LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, that national security meeting that Carl just talked about is a regularly scheduled meeting. It is not an emergency one. But still, this threat is expected to be a top- agenda item at the meeting. Let's get more now from CNN's White House correspondent Major Garrett. Good morning, Major.</s>MAJOR GARRETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Leon. Before we get to that meeting scheduled here at the White House a little later on this morning, let me catch you'll up on some information that the White House released late last night. The emir of Bahrain spoke to President Clinton yesterday afternoon for about 10 minutes, a White House official telling CNN that the two discussed, quote, "regional threats," obviously including that heightened state of military alert in Bahrain, as well as other locations throughout the Middle East. As for the meeting later on today here at the White House. it will include, among others, the president's national security adviser, Samuel Berger; the defense secretary, William Cohen; and the CIA director, George Tenet. Now the president is not scheduled, nor is he likely, to attend this meeting. And the primary focus of that meeting, White House officials tell CNN, is going to be about the Middle East situation generally, but also very specifically related to these new threats and new specific terrorist threats possibly linked to Osama bin Laden. One White House official telling</s>CNN: "What our people believe" -- and this is a direct quote -- "What our people believe to be specific and credible threats have been received, and there is a discussion, rather than a debate, going on in the White House about a possible preemptive strike." And this official, again quoting says: "We are taking general common sense precautions and some more specific steps as a result of specific information about a potential terrorist attack." Major Garrett, CNN, reporting live from the White House.
U.S. Forces on Alert for Terrorist Activity