Terror Warning Expands to Stadiums, Hotels and Entertainment Places; Soft Target Security: How to Protect Americans at Open Access Sites
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. We just heard from Deborah Feyerick about the expanding terror investigation in New York and Denver. And new alerts now issued for stadiums, hotels and entertainment sites. This morning our Jason Carroll is focusing on security at one of these so-called soft targets where Americans may be most vulnerable, and he joins us now. Hi, Jason.</s>JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're talking about luxury hotels. You know, the Department of Homeland Security has a list of protective measures for hotels to follow if they so choose. But will they choose to upgrade security, and if they do, will their customers be up for it?</s>CARROLL (voice-over): The United States is a country that prides itself on its open society. A place where people can see a movie or go to a ball game, or check into a hotel without having to pass through the same type of security found at airports. But what if that changed? What if there were security checkpoints at hotels?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I kind of would hate to move in that direction. I think what's great about America is the freedom to go places.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once it starts, I think people get used to it.</s>CARROLL: In comparison, heightened hotel security is not unusual overseas. The Sheraton in Karachi, Pakistan, armed guards on patrol, none at the Sheraton in Los Angeles. The Marriott in Jakarta, Indonesia. Metal detectors. None at this Marriott in Washington, D.C. Now that the Department of Homeland Security has released a bulletin saying hotels are attractive targets for terrorists and generally lack the security to prevent access by terrorists, some security experts say it's time U.S. hotels become more proactive in increasing security. Pat D'Amuro is the FBI's former executive assistant director of counterterrorism and counterintelligence.</s>PAT D'AMURO, GIULIANI SECURITY AND SAFETY: You have to be reasonable. You have to protect your guests, and you have to try to make it as unintrusive as possible. However, the guests are going to have to realize that this is being done for their safety.</s>CARROLL: Several suggested protective measures are outlined in the Homeland Security bulletin such as installing perimeter barriers, adding highly visible security, and random screening of guests. We contacted several major chain hotels including Marriott and Starwood resorts to ask about the likelihood of implementing the recommendations. None would comment. Clark Ervin does not believe U.S. hotels will change. He's the author of "Open Target: Where America is Vulnerable for Attack."</s>CLARK ERVIN, THE ASPEN INSTITUTE: 9/11 proves that we are no longer impermeable to the kinds of security threats that other countries around the world, sadly, have routinely had to deal with. And so we're going to have to learn either to put up with these kinds of security measures before an attack happens or to do it after.</s>CARROLL: Well, a representative at Hilton weighed in on the topic, giving us a statement, saying Hilton Hotels Corporation views guest and employee safety as our highest priority and has comprehensive security policies and procedures. We continually monitor security-related practices, and we work with law enforcement whenever additional guidance is need. And you know, working with law enforcement is another one of those recommendations that came out that hotels should be doing, working more with first responders, working more with law enforcement to upgrade their measures.</s>ROBERTS: Yes. You know, as we've seen overseas some hotels do have security, they still get hit by terrorists.</s>CARROLL: Very true.</s>ROBERTS: Counterterrorism investigation certainly is a big part of the puzzle.</s>CARROLL: Yes.</s>ROBERTS: Jason, good piece. Thanks.</s>CARROLL: Thank you.</s>CHETRY: Thanks, Jason. Well, still ahead, you know, we've been talking about difficult times, unemployment still continuing to rise. And a lot of people that really are relying on these unemployment benefits and having them extended. Well, now, there's a new push in Congress for even more weeks to be added on to these extended benefits. How it may help you or somebody you know. We're going to talk about with Christine Romans still ahead. Seventeen and a half minutes after the hour.