Here is the full text of comments Sunday by Homeland Security Secretary
Tom Ridge announcing elevation of the national threat level, as well as
the press conference, as transcribed by FDCH e-Media Inc.
RIDGE: Good afternoon.
Today the United States government raised the national threat level from
an elevated to high risk of terrorist attack or, as more commonly known,
from a yellow code to an orange code.
We know from experience that the increased security that is implemented
when we raise the threat level, along with increased vigilance, can help
disrupt or deter terrorist attacks. The U.S.
intelligence community has received a substantial increase in the volume
of threat-related intelligence reports. These credible sources suggest
the possibility of attacks against the homeland, around the holiday
season and beyond.
The strategic indicators, including al-Qaida's continued desire to carry
out attacks against our homeland, are perhaps greater now than at any
point since September 11, 2001. The information we have indicates that
extremists abroad are anticipating near-term attacks that they believe
will either rival or exceed the attacks that occurred in New York, in
the Pentagon, in the fields of Pennsylvania nearly two years ago.
Recent reporting reiterates - and this is a constant stream of reporting
- that al-Qaida continues to consider using aircraft as a weapon. And
they are constantly evaluating procedures, both in the United States and
elsewhere, to find gaps in our security posture that could be exploited.
Our actions, our considerable actions, are directed against their
efforts. We have not raised the threat level in this country for six
months. But I remind everyone, we have raised it before.
Homeland security professionals and security professionals at all levels
of government - federal, state and local - as well as the private
sector, are hard at work to increase the security in your community,
state and across the entire nation.
Americans should know that along with this announcement comes action. A
specific plan goes into place as we speak. Most importantly, we share
specific information with those who need it and who can act upon it.
Already, I have spoken to the nation's governors, our homeland security
advisers, several mayors and other local officials, and asked them to
review the security measures they currently have in place and to
increase protections to thwart terrorist attacks. And they are doing so.
In addition, we have made calls to officials from states and major
cities, and will continue to do so, throughout the past week, reminding
them to be on a heightened alert. And now we've called upon them to
increase their levels of security.
Leaders in the private sector that control resources critical to our
country, they'll be contacted today and provided with very specific
measures for them to take to protect those resources and the communities
in which those resources are located.
Where appropriate, we have also shared information with foreign
countries, to enlist their help in combating these terrorist threats.
All federal departments and agencies are implementing action plans in
response to the increase in the threat level.
We have enhanced security at our nation's airports and around other
transportation systems and infrastructure. We will redeploy agents and
other resources at our borders to meet the current threat. There will be
more Coast Guard air and sea patrols off our shores, in our ports and
escorting ships.
Now, obviously, I will not outline all of the actions that are being
taken to protect our citizens. We will not broadcast our plans to the
terrorists. But extensive and considerable protections have been or soon
will be in place all across the country. I can assure you that your
government will stand at the ready, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
to stop terrorism during the holiday season and beyond. Now, in addition
to knowing that homeland security professionals at all levels are
working to keep our communities safe, we do ask individual Americans to
do a few additional things during this time of heightened alert.
I have said many times before that homeland security begins at home. I
guess it means I'm saying it again. Your awareness and vigilance can
help tremendously. So please use your common sense, and report
suspicious packages, vehicles or activities to local law enforcement. Go
over your family emergency plans, and if you haven't developed one by
now, please do so.
These kinds of precautions, we think, just make good sense. I can tell
all of you, from personal experience, that those of us who were affected
for several days during the hurricane season were glad to have done some
advanced planning to prepare.
Now, for those traveling during this holiday season, let me thank you,
in advance, for putting up with some inconveniences. As we learned
during the Thanksgiving holiday, additional security measures sometimes
require additional patience. I think we did a pretty good job keeping
things safe and not too slow at our airports. And we believe that, with
your cooperation, the same will be true in the coming days and weeks.
And finally, no matter your faith or your culture, we know that now is
the time of year for very, very important personal and family and
community celebrations. So I encourage you to continue with your holiday
plans. Gather with your family and friends and enjoy the spirit of the
season.
There is no doubt that those of us fortunate to live in this country
have a lot to be thankful for, not the least of which is the opportunity
to live in the greatest country in the world.
America is a country that will not be bent by terror. America is a
country that will not be broken by fear. And instead, America is a
country blessed with citizens marked by goodwill and great resolve.
We will show the terrorists both during this holiday season: goodwill
toward our fellow men and readiness and resolve to protect our families
and our freedoms.
Thank you.
Questions from the media
QUESTION: Can you detail the types of chatter that you're talking about
when you saying you're getting more information about threats during the
holiday season? I know last week, there was some discussion of a female
suicide bomber in New York City. Is this the type of thing that you're
hearing?
RIDGE: First of all, we heard the reporting, saw the reporting about the
suicide bomber, and that's something we're obviously very concerned
with, because it's a tactic that's been employed around the country, but
we have no independent confirmation of that particular reporting. But
nonetheless, we continue to hear, one, the interest in using aircraft as
a means of attack. Two, there's continued discussion - again, these are
from credible sources - about near-term attacks that could either rival
or exceed what we experienced on Sept. 11. And I would say and reiterate
that I think not only the volume of reporting is up, but from several
credible sources. So we take a look at the scope of the reporting, the
volume of the reporting, the credibility of the reports, and say now is
the time that we put into plan - we put into action the plans that we
have developed during the past several months. It's been six months
since we put these plans into effect, and we just ramped them up again.
Q: Are you saying, Secretary Ridge, saying the chatter is up? The
highest it's been since Sept. 11 is a pretty dramatic statement. But how
would you compare it to, say, the orange alert that you called last
February, when there were CIA reports saying an imminent attack was
probably about to happen, and obviously didn't? But how would you
compare it to that time? Is the chatter more serious, is it more
intense?
RIDGE: Well, I think the level - again, I don't recall numerically,
quantitatively, that time, but any time the federal government goes from
yellow to orange, orange back down to yellow, there's a consensus within
the intelligence community that not only the volume, but the credibility
and the kind of reporting merits us to either raise or lower the level
of threat. So I think it's more important to focus on the fact that
there is that consensus within the intelligence community that we go up.
Q: In the past, there's been certain events, though, such as Lyman Faris
being arrested that led to a sudden concern over the Brooklyn Bridge
being blown up or the wires being cut. Has there been some specific
event, in terms of somebody being collared in recent weeks? Has it been
the boat that was intercepted, that had drugs and also several alleged
al-Qaida members, by the Navy?
RIDGE: First of all, with regard to Lyman Faris, I think that highlights
a very good point. It was reported that it was he that said, "Gee, when
America goes up and there's added security or added levels of
prevention, we're inclined to deter or postpone those attacks." And
that's one of the reasons we do go up.
No, I think it is really the overall - the credibility of sources
pointing toward near-term attacks in the United States. And it's really
the scope and the volume of the reporting and the number of credible
sources.
Q: What about interception with the al-Qaida members? Are they providing
any information that would have helped sort of go into the mix here?
RIDGE: Well, you know, that's a process of interrogation. And if and
when they do, and if it's actionable, we would share it with the right
kind of people but not discuss it publicly.
Q: With security already so high at the airports, I mean, why is there
continued concern about airplanes being used as weapons or bombs being
put on them? I mean, I think, Americans would think our airports are
petty secure right now.
RIDGE: I hope they do, because we think the aviation is far, far more
secure from the curbside to the cockpit. I mean, they are layered,
comprehensive, defensive measures, baggage screeners which are now
professional. We armed hundreds, we're going to arm thousands, of
pilots. We've got hardened cockpit doors. We've got thousands of federal
air marshals.
But again, since there is a recurring theme that we have heard echoed
again during the past couple of weeks, it's part of the reason we go up.
We have a substantial level of security at the airports, but we can ramp
it up a little bit more when we go to orange, and that's precisely what
we do.
But make no mistake about it, aviation is far more secure than it's ever
been in the history of the country.
Q: Are you also hearing more about heightened problems for Americans
abroad? And are you giving any warnings there, specifically?
RIDGE: Well, I think any intelligence relating to activity or heightened
threat to Americans abroad, as you know, is - those warnings are issued
from the State Department. And I'd refer you to the State Department on
those.
There have been a couple that have been out there, obviously.
And whether or not, based on the intelligence that we are reporting on -
that is, as it relates to threats to the homeland - I'd refer you to the
State Department to see if they're going to add any additional warnings
to the international sector. Yes?
Q: You touched on this briefly, but what are the implications for people
that are traveling over the holidays? Are they going to see different
things at airports, at bus stations, et cetera?
RIDGE: I think they will undoubtedly see additional security at
airports. We are going to ask the traveling public to do the same thing
they did in helping us as they did during Thanksgiving. We're not going
to compromise security. We are going to add more security. But if they
do a couple of things during the course of their travel, they will
expedite things. I mean, take all those items out of your pocket and put
them in that tray. Take the computer out of the case. Take the coat off.
There are a lot of little things that they can do so we can move things
along.
But if you've got travel plans, travel. I mean, we've had a lot of
people working on this for the past couple of days that had some travel
plans, and we encourage them and everybody else, just travel.
Q: What about traveling to New York City? I mean, that's obviously a
city that's been hit before. Are these threats directed at specific
American cities, or is it just incredibly broad over the entire nation?
RIDGE: Well, first of all, I think it has been reported before - and I
think it comes as no surprise - that New York and Washington have been,
are, and undoubtedly always will be some of the most high- profile
targets in this country.
Secondly, I think I've said before, I doubt if there is a city that is
better prepared, more on alert, that has devoted more resources to
prevention and security than New York City. And they probably have a lot
of other mayors and police chiefs doing the same thing. So, no, this is
not specifically directed at New York.
Basically, they are always at an elevated state of security and
prevention. I mean, that's just how their mayor chooses to operate.
And, you know, Chief Kelly, Mayor Bloomberg, Gov. Pataki, they've
committed the resources to make sure the citizens and visitors are
protected, and they'll continue to do that.
Sir?
Q: Mr. Secretary, is the reason why you're making this a national -
you're raising the threat level nationally, is it because you don't have
a specific or specifically targeted cities? You have, again, just, sort
of, chatter that's not really directed in any particular place?
RIDGE: Yes, we have reviewed - and again, it's not surprising that some
of the same venues come up. I mean, there are always - they talk about
New York and Washington, and it's predictable that, if they're looking
for a - if they're talking about a terrorist attack of the same or
greater dimension than on 9-11, I mean, you naturally, I think,
gravitate toward the larger urban areas. And so, to make sure that we
enhance security across our major metropolitan areas, we go up.
Q: President Bush has said in the past that the war on terror has
greatly hampered al-Qaida's ability to communicate within its network.
What does it say that now you believe that chatter is at a greater point
than any time since 9-11?
RIDGE: Well, first of all, I think the president's assessment is
correct. I mean, we've decapitated or imprisoned from one-half to
two-thirds of the known leadership. We've literally taken off the table,
for their use, probably a couple of hundred million dollars by freezing
those assets. Those that were in leadership have been dispersed, so the
communication is more difficult.
So, in reality, all those - that may be the reason that it has been so
long. I'm not going to speculate. But remember, we haven't raised this
level of alert for over half a year. But make no mistake about it. The
president has said this is - we have to be - we are in this for the long
term. That in spite of the extraordinary success of the military and the
CIA, the cooperation with our allies, the apprehension or death of a lot
of the principals and the freezing the assets, that this is still an
international war, international terrorist cells, including al-Qaida.
And the fact that we are picking up information that results in us going
to orange, I think, is a reflection of increased capacity, probably on
our side, not necessarily greater ability on theirs.
Q: Do you have any indication that the increased chatter has anything to
do with the capture of Saddam Hussein last week?
RIDGE: There's no nexus that I'd be prepared the draw now. I mean, there
are several fronts of the war on terror, and capturing Saddam Hussein is
of great significance to this country's international effort to combat
terror. But we don't see any nexus, with regard to the reporting, that
causes us to raise - any connection that causes us to raise the threat
level.
Q: With all the talk about going to orange, was there ever any
discussion, was the level of chatter ever serious or high enough that
you thought of going to red?
RIDGE: When we convened those that we get together and have the
discussion about the quality of the information and the kinds of actions
we should take, whether or not we go up to orange or whether we go to
more specific actions, no. I mean, but, again, I think it's very
important to note that ever since 9-11, from the early morning hours
when the president meets with the intelligence community and the
attorney general and the FBI director and everybody else, there's been a
continued focus not only on the war on terror abroad, but the war on
terror and its impact in the United States.
Twice a day, the intelligence community meets to review the intelligence
of the day and how it relates to intelligence that they've acquired
before. And so, it's 24-7 since 9-11. And, again, the convergence of the
quantity, the quality and the credibility and the scope and the notion
that there are near-term attacks of a scope that's equal to or greater
than those that occurred on 9-11 - there was a general consensus within
the community now is the time to go up.
We got action plans, specific things people going to do at the federal,
state and local level. We'll give specific directions to certain
segments of the private sector.
I mean, I just want Americans to understand that we have, literally,
thousands and thousands of homeland security professionals out there
who, based on going to orange, will do additional things. There is an
additional risk, and we are going to do additional things to combat the
risk.
Thank you very much.
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