Belgian Soldiers Protecting Jewish Sites Embassies
WHITFIELD: All right, Europe is still on high alert. Police fear as many as 20 so-called sleeper cells may be waiting to area out terror attacks. Police have made more than a dozen arrests primarily in France and Belgium. Five Belgian nationals are now facing charges. All five accused of participating in a terrorist organization. CNN's Phil Black is in Brussels. So Phil, officials are taking steps to protect a prominent Jewish museum there, which was the target of an attack last year. Some embassies, in fact, in Jewish neighborhoods are also seeing heightened security. Is this sitting well with Belgians?</s>PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is, Fredricka. Life pretty much is normal here in the capital of Brussels apart from those some 300 soldiers, paratroopers that have been mobilized and deployed to key sites. Both here in the city and in the city of Antwerp where there is a sizable Jewish population community there, key Jewish sites, government sites, institutions relating to the European Union. These are locations that the authorities fear could still face some sort of terror threat. And that's really what's going on here. They still believe there's a threat. The investigation is still ongoing and just a short time ago, a key development in that investigation following up on the raids that took place across this country on Thursday night. Belgian authorities have announced they are seeking the extradition of a man, a Belgian national from the Greece. We know that over the last 24 hours or so, Belgian authorities and Greek police have been cooperating. The Belgian prosecutor, federal prosecutor, has told us that yesterday Greek authorities arrested two men over possible links to the terror plot they have uncovered here. They know believe that one of these men could have been involved. They are seeking his extradition back here to Belgium. That is on top of two men being extradited from France in connection with this plot. And the five people who have been charged here in Belgium itself.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Phil Black, thank you so much from Brussels. So heightened security measures across Europe, let's continue that discussion now. Joining me is Simone Rodan Benzaquen, director of the American Jewish Committee Office in France and lieutenant General Michael Moeller, former deputy chief of staff for the U.S. Air Force Strategic Plans and Programs. So Simone, let me go to you first. You know, what's the reaction of military patrols and beefed up security say, around the Jewish museum in Brussels and a more heightened presence even in some Parisian locations?</s>SIMONE RODAN-BENZAQUEN, DIRECTOR, AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE: Well, first of all, thank you very much for having me on, Fredricka. The Jewish community to some extent is reassured by this. It's something the Jewish community has already requested for a while. There has been heightened security over the past years, but to have it now more so gives us a sense of security. It is important especially in front of schools, especially in front of synagogues. We have now army personnel in front of most Jewish sites. So this is important. On the other hand, we ask ourselves obviously how long can this be going. We can't live in a sort of prison forever.</s>WHITFIELD: So General Moeller, let me bring you into this. How long should something like this go on? You want to send a message to those potential terrorists or those who are up to no good. At the same time, you want people to feel comfortable and not imprisoned by fear. LT. GENERAL MICHAEL R. MOELLER, U.S. AIR FORCE</s>WHITFIELD: When you say long time, are you talking in the form of days or weeks or months?</s>MOELLER: I think I think certainly for a period of some months. After that, you'll have to assess whether it's actually still accomplishing the objective of ensuring that these high-priority target areas are in fact still on the target list for terrorists or are there other security measures that you can put in place to replace the military forces or, in fact, remove them completely.</s>WHITFIELD: So Simone, you know, with so many visual reminders of beefed up security, whether it be around synagogues, you know, or museums, any place like that, is there a feeling within the French Jewish community there that people are changing their ways, changing the locations in which they go as long as there is this heightened security?</s>BENZAQUEN: First of all, the realities that the Jewish communities faced physical threats for a very long time. So it's not fundamentally changing anything other than now we have army on site. It is basically reconfirming a strong worry that we've had for a very long time. We are not changing thing so much, at least not in the central part of Paris or Leon or Marseilles. Probably people change their -- their state of mind. Basically asking themselves the question of where -- whether it's reasonable to go to synagogue. Whether it's reasonable to wear yarmulke on the street, whether it's reasonable to have your kids go to Jewish school, it's basically everything single day, the tiny little decisions you take. Basically you have to question yourself whether it's a reasonable thing to do.</s>WHITFIELD: And then, General, this doesn't appear to be a singular religious war. But many states feel like they are being targeted by the acts of these few. So you know, what kind of assurances should every important -- whether it is religious symbol or any place that sends the message of safety should instead be guarded by police?</s>MOELLER: Fredricka, well, most importantly and they are basing their -- basing their response on the threat assessment. And as the threat changes and as terrorists assess whether or not they're going attack different targets, again, they'll have, French and Belgian forces have to move capabilities, their personnel to different areas. And it's -- it's despite the fact, not based on religious preference. Not based on whether it's important for the infrastructure of the nation. It is what is the priority -- what is the threat assessment saying about the priority of the targets.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, General Michael Moeller, Simone Rodan- Benzaquen, thank you so much to both of you. Appreciate it. Still to come, rarely a month since the Obama administration opened ties with Cuba, and already a high-profile governor is heading to the island to do business. Karl Penhaul is in Havana.</s>KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There was a time when Cuba was seen as the red threat at the gateway of the United States. A time when relations were so bad they threatened to push the entire world to the brink of nuclear war. This week, things are going to get dramatically better after half a century of cold war. I'll tell you more after the break.