Thomas Ruskin Appears on Fox News to Discuss Nyc Terror Trials 1 - 30 - 10

ANTI--GOVERNMENT RUSE. THIS COULD BE AN ATTEMPT TO INTIMIDATE THE OPPOSITION. A NEW ROUND OF STREET DEMONSTRATIONS EXPECTED NEXT MONTH. >>> AFTER ALL THE POLITICAL BICKERING OVER WHETHER TO HOLD THE 9-11 TERROR TRIALS IN NEW YORK CITY, IT MAY BOIL DOWN TO ONE THING. MONEY. MAYOR BLOOMBERG DID A 180 ON HIS DECISION WHEN HE REALIZED IT COULD COST THE CITY A BILLION DOLLARS IN SECURITY FEES. WHAT DOES IT COST TO SECURE A AND I IN THAT SITUATION? OUR NEXT GUEST WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PLANNING FOR THAT DO YOU REMEMBER THE RUDY GUILIANI ADMINISTRATION. LET'S BRING IN THE FORMER NEW YORK POLICE DETECTIVE. Thomas Ruskin of CMP Group GREAT TO SEE YOU. >> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> IF IT'S TRUE THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS RETREATING, WHY? IS IT MONEY? IS IT RISK? IS IT SORT OF NIGHTMAREISH INCONVENIENCE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MANHATTAN? IS IT THAT IT NEVER MADE SENSE? >> I THINK IT'S ALL OF THEM. I THINK YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD WITH ALL FOUR REASONS. I THINK THE SECURITY NIGHTMARE TO LOWER MANHATTAN AND THE FACT THAT COMMUNITY GROUPS AND OTHER PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE ALL SAID, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE AND WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO TO OUR CITY? COMMISSIONER KELLY THIS WEEK CAME OUT AND SAID IT WOULD RAISE THE TERROR ALERT IN MANHATTAN AND NEW YORK CITY ONE DEGREE UP, JUST TO HAVE T TERROR TRIALS HERE. NOT TO MENTION THE LOGCAL PROBLEMS IT WOULD CAUSE. >> YEAH. SENATOR FEINSTEIN, WHO CHAIRS THE INTEL COMMITTEE IN THE U.S. SENATE, SENT A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT URGING HIM TO MOVE IT OUT OF LOWER MANHATTAN. AND HER ARGUMENT WAS THAT THE CHRISTMAS DAY PLOT IS EVIDENCE OF A CONTINUING EFFORT BY TERRORISTS TO STRIKE THE UNITED STATES. THEN SHE ARGUED THIS, LET'S PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN. NEW YORK CITY HAS BEEN A HIGH PRIORITY TARGET SINCE AT LEAST THE FIRST WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING IN 1993. THE TRIAL OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT TERRORIST IN CUSTODY WOULD ADD TO THAT THREAT. I TAKE IT FROM YOUR COMMENTS YOU AGREE WITH THAT, BUT WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO SECURE IT? >> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT HUNDREDS OF POLICE OFFICERS, UNIFORMED AND UNDERCOVER OFFICERS, NOT TO MENTION EMERGENCY SERVICE OFFICERS TAKING UP POINTS AROUND THE COURTHOUSE AND AROUND LOWER MANHATTAN. YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE LOGICCAL PROBLEMS OF MOVING THE SUSPECTS TO THE WHITE COURTHOUSD TO WHERE THEY WERE HELD EVERY DAY. THE NIGHTMARES WITH TRAFFIC, AS WELL AS MOBILIZING THE F.B.I. AND THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, COMMAND CENTERS TO FOLLOW UP ON ANY LEADS ON TERRORISM EVERY SINGLE DAY AND SENT TO THE TASK FORCE OUT EVERY SINGLE DAY ON LEADS THAT MAY BE DEVELOPED. >> JUST THE POLICE CHECKPOINTS AND THE VEHICLE SEARCHES AND SO FORTH WOULD RENDER LOWER MANHATTAN ESSENTIALLY A FORTRESS AND THE DAMAGE TO RETAIL AND OTHER BUSINESSES THERE WOULD BE INCALCULATABLE. TO WHAT EXTENT IS AN ALTERNATIVE SITE -- LET'S SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, A RURAL AREA OR REMOTE REGION, HOW MUCH IS THAT EASIER TO PROTECT? >> WELL, A MILITARY BASE -- LISTEN, I PERSONALLY DON'T FEEL IT SHOULD BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN A MILITARY TRIAL, BUT IF YOU'RE GOING TO TRY HIM IN A REGULAR COURT UNDER REGULAR RULES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, YOU HAVE THE SAME NIGHTMARE NO MATTER WHERE YOU PUT THEM. IF YOU PUT THEM ON A MILITARY BASE OR IN A SECURE AREA ALREADY, YOU MINIMIZE THE AMOUNT OF SECURITY YOU HAVE TO PLAN FOR AND THE LOGCAL PROBLEMS ON A DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS WITH PICE AND MILITARY. >> YOU MAY REMEMBER WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE IN NOVEMBER BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ERIC HOLDER. HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SYMBOLISM OF TRYING KHALID SHAIKH MOHAMMED NEAR THE SITE OF HIS HEINOUS DEEDS. RISKING THE SAFETY OF MORE AMERICAN LIVES, IS IT NOT, IS A PRETTY LARGE PRICE TO PAY FOR SYMBOLISM? >> I THINK THAT THE PRICE OF SYMBOLISM TO THE CITY OF NEW YORK ALONE, WE'RE NOT EVEN INCLUDING THE FEDERAL BILL, WOULD BE PROBABLY UPWARDS OF A BILLION DOLLARS. THAT'S WHAT THE MAYOR HAS LOOKED AT. NOT TO MENTION AS WE TALKED ABOUT, ALL THE PROBLEMS AND LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARES IT WOULD CAUSE THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND IT WOULD PUT THE CROSS HAIRS ON THE CITY OF NEW YORK FOR SOME NUT, SOME TERRORIST NUT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CITY WHILE THE TRIAL IS GOING ON, JUST TO EMPHASIZE THEIR CAUSE. >> THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.