U.S. Bans Carry-On Liquids on Flights to Russia; Snipers Attack U.S. Electric Grid; Top U.S. Diplomat Caught on Tape
WOLF BLITZER, CNN: All right, Jake, thank you. Happening now, Olympic terror threats -- we have new details of the ongoing investigation. And we've just learned the source of the latest threat. Why is this one being taken so seriously? Power to kill -- an exclusive look at what explosives hidden inside a toothpaste tube can really do. How easy it is to make this deadly device? Caught on tape -- a top American diplomat making a shocking remark about a top U.S. ally. Who was the target of her profane outburst? And canine hostage -- Taliban militants release video of a military dog captured in Afghanistan. Does it belong to the United States? I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM. But we begin with the breaking news. The eyes of the world are on the Russian city of Sochi and the Winter Olympic Games. But growing fear of terrorism is certainly looming over the competition, as we learn the U.S. is investigating now multiple plots against the Games, including the latest involving explosives hidden inside toothpaste and cosmetic tubes. Our chief national security correspondent, Jim Sciutto, is joining us -- Jim, you're learning about new action that is now being taken to try to counter some of these plots?</s>JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. This is the first security measure in response to the revelation of a new threat of bringing explosives onto airliners contained in toothpaste tubes. And it came within 24 hours of this threat first being revealed to the public. This is what we're learning right now from the TSA, the Transportation Security Administration. They have directed that no liquids, gels, aerosols and powders of any size be permitted on flights from the U.S. to Russia. The particular measure directed just at flights from the U.S. to Russia. So something unusual here that this check will take place at the gate of those flights rather than at the TSA checkpoints that serves many flights around the world and around the country. So different from the 2006 liquid bomb plot, when all liquids were banned on all flights in the US. Additionally, we're told by the TSA that people traveling to the Russian Federation will need to personally check in at airline desks, including Delta. They won't be able to use online check in. These measures showing how seriously U.S. security officials are taking this particular threat. I am told that U.S. authorities are now tracking a number of terror threats related to the Olympics and they're taking them all seriously. But the threats have varying degrees of credibility. The urgent challenge right now, assessing whether the threats are purely in the planning stages or something that the attackers have the means to carry out.</s>SCIUTTO (voice-over): CNN has learned U.S. authorities are working with Russia and other countries tonight to try to disrupt several plots related to the Olympics. Beyond the toothpaste tube terror threat, it sparked a warning to airlines flying to the gates.</s>REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: There are some specific threat leads that we have. But at the same time, it's difficult to ascertain whether these are aspirational, whether this is what the terrorists would like to do, or whether this is operational, whether they've actually put this into effect, whether they have the means of carrying this out.</s>SCIUTTO: U.S. officials are concerned the intelligence regarding the threat of attackers using toothpaste or cosmetic tubes to hide explosives originated from the group led by this man, Doka Umarov, who leads Chechen terrorists who have publicly threatened the Games.</s>REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R-TX), CHAIRMAN, HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: The plot itself originated from the leader of the Chechen rebel extremists, Umarov. That's where this plot actually hatched out of.</s>SCIUTTO: While U.S. officials have increasing confidence about security inside the Olympic venue, transportation hubs leading to the Games, including planes, trains and automobiles, are still seen as softer targets and more vulnerable. Today, Russia's deputy prime minister insisted Sochi is safe.</s>DMITRY KOZAK, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, RUSSIA (through translator): I would like to repeat once again that the level of security in the city of Sochi is not worse than New York, London, Washington or Boston.</s>SCIUTTO: That is little reassurance to some. Chechen terrorists have struck in the air before. Black widow bombers are believed to have brought down two jets in Russia in 2004. However, the intense security focus by Russian and international authorities now may make it more difficult for a similar plot to succeed again.</s>PETER BERGEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I can't think of a case where there's been a serious warning publicly and then something actually happened. None leap to mind.</s>SCIUTTO: Concern about the toothpaste threat led French officials to arrest two Chechen women this week in France. They, however, found no evidence the women were a threat or had plans to travel to Russia. There are, however, continued concerns about intelligence cooperation with the Russians, Wolf. And what I'm told is that when it comes to threats outside of Russia, there's pretty good cooperation. But inside Russia, that's where U.S. officials have serious concerns about whether the Russians share everything that they know. And, of course, with the Olympics inside Russia, it creates a major concern for Americans traveling.</s>BLITZER: Yes, I know they're also very -- it's in addition to the so- called toothpaste bombs. They're worried about suicide bombers going after softer targets, maybe not in that so-called ring of steel, but outside, to embarrass Putin, if you will.</s>SCIUTTO: Exactly. I mean you have a situation where any attack around Russia during the Olympics would, in effect, be an embarrassment. So that shows the seriousness here and the difficulty of tamping down all these threats.</s>BLITZER: One source telling me, quote, "We'd be very lucky to get through this without an attack." So it's obviously a source of grave concern. Jim Sciutto, thanks very much. The U.S. is standing by To respond by land, sea and air to any terror attack on the Sochi Games if asked. And we're getting an inside look at how that might play out. Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, is working this part of the story for us. What are you picking up -- Barbara?</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, it the worse does happen, it will be the State Department that will be in charge. But behind-the-scenes, classified plans are being put in place across the government.</s>STARR (voice-over): If there is an attack at the Olympics that kills or injures Americans, the U.S. will activate an extensive response plan.</s>PETER BROOKES, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: If something does happen, you're going to see the information systems of the United States government light up.</s>STARR: It begins here in Sochi, at a U.S. operations center where dozens of security personnel are on the ground. Agents will accompany American athletes to every venue. But if terrorists strike, they will shift gears. FBI agents will gather information and evidence, intelligence personnel will try to find out what the Russians know. In any aftermath, communications from Sochi to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow will be around the clock. U.S. diplomats will talk to Russian counterparts, making arrangements to help any Americans who need it. But the U.S. will have to defer to Moscow.</s>BROOKES: This is Russia's show. This is Russian sovereign territory and international coordination is going to be critical if there is a disaster or an attack on the ground.</s>STARR: The Pentagon emphasizes it would only move in if Russia asks for help.</s>CHUCK HAGEL, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We want them to know that if they need our help, we want to help.</s>STARR: The major military job, evacuate American citizens if there is no commercial aviation.</s>HAGEL: If we need to extract our citizens, we will have appropriate arrangements with the Russians to do this.</s>STARR: The U.S. European command in Stuttgart, Germany now has direct communication with Russian military commanders in the Sochi region. The two Navy warships, Mount Whitney and Taylor, now in the Black Sea off Sochi, could use helicopters to quickly evacuate U.S. government VIPs and provide communications for other U.S. assets. In Ramstein, Germany, U.S. C-17 transport aircraft stand by with medical teams that could be in the air six hours after getting orders.</s>STARR: U.S. officials say the Russians have told them they will medically treat and stabilize any Americans who are injured and then they will call for an evacuation -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: All right, Barbara, thank you. With the new warnings of explosives possibly hidden inside a toothpaste tube, we wanted to see how much damage that kind of device could actually do. The result of our test is very disturbing. Brian Todd is here with an exclusive look -- Brian, tell us what we did and what you're finding out.</s>BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we have found that it does not take much -- 6.3 ounces of an explosive, not much more than the amount of toothpaste in these two carry-on sized containers, can blast a hole in the fuselage of a passenger plane. Here's a look at what that amount of explosive did in the test that we commissioned.</s>TODD (voice-over): Explosives hidden inside a toothpaste tube can be powerful and potentially deadly.</s>TODD: This bomb in a toothpaste container blew off a car door, sent parts of it across the quarry in Southwestern England, where CNN commissioned this test, with the help of Sidney Alford, an expert who helps first responders understand explosives. What kind of damage could this bomb do?</s>SYDNEY ALFORD, PRESIDENT, ALFORD TECHNOLOGIES: I wouldn't like to be in an airplane in which that exploded, not even a big one.</s>TODD: For this test, Alford used an explosive called RDX, a white crystalline powder. He mixed it with another ingredient to create a paste. In this container, he filled about three quarters with his explosive concoction, the rest with toothpaste.</s>ALFORD: It smells and tastes like toothpaste. I have presented this in such a way that somebody giving it a casual inspection will probably pass it.</s>TODD: The size of the container Alford used is the size that you have to place in checked baggage at an airport. But Alford says two smaller containers this size, which you can carry on a plane, can also be used. These tubes would have to be attached or placed very near each other to create a similar explosion that can be detonated by a heat source -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: And we also know that this is not just some, you know, kind hypothetical kind of development. There has been a case -- a reported case that's been well documented where a toothpaste bomb exploded a plane?</s>TODD: Absolutely, there has, Wolf, 1976, October 1976. Anti-Castro Cuban operatives hid explosives in a tube of Colgate, brought down a Cubana Airlines flight over the Caribbean. More than 70 people were killed in that bombing. It didn't take much and it didn't take a very big container.</s>BLITZER: And I know you have much more in our next hour on the tests that we commissioned.</s>TODD: Absolutely.</s>BLITZER: Brian, thanks very much...</s>TODD: Sure.</s>BLITZER: -- for that very disturbing report. Brian Todd reporting. Up next, we're getting new information out of the White House right now on the Sochi threats. Our senior White House correspondent, Brianna Keilar, is standing by live. We'll go to her in just a moment. Also, it's not just the security fears visitors are finding Sochi hotels unprepared for. Guests, in some cases, construction is unfinished for them. You won't believe what happened to our own Ivan Watson. And he's in his hotel. We're going to check in with him. We're going live to Sochi. And a top American diplomat using some very undiplomatic language speaking about Europe.