it wishes to see different behavior on the part of the Iranians, not only when it comes to al Qaeda, but also other issues. Most notably, the nuclear issue. There is a suggestion being reported in the United States today that perhaps the United States is considering, or the U.S. administration is considering -- will consider stepping up its actions against the Iranian regime. And it would seem that breaking off contact may be the first step towards doing something like that.
KOPPEL: Sheila, I had spoken to a senior U.S. source at the end of last week, who said that the Bush administration is convinced that there is an enclave in Iran, much as there was, and still is, in Afghanistan, that was really off limits to the government, that perhaps those al Qaeda fugitives are hiding out in and that the government itself wouldn't be able to get their hands on. Does that sound reasonable?
MACVICAR: I know of no part of the Iranian republic that is beyond the control of the government in Tehran. Whether it is beyond the control of the, if you will, civilian leadership, led by President Khatami, or whether it is beyond the control of other institutions, which are at times at odds with the civilian leadership, including institutions like the Revolutionary Guard and other agencies.
I guess we're in a position now where we should be asking the administration to provide us with more information. And we, obviously, are in the post-Iraq war period. We know there is an ongoing analysis about the kind of intelligence we were presented with before the Iraq war that had to do with al Qaeda connections and other matters, including weapons of mass destruction. I think we're in a position now where we should be demanding, if we're going to report these stories, demanding more detail and more credible evidence from U.S. administration officials.
SAVIDGE: I want to bring in Mike Brooks and also Kelly McCann, because we're talking about Memorial Day here in the U.S. Your thoughts, maybe in a sentence each of you, on how this weekend, this event, should be marked. BROOKS: I think, Marty, that people should go about their normal business. If we don't do that, then we are losing the war on terrorism. They have gotten to us, whether it be psychologically or with a national event. But here in San Francisco, for instance, they've shut off a couple roads around the Golden Gate Bridge. There have been exercises all week, we've seen, of terrorist activity.
But the watchword, I think, for this weekend of all U.S. citizens should be vigilance. Asa Hutchinson said this in his initial statement the other day, when we went to orange. I think people have to have a security mindset and be cognizant of their surroundings.
MCCANN: Biggest thing, Marty, is that dates are not important. Our dates are not important to al Qaeda. That's the thing people have to remember. The most important date to al Qaeda operatives is when they think they can be successful. The fact that it's Memorial Day, or July 4th, or whatever doesn't matter to them.
SAVIDGE: Right. All right. Thank you both. We appreciate your insights as well. Have a good weekend.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
