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Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge on keeping NYC, D.C. safe on 10th anniversary of attacks
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Developing this morning now reports of a possible attack counted -- ten year observance of 9/11 as possible retaliation.
For the killing of Osama bin Laden the mayor of New York is Michael Bloomberg He says the extra security is necessary.
The threat at this moment has not been corroborated.
I want to stress that it is credible but it has not been corroborated.
But we do live in a world where we must take these stress seriously.
And we certainly will.
Our Tom Ridge the former governor of Pennsylvania results the first secretary of Homeland Security going back to 2001 -- mr.
Secretary good to see again good morning -- -- again thank you what are we to make of this threat.
I think once again.
Mayor Bloomberg has set the appropriate tone.
His tone is under the circumstances is exactly what it should be I must tell you I don't think there's -- city.
In the world that expands more time energy and resources to make its citizens safe.
In the visitors -- between Mayor Bloomberg and commissioner Kelly and extraordinary people we have there they just take the information which I understand perhaps was.
Found -- reaffirmed by things they found with -- Osama bin Laden but it should -- come as no surprise I mean significant dates.
Anniversaries.
National celebrations.
Is a time when all security professionals gonna -- heightened sense of alert even without a warning so I think.
They'll take appropriate action and I think things will go on as scheduled you know John Brennan right shouldn't want to get into it right.
-- the counterterrorism expert the White House it was only about a week and a half of Hillary said the message for 9/11 is that Al qaeda's been marginalized.
That this is a group that's on the ropes.
Now now now what's the truth.
Well you know it's it's difficult and and one of the things I miss about not being secretary is -- not knowing.
But that what I do know is that.
There are potential several sources of these threats this may be from a source it's historically.
Directly related al-Qaeda.
They are -- groups and offshoot of al-Qaeda it may be -- a domestic source apparently the source or sources are credible bid beyond that.
They have nothing else to.
-- -- caves very specific directions to cities and professionals elected is one of those circumstances He get from a credible source.
You take whatever is necessary to make sure that.
-- citizens and your visitors are protected particularly over the next couple days off from the outside looking in now.
What do you think the state of al-Qaeda use.
How how would you key -- Well you know first of all al-Qaeda is is is that there's a network.
Not necessarily a hierarchy.
And so we hate you we got bin Laden we've got.
As our hearing will be next at some point in time you dismantle the leadership always somebody.
Pops up and I think.
The real challenge and I go back to the early days of the right after 9/11 the focus was on al-Qaeda but now you've got a diminished al-Qaeda but they're still exists and obviously we saw on 9/11 you only need nineteen people that.
Buy into this.
Belief system in.
In a few 100000 dollars and you created when the greatest tragedies in it -- time.
Certainly the greatest terrorist attack human -- we've got related groups you got new sanctuaries in Yemen and Sudan and as we've seen over the past.
As several.
Several months -- -- -- and happen even it.
What are your colleague Catherine Herridge is pointed out the the growth of domestic terrorist as well so it's -- The -- the terrorism picture is a lot more complicated data was ten years ago.
-- Yemen especially.
You're the coach here at memorial.
For united flight 93 in Shanksville Pennsylvania your home state.
I've been reading many stories at a Pennsylvania that they believe that memorial and in that incident is the forgotten one.
What what is the state of the memorial and and how is that going along now we've we've we've you part of that.
Well first of all we are.
Those of us associated with -- are grateful for the leadership of the families -- was -- idea.
Chris Sullivan from Outback Steakhouse chairs -- and Tommy general Tommy Franks and I've been working.
With the families there's federal participation state participation and thousands of donors the ultimate goal is to raise a -- 62 million we're about 52 million pledged.
We'll have the dedication of the first phase this Saturday.
But if those -- your listening audience want to help us get that final ten million dollars.
-- because it is going to be of the three memorial -- it is the only one will be part of the National Park Service.
I think you go to -- honor flight 93 dot org and any contribution larger small will be greatly appreciated that's that's on flight 93 dot -- on.
Honor flight 93 got over is it true that people in Pennsylvania field that they -- On page two of this.
Well I think -- the who number one.
Were were were proud that for the past ten years.
The people in Shanksville Pennsylvania has kind of taken it upon themselves.
Two be that docents at the end of this this site.
That frankly you know there there.
That.
-- -- are no visuals associated with the smoldering.
Hole -- no wreckage.
As we discovered dead after a plane and a sharp angle descended at 500 miles an hour or so.
That it's not quite as etched into the consciousness of America.
That I don't think anybody feels that we're really have been neglected we just hopefully that it around the tenth anniversary.
We can generate that the final dollars necessary to build the entire -- we're with you okay.
I appreciate deadlocked on -- support that you but I tell you very much it's great to see you again okay and my best -- you and everybody in Pennsylvania on -- space are you back packs.
