Super Bowl Security Ready for Anything

(CBS)  With speed and precision, an airborne SWAT team closes in on twin targets: a suspicious airplane and car. Working side by side federal agents and Miami-Dade police finish the take down.

Days before the Super Bowl, training exercises have taken on added urgency as security forces prepare for a possible attack.

As CBS News national security correspondent Bob Orr reports, across South Florida Coast Guard fast boats patrol the waterfront, while Homeland Security choppers and military fighters scan some 50 miles of coastline. On game day, they'll enforce a 30-mile "no-fly" bubble around Sun Life stadium.

Super Bowl Prep Photos

Most of the security will be found on the ground: 64 different agencies, more than 1000 officers, and a whole range of hardware from armored vehicles, to bomb dogs and radiation sniffers.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says there is no credible threat against the Super Bowl. But, it's an obvious target and the recent attempted bombing of Northwest Flight 253 is a warning that al Qaeda is intent on hitting the U.S.

"It really awakened people to the fact that al Qaeda is a really persistent threat," Napolitano said. "There are individuals actually within the United States who adhere to those beliefs to the point of violence."

Bomb Dogs, Robots Ready for Super Bowl

Officials are most worried about explosives. So, dozens of canine teams will sweep the stadium with ATF bomb techs and robots on high alert.

And the greatest threat is posed by the so-called lone wolf - an individual carrying a small, concealed bomb.

"It is the hardest one to defend against," said John Gillies, FBI Special Agent in Charge. "By its true nature, a lone wolf is operating by themselves, in their basement doing what they want to do and trying to come to the event."

Gillies runs the security operation from a command center - where more than 100 agents are reviewing intelligence, tracking leads and using high-tech tools like a magic cyber wall.

The virtual data base contains 360 degree images of bridges, waterways, and major roads - plus pictures of building interiors - critical information if police need to launch a rescue operation or mass evacuation.

Gary Warren from Homeland Security said having knowledge of the stairwells, doors and windows, "gives them a tactical advantage."

No one is expecting trouble, but officials say heading into Sunday they're confident they're ready for anything.

[Cyber998]

"There are many, many other stadiums and ampitheatres with tens of thousands of people in them every week."

It's not about the casualties, it's about the impact. Which is why Super Bowl is higher target. If you look at the figures: dozens of 9/11's happen every year on our roads, dozens more due to homicides and thousands of times as many are killed every year by preventable illnesses.

If we were a strictly rational species we would be worrying about these obviously more significant (and in many cases easily prevented) issues before worrying about terrorism, but humans aren't rational so terrorism is effective. Ironically, if this was the case, terrorism wouldn't occur much in the first place (there'd be little point).

The whole point about terrorism is concentrating on the impact rather than direct effect.

[betterusa]

The terrorist have nothing to fear.

Commit an atrocity at the Super Bowl and next week Obama will have you tried in front of Judge Judy.

[scottyusa]

It's always a good idea to brag that you are ready for anything then publish your security measures. At least now any would be terrorist will know what to look for.

[tmittelstaed]

Rather amusing. Somehow I don't think the "lone wolves" mixing up explosives in their mother's basements are going to spend the $1000.00 per ticket price that they are extorting for the spectacle now.

[formrusmcsgt]

CBS has a "5-day countdown" going on - for a game, no less.

Totally absurd.

As well, they have a "special" which is nothing but Super Bowl commercials, no less.

Equally absurd.

[Empire-George-]

by formrusmcsgt February 4, 2010 5:55 AM EST

I know, we don't have enough commercials already, they have a special to play them week before the game too.

[RoboBlogger]

And quit whinning about how Obama and his team is doing. It's only been his first year in Office and like Biden said they're gonna test him to see how well he handles these types of situation. Also, every President gets blamed for the previous Presidents mishaps or shortcomings. It's always going to be like that and always going to be handed some kind of problem that could not always be fixed in a term or yet in two terms.

[mljohns00]

The security is way disproportionate to the benefits. There are many, many other stadiums and ampitheatres with tens of thousands of people in them every week. It'd be much easier to hit one of those and just as many people would die.

[wdh3007]

Ready for anything I doubt it but ask yourself this question how come we never heard anything about the flying dutchman who attacked the underwear bomber and stoped the Christmas attack. How come he was never on any major news sources or even intervied once? How come he was never awarded a presidential medal of freedom for his brave actions? Answer becuase the media does not want to admit that the government under Obama and his minions failed us and can't protect the American people from an attack by radical islam so we have to protect and defend ourselves in anyway we can because no one in this government is competant enough to do it.

[RoboBlogger]

In that situation your first defense is you. You can't always count on the government to handle an emergency situation like that. If you're trying to get somewhere as well as the other passengers, then by whoever/whatever you worship better rise up to the occasion and do something about it rather than just sit there wondering what if.
If I was that guy I wouldn't want to be posted all over the media either. It's really nothing to gloat about depending on how badly enough you want to make it home to your family.

[TheStolenGiraffe]

i guess you must live in somewhere without cable access because he was interviewed by CNN no less than a couple of days after the attempted attack.

[kbbpll]

"robots on high alert" - am I reading CBS News or The Onion? I guess if it's coming from Homeland Security it's hard to tell anymore.

[pete_in_az]

Oh wow, "a magic cyber wall." That is about the most reASSuring thing I have heard all week.