*EPF206 12/30/2003
Transcript: U.S. Announces New Aviation Security Measures
(May request armed guards on board international carriers, Ridge says) (4590)

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has announced that his department is asking international airlines to begin immediately to place armed law enforcement officers on board some passenger and cargo planes flying within U.S. airspace.

Speaking December 29 to reporters, Ridge said that in cases where security officials obtain information indicating a need, U.S. authorities will require the presence of government guards of a carrier's home country on board certain international airliners flying to, from or over the United States.

He said that the new measure is meant to put governments and airlines of other countries on notice that such demands may be forthcoming.

Plain-clothes guards known as sky or air marshals are already present on selected domestic and international flights of U.S. carriers to prevent or thwart terrorist attacks.

Ridge acknowledged that some countries do not have sky marshals and other nations prohibit their law enforcement personnel from carrying guns on board. But he said that the Bush administration is prepared to help countries train their guards or find other solutions. Ridge warned, however, that ultimately the United States has the right to deny access to its airspace to those who refuse to cooperate.

He said that U.S. aviation partners, including the French and British, understand the international dimensions of terrorism and that close cooperation in sharing information and taking action in response to an increased risk is the best way to ensure the safety of all passengers.

Ridge said that the very day he was making the announcement U.S. officials were discussing with their French colleagues intelligence and information sharing as well as other security efforts. The dialogue will continue in 2004, he added.

In the week of December 21, French authorities cancelled six Air France flights between Paris and Los Angeles on security concerns raised by U.S. intelligence agencies.

The same week the Bush administration elevated its terror alert warning level from yellow to orange, which indicates a high risk of terrorist attacks. Ridge said that protective measures related to the orange level are likely to be kept through the New Year's holiday, and "perhaps beyond it."

He said that while the security alert system has worked well so far, his department is working with Congress to improve it.

Following is the transcript of the Ridge's briefing:

(begin transcript)

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY NEWS CONFERENCE WITH DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY TOM RIDGE

DECEMBER 29, 2003

SEC. RIDGE: Good afternoon.

Just over a week ago, the United States government raised the national threat level from an elevated to a high risk of terrorist attack, and as we know, more commonly known, referred to as from Code Yellow to Code Orange.

First, let me say that homeland security officials at all levels of government, federal, state and local, continue to work around the clock to protect our country. And so on behalf of the president and the American people and myself, I would first like to say thank you to literally thousands and thousands of dedicated professionals who willingly exchanged their holiday plans for some real hard work, all to better guard the safety and security of their fellow citizens. We know, we know from experience, that the increased security we implement when we raise the threat level, along with the increased vigilance that occurs, can help disrupt or deter terrorist attacks. That continues to be the case.

I wish that all Americans could have the benefit of seeing first-hand what I have the opportunity to see, and that is the scope of the response undertaken by all segments of law enforcement, public safety and government at all levels as they have quickly and effectively ramped up comprehensive protective measures around the entire country. It is because of their good efforts that we are, without doubt, better prepared to deter or to respond to a terrorist threat than ever before.

Now, the Department of Homeland Security has been in constant contact with federal, state and local officials from around the country. Across the nation, federal, state and local authorities and the private sector have worked quickly to increase police presence and security procedures, to bolster critical infrastructure protection and activate emergency operation centers on a 24/7 basis.

From New York to Los Angeles, from Las Vegas to Houston, actions have been taken ranging from security personnel -- additional security personnel being placed in transit systems, shopping malls and other places of community gathering. There is increased surveillance at critical infrastructure sites, including bridges, power plants, water system and nuclear facilities; law enforcement personnel coordinating with area hotels, convention centers and areas to maintain business as usual, but also generate heightened awareness of any suspicious situations.

And let me just add that homeland security executive teams made up of members of my staff with wide range of security expertise and capabilities, can serve as a resource to cities and states.

Let me also underscore that these kinds of security actions are being put in place to better protect you as you prepare for travel, for New Year's Eve celebrations, for bowl games, whatever your plans may be.

As you know, last week, the United States and the French governments together took steps to halt inbound international flights, acting on specific information we had to ensure the safety of these flights. Based upon advanced information, for example, Air France Flight 68, originating from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and destined for Los Angeles International Airport, was not allowed to take off. We engaged in similar cooperative action with the governments of the United Kingdom and Mexico.

This is an extraordinary example -- I think it's an excellent example of the unprecedented partnership and cooperation that is now underway both here at home, across all segments of government and law enforcement, including with our international allies. We shared information. We shared information with people who could act upon it. And we are grateful that officials in France responded immediately.

In fact, just this morning, several members of this administration met with a French delegation. And today's meeting is an indication of the importance our mutual governments place on security as well as the need to work together to protect the public from the threat of terrorism. We had a productive discussion on a variety of areas of mutual concern, including intelligence and information sharing, specific measures to strengthen aviation security, and other security efforts that we have underway.

We also agreed that members of our teams will meet again in January to continue to reassess our progress and advance our shared goals to combat terrorism.

Now with all the recent talk about air travel, it is understandable that some still question the safety of flying. Let me reassure you that in the two and a half years since September 11th, our aviation system has risen to new heights of security, and we'll continue to take additional steps to increase protection.

Today I am announcing the Department of Homeland Security has issued aviation emergency amendments to further enhance security relating to both passenger and cargo aircraft flying to, flying from and over the United States. Specifically, we have requested that international air carriers, where necessary, place trained, armed government law-enforcement officers on designated flights as an added protective measure. These directives, effective immediately, are part of our ongoing effort to make air travel safe for Americans and visitors alike.

All Americans should know, now that we are at a code orange state of alert, additional meaningful security measures have been put in place all across the country. And these measures -- they're both visible and invisible to visitors and travelers -- are blanketing airports, seaports, chemical and nuclear sites, gathering places all across America and with unparalleled protection.

I also want to remind all Americans that we continue under an orange alert, but as we continue under an orange alert, the awareness and preparedness of individual citizens is critical to the ultimate security of this nation as well. Reporting any suspicious activity you may see helps security officials help you and your fellow citizens.

Additionally -- and you've heard me say this many times before -- simple steps that individuals can take, such as preparing a family emergency plan, putting together an emergency supply kit or communication plan, simply staying informed -- these all can go a long way toward making us more secure and better prepared.

In the end, each of us must remember that we are at war, at war against an enemy driven by hate and determined to destroy the ideals we cherish and the way of life we hold dear. For them, victory is gained if we give in to terror or panic that they seek to create with their threats.

And yet as citizens, you make the difference in this fight. When you choose to get on a plane, when you choose to continue just to live your lives as you had planned, when you choose to press on, even in the face of fear and anxiety, you send a strong, strong message to terrorists -- a message that says, in the midst of threats, we will not give way to fear.

After all, America is a country built by citizens ever ready to answer the call of service, ever ready to make the ultimate sacrifice for their fellow citizens and ever ready to defend the blessings of liberty generations have fought so hard to secure.

This is a great nation, and so we will show the terrorists the strength of our resolve and the spirit of our determination never to falter, never to fail.

So I encourage all Americans to go forward with their holiday plans, gather with family and friends, reach out to your neighbors, reach -- root for your favorite football team and rest assured that the full force of Homeland Security all across this nation is at work to keep you safe.

Thank you.

Yes?

Q: How directly can you require foreign governments to put armed law-enforcement officers on their planes? And how can you be sure that they actually have any system in place to train people to do that? And who will bear the cost of all this?

SEC. RIDGE: Well, first of all, any sovereign government retains the right to revoke the privilege of flying to and from a country or even over their airspace. So ultimately a denial of access is the leverage that you have.

But I must say that with the spirit of cooperation evidenced by our discussions with French and British officials and the like, it's pretty clear that it is understood by our international aviation partners that the threat to passenger aircraft is an international challenge, and all of us must work as closely together as possible to share information and act upon it to ensure the safety of our citizens, wherever that flight might originate or whatever its ultimate destination is.

Yes?

Q: How can you be sure that they'll actually have people trained or have a program to train law enforcement officers?

SEC. RIDGE: First of all, we've made, I think, very appropriate overtures in an organized effort to have these discussions with foreign governments, law enforcement to enforcement, diplomat to diplomat. But we also have DHS inspectors who can and would be working with our aviation partners internationally to ensure that the kinds of protective measures we have requested actually were effected.

Q: Can I follow up on that?

Q: Mr. Secretary, you say when necessary you would require law enforcement officers.

SEC. RIDGE: Yes.

Q: Can you give some examples of where that would be necessary?

SEC. RIDGE: There would be -- there have been times and will be times, I'm sure, where information that is generated by the intelligence community could be domestic or foreign. Again, we've got many global partners, many friends that are gathering information about terrorists and terrorist plans that, we believe, shared with the appropriate country and the appropriate airline, might require an added level of protection, an added level -- layer of safety, to include trained, armed government law enforcement officials. Again, it would be driven by information that we shared and then was acted upon.

Q: Mr. Secretary, with all of these steps taken for security, with an orange alert coming during the holidays, now these extra security on airlines, is there any guess at how much this is costing, how much it's going to cost the economy and the government?

SEC. RIDGE: Well, hopefully, the signs that we've seen over the past several days, that people continue to travel, hopefully with a greater sense of confidence, when we raised the level to orange to alert the public generally, that was also a signal to airports and to law enforcement and to a wide range of security professionals that we had to raise the level of security, as well. So we haven't seen, I believe, any reduction in air travel. I just happened to take someone very close to me to an airport today, and Reagan was packed.

So it seems to me that again, we would like to think that because we've had these layers of security to passenger travel -- and remember, this is just another in a long list of measures that we've taken over the past two and a half years to improve air safety.

Q: Mr. Secretary, on the sense of the international cooperation for the safety of the planes, what response did you get from the Mexican authorities? And did you talk to Secretary Creel? What he said about the putting armed guards in the planes from Mexico to the U.S.?

SEC. RIDGE: Let me tell you that the last time we had to -- we raised our alert level internally to orange, the Mexican government directed literally thousands and thousands of their law enforcements personnel to assist us in protecting American interests and American citizens in Mexico. The response this time with regard to improving passenger safety or air safety was similar -- very, very aggressive action undertaken by the Mexican government in response to our request to improve security.

Again, as a neighbor and a partner, that's not the first time we've asked them to help us, and in doing so, help themselves. Again, this is an international challenge that we all have. And again, information generated from one source or another, shared with one country or another to affect and improve aviation security is something that I believe the world community has adjusted to.

(Cross talk.)

SEC. RIDGE: Yeah.

Q: Can you respond to concerns about the color-coded threat levels just are too vague and really difficult to respond to and calls by some in Congress to try to make these alerts much more targeted and really much easier for people to understand and respond to?

SEC. RIDGE: Well, I've engaged -- begun to engage with the members of Congress with regard to refining the homeland security advisory system. First of all, let me say that it's a good system. It's a far, far better system than the one we initially employed when either the attorney general or the FBI director or I came out on stage and said that threats require us to go to orange and leave it at that or just give a general alert even before we had this system. Now, when we make an announcement, we know that accompanying action is taken across the board.

We will continue to work with our colleagues in Congress. We're interested in improvising and refining the system. And we look forward to those conversations. We do need --

Q: Next year?

SEC. RIDGE: I'm sorry?

Q: Do you anticipate actual changes happening in 2004?

SEC. RIDGE: Again, the system has been designed to give us the kind of flexibility that we need to target the alert if the information warrants that it be targeted. Under -- it's our best judgment, under the existing circumstances as we know them, it was more appropriate to go national with the alert rather than regional or community specific. But there is a design feature in there, but it's still based upon information that we have. But we'll continue to work with the Congress to see if we can refine it.

Yes?

Q: Mr. Secretary?

Q: Mr. Secretary, can you tell us with respect to the announcement today about trained air marshals on other nations' flight, was there an intelligence-based reason for issuing this today? Was there specific intelligence that caused you to put out the amendments today?

SEC. RIDGE: Oh, no. No, this has been part of an organized effort that we've undertaken. We've had some private conversations with individual governments, and the decision was made, working with the Department of State and other agencies of the federal government, just to put the amendment out today, basically notice to all countries that have international flights that travel either to, from or over the United States, that there may be occasions in the future when we have to have the same kinds of conversations that we've recently had with the French with regard to air travel and to give them an alert, give them an idea that we may ask them to provide this additional measure of security, depending on the specific information that leads us to have the conversation in the first place.

Yeah?

Q: Do you have any evidence that any of these actions so far have thwarted a terrorist plot of any kind?

SEC. RIDGE: We had specific information that we needed to be acted upon relative to the Air France flights. The law enforcement community in France is sharing the results of those interviews with the passengers that were on the one flight. And since we still continue our investigation relative to the information, that information, related information, I just don't think it would be appropriate for me to comment on that.

Q: Secretary Ridge.

SEC. RIDGE: Yeah.

Q: How long do you expect the code orange to be in effect? Through January?

SEC. RIDGE: The -- it will last at least through the holiday season and perhaps beyond. It is very difficult to give you a date certain. It is intelligence-driven, and when there is a similar consensus within the intelligence community and the president's Homeland Security Advisory Council that we lower the level, we will. But you can well anticipate it'll be through the New Years at least.

Yeah.

Q: Mr. Secretary?

Q: Is there a goal to eventually have air marshals on all international flights in and our of this country?

SEC. RIDGE: No, the goals it to have -- the present goal is to have armed and trained law enforcement officials on flights of interest where the information warrants that added level of protection. I think it needs to be stressed again that -- and I will use the French example -- they have rigorous passenger screening, baggage screening, random selection of passengers for additional screening. They have, even prior to this event, had engaged in enhance security around travel to the United States.

This is an added level of protection, and if conditions warrant, we'll ask similar countries and foreign airlines to provide the same additional layer of protection.

Yes?

Q: It sounds like what you're saying is, I mean, of the thousands of international flights that come here daily, a very small percentage would be asked to have these marshals or --

SEC. RIDGE: We will ask whenever we think it's appropriate. Whether the percentage is large or small depends on the information that we have about the flights or passengers or anything else related to it.

Yes?

Q: In the specific arrangement with Mexico, has the Mexican government officially accepted to put armed men when you deem necessary in flights bound to the U.S.?

SEC. RIDGE: Well, the -- I'll let the government of Mexico speak to the kind of security measures that they have agreed to provide us. The only thing I can say to you is that they have been very helpful and very forthcoming in adding additional security measures to flights when we've requested them to do so.

Q: Secretary Ridge?

Q: Secretary --

SEC. RIDGE: Yes?

Q: You said -- Secretary Ridge, you said that we should not give in to terrorists, and we should go about our lives as normal. But wouldn't the cancellation of six flights right before Christmas, stranding, probably, hundreds if not thousands of people, be giving in to terrorists? Was there no other way to deal with that threat than to cancel those flights?

SEC. RIDGE: I think within your question is the answer. There's always a range of alternatives to deal with the threat. And in these -- in this situation, given the nature of the information, that was, in the French government's -- from the French government's point of view, the best way to deal with it, and we agreed with their decision.

Q: Mr. Secretary?

SEC. RIDGE: Yes?

Q: Can you tell us, please, what the mechanics will be and how fast you can turn this around? If you hear of a threat, do you go to the diplomats, or do you go straight to the air carriers? How -- and how fast can you ask for help?

SEC. RIDGE: One of the challenges you raise in your question is how soon do we get the information, how credible do we deem it, and what's the mechanism we share it -- and a lot of it's just predicated on how quickly we have it, how quickly we get it.

One of the concerns that we have is always the timeliness of the information and the ability to get it to the airline or the foreign country, so that an -- actions can be taken and decisions made. So again, there's a procedure that we employ, and there's a diplomatic, as well as a law enforcement, conversation, so that people will understand completely what we're trying to accomplish.

Yes?

Q: Mr. Secretary, some foreign governments already have their own air marshals, but many other major countries do not. And how soon do you anticipate that trained -- properly trained and armed marshals will be available in those other countries that do not now have them?

SEC. RIDGE: We have felt that, again, working with other agencies in government, by sending out this notice to the international aviation community and the countries that have these flights, that they would be put on notice that sometime in the future we may ask them to put trained officials on it. And we are prepared to help them with that training.

To your point, not every country has presently today trained, armed law enforcement personnel, and some have trained law enforcement personnel that do not have sidearms, others are restricted from sidearm use, but we would work around these scenarios if they occur. But again, the notice today is in recognition that this is an international challenge and that as aviation partners, we need to consider this possibility in the future.

Yes, in the back?

Q: Mr. Secretary?

SEC. RIDGE: Sir?

Q: It's my understanding, correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand officials in your department are looking at a comprehensive restructuring of the TSA to add new functions and possibly add new agencies. Can you provide any details on that?

SEC. RIDGE: We are always -- right now the only thing that officials of TSA are concerned with is the safety and security of air travel and passengers, not just over this holiday season, but meeting the mandates of Congress and the goals that we have given them. We will always look for ways to improve the effectiveness of security within aviation, and obviously, TSA is at the heart of it. But right now our focus is on security, not reorganization. Primary focus is on security, not reorganization.

Yes?

Q: Sir, with the goal of identifying terrorists, has the federal government created a single, merged terrorist watch list, or is the Terrorist Screening Center still working with several lists?

SEC. RIDGE: First of all, the Terrorist Screening Center, as they move toward a single, integrated database, is now the place within the federal government where all databases are available for use for referral from even state and local law enforcement. So as we work toward a completely integrated database, we have the individual agencies and departments that have their own databases congregated in one area, and when an inquiry is made with regard to a particular individual, then all of these men and women screen and review that name against their own database and provide instructions, depending on the information that they have available.

So we have it all in one place, we will have it all integrated in the months ahead. But I will tell you, the first week that the Terrorist Screening Center was operational, we actually had a couple inquiries that were generated from local police that, given the nature of the inquiry, made it to the Threat Screening Center.

So again, it is up, it's operational; we do not have the databases integrated. That is the goal. It will be done sometime -- it will be completed, we're in the process -- it will be completed in 2004. But for the time being, everybody that's got a database is located in this one area, they have dozens of people working on it, and when we get an inquiry, everybody takes that name and matches it against the database.

Q: Mr. Secretary --

SEC. RIDGE: Yes?

Q: -- a question about an incident over the weekend. We had an errant pilot in New York City who apparently flew off course, ended up circling around, very innocently, around the Statue of Liberty. Since that event occurred over the weekend, New York City officials have asked for assurances, and have said in the past they cannot get assurances from the federal government, either the Pentagon or perhaps your department, they cannot get assurances that the fighters are, in fact, on duty and above. Can you answer that issue at this point?

SEC. RIDGE: I sure could. There has been and continue to be -- without identifying specific locations -- both planes in the air constantly or planes on alert to respond almost instantaneously. And be assured that the Eastern Corridor from New York through to Washington is one of those areas where that procedure has been and continues to be employed.

Q: Apparently, the city had to send up its own helicopters before there was any air cover from federal resources. Are you aware of this? And can you explain what happened, if so?

SEC. RIDGE: Well, I would just say to you that the -- we have very good working relationship with the mayor and Commissioner Kelly and have honored requests in the past to provide additional coverage and will continue to honor those requests.

STAFF (?): Thank you.

Q: Mr. Secretary, with the passing of Christmas, are you as concerned about an attack, a possible attack, this week as you were last week?

SEC. RIDGE: I would say that the decision to raise the threat level was based upon information that indicated to us that the threat level would be sustained over a period of several weeks. So the answer is yes, we are as concerned today as we were yesterday, we'll be concerned as much this week as we were last week.

All right?

Q: Thank you.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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