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American Morning
The Hunt for Bin Laden; Democrats Unite on Health Care Reform; Tea Party March on Washington; Ceremonies Remember 9/11/2001; Experts Speculate on Lack of Domestic Terror Attacks
Aired September 11, 2009 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Crossing the top of the hour now. Thanks for joining us on the Most News in the Morning on this Friday, the 11th of September. I'm John Roberts.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Carol Costello, in for Kiran Chetry this morning.
Here's what's on tap, on our agenda -- the stories that we'll be breaking down for you in the next 15 minutes.
Today, a nation remembers and promises never to forget eight years after the attacks on September 11th.
And this morning, the hunt for the man behind the moment that changed all of us continues. In a moment, we'll take you live to Pakistan for the latest on the efforts to bring Osama bin Laden to justice.
ROBERTS: One million jobs created or saved by the economic stimulus. Really? Well, that's what the White House is saying. But Republicans -- surprise, surprise -- aren't buying that. We'll give you the political point -- counterpoint this morning.
COSTELLO: They're angry and they're protesting and they're heading for Washington. Tea party express group is on their way for a three-day march at the Capitol. They're mad about health reform, big government and many things Obama. But right now, they are in Pennsylvania where our Ali Velshi is on the CNN Express. It's like an instant town hall on wheels. We'll catch up with Ali on the bus -- that's coming up.
ROBERTS: It's like anywhere Ali goes, it's an instant something.
We begin with Lower Manhattan this morning, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. This morning, all Americans' thoughts are on those three sites as survivors and family members come together to once again grieve, comfort, and reflect now eight years after the attacks of 9/11. Police across the country are being told to be vigilant. The federal officials say it's routine advice.
Today is also the first year that 9/11 will be recognized as a National Day of Service and showing some progress too at Ground Zero. This is the first time that family members of the victim will be allowed out on the plaza that will form the base of the museum and memorial scheduled to be completed two years from today. President Bush launched the war against terrorism soon after the 9/11 attacks. The mission; rooting out al Qaeda and capturing terror mastermind Osama bin Laden. But eight years later, bin Laden is still out there.
Our Reza Sayah is live in Islamabad, Pakistan this morning.
Reza, what's the latest on the search? How we come any closer to capturing bin Laden? Are they still actively looking for him?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: John, the short answer is, no. They haven't come closer to capturing Osama bin Laden.
Of course, U.S. government officials have said over and over again that Osama bin Laden is probably here in Pakistan, somewhere in the mostly ungoverned tribal region along the Afghan border. They put tremendous pressure on the Pakistani government to go after him.
But here's the problem -- it has been a long time since Washington has offered any solid evidence, hard proof that he is here. And that's why a lot of Pakistani government officials don't believe he's here. They're not convinced.
I spoke to military officials today. He told us that he believes he's dead. That's what Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari is also saying.
So, here you have two very important allies in the fight against militancy who are not on the same page when it comes to the search for Osama bin Laden. Pakistan says if you believe that he's here, show us the proof, we'll go after him. That hasn't happened yet.
ROBERTS: So, Pakistani officials have said on more than one occasion that they think that he's dead, Reza, but there was that recent videotape which would seem to suggest otherwise. What exactly is being done to try to hunt him down?
SAYAH: Well, the Pakistani government says they're not going to go after bin Laden haphazardly. If there's evidence of an extremist, they're going to go after them. So, specifically, they say they're not doing anything. But to give them credit, they have made some progress against the Pakistani Taliban, militants here in Pakistan in the Swat region and along the Afghan border in the tribal area.
But when it comes to al Qaeda specifically, what's been most effective is these U.S. missile strikes, these unmanned drones. We've had more than 30 during the Obama administration. Compare that to 10 the same time last year. One of those missile strikes took out, in July, Osama bin Laden's son, but Osama bin Laden, still no sign of him here in Pakistan, John.
ROBERTS: Reza Sayah in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, this morning -- Reza, thanks so much.
And stay with us here on CNN. At 8:30 Eastern, we're talking to former CIA agent Art Keller who spent time in the Pakistan border region tracking al Qaeda leaders. We'll ask him why the most powerful military in the world cannot track down Osama bin Laden.
COSTELLO: And why they're calling out retired CIA agents to go help in Pakistan. We'll be talking to him in just a little bit.
Divided Democrats may be finding common ground on health care reform. Since President Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday night, the party may be uniting. Liberal Democrats have been demanding a public option and blue dog Democrats who have been bristling about costs, apparently embracing the president's call to compromise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am confident the plan that we put forward is the right plan for the American people. I continue to be open to suggestions and ideas from all quarters -- House members, Senate members, Democrats, Republicans, outside groups. What we cannot do is stand pat. What we can't do is accept a status quo that is bankrupting families, businesses, and our nation. I will not tolerate us continuing to pay more for less in health care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Congressional correspondent Brianna Keilar is live on Capitol Hill this morning.
Brianna, President Obama, he met with moderate Democrats last night. So, how'd the meeting go?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, both the White House and these moderate Democratic senators saying that it was a constructive meeting. They say that President Obama seemed to reiterate what he was talking about in his speech, that there's this need to be open to other ideas, besides just the public option, the government-run insurance plan for overhauling health care.
So, actually, more than a dozen senators, Democratic senators, went to the White House. They went on a bus. They came back on a bus. And CNN was the only network there to catch up with them to see how this meeting went.
Now, we spoke, in particular, with Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat who has some pretty serious reservations about his own party's plan to overhaul health care, and he said he was really pleased that the president seems to be more concerned on the end point, of getting health care reform and not how you get to that point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BEN NELSON (D), NEBRASKA: I think he recognizes that when you have to balance substance and process, that substance has to win out. And so, the method of getting everybody covered, having the coverage extended, is secondary to the fact that you get it done, and that there are more -- there's more than one way to do it. He has his preference -- he knows that that may or may not hold. And he's prepared to look at something else as well. (END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: So, where do we go here from two days after the president's speech, his attempt to reset the debate on health care? Well, more meetings among those bipartisan negotiators in the Senate, the "gang of six" from the Senate Finance Committee. They're going to be meeting this morning at 10:00 a.m., continuing to try to reach a compromise to see if they can do that.
And giving even more importance to what they are doing, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has signaled that the House is not going to go and move ahead until they see what comes out of the Senate Finance Committee. And, of course, Carol, right now, the proposal before the Senate Finance Committee -- and this certainly isn't expected to change -- does not include a public option. It is that nonprofit health co-op system, Carol.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about a timeline. Has anyone set some kind of date for some kind of bill to pass?
KEILAR: Senator Kent Conrad told me the plan is for the committee, the Senate Finance Committee, to move ahead here in the next couple of weeks and actually to get a bill to the Senate floor by early August and then work on the floor with the bill for up to three to four weeks, he said, but ultimately, he thinks they can pass a bill by the end of October. We're hearing other -- we're hearing some Democratic leaders echo that.
But we're going to be watching, Carol, because, as you know, a lot of deadlines have been set and missed along this process.
COSTELLO: And the end of October isn't far away.
KEILAR: No.
COSTELLO: Brianna Keilar, live on Capitol Hill this morning.
ROBERTS: So, what's going to be happening with the health care debate now that the president has addressed a joint session of Congress? There seems to be some divisions among the Democrats.
COSTELLO: You heard Brianna -- they're going to have a bill passed by the end of October.
ROBERTS: Like we were saying. So, what's going to happen with the Democrats? We're going to be talking with the House majority leader, Congressman Steny Hoyer, coming up next.
It's 10 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ROBERTS: Good morning, Washington. We've got light rain and 61 degrees right there now; later on today, showers and 68. Because of the weather there, the moment of silence at the White House in remembrance of the 9/11 attacks will occur inside the East Room as opposed to the South Lawn where it's traditionally been.
Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.
In the battle over health care reform, President Obama pushing his agenda hard this week, but still a lot of questions about what that final bill is going to look like. Our next guest might be able to shed a little bit of light on that.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland joins us now from the Capitol.
Congressman, good to see you this morning. Thanks for joining us.
REP. STENY HOYER (D), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: Good morning, John. Good to be with you.
ROBERTS: I wanted, if I could, to start off by playing a moment that occurred earlier this week -- you and the speaker of the House, Congresswoman Pelosi. Let's take a look and I want to ask you about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOYER: I'm not one of those that says if you don't have a public option, it's not a good bill. I think it's a very good bill. I think the public option makes it much better.
REP. NANCY PELOSI, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: And I do believe that in order to pass a bill in the House, we will have a public option. This is the legislative process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: So, you said that a public option may not exactly be necessary. The speaker of the House came forward and said she really wanted to have it.
What do you think in the end here? You know, maybe you were looking a little more forward than she was. If you get a bill out of the House, even if it has a public option, you get one out of the Senate that doesn't, in the conference committee, are you prepared to drop this idea of a public option?
HOYER: Well, look, there's no difference between the speaker and myself, number one. We're both for the public option and we want to see the public option in a bill passed from the House. We want to see a public option coming out of the conference committee.
But what I have said is, there's a lot in this bill that is very good, in addition to the public option, and we ought not to just focus on that. However, our objective is to have, as the president indicated in his state of the union, an option which will bring down costs, which will give people an option that they might not otherwise have, to make sure that they have affordable, quality health care accessible to them.
So, there's no difference and that is the objective. But this is the legislative process and we're going to have to talk back and forth -- as the president indicated -- on exactly how to get to that objective.
ROBERTS: So -- but if push comes to shove, are you prepared to drop the public option to get a broader health care reform bill?
HOYER: I'm prepared to pass a health care reform bill that provides millions access to affordable, quality, health care. We think the public option is an important component of that. But obviously, you're going to have to have 218 votes in the House and you're going to have to have a at least a majority in the Senate to do that. We'll have to see how that legislative process goes.
The public option is a priority for us. It's our objective. And we think that in some form, a public option will be available.
ROBERTS: All right.
The other big question that people have is: how is this all going to be paid for? The president said his plan would be about $900 billion, wants to make sure it doesn't add a penny to the deficit. He talked about cost savings and Medicare and Medicaid, fees on insurance companies and drug companies.
But we had our health care economist Paul Keckley on earlier this morning, congressman, who said that the numbers just don't add up, that there's just not the money there to wring out of the system.
HOYER: Well, let me -- let me say this: The president made it emphatically clear that he would not sign a bill that was not paid for. I want to make it equally clear that I'm not going to vote for a bill that's not paid for. So, we're going to have to work towards the objective of making sure that whatever additional costs are included in the bill are, in fact, offset by savings and by revenues from the system. And so that the commitment of the president is clear, our commitment is clear. And the speaker and I both agree, this bill will be paid for. We're not going to add to the debt.
ROBERTS: So, on the revenue side of the equation there, does that mean that a tax increase is inevitable? And if there is going to be a tax increase -- who's going to pay for it? Who's picking up the tab?
HOYER: Well, of course, as you know, there are different proposals that have been made. The president talked about the one that the Senate Finance Committee is talking about, which is a tax on insurance companies for policies of -- over a certain amount. That amount hasn't been set. There are other options that have been discussed as well.
But the bottom line is, as we work through this over the next six to 12 weeks, we're going to make sure that it is paid for. That's our commitment. That's the necessity in my opinion, given the budget deficit that confronts us, and we're going to do it.
ROBERTS: I mean, can high income earners in this country, this morning, take away from this -- the idea that they will probably be subject to some sort of surtax to pay for health care reform, should it get passed?
HOYER: Well, certainly, that's one of the proposals. As you know, that's included in the ways and means committee, which would, frankly, impact very few people in this country. We're talking about $350,000 of taxable income for individuals and over half a million for couples. So, that we're talking about the highest earners may pay some additional, under one proposal. But there are other proposals as well and that determination has not yet been made.
ROBERTS: Congressman Steny Hoyer, the House majority leader -- good to catch up with you this morning. Thanks for taking the time.
HOYER: John, could I -- if you've got a second, I'd like to add, you know, Congressman Boustany in his response...
ROBERTS: Yes.
HOYER: ... to the president said we're 80 percent in agreement. I hope that's the case and we can move forward working on the 20 percent, perhaps, that we don't agree on. I'm going to be interested in talking to Congressman Boustany about the 80 percent on which we do agree.
ROBERTS: We can look forward to those -- the results of those conversations. We'll get you back to talk about it. Thanks very much for joining us this morning.
HOYER: Thank you, John, very much. Appreciate it.
ROBERTS: I appreciate it.
We know that you've got lots of questions about health care reform. We're helping you sort fact from fiction online. Just head to CNN.com/healthcare. Carol?
COSTELLO: Tea party express on its way to Washington. The CNN Express not far behind. Ali Velshi is on board our bus. He'll talk to tea party members about what message they plan to bring President Obama.
It's 18 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.
And new this morning: The Obama administration is touting its role in the economic recovery with claims that the stimulus has created or saved 1.1 million jobs. Republicans say the White House estimate is all smoke and mirrors and more than 2 million jobs have been lost since President Obama signed the stimulus bill in February. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the glass may be half full, but full economic recovery is still a long way off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIMOTHY GEITHNER, TREASURY SECRETARY: For the first time, most economists think we're actually growing. The world is now growing, too. But because, as a country, we borrowed too much, built up too much leverage, really had too long a period of living beyond our means, that it's going to be a slow recovery. It's going to take a while to fix this.
You're going to likely see unemployment stay unacceptably high for a longer period of time because of that, because of this transition we have to go through to get to a more stable, stronger foundation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Secretary Geithner last night. President Obama goes to Wall Street on Monday to deliver a speech on the nation's financial crisis.
COSTELLO: Some encouraging news about the vaccination against the swine flu virus. New research shows a single low dose of the vaccine may be enough to protect adults from the virus. There were concerns three shots would be needed. The study also found the side effects were no worse than those found with the seasonal flu vaccine. The vaccine is expected to be available by late October.
ROBERTS: And the test results are in on South African runner Caster Semenya, whose gender came into question after she easily won the 800-meter world title last month. The official results are not going to be released for a couple of weeks. However, one published report claims they show that Semenya has both male and female sex characteristics.
COSTELLO: So the controversy is not over.
Well, they're back. Angry, protesting Americans -- the tea party crowd is up in arms and heading to Washington for a three-day march on the Capitol.
ROBERTS: And that's where our CNN Express is headed to. Think of it as a town hall on wheels. And our Ali Velshi is with the bus now in Pennsylvania.
And, Ali, you were just with the tea party. What's going on there?
ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, John, we've been traveling for a few weeks on our own route across America. The tea party express has been doing a different route, another bus that's been doing that.
In fact, this is the first day, as you know, we've been reporting in to AMERICAN MORNING every day, this is the first day in all this week and thousand miles that we've had rain because I think the gods are sad that this is coming to an end.
But we did run into the tea party express, fairly deliberately, yesterday, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where they had one of their rallies. Now, it was a smaller rally than some of them that have taken place over the last few weeks, but it was definitely angrier. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the first three words of the Constitution?
CROWD: We the people!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: An everyday tea partier is an American citizen that is frustrated with the direction the country's going.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, like this last night, that's all he did, all night with his speeches.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm out here to take our country back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to get back to the basics of the Constitution and live in a nation where the power and the equity is held by individuals rather than by the government and the corporations they bailed out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we're really happy to be making our way to Washington to support y'all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm tired of Obama forming his own secret government and he's surrounding himself with people of his own kind. The communists, the Marxist, the self-proclaimed, they're taking over.
(INAUDIBLE)
(CROWD CHANTING)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've decided the silent majority need to speak out. We're not quiet anymore and we're not going to be quiet anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Now, at the end there, you saw a bit of a tussle, Jim Spellman from CNN who's been traveling, he's embedded with the tea party express. He's not seen that at all in the other places. There was a big turnout of pro-health care reform demonstrators at this event and as you saw, there was a bit of a shoving match toward the end.
But there were some really angry posters and really directed signs. There were anti-Obama anthems. One speaker said that this is the first step -- not towards socialism -- but towards communism. Another sign says impeach the Muslim Marxist, a very angry gathering. There were some people I met who were fiscal conservatives who are concerned about government. But largely, it was a very anti-Obama, anti-Democratic administration group. John?
ROBERTS: All right. Ali Velshi on the road. How many more days on the road, Ali?
VELSHI: That's it. Today is the last day. We go -- we go down to D.C. later on today, where, of course, we'll cover this rally tomorrow.
ROBERTS: All right. Good job. Love to see you out there on the road.
Ali just loves riding on buses.
VELSHI: Thank you.
ROBERTS: He just, you know...
COSTELLO: He's a people person, that Ali.
ROBERTS: He could have been a rock star living on the bus. He could have been. He's that type of guy.
COSTELLO: I don't know about that. No offense to you, Ali, but -- I won't say anymore.
VELSHI: It's a rock star bus.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERTS: Let's hope he doesn't treat it that way.
Ali, great to see you. Thanks for joining us.
So, there hasn't been an attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. Why is that? Is it extreme vigilance or is it just happenstance? It's just luck, there's no one tried, I guess. We're asking that question and will try to get you some answers coming up.
It's 26 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Just in to CNN, a little bit of videotape. This is Vice President Joe Biden arriving at ground zero, the site of the World Trade Center there; and now, the museum and memorial that's beginning to take shape. This will be the first year that people will be allowed, will be able actually to walk out there on the plaza instead of being deep in the pit.
The vice president, by the way, is going to give a reading after 9:03's moment of silence. That's the moment when United Airlines 175 hit the South Tower. The ceremony begins this morning at 8:40. That's about just 12 minutes from now. Bagpipes will open up the ceremony and then a moment of silence at 8:46 when American Airlines Flight 11 hit the North Tower.
So, we're watching all of this for you this morning. And we'll bring you a lot of that.
COSTELLO: And, you know, it should be a touching scene, because many of the 9/11 families feel that 9/11/2001 has been forgotten.
ROBERTS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And they're glad that this kind of ceremony is going on, and they want the nation to really remember and reflect on what that time was like in our history.
ROBERTS: And it's just in the past year that there has been a lot of progress down there at the site in terms of the construction of this museum and memorial and the construction of, I think, what is probably going to be known as the Freedom Tower among most people, although that won't be its official name, which has actually now risen aboveground. They've got the infrastructure laid in underneath. There are still a lot to do in terms of the transit facility...
COSTELLO: A lot to do.
ROBERTS: ... but that tower beginning to rise out of the ashes of 9/11.
COSTELLO: And there are some incredible displays down there already. So, if you're coming to New York City and you want to visit, there's a lot to see down there.
ROBERTS: Absolutely. It is September 11th and America's security in the spotlight again. Back then, we were told that another attack was inevitable.
COSTELLO: Yes. But there hasn't been one on U.S. soil in eight years. Today, in our special series "Spies Among Us," Jason Carroll takes a look at why. Jason is down at Ground Zero this morning.
Good morning, Jason.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol.
You know, there are a number of reasons that folks are looking at in terms of why the country has been secure post-9/11. Some say it has to do with better intelligence. Others say that it really has to do with better communication between various agencies.
We went to some of the top experts out in the field, Carol, and spoke to them about what has been done to secure the country post- 9/11.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): In the months and years following 9/11 came the warnings. THEN-U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Thousands of dangerous killers are now spread throughout the world like ticking time bombs -- set to go off.
CARROLL: President Obama weighing in this year.
OBAMA: Al Qaeda is actively planning attacks on the United States homeland.
CARROLL: Security experts say, while Osama bin Laden's whereabouts are unknown, al Qaeda is still plotting and planning.
TOM RIDGE, FORMER HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Strategic thinkers, they are patient. They don't set their wrist watches like you and I do.
CARROLL: Tom Ridge, the first head of the Department of Homeland Security, says the department's creation in 2002 by President Bush was key to better securing the country.
RIDGE: Right after 9/11, everybody said nobody connected the dots. Well, today I'm here to tell you there are a lot more dots because there's a lot more intelligence coming in.
CARROLL: Ridge says the department has improved communication between agencies. He points to the case of Riyid Mansour Albana. In 2003 Albana was stopped entering the country at Chicago's O'Hare airport.
A customs agent, armed with guidelines from Homeland Security, deported Albana for a visa violation. A year-and-a-half later, he blew himself up outside Baghdad, killing 166 people. Ridge says their hard work had paid off.
CARROLL (on camera): Some also say it's been a bit of luck.
RIDGE: I think that's fair. Look, I think that's really fair. I'm convinced that the threat is real.
CARROLL (voice-over): Terrorism expert Ryan Jenkins says al Qaeda really has not taken hold in the United States to date partly due to improved intelligence, but also because American Muslims seem resistant to al Qaeda's radical ideology.
Jenkins warns a significant threat comes from smaller, homegrown groups.
BRIAN JENKINS, TERRORISM EXPERT: The difference between a band of amateurs being able to do nothing and a small group being able to carry out a dangerous terrorist attack is having one determined, technically competent leader.
CARROLL: A point New York City's Police Commissioner Ray Kelly knows well.
RAY KELLY, NYC POLICE COMMISSIONER: It's important to remember that we've had eight plots against this city since September 11th.
CARROLL: Those plots centered on places like the Brooklyn Bridge and subway system, so-called soft targets, considered more vulnerable because typically they have less security.
Last year, New York City spent $300 million on its joint terrorism task force, receiving only $10 million from the federal government.
KELLY: We need money to help us continue the significant efforts that we've made in this city to protect it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Now, Carol, we also spoke to Tom Ridge. I asked him if he had any advice, any words for President Obama in terms of developing a security policy.
Ridge told me that he would tell Obama in terms of reaching out to security advisers, reach out to the best regardless of political affiliation. He said that would be another good way to better secure the country - Carol.
COSTELLO: I'm just wondering, you know, it's 9/11, it's the anniversary, for you to describe what's behind you down at ground zero.
CARROLL: Well, we are actually about ten stories aboveground zero and here -- maybe what we can do one thing, I want you to try -- Rod, why don't you see if you can see -- this is the Freedom Tower. You heard John talking about it sort of rising up above the ground zero over here.
You can see -- I'm going to have my producer move out of the way just a little bit here so we can try to get a quick look at some of the development down here at ground zero. What our viewers are looking at right over here. That is actually the beginnings of what will someday be the Freedom Tower.
So you can see a lot of development that's going on down here. Still, obviously, a very, very long way to go in terms of reaching what ultimately, what they want to see down here, but that's what we can see from our vantage point.
COSTELLO: And supposedly, a lot of that stuff will be completed by 2011. We'll see. We hope so.
CARROLL: We'll see.
COSTELLO: Thanks, Jason.
ROBERTS: Checking our top stories this morning, one sorry may not with enough for President Obama's Wednesday night heckler. South Carolina Congressman Joe Wilson apologized to the president after shouting, "You lie!" during his health care address to Congress. But now House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn wants an apology for the entire House. Wilson telling a South Carolina radio station that his outburst was not planned.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILSON: When it was stated that it wouldn't apply to illegal aliens, I just -- I just -- I just couldn't -- I truly had to speak out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The Democratic challenger for Wilson's House seat, Rob Miller, there's a picture of him you're looking at there, has now raked in more than 14,000 contributions totaling more than $500,000 since the Wednesday night incident. That's according to the DCCC, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
COSTELLO: The DCCC.
Oh, President Obama is coming to Wall Street on Monday to deliver a speech about the nation's financial crisis. It comes exactly one years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers.
The White House says he'll discuss the steps his administration has taken to stabilizing the economy and his commitment to reduced the government's role in the financial sector.
ROBERTS: How would you like to take her out for a test drive?
COSTELLO: And then return her.
ROBERTS: As long as you keep it below 4,000 miles, you're all right. General Motors is offering customers a full refund within 60 days if they don't like their new car for any reason. Except, you know, I don't like the fact that I smashed it into a lamppost. That one won't fly.
No questions asked. Just don't go more than 4,000 miles. The offer lasts through November. GM sales in the U.S. down 35 percent so far this year, so they are pulling out all the stops to get people in the showrooms.
COSTELLO: On September 11th, 2001, America became a very different nation. Soon after, the first shots were fired in the war on terror. In the eight years since, Osama bin Laden has eluded the long reach of our military.
Now the CIA is calling on former agents to help with the hunt for bin Laden. Joining me now is Art Keller, a former CIA agent who spent six months in the Pakistani border region tracking al Qaeda leaders. Good morning to you.
KELLER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So the government is calling CIA agents back to Pakistan, some of whom have retired, to hunt down Osama bin Laden?
KELLER: They've long used retired people in a variety of roles, and it really adds tremendous value added. Think of bringing back a senior colonel or a brigadier general. These are people who spent decades doing this work. And so they just add tremendous bang for the buck. I'm all for it, personally.
COSTELLO: True, but it's a difficult life. The living conditions are deplorable. I understand the divorce rate is high because they're away from their families for so long, and the frustration level for them must be, it just must be immeasurable, because they can't find this guy.
KELLER: It's tough, but there are compensations along the way. It's true that they haven't gotten one and two, but if you're a middle-rank al Qaeda American, well, the number three role has been vacated repeatedly. It's not a role that you would want to have.
So there are successes along the way. Yes, there's a lot of frustration, but there's compensations. And they wouldn't be in this line of work unless they were dedicated.
COSTELLO: Of course they're committed to finding him.
You say there have been successes, and you're right about that. There's an interesting article in "The Guardian." It says Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda are in crisis right now. Recruitment is way down, core al Qaeda is now down to six or eight men.
Will -- I mean, first of all, do you agree with that? And the second question would be, will this make it easier to track Osama bin Laden down?
KELLER: Measuring numbers is really impossible to do, because as al Qaeda as an entity shrinks, the Taliban and other allied Sunni Muslim extremist groups kind of grow closer. And they have an ever- more cooperative relationship.
The significance of al Qaeda is they're the ones who have been projecting power outside of the Afghanistan-Pakistan theater to strike America. None of these other groups have really been participating in that way. So as long as they stay to be a localized threat, then we're ahead of the game.
COSTELLO: "The Guardian" article also says al Qaeda's influence with the Taliban is down, which, I mean, wouldn't that limit al Qaeda's power?
KELLER: Definitely, because they rely on the Taliban for sanctuary.
And so I really, at the end of the day, if we end up getting number one or number two, Osama or Zawahiri, it will become because we have denied them sanctuary in a sufficient number of places that they are forced to show themselves. COSTELLO: Last year on the anniversary of September 11th, I went out to ask Americans if they feared Osama bin Laden. And 95 percent of them said, no, we don't even care about Osama bin Laden anymore. We don't fear him. They believe his influence has fizzled out, frankly.
So why is it still important that we find Osama bin Laden?
KELLER: Well, for a couple reasons. One, symbolic. But, two, there's someone on trial right now in Britain. There was a major plot that was disrupted a while ago to bomb six airliners en route from Britain to the U.S. That was going to be one of their attempted follow-ons to September 11th.
So just because we disrupted the plots doesn't mean al Qaeda is not still trying.
COSTELLO: What do you think the chances are that we will find Osama bin Laden this year?
KELLER: This year, it's impossible to say.
COSTELLO: Because we have more troops in Afghanistan, right? And there's a new leader in Pakistan. So things have changed.
KELLER: Things have changed. And more importantly, public opinion in Pakistan has changed. And I think that will also be key in helping to run him to ground, because, before, the Pakistani military was having to undertake operations against the will of its own people.
And since a few different things have occurred in Pakistan, the militants taking over Swat Valley, a large bombing in Islamabad last year of the Marriott, public opinion is really shifting. And that should help motivate the Pakistani army to be more proactive.
COSTELLO: We hope so.
We'll have to end it there because the memorial service for 9/11 is just about to start and we want to head there live.
Thank you for joining us this morning, Art Keller.
KELLER: Thank you for having me.
ROBERTS: Events to mark the eighth anniversary of the events of 9/11 are about to start. There'll be some preamble, if you will. They will bring the American flag. This is the one that was at the World Trade Center the day of the attacks. There's the Fire Department of New York pipe and drum band. We're also going to be hearing from Brooklyn Youth Chorus.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg will then introduce the moment of silence at 8:46, which is just about 4.5 minutes from now.
COSTELLO: There will also be 115 pairs of volunteers who will read all of the names, all of the names of those who died on that day. ROBERTS: We've got coverage of that coming right up. We'll be back right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Coming up on 8:46, when the first moment of silence will be observed at ground zero.
ROBERTS: This is -- that marks, of course, the time the first aircraft hit the World Trade Center eight years ago, American Airlines Flight 11.
What you're watching right now, on the left side of the screen, is the World Trade Center, ground zero. On the right side, it's the White House. There will be moments of silence observed at both of these places.
Right now this is the Fire Department of New York pipe and drum band and the presentation of the flag that flew at ground zero at the World Trade Center the day of the attacks. Let's watch.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, (I) NEW YORK: Eight years we have come together to commemorate this anniversary, and just as our hearts return to those that we lost, we also remember all those who spontaneously rushed forward to help, however and whomever they could.
Their compassion and selfless acts are etched in our city's history. Inspired by what they did that day, President Obama has designated 9/11 as an annually recognized national day of service and remembrance.
And appropriately, the city of New York has been the first to take up that call. From this day forward, we will safeguard the memories of those who died by rekindling the spirit of service that lit our city with hope and helped keep us strong.
At this time, please join us and all New Yorkers in a moment of silence.
Eight years ago, countless people played a part in history by doing something to help another person, probably someone they didn't even know. No one stopped to ask, if I can only do a little, should I bother doing anything at all? Each act was a link in a continuous chain that stopped us from falling into cynicism and despair.
Reflecting on all she had seen in her life and the halls of justice, the recently retired Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor said this -- "We don't accomplish anything in this world alone, and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one's life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that create something."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Jay Winnic (ph). My brother Glen was a partner at the law firm Holland and Knight, located just a few blocks from where we're standing. He was also a longtime volunteer firefighter and an EMT in our hometown of Jericho, New York. When the towers were hit, Glen's instinct was to race from his place of safety towards the south tower, toward the inferno and the people in danger.
He died when the south tower collapsed.
My little brother is my greatest hero, not just for the way he died, but for the way he lived. With acts large and small, Glen always tried to help people, usually people he didn't even know. And like all firefighters, EMTs and cops, he ran towards those in peril to still their fears, to protect them from harm.
Glen died as he had lived, with purpose to his life, for the joy in connecting to people and the world he lived in.
What he did here inspired many of us to create a living legacy in honor of those who perished, an organization we call My Good Deed, which encourages people to help others in need each 9/11.
We're honored to play a part in making today a national day of service and remembrance.
One of the ancient Greeks wrote, what you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.
Glen, we know that the bright light of your life is woven, not only into our memories, but into the lives of countless others, illuminating the world with hope one person, one good deed at a time.
BLOOMBERG: It is the sacred duty of the living to carry within us the memories of those we lost. And while there is pain in remembering the loss, there is sweetness in remembering their lives.
Today, once again, names of those who died will be read by their families. And this year, they will be joined by those who voluntarily give their time to help others throughout the year and throughout the city. They are truly the inheritors of the spirit shown right here eight years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gordon M. Ammoth (ph), Jr.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Edelmiro Abad (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Andrew Anthony Abate (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vincent Abate (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Laurence Christopher Abel (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: William F. Abrahamson (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Richard Anthony Cceto.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Donald Leroy Adams.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stephen George Adams.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shannon Lewis Adams.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Christy A. Adamo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sophia B. Ada.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Terence Lee Adderly, Jr.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Daniel Thomas Afflitto.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lee Adler.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Emanuel Afuakwah.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my uncle, Darrell Leron McKinney. From the family, we love and miss you, and you'll forever be in our hearts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my fellow marine, Sean Patrick Tallon. You are not forgotten. Semper fidelis.
I am also honored to be here today on behalf of the volunteers of Coney Island Hospital. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joseph Agnello.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Agnes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Terrance Andre Aiken.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Godwin Ajala.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gertrude Alagero.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Andrew Alameno.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jacqueline Aldridge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Earnest Alikakos.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Edward Allegretto.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eric Allen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joseph Ryan Allen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Richard Allen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Richard L. Allen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And our own dear son Christopher Edward Allingham.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anna Allison.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Janet M. Alonzo. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Antonio Javier Alvarez.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Victoria Alvarez Brieto.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Telmo Alvear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cesar A. Alviar
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joseph Amatucco.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Christopher Charles Amoroso
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Calixto Anaya Jr.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yvette Constance Anderson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Andreaacchio.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Andrews.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joseph Angelino.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joseph Angelino.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my father, Joseph.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mary Lynn Edwards Angel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Laura Ankletta.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lorraine Antigua.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peter Paul Apollo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Faustino Apostol.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frank Thomas Aquilino.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Patrick Michael Aranyos.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Gregory Arce.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael George Arczynski.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Louis Arena.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Armstrong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jack Charles Aron.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Joshua Aron.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Richard Avery Aronot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Myra joy Aaronson.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Carl Asao.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Asciak.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my cousin, Jude. We miss you and love you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my friend and colleague. And I'm honored to be here today on behalf of volunteers from New York says thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thomas J. Ashton.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Greg Arthur Atlas.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: James Audiffred.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frank Louis Aversano
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ezra Aviles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Samuel Ayala.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Arlene T. Bakitis.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Andrew J. Bailey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brett Bailey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Garnett Edward Bailey.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tatyana Bakalinskaya.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael S. Baksh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sharon Balkcom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Michael Andrew Bane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kathy Bantis.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gerard Jean Baptiste.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Walter Baran.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Gerard A. Barbara.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my brother. Whether it's eight years or 800 years, you'll never be forgotten.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm honored to be here today on behalf of the volunteers of Goldwater Cole hospital.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ivan Kirillos.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Victor Daniel Barbosa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Colleen Ann Barkow. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Michael Barkway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Matthew Barnes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sheila Patricia Barnes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Evan J. Baron.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Renee Barrett-Arjune.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Arthur T. Barry.
