Tom Ridge on not releasing photos of bin Laden: I think the president is spot-on.
CNN’s John King spoke with Former Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge about the death of Osama bin Laden on the breaking news of al Qaeda’s plans to derail trains on the 10th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S. Highlights from the full interview are after the jump and a full transcript is posted at CNN.com.MANDATORY CREDIT: JOHN KING, USA
HIGHLIGHT FROM FULL INTERVIEW
THIS IS A RUSH FDCH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TOM RIDGE, FORMER SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: So I think today’s alert was simply a reminder that it has been part of a potential planning — it’s been something that had been recurring in themes for the past nine years. Be vigilant, and if there’s more additional information, and I’m quite confident that there would be more specific directions given to those involved in rail transportation to take additional action.
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JOHN KING, CNN ANCHOR: You agree with the decision not to release the photos of the corpse?
TOM RIDGE, FORMER SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY: I do. I do. I don’t know — you know, we’re going to have these conspiracy theorists around us forever. There are probably still some people that think that Neil Armstrong didn’t walk on the moon, it was on some movie set.
There are still some people believe that we’re somehow responsible for the destruction of the Twin Towers. I think the president is spot-on. Pretty gruesome pictures when you get firearms at that part of your anatomy, and I don’t think it serves any benefit to show them to the broader public.
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