Transcript: Ashcroft, Mueller Discuss Terrorist Threat

ASHCROFT: I believe we're all on the same page. We work together.

The director and I met with Secretary Ridge this morning, as we do every morning, regarding the threats. When I indicated that the director and I share intelligence reports daily, we do, and then after we share them with each other, we go and share them with Tom Ridge.

We believe that the kind of work that we are undertaking and the kind of effort that we are reinforcing and accelerating here today is the kind of effort that we hope will provide the kind of information that would be of assistance to not only our own agencies, but to Homeland Security as well.

QUESTION: You mentioned there will be a number of people interviewed in the coming months. You mentioned it will be similar to the lead-up to the Iraq war. As I recall, there have been several thousands of people interviewed for that.

Can you describe any further who's going to be interviewed and what type of information you will be seeking from them?

ASHCROFT: I can describe what I've already described, and that is that we will be going back to sources that we have across the country and we will be re-evaluating and asking them to update any information they have.

There will be other interviews that are conducted. I'm not sure exactly how those populations should be defined, at least at this moment.

Do you?

MUELLER: The interviews we will be doing will be driven by intelligence. As to particular persons who we interview, information that we have that makes it worthy for these individuals to be interviewed.

What we're seeking for is often intelligence information, information about persons that may have moved into the community recently, persons who seem to be in a community without any roots, persons that could be either facilitators or those who are willing to undertake an attack.

MUELLER: If you look back at September 11th, the movement of the hijackers through our various communities -- what we're asking for is a higher level of vigilance, so that we look at persons in our communities, and when we do so, if there are suspicious activities, that is brought to the attention of either state and local law enforcement or the local FBI office.

QUESTION: Is this threat information causing you to go to specific cities and ask them to heighten their procedures? And also, are you taking other additional extraordinary measures surrounding the G-8 or the World War II Memorial ceremonies or other events that are taking place beyond what had already been planned?

ASHCROFT: Well, this is intelligence that is developing intelligence. It continues to be a subject of our interest. I think it's fair to say that this is intelligence that has come in over time. So this isn't a one shot or other thing. And as we have intelligence, we adjust our behavior.

I want to address the first aspect of your question, though. You asked about specific cities. And I think it's fair to say that we do not have intelligence that leads us to specific location in regard to this threat which we see this summer and fall.

QUESTION: General, can you (inaudible) more of a portrait of Adam Gadahn? How was -- when did he convert to Islam, by who, where did he grow up in the U.S....

(CROSSTALK)

ASHCROFT: I cannot. But it may be that the director wants to provide more information.

MUELLER: The West Coast, grew up on the West Coast, converted to Islam fairly -- in his youth. And that's about as far as I can go right now. We can provide you additional information.

QUESTION: When was the last time he was seen in the United States?

MUELLER: I'd have to check on that. That was several years ago, I believe.

QUESTION: Do you seek criminal charges against him given that he's apparently gone to Al Qaida training camps?

MUELLER: We would evaluate the evidence to determine whether or not charges are appropriate.

QUESTION: Would it not make sense for people in Boston and New York to get out of those cities during the conventions?