Recovery: Safety and security on firing line

Rescue and recovery efforts continue in New York.

SUMMARY:

In an effort to "re-examine every procedure we have in place," the Federal Aviation Administration is looking at a variety of ways to improve safety at airports -- and in the air. Among the possibilities: arming pilots, a move supported by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).

ALPA's head, Capt. Duane Woerth, appearing before a government hearing Tuesday, stated that "the world has changed and we must change with it."

Wall Street opened the week on a high note -- with the Dow Jones average up more than 350 points -- but Tuesday's signs were mixed. An earnings warning from AOL Time Warner dimmed hopes of a big rally at the outset, but positive indications from Coca-Cola and other corporations and brokerages balanced out the news. (AOL Time Warner is the parent company of CNN.)

UPDATE:

The Air Line Pilots Association pressed Congress Tuesday to allow pilots to carry firearms in cockpits, a move the union says could prevent hijackings.

"It is probably safe to say that the entire aviation industry ... enjoyed a false sense of security before September 11," Capt. Duane Woerth, the union's president, told the House Transportation aviation subcommittee. "We must replace that false sense of security with a genuine sense of security."

•  Summary   •  Update   •  Key questions   •  Impact

CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

Woerth told the committee that the bullets used would "disintegrate on impact" so they would not be a danger to the aircraft. He said stun guns would also be made available under the union's proposal. Congressional reaction was mixed. (Full story)

U.S. stock investors kept some optimism in sight Tuesday, as modest gains stemming from good corporate and brokerage commentary outshone nagging fears about slow economic recovery and imminent military action.

"It's not a bad day, but it's definitely a sign of continued insecurity," Patrick Boyle, head financial trader, Credit Suisse First Boston, told CNNfn's Street Sweep.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose about 49 points to close over the 8,650 mark, while the Nasdaq composite index rose 2 points, barely closing over 1,500. The Standard & Poor's 500 index was also up slightly. (Full story)

A closed-door meeting between Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and the Senate Finance Committee to discuss the health of the U.S. economy Tuesday included talk about an economic stimulus package of about $100 billion.

But it's too soon to tell if such a large boost is needed, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and the Committee's ranking Republican, Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, said after emerging from the meeting.

Greenspan and Rubin agreed that any economic stimulus package Congress passes should be big enough to be effective -- namely, 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), or about $100 billion. (Full story)

Repeating his plea to New Yorkers to venture outside and enjoy themselves without fear, Tuesday New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani announced the city has had a sharp drop in crime in the two weeks following the attacks.

"Last week, crime in New York City was the lowest in 40 years," he said. "This week, we have an 18 percent reduction over last year at this time."

Asked about the terrorist attack on the city's World Trade Center that has left more than 6,500 dead or missing, Giuliani said that the incident "was a once-in-our-history incident. Day in and day out, this is the safest city in America."

Primary elections were held Tuesday with Democrats and Republicans picking their candidates for the November 6 election for mayor. Giuliani, a Republican, was not on the ballot but some voters were expected to write his name in.

The mayor said Monday he hadn't had time to think about whether he would seek a third term in office or try to extend his current term. The mayor is barred by term limits from running for re-election this fall but is trying to extend his term, a source close to the mayor told The Associated Press on Monday.

KEY QUESTIONS:

How long will it take to pick up the pieces in New York and Washington and return to some degree of normalcy?

How has the fabric of New York, Washington and the country as a whole been altered?

What measures will be taken to try to prevent a recurrence of such attacks? Click here for more

How will these measures affect the American way of life?

What effect will the attacks have on the economy?

What will be the global effect?

IMPACT:

The events of September 11 exposed the vulnerability of the world's greatest superpower, presenting the United States with the challenge of recovering emotionally and physically.