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CNN Saturday Morning News
Analysis with Kelly McCann
Aired November 16, 2002 - 07:39 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.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in the meantime, ever since September 11 attack there has been a call for increased security here in the U.S. A few days ago, the House voted to create a cabinet- level Homeland Security Department and the Senate is expected to give its approval next week. Well, joining us now with details about this new department is CNN Security Analyst Kelly McCann. Good morning, Kelly.
KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Hi, Arthell.
NEVILLE: Nice to see you. First, though, let's talk about this latest arrest. Apparently, authorities have in custody a man who is as close to bin Laden as Abu Zubaydah. What exactly do you think authorities can realistically expect to get from him, and how much -- or what -- can he tell them?
MCCANN: There's two important points, Arthel. The first is corroboration. In other words, it goes from information to intelligence when you corroborate it and can make sure that there is -- you know -- substantiation to it being factual. So they'll use him in that regard, first.
And then secondly, because of the decentralized nature of terrorism and the way that they organize so that if one cell or one group is captured, killed, or whatever -- detained -- they can't give up too much information. This person may have had access to additional logistical information, tactical, operational planning information, etc. So, it could be extremely valuable.
NEVILLE: OK, let's move on to the latest threats. Why are they being called spectacular?
MCCANN: The root of that word, of course, is spectacle. And terrorism has always sought to create a media event around the situations that they create so nothing new there. Basically, biggest bang for the buck.
NEVILLE: Then the question is why didn't those recent spectacular threat triggers a heightened security alert. I mean, how much should Americans be worried, at this point?
MCCANN: Well, two good points on that are number one, I think to move to the next threat level there has to be specific information about either the way, the methodology, the threat itself, or the target. And I don't think that either condition exists. Condoleezza Rice has said many times that it's a summary of Intel that basically made this report surface. As far as worry -- you know, why people should worry. When you wring your hands, they just kind of get red and painful. When you ball your hand up into a fist, things start to happen.
So rather than worry, what people should do is become informed. And they should become factually intensive. They should learn about terrorism and the things that they can do in regard to it. But worry -- worry doesn't do anything.
NEVILLE: But, now, how does the average person learn those things you're talking about? How do you find out about it?
MCCANN: Lots of different resources. There's a lot of good sources on line. I think that with the pressure that's being mounted now, for Tom Ridge to put out information just to articulate what exactly people should be watchful for. What should they be vigilant about? That question has been asked for almost a year now and still no public information pamphlet, no information has been coming forth. I think that's going to change.
NEVILLE: Do you think there is any connection between these latest threats and the release of that audiotape from bin Laden earlier this week?
MCCANN: I don't. I think that the tape, in fact, was -- was released -- after the bulletin had already been prepared. There are other reasons that bin Laden -- or the speaker, once its confirmed that it was or was not him -- released it, and that is, of course, Ramadan. It might be a vote of confidence.
There has been waning interest. I mean, they've been out of the limelight so I think it might have been an effort to get people back into the game, so to speak. And also funding. I think that with interest waning, so did funds going to support al Qaeda so it may have been a very tactical maneuver on their part.
NEVILLE: And again, getting back to those threats supposedly from al Qaeda operatives. Wondering why these latest spectacular threats were made public when earlier this week the White House wanted to keep quiet the threat, I should say, against medical facilities in various cities in the United States.
MCCANN: Well, remember it wasn't released to the public. It came out in a law enforcement organization ledo (ph) bulletin for their consumption only. It was not given to the media or the -- you know -- any of the broadcast facilities so it was just basically business as usual for the -- for the -- police consumption.
NEVILLE: OK, Kelly, let's talk about this Homeland Security Bill. It's waiting for senate approval. Wanted to know if you think politics are getting in eh way of progress?
MCCANN: I'm pretty apolitical and I normally don't have much to say regarding politics, however, this Homeland Security bill has become a shuttlecock in the badminton game of politics and I think that people have to demand from their people who represent them that they stop doing that.
I mean, George Tenet -- like him or don't like him -- has access to the most current information out there and not four weeks ago he sat on the Hill and told people the risks that we were facing; the threat that was imminent.
Despite that, the bill was held up so that a worker's rights issue could be cleared. And I'm not saying that worker's rights are not important, they are. But when imminent attacks are in the air, I think it's a little bit foolish to let that become a pawn in the game of politics so I think that, yes, politics still figure in too much here.
NEVILLE: OK, Kelly McCann, nice to see you this morning; thanks for being with us.
MCCANN: You bet, Arthel.
NEVILLE: OK.
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 November 16, 2002 - 07:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ARTHEL NEVILLE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in the meantime, ever since September 11 attack there has been a call for increased security here in the U.S. A few days ago, the House voted to create a cabinet- level Homeland Security Department and the Senate is expected to give its approval next week. Well, joining us now with details about this new department is CNN Security Analyst Kelly McCann. Good morning, Kelly.
KELLY MCCANN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: Hi, Arthell.
NEVILLE: Nice to see you. First, though, let's talk about this latest arrest. Apparently, authorities have in custody a man who is as close to bin Laden as Abu Zubaydah. What exactly do you think authorities can realistically expect to get from him, and how much -- or what -- can he tell them?
MCCANN: There's two important points, Arthel. The first is corroboration. In other words, it goes from information to intelligence when you corroborate it and can make sure that there is -- you know -- substantiation to it being factual. So they'll use him in that regard, first.
And then secondly, because of the decentralized nature of terrorism and the way that they organize so that if one cell or one group is captured, killed, or whatever -- detained -- they can't give up too much information. This person may have had access to additional logistical information, tactical, operational planning information, etc. So, it could be extremely valuable.
NEVILLE: OK, let's move on to the latest threats. Why are they being called spectacular?
MCCANN: The root of that word, of course, is spectacle. And terrorism has always sought to create a media event around the situations that they create so nothing new there. Basically, biggest bang for the buck.
NEVILLE: Then the question is why didn't those recent spectacular threat triggers a heightened security alert. I mean, how much should Americans be worried, at this point?
MCCANN: Well, two good points on that are number one, I think to move to the next threat level there has to be specific information about either the way, the methodology, the threat itself, or the target. And I don't think that either condition exists. Condoleezza Rice has said many times that it's a summary of Intel that basically made this report surface. As far as worry -- you know, why people should worry. When you wring your hands, they just kind of get red and painful. When you ball your hand up into a fist, things start to happen.
So rather than worry, what people should do is become informed. And they should become factually intensive. They should learn about terrorism and the things that they can do in regard to it. But worry -- worry doesn't do anything.
NEVILLE: But, now, how does the average person learn those things you're talking about? How do you find out about it?
MCCANN: Lots of different resources. There's a lot of good sources on line. I think that with the pressure that's being mounted now, for Tom Ridge to put out information just to articulate what exactly people should be watchful for. What should they be vigilant about? That question has been asked for almost a year now and still no public information pamphlet, no information has been coming forth. I think that's going to change.
NEVILLE: Do you think there is any connection between these latest threats and the release of that audiotape from bin Laden earlier this week?
MCCANN: I don't. I think that the tape, in fact, was -- was released -- after the bulletin had already been prepared. There are other reasons that bin Laden -- or the speaker, once its confirmed that it was or was not him -- released it, and that is, of course, Ramadan. It might be a vote of confidence.
There has been waning interest. I mean, they've been out of the limelight so I think it might have been an effort to get people back into the game, so to speak. And also funding. I think that with interest waning, so did funds going to support al Qaeda so it may have been a very tactical maneuver on their part.
NEVILLE: And again, getting back to those threats supposedly from al Qaeda operatives. Wondering why these latest spectacular threats were made public when earlier this week the White House wanted to keep quiet the threat, I should say, against medical facilities in various cities in the United States.
MCCANN: Well, remember it wasn't released to the public. It came out in a law enforcement organization ledo (ph) bulletin for their consumption only. It was not given to the media or the -- you know -- any of the broadcast facilities so it was just basically business as usual for the -- for the -- police consumption.
NEVILLE: OK, Kelly, let's talk about this Homeland Security Bill. It's waiting for senate approval. Wanted to know if you think politics are getting in eh way of progress?
MCCANN: I'm pretty apolitical and I normally don't have much to say regarding politics, however, this Homeland Security bill has become a shuttlecock in the badminton game of politics and I think that people have to demand from their people who represent them that they stop doing that.
I mean, George Tenet -- like him or don't like him -- has access to the most current information out there and not four weeks ago he sat on the Hill and told people the risks that we were facing; the threat that was imminent.
Despite that, the bill was held up so that a worker's rights issue could be cleared. And I'm not saying that worker's rights are not important, they are. But when imminent attacks are in the air, I think it's a little bit foolish to let that become a pawn in the game of politics so I think that, yes, politics still figure in too much here.
NEVILLE: OK, Kelly McCann, nice to see you this morning; thanks for being with us.
MCCANN: You bet, Arthel.
NEVILLE: OK.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
