Eliza Browning
AC360° Associate Producer
Have you ever wondered why you have to take your shoes off at airports? If you find yourself impatient with the chore – here’s proof that it could be a pretty important security measure. Undercover investigators sent to test security at federal buildings in four U.S. cities were successful in smuggling bomb components through guard posts at all 10 of the sites they visited.
Once inside, they assembled the explosive devices and walked freely into numerous government offices, carrying the devices in briefcases. And get this: one of the federal buildings they entered contained offices for Homeland Security, the department responsible for safeguarding these buildings. How did the investigators fool security and how much are we spending to protect these buildings? We’re digging deeper on this story and will have more details tonight.
President Obama is in Italy today for the G8 Summit, which is being held on the outskirts of L’Aquila, Italy where the devastating earthquake took place in April. Leaders are expected to tackle the economy, global warming and global security.
Chinese President Hu Jintao left the summit early to return to Beijing to deal with ethnic violence in the country’s far-west Xinjiang region, where violent demonstrations over the past few days have last at least 156 people dead. Ed Henry will bring us more tonight.
And all that stimulus money went where? Even though President Obama is in Europe, Republicans are expected to hit his administration and other Democrats hard today during a hearing on oversight of stimulus spending. GOP lawmakers are expected to dispute the effectiveness of the stimulus and its ability to create jobs. Needless to say, it could get a little heated on Capitol Hill today.
Also in Washington, there will be a hearing to examine strategies for improving school safety and preventing bullying. We’ve covered devastating stories of bullying over the past few months and we’ll be watching the hearing to see what lawmakers intend to do to prevent this type of violence among kids.
Randi Kaye is in Los Angeles where she is getting to the bottom of the investigation into Michael Jackson’s death. Sources are telling us that when Jackson collapsed at his rented mansion nearly two weeks ago, the singer’s arms were riddled with marks and his veins had collapsed – both characteristics found in intravenous drug users. The exact cause of his death is pending toxicology results, but speculating is growing. There are also rumors about where the star will be laid to rest. Randi will have the latest tonight.
What are you following today? Let us know and see you at 10 p.m. ET!
| Teresa, OH |
July 8th, 2009 10:52 am ET I'm serious, is anyone even remotely one itty bitty tiny bit surprised at being able to get passed security in federal buildings? I kind of learned a something about taking in my pieces of explosive devices into a federal building and then assembling them once I was safely inside. Good to know that fact. Sometimes I think these stories need to be reported but also, the potential terrorists learn how we do things and thats not a good thing. On the track marks on MJ's arms.... I am just as upset as anyone else about his passing but something ironic hit me: MJ being a black male drug user was really not different the from the black male drug user in my neighborhood, is he? For all his money and fame, he was no different at all. |
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| Marie Wilson, Pottsville, PA |
July 8th, 2009 10:55 am ET Anderson – I watched your show last nite as I do every nite, and I just want to thank you for always showing your human side. You shared that you can identify with the loss that is being felt by the Jackson children as they are now fatherless. While my father chose not to be a part of my life, that feeling like something is missing is something that is carried with you always. Thank you for all you bring to the world through your work. I can't wait to watch your interview with President Obama in Africa. Have a safe trip! |
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| Jim, |
July 8th, 2009 10:55 am ET Just be honest- THE WHOLE SYSTEM GETS AN F- because we have people that don't do their jobs and are still paid. it goes from the bottom up & the Top down. we have police that pull over & rob motorists- The Story CNN did on the Crooks in Texas, Judges ,Politicians that belong in office as much as a milk buckett belongs under a Bull, How many ILLEGAL aileans that NO ONE does anything about, Doctors who are allowed to push drugs on people & kill them & nothing is done to them. |
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| Donna Wood, Lil' Tennessee |
July 8th, 2009 10:55 am ET Wow! Imagine that! So any-old-body can just walk right in and blow them to bits before anyone is the wiser! Oh boy, I can sleep ever so much better now! And I don't feel so bad about that F I got in Accounting! Donna Wood |
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| RDecker |
July 8th, 2009 11:21 am ET Sleeping on the job?? Not good!! No excuses, this is grounds for dismissal – later buddy, |
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| Enough |
July 8th, 2009 11:48 am ET Is this any surprise? That sleeping guard is your typical government employee. The stimulus money went to pork programs, like studying why Pigs stink. It did nothing to stimulate the economy and now they are talking about another one.................Please stop them from throwing more of our money away. The Democrats obviously don't understand how the economy works. |
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| Jeanette |
July 8th, 2009 12:31 pm ET Why don't you just give blue prints and instructions to our enemies, terrorists and everybody else who wants to see us be blown up??? Can't you news people keep any of our errors quiet and just inform the people who NEED TO KNOW!! YOU ARE OUR DOWNFALL.... IDIOTS |
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| Michelle D . Fonthill. Ont |
July 8th, 2009 1:25 pm ET Good Afternoon Eliza Michelle D. |
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| Itai |
July 8th, 2009 2:38 pm ET If someone wanna kill people he will find 666 ways to do so security will make people paranoid isent it more important to prevent such terrorist ideologies or to prevent the frar of unknown things? why the security against normal people is geting higher and is turning to a golden cage whats about security in cars? howmany kids get killed because the security on the streets is not so important as some fictive terrorists? whats about terrorists? security against terrorists would not be needed if all people are happy and if no people see a reason to kill them self with others so why are some people not happy? how they come together? maybe the one who gives a reason can stop to give a reason so the other can stop with suicide bombings? but thats not so easy, we need food from the poorest people we dont see any reason why people are not happy and have no other way then suicide and in angry with bombings we never think why they got dangerous we see all others as evil, muslims are evil, asian-communists are evil, europeans are evil or alies as we need it, africans are primitive as the latinos in the south or as the indians maybe the best security would be to accept others as human, they look maybe strange or have a strange voice or they dont like sprayed cheese on theyr bread ... but they are human ... other people live a other culture and some of them since over 1000 years they did survive until now and they were organized how ever it was good for them why should one part of the world change now all the working systems and replace them with a 250years old system which cant stand on its own feets and is also crashing all the time? maybe it would be better to learn from others how to live with a litle bit of respect before to build a golden cage of security to be able to stay aogante against others maybe it is better if we give some food to some people or some medicine to others so that they dont need to fight for theyr right to life by suicide bombings maybe its ok to do some security nonsence against all the enemys which we allready have done and will do with oure free world (to be blind and arogante) life style today in airplanes are no bombs or weapons alowed .. its not difficult to take a knive into a airplane ... they will do serval scans of your bags .. you have to show them and explain them every thing ... maybe you found a nice rock in your hollydays ... you have to tell them what it is and from where and so on and show them your shoes and if you have a open bottle of coke they say that you have to trash it because security ... and at the end you go into the airplane and carry a knife in your jeans and no one saw it they come for security reason you have to explain your life, you have to undress, you have to throw your coke away.. and at the end your in the plane with a knife i know this from very first hand and its not a just once story security to make fear and this just happens ... what would hapen if someone is planing to take a knife in to the airplane ... dont imaginate that and in the same times a lot of factories put theyr biohazart into the sea ... and security keeps the people away of seeing it good job! (for nothing) |
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