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America's New War: We See the Hijackers Caught on Camera

Aired September 20, 2001 - 00:01   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.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: let's begin as we always do with the distinguished Garrick Utley, who has the latest news. Jerry?

GARRICK UTLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Much too much flattery at this midnight hour, Jack, here in New York City along the east coast of the United States.

First, a bit of good news, Jack. We haven't had much good news in these past few days from New York City, but listen to this. In the days following the attack on the World Trade towers -- the Center there -- crime -- which is not an unknown part of life here -- crime dropped sharply. It's down, as of Sunday -- that's the week after the attacks -- 34 percent since that terrorism.

According to other news -- news coming up on this coming Thursday -- President Bush, as we know, is planning to address the nation from Congress on Thursday evening. According to reports in Washington, he's going to ask the American people to be patient -- be patient and wait until he makes the decision of what the proper course of action to take. But there are all kinds of signs that the military preparations are underway, and here's some visual evidence of that.

More than 100 U.S. warplanes are on their way to the Persian Gulf region. And the USS Theodore Roosevelt -- that giant aircraft carrier -- also left yesterday from Norfolk, Virginia, headed for the Mediterranean. The movements are part of the president's anti- terrorism campaign. It's being called Operation Infinite Justice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: We are approaching this not as a single battle to be fought by the military, but as a campaign that will involve all of the elements of national power. And we'll be discussing with our friends and allies in the days ahead exactly how we think this campaign should unfold.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UTLEY: Meanwhile, back here in New York City, the number of people confirmed dead stands now at 233. Five thousand four hundred twenty-two remain missing and they are presumed to be lost.

Investigators continue their hunt across the nation for those responsible for this disaster. At least 115 people are being detained, but federal authorities are searching for more than 190 it believes have information regarding last week's attacks. Officials also believe that more hijacks may have been planned on that fatal day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BOB GRAHAM (D), FLORIDA: There is evidence that Tuesday's attack was the first phase of a multi-phase series of terrorist assaults against the United States, all under one umbrella plan. It's critical that we move with what capabilities we have today and strengthen those capabilities so that the next acts of this horrendous scheme against the people of the United States can be interdicted before it is executed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UTLEY: It's really hard to escape a camera these days, they're everywhere. Look at this, this is amazing. Two of the suspected hijackers caught on surveillance video boarding the flight in Boston. Mohmaed Atta and Abdulaziz Alomari are seen on these still photographs going through a security checkpoint before boarding American Airlines' flight 11 and then flying it to New York and ramming it, crashing it, into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Here they are for all posterity and eternity.

Jack, one of the questions that comes up right now, here in New York City, is: what do you do? Do you rebuild the World Trade Center, those twin towers? Well, the man who owns the lease on the building, he wants to rebuild it. The engineer who was responsible for building it some 30 years ago says, "Yes, it should be rebuilt. These are American icons." But a critic, Eric Darten (ph), did research on the towers, he wrote a long book about it and he said, "Listen, it was a mistake from the beginning. This is a target. You build a target, people are going to hit it. You build it again, people are going to hit it."

And, also, there's a question, Jack, if they build another 110 story towers there, how would you feel being -- let's say -- at the 90th floor in the morning looking out at that beautiful view and wondering what the day is going to bring.

CAFFERTY: Although I have heard and seen, Garrick, several interviews over the last few days with people who had offices in the towers who said unequivocally and without hesitation, "If they rebuild, I will go back there."

UTLEY: Well, I'll take an office with a view on the third floor. Thank you, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Yes, yes. All right.

Garrick Utley, with the latest news.

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