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CNN LIVE SUNDAY

President Bush Travels to Ground Zero; Secretary Rice Affirms Ties Between Hussein and Al Qaeda; Iran May Be Considering Suspending Nuclear Enrichment

Aired September 10, 2006 - 16:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, President Bush travels to Ground Zero. Later this hour, he will lay wreaths where the Twin Towers once stood and he'll attend a memorial service for the victims of September 11th. We'll be there live.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says contrary to a Senate report, there were ties between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda and she says the U.S. is learning more now that it has access to Saddam's intelligence operatives. Friday's report discloses a CIA assessment that there was no link between Saddam and the terror network.

A compromise could lead Iran to put the brakes on its numb lee a program, at least temporarily. According to the "Associated Press," a two-month suspension of uranium enrichment has been discussed in weekend talks between Iranian and European officials.

Paul Salopek returned to New Mexico, just smiles and hugs this morning. The "Chicago Tribune" reporter spent a month in a Sudanese jail charged with spying. Sudan's president agreed to pardon Salopek after meeting with his wife and New Mexico's governor.

And the space shuttle's heat shield looks good after a morning exam. Atlantis astronauts used a robotic arm to scan the craft for any damage from yesterday's launch. The crew is on an 11-day mission to work on the International Space Station.

September 11, 2001, a day this nation will never forget. Horrifying images of the devastation burned into our collective memory, 2,973 people died in the terror attacks in New York, Pennsylvania and D.C. Three days later after those attacks, among the memorable images, President Bush at Ground Zero thanking rescue workers and trying to lift a nation in mourning.

Today on the eve of the five-year anniversary of 9/11, Mr. Bush is returning to Ground Zero. CNN's White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is there right now ahead of the president's arrival -- Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Fred, good afternoon. Of course we are right across the street from Ground Zero, about 10 stories above ground. President Bush and the first lady will be here in about 45 minutes or so to participate in this wreath-laying ceremony. It will first start off by going to what is called the Footprint of the North Tower by placing a wreath there. That is a small pool of water which represents where that building once stood.

He will then of course go to the second pool of water, to the South Tower, the footprint of that building. And then onto St. Paul's Chapel. There is a bunch of trees and you can see the steeple of the chapel behind me. That is where he is going to be participating in prayer and remembrance services. He is not going to be speaking, but this is a very special place right near Ground Zero. It is where for eight months, hundreds and hundreds of volunteers, firefighters and police came together.

They supplied them with meals, with water, sometimes just a pat on the back, comfort in those crucial eight months when they were trying to first deal with the immense tragedy that took place here. Now White House officials are saying that this is going to be a time for remembrance, not for politics.

They are certainly trying not to politicize this event, but make no mistake Fred here, of course, there is a highly charged political atmosphere that this president is entering. It's just two months from the congressional midterm elections and we've seen the president very much engaged in a very aggressive public relations campaign specifically over the last week or so, giving a series of speeches saying that there were lessons learned from September 11th, that this country is in fact safer than it was five years ago.

Democrats of course saying that this is all political, that this is a way for the White House to justify not only its war on terror, but the controversial war in Iraq. They say a war of course that many Americans, the majority of Americans do not support and they believe has been mismanaged.

Now, tomorrow, of course, President Bush is going to be meeting with some of those firefighters, having breakfast with them. He will be observing a moment of silence, the moment that first plane hit the World Trade Center at 8:46 in the morning. And then the second one at 9:03. He will then go ahead and travel to Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon as well for wreath-laying ceremonies there and then a prime-time speech to the nation, just after 9:00 in the evening.

That is where White House officials say he will focus on the spiritual nature of this, looking forward, and not on the politics of all of this. But of course as you know Fred, much of this in this critical political time is very political.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Suzanne. And of course, the president will be laying those wreaths about 50 minutes from now. We'll be taking that live and Suzanne Malveaux will be joining us within the hour.

President Bush will visit with New York firefighters tomorrow -- 343 firefighters died on 9/11. Now five years later, the city's former fire commissioner is looking back on that horrific day. Tom Von Essen shared his feelings with our Deborah Feyerick in New York. And Deborah, joining us now live, how tough was this for him to do?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, it's really, it's so hard. The path is still very much really in the immediate present. He kept it together during our interview, but when the camera stopped, he pulled out a handkerchief in order to dab his eyes. And really that's the way it is for many people. It's so close to the surface, you hear the tremor in the voice and the tears that are always this close to falling.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK (voice-over): These are the eyes of the man who narrowly escaped death on 9/11, only to see close friends die. These are the eyes of former fire commissioner Tom Von Essen.

TOM VON ESSEN, FDNY COMMISSIONER: I can't find anybody from five rescues and seven squads. It's just - it's devastating thing. I don't know what the fire department will recover, but I don't know how.

FEYERICK: Tell me about the search for the firefighters and what stands out most in your mind to this day?

ESSEN: The fathers that were looking for sons, guys that I grew up in the job with. And to see them lose their pride and joy, and to not even have their body to have a funeral, and say good-bye to them, but to be searching for them for months.

FEYERICK: The site that you see in front of you, describe if you were walking towards that site five years ago, what would you have seen?

ESSEN: It was just enormous pieces of twisted steel, and concrete, and dust everywhere. You know, in the beginning, we all thought that we were going to find lots of folks underneath pieces of steel, and heavy pieces of concrete, with a little bit of water and some air, and that we were going to rescue a lot of people. And after the first 24 hours, we didn't save anybody.

FEYERICK: You went to many of those funerals. I mean, after a while, what kind of a toll did that take?

ESSEN: Giving eulogies at 60 or 70 funerals, whatever it was, and looking at the young mothers in the first row and the parents of you know, men that you knew, that was absolutely the worst part of it.

FEYERICK: There was always a question about the radios. Do you wish there'd been different radios on that day, that things had just worked out better?

ESSEN: I've never felt that we lost a couple hundred lives more because of the radios. I do think that there are people that didn't get the word to get out. And better radios maybe would have gotten word to more people.

FEYERICK: What is the one word you would use to describe that day, one word that just sums it all up?

ESSEN: It was painful for me. FEYERICK: What is the word you use today to describe how you feel now?

ESSEN: I go back to probably the same word, but these folks can never move on, because every day those buildings fall down. Every day they turn on the television, those buildings fall down.

FEYERICK: If there's one thing you can change from that day, what would it be?

ESSEN: I think I would send less people, less firefighters into the building.

FEYERICK: When you go to sleep at night, and you think of 9/11, what do you hope?

ESSEN: I hate to say it, but I hope that when there's another incident, that it's not here in New York City. I don't wish it on anybody, but I especially don't wish it on firefighters in New York City and the people in New York City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: I asked him whether the five-year anniversary was in fact different somehow and he said initially he didn't think it was going to feel different. But he said having reached this moment in time, there's something strange. There's something still so very close and very intimate about the pain he continues to feel and I was there that night when he stepped to that podium to announce all the different firefighters who had died, all the companies that were lost, the men who just disappeared and I will always remember those eyes, because the pain that they emanated spoke volumes -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: And so Deborah, how is the former fire commissioner going to commemorate this five-year mark?

FEYERICK: He will be attending a number of services as many dignitaries will be doing. And he will just try to think about that day and remember the friends and all the people he loved who are now gone.

WHITFIELD: Deborah Feyerick, from New York, Ground Zero, thanks so much.

Marching in unity, and also pushing for it. In about 15 minutes, we will hear from family members of victims of two separate terror attacks who say it's time to stop the violence.

All day Monday we will be marking the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. CNN's primetime coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern with "PAULA ZAHN NOW." At nine, Wolf Blitzer leads our coverage of the president's primetime address, followed by "LARRY KING LIVE" from Ground Zero. And at 10 p.m. Eastern, Anderson Cooper is live on the ground in Afghanistan with a first-hand look at what's really happening in the war on terror. And later this hour, remembering the attack on the Pentagon where nearly 200 people fell victim to the terrorists. Also live coverage of today's presidential coverage to New York a live update on Hurricane Florence growing in strength and nearing Bermuda.

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WHITFIELD: Here are the most popular stories on CNN.com. Australian media say a private funeral was held yesterday in Queensland for "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. The reports say the ceremony was held not far from where Irwin was killed in a stingray attack earlier this month. A public memorial service is also being planned.

Formula One racer Michael Schumacher announces his retirement just moments after winning the Italian Grand Prix today. The 37-year- old driver has one every major prize in the sport. He'll retire at the end of the season.

One lucky lady, a woman who won the New York state Lottery four years ago has hit the jackpot again. Valerie Wilson won $1 million in a scratch-off game back in 2002. She worn another $1 million in a scratch-off game last month.

Let's check in with Jacqui Jeras, who's keeping a close watch on some rather unlucky folks potentially in Bermuda with this hurricane.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Jacqui. Well when we come back, on the eve of the fifth anniversary of 9/11, anger, fear, worries. Emotions still raw. We take the country's pulse straight ahead.

And what about the families of those killed in the attacks? How are they managing from day-to-day? A live interview of two people touched by terrorism on this continent and even abroad. You are watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Five years after September 11th, the emotional and physical scars still run very deep, influencing to a great extent how we live and plan from day-to-day. CNN's senior political analyst Bill Schneider has been examining the impact 9/11 has had on America.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): Five years after 9/11, have the wounds even started to heal? Not when alleged terrorist plotters are arrested in London.

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR: It's so important that we use this as a reminder that we're at war. This is not a law enforcement activity. We're at war.

SCHNEIDER: Like Mayor Giuliani most Americans have not gotten over their anger. One year after 9/11 about two-thirds of Americans said they felt angry when they thought about it and five years after, nearly three-quarters now say they feel angry. The government issues scary warnings.

MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: We also must continue to guard against infiltration of this country by international terrorists, international terrorists who have the capability and the intent to cause real damage to the functioning of this country.

SCHNEIDER: One year after 9/11, 31 percent of Americans said they felt fear when they thought about the attacks. Five years after the attacks, that numbers is up to 44 percent.

One year after 9/11, nearly half the public expressed a desire for vengeance. Osama bin Laden is still out there. Only now are some of the terrorists being brought to trial.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will continue to bring the world's most dangerous terrorists to justice.

SCHNEIDER: The desire for vengeance is about the same five years later. Do Americans believe the country will ever completely return to normal? No, a view shared by more and more people. One year after 9/11, 54 percent felt the country would never get back to normal. Now, five years after the attacks, 70 percent believe the country will never return to normal.

(on camera): One year after 9/11, it sounded like an easy, glib assessment to say things will never be the same. Five years later, it sounds like the bitter truth. Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well some people think 9/11 triggered a cycle of attacks and counterattacks that continues to this day, as Bill was explaining.

Well, one group, Families for Peaceful Tomorrows says it's time to put an end to the violence. Two of its members join us now from New York. Terry Rockefeller lost her sister in the 9/11 attacks. And Beatriz Abril lost her brother, who died in the Madrid bombings. Good to see both of you, and thanks so much for being with us.

Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Now both of you are involved in associations, in groups that help to fight terrorism as well as trying to offer some help to the victims. Now Terry in your case, losing your sister, Laura five years ago, in what ways has being part of this group helped you?

TERRY ROCKEFELLER, FAMILIES FOR PEACEFUL TOMORROWS: I think that my immediate response to having Laura murdered was to realize and to feel very connected to other people around the world and to understand that I did not want other families to ever feel the pain I was feeling.

More than that, I think I understood that we had an opportunity as the nations of the world united behind America on September 12th, 2001, we had an opportunity to do something really bold and adventurous and to truly lead the world in a path of non-violence. I have found in meeting people like Beatriz, whose family also responded to a tragic loss, that I am be connected to a force around the world in a force for nonviolence that I think can make a difference.

WHITFIELD: And Beatriz, you lost your 19-year-old brother Oscar in the March 11th Madrid train bombings. Do you feel that same connection as was being described by Terry, that connects so many countries that have experienced terrorism?

BEATRIZ ABRIL, FAMILIES FOR PEACEFUL TOMORROWS: Of course. I think we are all linked by a very great tragedy. But our main goal is just changing all this grieve into action for peace. So there's a very strong power among all of us, and we are all -- it has been a very good experience to be on this with them.

WHITFIELD: Now, you and your father are both part of an association, a group that has a similar purpose than the group that has been formed after 9/11. How has that helped you and your family, and is it helping to promote any legislative or any real change in terms of fighting terrorism in Spain?

ABRIL: Well, first of all, we -- our main goal is to give support to the victims. So we are all very connected. We make group therapies, psychological therapies. We also have social workers, and we also have to start with the trial which is coming next, maybe in January.

But the most important thing is that we all share our stories. And to hear someone's stories, which are similar like your story, it's so helpful because you don't feel alone, you feel there's somebody feeling the same as you, understanding you.

WHITFIELD: And Terry, your group, Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, having a conference there in New York this week -- what is the primary focus, particularly as it falls on this five-year mark of the tragic 9/11?

ROCKEFELLER: Right, we invited groups, like the groups Beatriz was in, but we invited people from Israel and Palestine, who have reached out across the conflict and begun to be citizen peacemakers. We heard from people in South Africa, who are healing the deep, many decades long wounds of apartheid. We heard from victims of the Rwandan genocide, of political killings in Columbia. We had people from around the world and we began to realize that in many, many ways, the people who experience violence actually have a huge amount of knowledge and expertise to offer policymakers about what builds lasting peace.

WHITFIELD: What do you suppose does happen after the sharing of those experiences? ROCKEFELLER: Oh, I think what we do is we learn from each other. We learn that what actually is going to heal the deep wounds and tragedies of Rwanda is when people work on talking between victims and perpetrators, when people work together to rebuild a society.

I think that when we see different efforts made around the world, we learn to think about the power of the non-violent tools available to us: diplomacy, trials. Just realizing that discussion has to happen between the people for whom it's hard to talk to each other, not just the people for whom it's easy to talk to each other. I think that what we have is a greater appreciation for true multi-lateral action to solve conflicts.

WHITFIELD: Terry Rockefeller, Beatriz Abril, thank you to both of you for joining us. And we continue to say our prayers for you and your family as you continue to go through the struggles that you are enduring post these terrorist attacks. Thanks so much.

ROCKEFELLER: Thank you.

ABRIL: Thank you very much.

WHITFIELD: Well 40 people were killed when United flight 93 went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. You are looking at live shots right there. Straight ahead, a live report on how that community is coping five years on.

And within the hour, we'll go back to New York where you are looking at live pictures right there, just prior to President Bush's arrival.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Half past the hour, "Now in the News": Baghdad police say they shot and killed three Al Qaeda operatives who were guarding more than a ton of explosives. But as police were leaving the area, a car exploded killing three people and wounding 14, mostly policemen.

Remember Iran's well-publicized submarine missile test late last month? Well a "Los Angeles Times" report says U.S. military officials now believe the video released by the Iranians was fake. The officials say it was a poor attempt at deception.

A strong earthquake shook much of the Southeastern U.S. late this morning. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake measured 6.0 magnitude. It's epicenter was underneath the Gulf of Mexico, some 250 miles west of Tampa Bay, Florida.

You are looking at the starboard side of the Space Shuttle Atlantis. NASA scanned the spacecraft a few hours ago, checking for damage from foam that fell during yesterday's lift off. So far no damage has been noted. The shuttle is due to arrive at the International Space Station tomorrow.

President Bush is expected very shortly at the World Trade Center site. In about 20 minutes he is scheduled to lay two wreaths where the Twin Towers once stood. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is at ground zero -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Fred, the White House and the president certainly hope to show Americans a picture of grief, but also resolve. We expect that the president and the first lady to arrive in about 15 to 20 minutes, or so. That is where they'll walk down the walkway about 100 yards to two different locations.

One, of course, the footprint of the North Tower; that is essentially a small pool of water where the center of the North Tower building used to stand. He will lay a wreath there and then he will go to the South Tower and do the same. And then, of course, right near the ground zero site is where St. Paul's Chapel is, that is where they will attend a prayer and remembrance service. The president will not make any remarks.

It's a very important place to New Yorkers, however, for about eight months, hundreds of volunteers, firefighters, came together to give each other support, food, a pat on the back, in those tragic times, those very emotional times.

President Bush, of course, tomorrow, is going to be recognizing not only the victims but also the survivors. He will be visiting with firefighters at a local fire station and then observe a moment of silence at 8:46, the first plane that crashed into the World Trade Center; and then 9:03, a second moment of silence, for the second plane; then traveling to Shanksville, Pennsylvania and the Pentagon for more wreath laying ceremonies before he makes a prime time address to the nation, at 9:00 in the evening -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Suzanne. We will be seeing you again within the hour as the president makes his way less, than 20 minutes from now.

It has been five years since American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon. For many, especially those who witnessed the carnage and tragedy firsthand the images and pain are still fresh. CNN's Gary Nurenberg is live in Arlington, with more -- Gary.

GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, there is something called The National Freedom Walk that begins in two hours at the National Mall, and then ends here at the Pentagon. In evening ceremonies, presided over by the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it's called an Illumination Ceremony where 184 beams of light will penetrate the night sky, one beam for each victim who died here on September 11th.

That's how this September 10th is ending, but there have been other remembrances throughout the day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NURENBERG (voice over): In a roar reminiscent of the screaming engines on Flight 77, hundreds of motorcyclists, Sunday, road from Dulles Airport where the flight began to the Pentagon, where it claimed 184 innocent lives, including --

ELAINE DONOVAN, 9/11 WIDOW: My husband, his name is Phil. And he was here at the Pentagon on 9/11, a commander in the Navy.

NURENBERG: Commander Donovan's name is on the memorial wall inside the Pentagon as are those of all who died here that day.

It is a somber place where visitors leave with reminders of September 11th, etched on paper, etched on their faces, as they read those names, as they stand tearfully at the exact point the plane slammed into the building.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the last visible scar of the attack on the Pentagon in 2001. This stone is burned black from the fire.

CLARISSA ADAMS, COLUMBIA, S.C.: It's so sad to go in, especially with it being the anniversary, and reading the inscriptions and all, it really makes you realize how important it is.

NURENBERG: Anniversaries remind most of us to think about what happened. But for those who lost loved ones here --

DONOVAN: Frankly, five years, 10 years, it doesn't matter for us, it's every day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NURENBERG: As families watch the thousands of people involved in memorial services today and tomorrow, they might well be reminded of the words of St. Basil centuries ago -- "Do not measure your loss by itself, if you do it will seem in tolerable. If you take all measures of human accounts into account, you will find some measure of comfort to be derived from them."

That, at the very least, is what the organizers of these memorial services, Fredricka, are hoping for.

WHITFIELD: Gary, thanks so much.

A tribute is being held in rural Shanksville, Pennsylvania as well, where that hijacked United Airlines flight went down. CNN's Bob Franken is there.

How are they marking the occasion?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, this is off the beaten track, Fredricka, here in Shanksville, Ohio (sic). It is not where the hijackers planned for this plane to go down, United 93. It's about 35 minutes more flying time and we now know they are intending to hit either the Capital or White House in Washington.

You can see there are crowds here today. They expect as many as 175,000 people to visit here. And among them members of the family of those who were onboard when the plane was forced down by passengers taking it over, forced down. Among those on board was Dira Baudly (ph), whose mother, Debbie Borga, comes here quite a bit to this site, of course.

DEBBIE BORZA, DAUGHTER DIED IN 9/11 CRASH: Yes.

FRANKEN: To see the remains of your daughter. You just took a trip down, the crash site is down there. Tell me, if you can, share your thoughts with us.

BORZA: Well, I brought my friends and family down to the crash site. It's very important for me to take them down there, so they can be a part of the beauty and serenity and peace fullness of that site.

FRANKEN: Of course, it's been five years since the horror of that day, time, presumably to put perspective on that, share that with us and share what your thoughts were as you went down there today.

BORZA: I was happy to have my family with me. They've been a great support for me. And to have four amazing young men with me, the boys who walked from Toledo, stopped here at Summerset, in Shanksville, and went onto ground zero. It was a delight to meet them. They reminded me of my daughter. They are selfless acts and their thoughts of raising money for the memorial here at Shanksville, here.

FRANKEN: Do you do, as so many do when they visit the grave site, in effect, of a loved one, do you talk to that loved one at all?

BORZA: Yes, I do. In fact, I found myself Dira (ph) today. I let her know that I was glad to be here, to be with her. And jokingly, I used to always say -- you know, thanks for being here with me. So, that was another thing that I said to her today.

FRANKEN: You carry a little memento of her. Can you just show that to us?

BORZA: Yes, they found Dira's (ph) remains and I was able to have her cremated. And I asked my family and friends if they would like some of her remains and we keep them inside of stars and teardrops around our neck.

FRANKEN: You will be meeting along with members of the families, the president tomorrow.

BORZA: Yes.

FRANKEN: In a tent just over there.

BORZA: Yes.

FRANKEN: And I suspect you will probably look forward to that.

BORZA: Oh, very much so. This will be the third time meeting with the president and the first lady. They are amazing people, very respectful, and they've been very kind.

FRANKEN: And of course, we will be sharing all of that here as there is a day of festivity. It is going to begin in the morning, as all of those who died in the crash here will have their names read out; and, of course, the visit by the president.

This is the one in a tragic, sad way was a bit of a success story. The hijackers were not able to have their attacks on Washington thanks to the courage of those who were on board -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Bob Franken, thanks so much, from Shanksville.

On Monday, September 11th, CNN's evening prime time coverage begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern with Paula Zahn. Then at 9 o'clock, Wolf Blitzer leads our coverage of the president's prime time address, followed by "Larry King Live" from ground zero and at 10:00 p.m., Anderson Cooper is live on the ground in Afghanistan, with a first- hand look at what's really happening there in the war on terror.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

Coming up our viewers shared their impressions on 9/11 in a special "I-Report".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Weeks after 9/11, U.S.-lead forces struck back against Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Nearly five years later the war on terror is far from over, rebels are still causing instability and violence, Nic Robertson reports from Kabul.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INT'L CORRESPONDENT: Women still wear burkas, some men still choose to grow beards, there is still a religious element in Afghanistan but many things have changed for people.

Just looking behind me, over here, there is a construction site. It was never that way under the Taliban. This is a new hotel that I am standing on here. Something new is being built over there. And I look at the gardens over there, there's men working in the fields, they're making the gardens look pretty. They are watering the fields. That wasn't happening.

The city feels different. It is brighter, cleaner, but there is no doubt about it, there are still some very serious issues, security deteriorating, for a start.

There was a suicide attack that killed Paktia's governor, Governor Taniwal, killed his secretary, killed his body guard, as well in the attack in Gardez. Three policemen were also wounded in that attack.

There was another suicide attack on Friday in Kabul. The most deadly since the Taliban were forced from power, there is a significant increase. A more than doubling from the number of suicide attacks last year, which last year was up significantly on the year before.

On the eve of 9/11, Kabul is a far brighter place than it was five years ago, under the Taliban. But there is no doubt in the past year or so the issues facing the government here, of President Hamid Karzai, have grown. Insecurity is worse. The situation for the people, though, compared to five years ago is better. Nick Robertson, CNN, Kabul, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: We continue to receive "I-Reports" from across the country marking the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Here's a picture from Steven Kosloff. It shows the lingering debris cloud after the Twin Towers fell. Stephen says he took the picture from a bike path. And that people walking along were eerily quiet.

Daniel Daly sent us this image of last year's memorial for the World Trade Center. You can see the moon coming in between the lights representing where the Twin Towers once stood.

And here's a moving tribute to all September 11th victims, Ron Gorman is bringing his Light a Candle in September Memorial Bus to New York on Monday. The bus is covered inside and outside with the names and faces of all the fallen victims. If you have photos, or videos, such as these, send it to cnn.com/I-report.

And stay tuned to CNN as we observe the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks with distinctive contribution from our viewers.

We still are awaiting the arrival of President Bush and the first lady at ground zero, where momentarily, when they arrive the president will be laying two wreaths, at the two locations where the Twin Towers once stood.

We'll be right back.

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