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CNN Live Saturday

Hurricane Ivan Sets Sights On Cayman Islands; Nation Mourns On 9/11 Anniversary

Aired September 11, 2004 - 12:00   ET

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

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


KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: It's 12:00 p.m. on the east coast, 9:00 a.m., on the west. Hello and welcome. I'm Kelly Wallace in Washington, in for Fredricka Whitfield. Ahead this hour, a killer storm bears down on Jamaica, but does Ivan still have Florida in its sights?
Weapons of mass destruction: A Middle Eastern nation. What will the United States do about Iran?

And later, time for a late summer vacation where you can go for an exotic and affordable beach getaway. But first, stories now in the news.

Americans gathered at what was the side of the World Trade Center in New York City, this morning, to remember those killed when terrorists crashed two planes into the twin towers. This year, names of the 2,749 victims were read out loud by the parents and grandparents of those killed. We will have a live report from New York coming up in five minutes.

Forecasters say the entire state of Florida is in the path of Hurricane Ivan. Thousands of people have already left the Keys in case the storm hits. Computer models from the National Hurricane Center say the path of the 145 mile-per-hour storm could send it up through the Gulf of Mexico. The latest on Ivan and its impact on Jamaica coming up in 15 seconds.

Greek officials believe everyone on board a military helicopter died in a crash in the Aegean Sea. On board a delegation of religious officials, including the head of the Christian Orthodox Church in Africa. Several bodies were recovered, 17 people were on the flight to a monastery.

And we begin this hour with Hurricane Ivan. It is pounding Jamaica, right now, with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles-per-hour and torrential rain. CNN's Karl Penhaul is in Kingston and on the phone with us, now.

Karl, what's the situation there in Jamaica?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I there, Kelly. Well, Hurricane Ivan has been absolutely pounding the southeast shores of Jamaica throughout the night, as well as the capital, Kingston. We've just started to move around the capital now, because the hurricane force winds appear to be dropping now towards the tropical storm force as the hurricane moves westward. The hurricane is also projected to move across the western portion of the island, meaning that Jamaica is in for several more hours more battering.

According to police here, in the capital, one woman, at least, is missing, presumed drowned after waves washed through her home on an outer edge -- outer neighborhood of Kingston. And some of the main highways leading east from the capital have also been destroyed and are now unpassable because of tidal storm surges.

As we move around the capital of Kingston what we can see is roofs that have been ripped off many houses. Some of the poorer houses have been destroyed. Power pylons are obviously down in the street. People are beginning to move around and starting to take a little stock as far as they can of what is lost. We've seen some people moving around with some of their possessions and bedding even, from one area to the next to try and stay dry to key try and keep out of the tail end of this storm -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Karl, thanks for the update. We'll be checking in with you throughout the day. Karl Penhaul reporting from Kingston, Jamaica.

Orelon Sidney is eyeing Ivan in the CNN Weather Center. She's got the latest update for us.

Orelon, what's it look looking like right now?

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, the good news is that the storm is moving away from Jamaica, bad news, of course, is it's heading towards the Cayman Islands and Cuba. But, the center of the tomorrow storm, the eye, never did pass over the island; it skirted to the south and continues now, to move away from the island. As Karl Penhaul said a moment ago, and it sure is good to hear from him, because let me tell you, some of these winds are up to 150 miles-per- hour, last night. As he said, conditions are getting better there. The hurricane force winds are within a small area here, so things will be improving as we go through the afternoon and night for Jamaica. However, the Cayman Islands still is going to have a problem, as well as the central and western parts of Cuba.

We are tracking the storm it's currently 17.9 north, 78.7 west. That's 30 miles southwest of the western tip of Jamaica. The winds are still strong at 145, and it's still a category four. It's sort of been wobbling overnight. It's down to eight mile-an-hour and is moving between the northwest and west/northwest at eight miles-an- hour. It's expected to continue to slow down; we expect by tomorrow among, it's right over Grand Cayman -- look how strong, winds of about 155 miles-an-hour, almost category five.

And then by 8:00 a.m. Monday, rather than being up real close to the Keys, as we earlier thought, it looks like it will still be over the northern coast of Cuba. The Florida Keys will probably get brushed by the storm. Right now it looks like the track may be a little bit to the west. And then as we go to 2:00 a.m. -- 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, we're still looking at strong winds of 135 before a potential landfall somewhere around the Big Bend of Florida; however, you can't let your guard down yet. There is a cone of potential that extends all the way from the Florida east coast back almost to New Orleans, so anybody in the southeastern U.S. needs to be on the alert for this particular storm -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Orelon, people in Cuba and Florida going to be watching your reports very, very closely indeed. Orelon Sydney reporting from the CNN Weather Center, thanks so much.

SIDNEY: You're welcome.

WALLACE: Now, to this. The third anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The parents and grandparents of people lost in the September 11 attacks gathered in New York to read the names of their loved ones. And at Arlington National Cemetery a wreath laying and a moment of silence; and bells tolled in Pennsylvania where flight 93 went down. Alina Cho joins us from ground zero in New York City.

Alina, is that ceremony just about ending?

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, Kelly. It is noon here in New York, yet it's already been a long and emotional day at ground zero. As you mentioned, the ceremony is about to end. It began early this morning with the first of four moments of silence. There were readings as well by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, his predecessor, Rudy Giuliani, and the governors of New York and New Jersey.

But, what is so memorable about today, Kelly, is the reading of the names, all 2,749 of them, by the parents and the grandparents of the victims. This is, today, about remembering those who were lost, but also to never forget those who are left behind -- the family members. And there are hundreds of them here today. Many of them, as the names are being read, are descending to the lowest point of the World Trade Center site. They're leaving flowers and messages at a reflecting pool that was erected for today's ceremony. Many of these family members were clutching photos, holding them high as names were read. And let's listen in to some of the ceremony, right now.

You hear the music now. That is the Young People's Chorus of New York City. "Taps" will also be performed by two trumpeters, one from the New York Police Department, one from the New York Fire Department. There are tributes to 9/11 all over New York City today. Let's pause once again to listen to the music.

(SINGING)

CHO: As I was mentioning a moment ago, there will be tributes all over the city to this third anniversary of 9/11. There was a mass this morning at the famed Saint Patrick's Cathedral for fallen firefighters. Later this afternoon, there will be a memorial dedicated to the 268 Staten Island victims in the World Trade Center attacks. And tonight, there will be a return of the popular tribute in light. Those are the parallel beams of light that shine up from ground zero. Those lights will be turned on at sundown and stay on until dawn tomorrow -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Alina, very heartbreaking scenes there at the site of the World Trade Center. Alina Cho reporting from ground zero.

Alina, thanks.

And one of the airplanes hijacked on September 11 never reached its intended target. A service was held at the National Memorial site near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for the people on that flight. Names of the 40 passengers and crew from United flight 93 were read during what national park service officials described as a small and solemn ceremony.

Meantime, at Arlington National Cemetery, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld placed a wreath to honor the people killed when hijackers crashed a plane into the Pentagon. Secretary Rumsfeld told the people gathered there that those lives remained, in his words, "a testament to a people who are resilient despite great loss."

The events of September 11 profoundly changed the presidency of George W. Bush. Today, he joined Americans in remembering that day three years ago. The president, along with the first lady, attended several observances. CNN's Susan Malveaux joins us now from the White House.

And Suzanne, it appeared the president getting somewhat emotional throughout those observances.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He certainly was, Kelly. It is an emotional thing for the president, as well as the first lady. They were touching, as well as, quiet ceremonies. And now, the president attending the Saint John's Episcopal Church with the first lady, offering condolences and prayers. Later in the day, approximately 8:46 in the morning, that is the exact minute that the terrorists' first plane flew into the World Trade Center. The president, as well as the first lady, vice president, and Mrs. Lynne Cheney bowing their heads for a moment of silence on the south lawn, and then the president later following up with his radio address, live. That with family members of the victims of 9/11, as well as firefighters and first responders, all around him as he delivered a message to the nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Time has passed, but the memories do not fade. We remember the images of fire and the final calls of love and the courage of rescuers who saw death and did not flee. We remember the cruelty of enemy enemies who murdered the innocent and rejoiced in our suffering. We remember the many good lives that ended too soon, which no one had the right to take.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The president is now at Camp David. That is where he will spend a quiet afternoon. We are told that he's taking a break from campaigning today, as well as his opponent Senator Kerry. Both of them acknowledging and recognizing September 11's third anniversary. In acknowledgment of that, they decided to put politics aside -- Kelly?

WALLACE: Suzanne, you have watched this president for a couple years and you have watched him change since that moment three years ago. Talk to us a little bit about his role as counselor-in-chief and how advisers say he really had stepped into that role over these past three years.

MALVEAUX: And Kelly, it's something that you would necessarily even notice or the public would notice. This is something that the president does on his own. He meets with the family members of the victims of September 11. He does it very quietly; he doesn't make a big deal about it. But, of course, he is moved each and every time he does meet with those family members. He is also moved, very much so, when he meets with the relatives of those who've been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. This is something that the president feels weighs very heavily on him. He feels responsible for that and he talks about it often, about how just difficult it is to deal with those -- the mothers and the fathers, in particular, when they've lost the lives of their children.

WALLACE: Suzanne, thanks for that. A somber day at the White House, just like around the country.

Suzanne Malveaux, White House correspondent. Thanks again.

As for democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, he's also observing the September 11 anniversary. Senator Kerry attended a memorial in his hometown of Boston. In the weekly democratic radio address, he also honored victims and the good deeds performed in their memory.

(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Good morning, this is John Kerry. Three years ago today, on a bright September morning, a young couple took their 3-year-old daughter on her first airplane flight -- American flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles. On that morning a security guard stood watch at the World Trade Center, proud that in just six days, he would become an American citizen. He had already told his wife to wear her nicest dress to the ceremony. On that morning, a firefighter left his pregnant wife and reported to duty at Rescue Company 4 to fill in for someone else. It was supposed to be his day off. On September 11, 2001, they and nearly 3,000 others were living out the daily rhythm of life in a nation at peace. But on that morning, in a single moment, they were lost and our land was changed forever.

In the hours after the attacks, we drew strength from firefighters who ran up the stairs and risked their lives so that others might live; from rescuers who rushed into smoke and fire at the Pentagon; from the men and women of flight 93 who sacrificed themselves to save our nation's capital. They didn't think twice, they didn't look back, and their courage lifted our nation. That was just the beginning. In the days that followed, we saw an outpouring of love as people across the America and round the world asked themselves, "What can I do to help? How can I, as the scripture says, 'help repair the breach?'"

In Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, Christians and Jews came together to attend services at a local mosque. They came to support their Muslim friends, and neighbors and together they prayed as one. The people of Akron, Ohio, wanted to do something for the firefighters of New York so they dug deep into their pockets an donated enough money to buy a fire truck, two ambulances, and three police cars. And in Reno, Nevada, two little girls started a penny drive to help the families of the victims. They hoped, as one of them put it, "to make their hearts feel better."

So while September 11 was the worst day we've ever seen, it brought out the best in all of us. I know that for those who lost loved ones that day, the past three years have been almost unbearable. Their courage and faith have been tested in a way they never imagined. But day after day, they've held on. And day after day, they and we have found hope and comfort and strength by the quiet grace of god. We are one America in our prayers for those who were taken from us on September 11, and for their families. And we are one America in our unbending determination to defend our country, to find and get the terrorists before they get us.

A poet once wrote that those who have left us have a silence that speaks for them at night. They say, our deaths are not ours. They are yours. They will mean what you make them. They say, "We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning."

In the last three years, with countless acts of bravery and kindness, large and small, Americans have given meaning to those lives. That terrible day has renewed our sense of purpose. And in the years ahead, we will share its lessons with our children and grandchildren. We will tell them that on September 11, ordinary men and women became heroes at a moment's notice, and so can you. We will tell them that we were strong because we took care of each other, and so can you. We will tell them that we came together in tragedy, chose confidence over fear, and that our love for America far outshone the darkness of those who hate us. Finally, we will tell them that on September 11 and the days that followed, we learned in the hardest way possible that the American spirit endures. It is that spirit which leads to us defy the terrorists and affirm that freedom will win. It is that spirit which sustains the families of September 11 as they rebuild their lives and it is that spirit which will guide us as we rebuild those towers stronger, higher, and more beautiful than ever before. Just like America.

Thanks for listening.

(END AUDIOTAPE)

WALLACE: Democratic presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry in the democratic radio address. He and President Bush devoting their radio addresses to remembering the victims of the September 11. Our coverage of September 11, remembrance services will continue. I will talk with one son who lost his father about what he is doing to honor his dad and how that work is helping others.

The congressional fight over the security recommendations made by the September 11 Commission. Why changes to the nation's intelligence departments might get caught in political red tape. And another day of bombings in Iraq: What does the U.S. need to do to restore the peace? All that ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Remembering September 11 can be a traumatic time for survivors and victims' families. One man has turned the grief of losing his father in the attacks into helping others. Robert Fazio is the cofounder and president of the nonprofit group called Hold the Door. He joins us now from New York.

Mr. Fazio, thanks so much for joining us today.

ROBERT FAZIO, FOUNDER HOLD THE DOOR: Thanks for having me, Kelly. It's great to be here.

WALLACE: Well first, on this, the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks, it'll us a little bit about your father, Ronald.

FAZIO: My father was a man who always put others first. That's why it wasn't surprising to us when in those moments, the last moments of his life, he made a decision to literally hold the door for others and in a random act of kindness, put others' lives before his.

WALLACE: And that is how you created the name of your nonprofit group, Hold the Door. What do you -- what do you want your group to do, or what it is doing?

FAZIO: Well, our team at Hold the Door really is ready to meet the challenge of losses of all kind, whether it's related to September 11, whether it's related to the war in Iraq. No matter what type of loss there is, we're ready to meet that challenge. We just -- our latest project is an anthology called "Doorways" which is people's stories of September 11. And what we do is have people reflect on those stories so they can create and write their own story, because that's so important to have purpose and meaning as we move forward from losses.

WALLACE: What are you finding as you're doing this work with Hold the Door, as you're reaching out to others? What are you finding is the thing that really helps those deal with grief and somehow face the loss that they faced on September 11?

FAZIO: You know Kelly, it's quite simple. It's really not about signs that can guide us and the textbooks we read. What it comes down to is being human and that raw emotion that we connect with one another and our innate ability to heal through helping others and by reaching out and helping one another and developing community of people that care about each other and express that warmth, that's really what's going to help people grow through their loss.

WALLACE: How much is this work helping you and your family?

FAZIO: It helps me a tremendous amount. I'm able to wake up every morning and think of my dad, literally, D.A.D.: door a day. What door can I open today to help Americans and help other people around the world?

WALLACE: And I understand some of your father's coworkers continue to call you and other family members to just check in? Is that right?

FAZIO: Sure, the amazing thing is our Web site at HoldTheDoor.com, people can stay connected to us and we believe in everyone stay connected. People loved my father when they worked with him. He was a man that treated others so well, and one of the things that terrorists didn't realize they did when they took down the towers is they took down barriers between people and we're building those connections stronger and stronger every day.

WALLACE: You obviously are watching some of the work of the September 11 Commission and the U.S. government. Are you satisfied by what commission and the U.S. government are doing in terms of trying to prevent another September 11?

FAZIO: I'm satisfied that the country is doing something and they're working together. When I was thumbing through it the other day, I looked through it in the back. I must have saw the word "unity" about 16 times, and to me that's really what the message, the commission sent out is. We need communication and we need unity among Americans.

WALLACE: And mainly what would you like Americans, as they watch you, as they remember this anniversary, to do to try and remember like your father, Ronald.

FAZIO: First, I'd like them to look at my face know that with determination and help and love from others, we can make this world a better place. And I want them to reach out and do acts of kindness and really just be there to literally hold the door for others on a daily basis.

WALLACE: Robert Fazio, you are doing terrific work out there. We thank you for joining us on this very difficult day and to all our viewers, if you want to help, you can go to right (SIC) www.HoldTheDoor.com to get involved.

Robert Fazio, thanks again for joining us.

FAZIO: Thank you.

WALLACE: And we'll be right back right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: The September 11 Commission recently issued its report on ways to try to make the U.S. safer. Now, congress is back in session after a summer break with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle calling for quick implementation of the commission's recommendations. But will that happen? Here's my report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE (voice-over): Dueling messages on Capitol Hill. There is the "go fast" crowd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing else we have to do is more important.

WALLACE: Versus those saying "let's not rush to judgment."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that we do the right thing not the knee- jerk thing.

WALLACE (on camera): It's not just a debate over how quickly to pass legislation, but over how many of the September 11 Commission's 41 recommendations should become law.

(voice-over): Those recommendations include broader information sharing among government agencies, increased screening of U.S. visitors, and the most controversial: Creating a national intelligence director who would have full control over the budget of 15 different agencies. Some think President Bush now suggests he can support.

BUSH: We believe there ought to be a national intelligence director who has full budgetary authority.

WALLACE: now to the obstacles, turf battles with some lawmakers unwilling to give up oversight of intelligence agencies, a shortage of time with Congress expected to recess in less than a month, and partisan politics. With both sides positioning themselves before the November elections when all 435 seats in the House and 34 seats in the Senate are in play.

REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R) CONNECTICUT: This close to an election, the temptation to political mischief can be strong, but must be resisted by both parties.

WALLACE: How does the public feel? The polls might surprise you. According to a survey last month, nearly two-thirds said Congress should take as much time as it needs to consider the recommendations.

Clearly the American public is paying attention. The September 11 Commission's report is No. 1 on the "New York Times" paperback bestseller list.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: Now, to stories "Now in the News". New York and the nation pause to remember the September 11 attacks. It happened exactly three years ago today. The names of all those high died were read in a special ceremony at the World Trade Center site.

In a live radio address from the White House, President Bush said "Time has passed but the images do not fade." Mr. Bush said three quarters of al Qaeda's key members and associates have been killed or captured and said the United States remains committed to advancing democracy in the Middle East.

Hurricane Ivan is lashing Jamaica at this hour. Maximum sustained winds of at least 145 m.p.h. are combined with heavy rains that could total as much as 12 inches. The National Hurricane Center says Ivan could get even stronger. A live update on Hurricane Ivan is coming up from Florida in just about 15 minutes.

And now, to the situation in Iraq. It takes another turn for the worse. Insurgents set off a deadly explosion today in Basra, in the southern part of the country. A roadside bomb exploded near the Basra Palace compound, which houses a U.S. embassy regional office. At least two people were killed. The building also houses British military troops.

Insurgents are on the attack today in the region around Baghdad. A general with the Iraqi National Guard was shot to death in Baquba, while heading to work. His driver was also killed. And just after that drive-by attack, insurgents near Baquba kidnapped the wife and three children of another Iraqi National Guard officer.

In Baghdad, no injuries reported in a car bombing outside a Christian church. The attack took place late last night in the central part of the Iraqi capital. Last month, insurgents killed nearly a dozen people in attacks on churches in Baghdad and Mosul.

So, what went wrong in Iraq? Why are insurgents still battling coalition and Iraqi government forces? With us from Stanford University Larry Diamond, a senior fellow with the Hoover Institute; he's also a specialist on democratic development and how U.S. foreign policy affects democracy aboard.

Mr. Diamond, thanks for joining us.

LARRY DIAMOND, HOOVER INSTITUTE: Good day, Kelly.

WALLCE: So let me ask you very simply what went wrong in Iraq?

DIAMOND: Well, many things. I think it's now well established that we did not have a viable and coherent plan for the post-war period. In my opinion, we didn't have nearly enough troops in Iraq. We had enough to win the war but didn't have enough to win the peace. They didn't have enough body armor, didn't have enough equipment.

When we much later tried to stand up the Iraqi police, they were starved of adequate communications gear, again body armor, cars and so on. So the mission has been under planned and under resourced from the beginning.

WALLACE: Let me ask you also, you say in an article that you have recently written, that you also think the U.S. did not listen enough. What do you mean by that?

DIAMOND: I don't think we listened enough to the Iraqi people. We tended to be isolated in the Green Zone, where now the American embassy is succeeding our occupation authority. And we didn't listen to esteemed figures from the Iraqi community, who had a lot of support among their constituencies. For example, Ayatollah Sistani, who was repeatedly saying you have to have an elected government, you have to have an elected constitutional assembly. Ironically, he was more democratic, at least on the surface, in what he was demanding than the United States formal planning. Eventually, we adjusted, but we lost a lot of time and a lot of momentum.

WALLACE: Supporters of the president will say war is a difficult thing, and there are certain consequences that you just can't anticipate. Isn't that possible here?

DIAMOND: Kelly, we had an enormous body of analysis, both from the future of Iraq project that it commissioned by the State Department and from private studies like that done by the Rand Corporation, that did anticipate many of the problems that we've experienced in the post-war period.

And I think there is some responsibility here on the part of the Pentagon leadership and others in the Bush administration that failed to take this very elaborate advance analysis seriously enough.

WALLACE: Let's look forward. Suppose you had a chance to be in the Oval Office with President Bush and you could give him your advice about what you think the U.S. should be doing to try to restore the peace in Iraq. What would you tell him?

DIAMOND: Well, I think one thing that we're doing now is good, though it's tardy. That is really making a very high priority of standing up the Iraqi armed forces. The army, the National Guard, the police and so on. That has to be our highest priority. We have to put everything into it.

But we should also be saying, which we are not, very clearly to the Iraqi people, to their neighbors in the Arab world, and to the entire world, that we have no imperial ambitions there. That we will not seek permanent military bases, and that we plan to leave the country militarily, completely, as soon as it's able to defend itself.

WALLACE: Larry Diamond, we have to leave it there. Thanks so much for joining us on this Saturday afternoon.

DIAMOND: You're welcome.

WALLACE: Larry Diamond, senior fellow with the Hoover institute, talking about the situation in Iraq.

Coming up next, a sworn U.S. enemy with a growing nuclear capability. What will the United States do about Iran? Stay with CNN and find out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Questions of weapons of mass destruction are again being asked about a country in the Middle East. Again, there are differences of opinion between the United States government and the United Nations over what to do about those concerns. National Security Correspondent David Ensor looks at the questions over Iran and nuclear weapons. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Washington wants the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors to send Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions over its nuclear program which U.S. intelligence has said could give Tehran materials for a bomb by 2007.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons program pose as threat to international peace and security that that threat crosses the jurisdiction of the Security Council, which should take the matter up.

ENSOR: The U.S. position is crystal clear. But Washington is not likely to get its way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The real fireworks will be between the European Union and the United States. Perhaps it will be behind the scenes, but over what to do.

ENSOR: The European foreign ministers tried to convince Iran to fore go nuclear weapons, but they offered little in return. EU talks with Tehran are continuing. Iran has told the IAEA it is converting enough yellowcake into uranium hexa fluoride (ph) make five nuclear weapons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Europeans had a deal with Iran they won't do this. It's clearly in the deal. Iran can re-interpret it all it wants.

ENSOR: The compromise may be an IAEA resolution that warns Iran to cooperate more fully with inspectors, and could even include a deadline for compliance. But a real showdown Iran is likely to wait until after the U.S. presidential election in November.

ROBERT EINHORN, FMR. ASST. SECY OF STATE: What everyone, particularly the Iranians want to do is get through the next three months and see who they're dealing with in December.

ENSOR: Senator Kerry has said he would talk directly with the Iranian regime. Though, like President Bush, he's called an Iranian nuclear bomb unacceptable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iran feels under very little pressure to give up its nuclear program. It believes that the U.S. military is stretched thin worldwide, and so it's not under great military threat from the United States.

ENSOR (on camera): Many experts say whoever wins in November, the U.S. should offer talks to Iran. It will take carrots as well as sticks from the U.S., they say, if Iran is to be convinced not to go down the nuclear weapons road -- David Ensor, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: Here now a look at other stories making news around the world. Israel pulls most forces out of the northern Gaza Strip today. The four-day raid, Israel's largest in Gaza in months, was aimed at stopping Palestinian rocket attacks into southern Israel. Witnesses say troops and tanks began leaving the biggest refugee camp before dawn.

After 39 years, Charles Jenkins is on active duty in the U.S. Army. The Army sergeant is accused of defecting to North Korea in 1965. The 65-year-old turned himself in at an Army base in Japan. Officials say he faces six charges connected to his disappearance.

Three Chinese tourists are still missing. They were part of a group stranded by floodwaters caused by heavy rains. A one-hour operation rescued nine of the tourists. It's feared the others may have washed away trying to wade through the flood waters.

A weekend definitely to prepare for the worst. After the break we'll have a report from the Florida Keys, where residents are boarding up or heading out amid fears about where Hurricane Ivan will hit. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Hard to believe, but for the third time in the past month, storm-weary residents in Florida are on the run from a hurricane, boarding up windows and making the long trek inland. Thousands along the Florida Keys have already abandoned the island chain as Ivan wobbles westward. This morning, Florida's Governor Jeb Bush warned Florida's residents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH, FLORIDA: We have been asking repeatedly the residents of Florida prepare for this storm. It's been said this is going to be a very powerful storm. In all likelihood, it will hit our state. We don't know exactly where, but this is the time for people in the Panhandle and the people on the west coast, particularly, to make sure that all of their preparations are complete.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Complicating matters, Hurricane Ivan is on a very unpredictable course to storm Florida beaches sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday. CNN's Susan Candiotti is in Islamorada and she joins us now by phone.

Susan, what is the situation there?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kelly.

Well, for the first time really we've been experiencing (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we had a little shower not too long ago, which makes you wonder what lies ahead. For now, the sun is back out.

Traffic here extremely light. Even locals say for the first time, they've been seeing more and more people following a mandatory evacuation order that has been in place for over 24 hours now, for residents of the Florida Keys.

Emergency management officials very happy about the mandatory evacuation response. They say that about -- they estimate 30,000 people pulled out in the last 24 hours, even though that is actually half of the numbers they'd been hoping for. (AUDIO GAP)

Last minute preparations still under way. The worry here is that -- (AUDIO GAP) tracking a little bit.

WALLACE: Susan, we're having a little bit of problem with your cell phone that's to be expected. We'll keep checking back with you throughout the afternoon.

Susan Candiotti, reporting from Islamorada in Florida, as people evacuate, awaiting Hurricane Ivan.

If you are looking to escape the worries of the world, there is a place to head. South of the border. I will talk with a travel expert about the best ways to enjoy Mexico.

Still to come how to properly strut yourself in the Big Apple's fashion world. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Don't let the recent spate of hurricanes to scuttle your plans for a fall beach vacation. Our weekend getaway, takes us to Mexico, far from the eye of the storm, joining us in San Francisco, Don George, global travel editor with "Lonely Planet".

Thanks for being with us today.

DON GEORGE, GLOBAL TRAVEL EDITOR, "LONELY PLANET" PUBLICATIONS: Hi, Kelly.

WALLACE: My first question, why shouldn't people be worried? Isn't there any chance of hurricane season impacting parts of Mexico?

GEORGE: I've been in Mexico, especially the areas we'll talk about all seasons and have never had really significant hurricane problems at all. High winds sometimes, but not significant hurricane problems.

WALLACE: So, what are the best places to go, the best values out there?

GEOGE: Well, I'm focusing on two places. One is on the Pacific side. The gateway would be Puerto Vallarta. The others on the Caribbean side and the gateway would be Cancun.

To start with Puerto Vallarta, you can fly there in three or four hours from the states. And you can easily take a boat from the beautiful colonial town of Puerto Villarta to some incredible beach resorts, like Jalapa, for example, which is a very laid back place. You can get a hotel in Jalapa for about $50 a night and you can spend a heavenly long weekend there. WALLACE: The other area you want to focus on, why is that the best place to go right now?

GEORGE: Well, in the other area in the Caribbean, in the Yucatan, you can fly to Cancun. Again, they have great fares right now, $300, $400 from the U.S. East Coast. And you can go take a bus ride for an hour to a tiny fishing village. The area is called Playa del Carmen. And you can just have a wonderful experience there just lying on the beach, but there are also really wonderful archaeological ruins about an hour by bus from the village. You can have a beach vacation. You can get the richness of archaeological discovery. You can get it all and it's just in a long weekend.

WALLACE: Is it the best time to go right now, in early fall? Is that because of weather and to avoid crowds?

GEORGE: These the shoulder season. The big summer season is over. The big holiday season has not yet begun. Prices drop in the shoulder season. It's a great time to get good airfares, it is a wonderful time to get good hotel deals. And the restaurants are still open, but the prices come down. So in just about everything you want to do as a traveler, you're going to get better fares, better deals.

WALLACE: And what's the best advice to people who might be planning to trip to Mexico, in particular, when it comes to money, carrying cash, using credit cards, being careful of fraud. What's the advice?

GEORGE: I always tell people to be sure to carry some cash, because there's going to be places where you won't be able to use credit cards. Otherwise, it's great to have a credit card. Use your credit card as often as you can.

Of course, use common sense when you're going to the beach. Don't carry a lot of cash with you and leave it on the beach. Carry minimal cash with you in those situations. And just keep your wits about you. Use normal common sense in terms of going out on the streets with a lot of money on you.

WALLACE: While you were talking, we're putting up some side panels about what are some of the most popular activities if you travel to Mexico right now. What are some of the most popular activities?

GEORGE: Well, there's snorkeling, there's scuba diving, there's beach combing, hiking, horseback riding, having a Pina Colada on the beach as the sun sets, is one of my favorite activities.

Really, all of the gamut of wonderful beach activities. Swimming is available to people who go to Mexico. The weather is great. The Caribbean side, especially the warm water is very attractive right now. Long, white sand beaches for endless walking. It's pretty much heaven right now.

WALLACE: It sounds like heaven. It sounds dreamy. I wish we could all go right now. Don George, we'll have to leave there it. For anyone, of course, wanting more information go to lonelyplanet.com for more information.

Thanks for joining us today.

GEORGE: Thank you.

WALLACE: The art of walking. How models learn the proper way to turn -- take a turn on the catwalk. That's coming up ahead. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Fashionistas are getting a peek at spring 2005 styles during New York's Fashion Week as models show off the fashions they try not to become catwalk roadkill. CNN's Anderson Cooper now with the science of the supermodel strut.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There they are strutting their designer clad stuff down the runway. What's up with that walk?

Some models seem to stroll, others strut. We're not sure why, but some seem to be stomping or even high stepping. This kind of thing can't come naturally. And it turns out Jay Alexander actually teaches models how to walk.

JAY ALEXANDER, CATWALK AFICIANADO: This is not natural. It's fashion is theater. Fashion is theater, I think, for most people.

ANDERSON: Remember, models get paid thousands of dollars to walk this way. But sometimes, things don't quite work out.

That's the stumble. It's rarely seen, but always draws a gasp from frightened onlookers. It's one thing to watch Carrie Bradshaw to slam head-first on to the runway. It's quite another when a stumbler is a highly prized supermodel commanding a high price just for her graceful gait.

Unlike other species, it's the female known for prancing and preening. The male model can be, well, a bit boring. If you want to see a supermodel, they'll be held captive on catwalks in New York City for the next several days.

For the chance to spy them walking their walks is granted only to a chosen few, calling themselves fashionistas and they gather under tents to stalk their stylish prey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: That was CNN's Anderson Cooper, again with the science of the supermodel strut. New York's Fashion Week wraps up next week.

There is much more ahead here on CNN SATURDAY. In just a few minutes "In The Money". Find out why it is good to be an NFL team when it comes to the bottom line. At 2 p.m. Eastern, CNN LIVE SATURDAY, tune in for a little legal sparing as lawyers from both sides of the courtroom debate the latest developments in the Scott Peterson trial. And at 3 p.m., it is Next @ CNN. What kind of scientific data can be recovered from a damaged space capsule.

First, time for a check of what's in the news at this hour.

Slightly weaker, but still strong and dangerous, Hurricane Ivan is pounding Jamaica with maximum sustained winds of 150 m.p.h. Combined with heavy rains it could dump as much as 12 inches in its wake. Forecasters say Ivan is moving to the Cayman Islands next.

With hugs, tears, and memories, Americans mark the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks, today.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired September 11, 2004 - 12:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: It's 12:00 p.m. on the east coast, 9:00 a.m., on the west. Hello and welcome. I'm Kelly Wallace in Washington, in for Fredricka Whitfield. Ahead this hour, a killer storm bears down on Jamaica, but does Ivan still have Florida in its sights?
Weapons of mass destruction: A Middle Eastern nation. What will the United States do about Iran?

And later, time for a late summer vacation where you can go for an exotic and affordable beach getaway. But first, stories now in the news.

Americans gathered at what was the side of the World Trade Center in New York City, this morning, to remember those killed when terrorists crashed two planes into the twin towers. This year, names of the 2,749 victims were read out loud by the parents and grandparents of those killed. We will have a live report from New York coming up in five minutes.

Forecasters say the entire state of Florida is in the path of Hurricane Ivan. Thousands of people have already left the Keys in case the storm hits. Computer models from the National Hurricane Center say the path of the 145 mile-per-hour storm could send it up through the Gulf of Mexico. The latest on Ivan and its impact on Jamaica coming up in 15 seconds.

Greek officials believe everyone on board a military helicopter died in a crash in the Aegean Sea. On board a delegation of religious officials, including the head of the Christian Orthodox Church in Africa. Several bodies were recovered, 17 people were on the flight to a monastery.

And we begin this hour with Hurricane Ivan. It is pounding Jamaica, right now, with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles-per-hour and torrential rain. CNN's Karl Penhaul is in Kingston and on the phone with us, now.

Karl, what's the situation there in Jamaica?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I there, Kelly. Well, Hurricane Ivan has been absolutely pounding the southeast shores of Jamaica throughout the night, as well as the capital, Kingston. We've just started to move around the capital now, because the hurricane force winds appear to be dropping now towards the tropical storm force as the hurricane moves westward. The hurricane is also projected to move across the western portion of the island, meaning that Jamaica is in for several more hours more battering.

According to police here, in the capital, one woman, at least, is missing, presumed drowned after waves washed through her home on an outer edge -- outer neighborhood of Kingston. And some of the main highways leading east from the capital have also been destroyed and are now unpassable because of tidal storm surges.

As we move around the capital of Kingston what we can see is roofs that have been ripped off many houses. Some of the poorer houses have been destroyed. Power pylons are obviously down in the street. People are beginning to move around and starting to take a little stock as far as they can of what is lost. We've seen some people moving around with some of their possessions and bedding even, from one area to the next to try and stay dry to key try and keep out of the tail end of this storm -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Karl, thanks for the update. We'll be checking in with you throughout the day. Karl Penhaul reporting from Kingston, Jamaica.

Orelon Sidney is eyeing Ivan in the CNN Weather Center. She's got the latest update for us.

Orelon, what's it look looking like right now?

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, the good news is that the storm is moving away from Jamaica, bad news, of course, is it's heading towards the Cayman Islands and Cuba. But, the center of the tomorrow storm, the eye, never did pass over the island; it skirted to the south and continues now, to move away from the island. As Karl Penhaul said a moment ago, and it sure is good to hear from him, because let me tell you, some of these winds are up to 150 miles-per- hour, last night. As he said, conditions are getting better there. The hurricane force winds are within a small area here, so things will be improving as we go through the afternoon and night for Jamaica. However, the Cayman Islands still is going to have a problem, as well as the central and western parts of Cuba.

We are tracking the storm it's currently 17.9 north, 78.7 west. That's 30 miles southwest of the western tip of Jamaica. The winds are still strong at 145, and it's still a category four. It's sort of been wobbling overnight. It's down to eight mile-an-hour and is moving between the northwest and west/northwest at eight miles-an- hour. It's expected to continue to slow down; we expect by tomorrow among, it's right over Grand Cayman -- look how strong, winds of about 155 miles-an-hour, almost category five.

And then by 8:00 a.m. Monday, rather than being up real close to the Keys, as we earlier thought, it looks like it will still be over the northern coast of Cuba. The Florida Keys will probably get brushed by the storm. Right now it looks like the track may be a little bit to the west. And then as we go to 2:00 a.m. -- 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, we're still looking at strong winds of 135 before a potential landfall somewhere around the Big Bend of Florida; however, you can't let your guard down yet. There is a cone of potential that extends all the way from the Florida east coast back almost to New Orleans, so anybody in the southeastern U.S. needs to be on the alert for this particular storm -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Orelon, people in Cuba and Florida going to be watching your reports very, very closely indeed. Orelon Sydney reporting from the CNN Weather Center, thanks so much.

SIDNEY: You're welcome.

WALLACE: Now, to this. The third anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The parents and grandparents of people lost in the September 11 attacks gathered in New York to read the names of their loved ones. And at Arlington National Cemetery a wreath laying and a moment of silence; and bells tolled in Pennsylvania where flight 93 went down. Alina Cho joins us from ground zero in New York City.

Alina, is that ceremony just about ending?

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, Kelly. It is noon here in New York, yet it's already been a long and emotional day at ground zero. As you mentioned, the ceremony is about to end. It began early this morning with the first of four moments of silence. There were readings as well by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, his predecessor, Rudy Giuliani, and the governors of New York and New Jersey.

But, what is so memorable about today, Kelly, is the reading of the names, all 2,749 of them, by the parents and the grandparents of the victims. This is, today, about remembering those who were lost, but also to never forget those who are left behind -- the family members. And there are hundreds of them here today. Many of them, as the names are being read, are descending to the lowest point of the World Trade Center site. They're leaving flowers and messages at a reflecting pool that was erected for today's ceremony. Many of these family members were clutching photos, holding them high as names were read. And let's listen in to some of the ceremony, right now.

You hear the music now. That is the Young People's Chorus of New York City. "Taps" will also be performed by two trumpeters, one from the New York Police Department, one from the New York Fire Department. There are tributes to 9/11 all over New York City today. Let's pause once again to listen to the music.

(SINGING)

CHO: As I was mentioning a moment ago, there will be tributes all over the city to this third anniversary of 9/11. There was a mass this morning at the famed Saint Patrick's Cathedral for fallen firefighters. Later this afternoon, there will be a memorial dedicated to the 268 Staten Island victims in the World Trade Center attacks. And tonight, there will be a return of the popular tribute in light. Those are the parallel beams of light that shine up from ground zero. Those lights will be turned on at sundown and stay on until dawn tomorrow -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Alina, very heartbreaking scenes there at the site of the World Trade Center. Alina Cho reporting from ground zero.

Alina, thanks.

And one of the airplanes hijacked on September 11 never reached its intended target. A service was held at the National Memorial site near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, for the people on that flight. Names of the 40 passengers and crew from United flight 93 were read during what national park service officials described as a small and solemn ceremony.

Meantime, at Arlington National Cemetery, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld placed a wreath to honor the people killed when hijackers crashed a plane into the Pentagon. Secretary Rumsfeld told the people gathered there that those lives remained, in his words, "a testament to a people who are resilient despite great loss."

The events of September 11 profoundly changed the presidency of George W. Bush. Today, he joined Americans in remembering that day three years ago. The president, along with the first lady, attended several observances. CNN's Susan Malveaux joins us now from the White House.

And Suzanne, it appeared the president getting somewhat emotional throughout those observances.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He certainly was, Kelly. It is an emotional thing for the president, as well as the first lady. They were touching, as well as, quiet ceremonies. And now, the president attending the Saint John's Episcopal Church with the first lady, offering condolences and prayers. Later in the day, approximately 8:46 in the morning, that is the exact minute that the terrorists' first plane flew into the World Trade Center. The president, as well as the first lady, vice president, and Mrs. Lynne Cheney bowing their heads for a moment of silence on the south lawn, and then the president later following up with his radio address, live. That with family members of the victims of 9/11, as well as firefighters and first responders, all around him as he delivered a message to the nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Time has passed, but the memories do not fade. We remember the images of fire and the final calls of love and the courage of rescuers who saw death and did not flee. We remember the cruelty of enemy enemies who murdered the innocent and rejoiced in our suffering. We remember the many good lives that ended too soon, which no one had the right to take.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: The president is now at Camp David. That is where he will spend a quiet afternoon. We are told that he's taking a break from campaigning today, as well as his opponent Senator Kerry. Both of them acknowledging and recognizing September 11's third anniversary. In acknowledgment of that, they decided to put politics aside -- Kelly?

WALLACE: Suzanne, you have watched this president for a couple years and you have watched him change since that moment three years ago. Talk to us a little bit about his role as counselor-in-chief and how advisers say he really had stepped into that role over these past three years.

MALVEAUX: And Kelly, it's something that you would necessarily even notice or the public would notice. This is something that the president does on his own. He meets with the family members of the victims of September 11. He does it very quietly; he doesn't make a big deal about it. But, of course, he is moved each and every time he does meet with those family members. He is also moved, very much so, when he meets with the relatives of those who've been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. This is something that the president feels weighs very heavily on him. He feels responsible for that and he talks about it often, about how just difficult it is to deal with those -- the mothers and the fathers, in particular, when they've lost the lives of their children.

WALLACE: Suzanne, thanks for that. A somber day at the White House, just like around the country.

Suzanne Malveaux, White House correspondent. Thanks again.

As for democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, he's also observing the September 11 anniversary. Senator Kerry attended a memorial in his hometown of Boston. In the weekly democratic radio address, he also honored victims and the good deeds performed in their memory.

(BEGIN AUDIOTAPE)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Good morning, this is John Kerry. Three years ago today, on a bright September morning, a young couple took their 3-year-old daughter on her first airplane flight -- American flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles. On that morning a security guard stood watch at the World Trade Center, proud that in just six days, he would become an American citizen. He had already told his wife to wear her nicest dress to the ceremony. On that morning, a firefighter left his pregnant wife and reported to duty at Rescue Company 4 to fill in for someone else. It was supposed to be his day off. On September 11, 2001, they and nearly 3,000 others were living out the daily rhythm of life in a nation at peace. But on that morning, in a single moment, they were lost and our land was changed forever.

In the hours after the attacks, we drew strength from firefighters who ran up the stairs and risked their lives so that others might live; from rescuers who rushed into smoke and fire at the Pentagon; from the men and women of flight 93 who sacrificed themselves to save our nation's capital. They didn't think twice, they didn't look back, and their courage lifted our nation. That was just the beginning. In the days that followed, we saw an outpouring of love as people across the America and round the world asked themselves, "What can I do to help? How can I, as the scripture says, 'help repair the breach?'"

In Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, Christians and Jews came together to attend services at a local mosque. They came to support their Muslim friends, and neighbors and together they prayed as one. The people of Akron, Ohio, wanted to do something for the firefighters of New York so they dug deep into their pockets an donated enough money to buy a fire truck, two ambulances, and three police cars. And in Reno, Nevada, two little girls started a penny drive to help the families of the victims. They hoped, as one of them put it, "to make their hearts feel better."

So while September 11 was the worst day we've ever seen, it brought out the best in all of us. I know that for those who lost loved ones that day, the past three years have been almost unbearable. Their courage and faith have been tested in a way they never imagined. But day after day, they've held on. And day after day, they and we have found hope and comfort and strength by the quiet grace of god. We are one America in our prayers for those who were taken from us on September 11, and for their families. And we are one America in our unbending determination to defend our country, to find and get the terrorists before they get us.

A poet once wrote that those who have left us have a silence that speaks for them at night. They say, our deaths are not ours. They are yours. They will mean what you make them. They say, "We leave you our deaths. Give them their meaning."

In the last three years, with countless acts of bravery and kindness, large and small, Americans have given meaning to those lives. That terrible day has renewed our sense of purpose. And in the years ahead, we will share its lessons with our children and grandchildren. We will tell them that on September 11, ordinary men and women became heroes at a moment's notice, and so can you. We will tell them that we were strong because we took care of each other, and so can you. We will tell them that we came together in tragedy, chose confidence over fear, and that our love for America far outshone the darkness of those who hate us. Finally, we will tell them that on September 11 and the days that followed, we learned in the hardest way possible that the American spirit endures. It is that spirit which leads to us defy the terrorists and affirm that freedom will win. It is that spirit which sustains the families of September 11 as they rebuild their lives and it is that spirit which will guide us as we rebuild those towers stronger, higher, and more beautiful than ever before. Just like America.

Thanks for listening.

(END AUDIOTAPE)

WALLACE: Democratic presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry in the democratic radio address. He and President Bush devoting their radio addresses to remembering the victims of the September 11. Our coverage of September 11, remembrance services will continue. I will talk with one son who lost his father about what he is doing to honor his dad and how that work is helping others.

The congressional fight over the security recommendations made by the September 11 Commission. Why changes to the nation's intelligence departments might get caught in political red tape. And another day of bombings in Iraq: What does the U.S. need to do to restore the peace? All that ahead. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Remembering September 11 can be a traumatic time for survivors and victims' families. One man has turned the grief of losing his father in the attacks into helping others. Robert Fazio is the cofounder and president of the nonprofit group called Hold the Door. He joins us now from New York.

Mr. Fazio, thanks so much for joining us today.

ROBERT FAZIO, FOUNDER HOLD THE DOOR: Thanks for having me, Kelly. It's great to be here.

WALLACE: Well first, on this, the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks, it'll us a little bit about your father, Ronald.

FAZIO: My father was a man who always put others first. That's why it wasn't surprising to us when in those moments, the last moments of his life, he made a decision to literally hold the door for others and in a random act of kindness, put others' lives before his.

WALLACE: And that is how you created the name of your nonprofit group, Hold the Door. What do you -- what do you want your group to do, or what it is doing?

FAZIO: Well, our team at Hold the Door really is ready to meet the challenge of losses of all kind, whether it's related to September 11, whether it's related to the war in Iraq. No matter what type of loss there is, we're ready to meet that challenge. We just -- our latest project is an anthology called "Doorways" which is people's stories of September 11. And what we do is have people reflect on those stories so they can create and write their own story, because that's so important to have purpose and meaning as we move forward from losses.

WALLACE: What are you finding as you're doing this work with Hold the Door, as you're reaching out to others? What are you finding is the thing that really helps those deal with grief and somehow face the loss that they faced on September 11?

FAZIO: You know Kelly, it's quite simple. It's really not about signs that can guide us and the textbooks we read. What it comes down to is being human and that raw emotion that we connect with one another and our innate ability to heal through helping others and by reaching out and helping one another and developing community of people that care about each other and express that warmth, that's really what's going to help people grow through their loss.

WALLACE: How much is this work helping you and your family?

FAZIO: It helps me a tremendous amount. I'm able to wake up every morning and think of my dad, literally, D.A.D.: door a day. What door can I open today to help Americans and help other people around the world?

WALLACE: And I understand some of your father's coworkers continue to call you and other family members to just check in? Is that right?

FAZIO: Sure, the amazing thing is our Web site at HoldTheDoor.com, people can stay connected to us and we believe in everyone stay connected. People loved my father when they worked with him. He was a man that treated others so well, and one of the things that terrorists didn't realize they did when they took down the towers is they took down barriers between people and we're building those connections stronger and stronger every day.

WALLACE: You obviously are watching some of the work of the September 11 Commission and the U.S. government. Are you satisfied by what commission and the U.S. government are doing in terms of trying to prevent another September 11?

FAZIO: I'm satisfied that the country is doing something and they're working together. When I was thumbing through it the other day, I looked through it in the back. I must have saw the word "unity" about 16 times, and to me that's really what the message, the commission sent out is. We need communication and we need unity among Americans.

WALLACE: And mainly what would you like Americans, as they watch you, as they remember this anniversary, to do to try and remember like your father, Ronald.

FAZIO: First, I'd like them to look at my face know that with determination and help and love from others, we can make this world a better place. And I want them to reach out and do acts of kindness and really just be there to literally hold the door for others on a daily basis.

WALLACE: Robert Fazio, you are doing terrific work out there. We thank you for joining us on this very difficult day and to all our viewers, if you want to help, you can go to right (SIC) www.HoldTheDoor.com to get involved.

Robert Fazio, thanks again for joining us.

FAZIO: Thank you.

WALLACE: And we'll be right back right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: The September 11 Commission recently issued its report on ways to try to make the U.S. safer. Now, congress is back in session after a summer break with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle calling for quick implementation of the commission's recommendations. But will that happen? Here's my report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE (voice-over): Dueling messages on Capitol Hill. There is the "go fast" crowd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing else we have to do is more important.

WALLACE: Versus those saying "let's not rush to judgment."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that we do the right thing not the knee- jerk thing.

WALLACE (on camera): It's not just a debate over how quickly to pass legislation, but over how many of the September 11 Commission's 41 recommendations should become law.

(voice-over): Those recommendations include broader information sharing among government agencies, increased screening of U.S. visitors, and the most controversial: Creating a national intelligence director who would have full control over the budget of 15 different agencies. Some think President Bush now suggests he can support.

BUSH: We believe there ought to be a national intelligence director who has full budgetary authority.

WALLACE: now to the obstacles, turf battles with some lawmakers unwilling to give up oversight of intelligence agencies, a shortage of time with Congress expected to recess in less than a month, and partisan politics. With both sides positioning themselves before the November elections when all 435 seats in the House and 34 seats in the Senate are in play.

REP. CHRISTOPHER SHAYS (R) CONNECTICUT: This close to an election, the temptation to political mischief can be strong, but must be resisted by both parties.

WALLACE: How does the public feel? The polls might surprise you. According to a survey last month, nearly two-thirds said Congress should take as much time as it needs to consider the recommendations.

Clearly the American public is paying attention. The September 11 Commission's report is No. 1 on the "New York Times" paperback bestseller list.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: Now, to stories "Now in the News". New York and the nation pause to remember the September 11 attacks. It happened exactly three years ago today. The names of all those high died were read in a special ceremony at the World Trade Center site.

In a live radio address from the White House, President Bush said "Time has passed but the images do not fade." Mr. Bush said three quarters of al Qaeda's key members and associates have been killed or captured and said the United States remains committed to advancing democracy in the Middle East.

Hurricane Ivan is lashing Jamaica at this hour. Maximum sustained winds of at least 145 m.p.h. are combined with heavy rains that could total as much as 12 inches. The National Hurricane Center says Ivan could get even stronger. A live update on Hurricane Ivan is coming up from Florida in just about 15 minutes.

And now, to the situation in Iraq. It takes another turn for the worse. Insurgents set off a deadly explosion today in Basra, in the southern part of the country. A roadside bomb exploded near the Basra Palace compound, which houses a U.S. embassy regional office. At least two people were killed. The building also houses British military troops.

Insurgents are on the attack today in the region around Baghdad. A general with the Iraqi National Guard was shot to death in Baquba, while heading to work. His driver was also killed. And just after that drive-by attack, insurgents near Baquba kidnapped the wife and three children of another Iraqi National Guard officer.

In Baghdad, no injuries reported in a car bombing outside a Christian church. The attack took place late last night in the central part of the Iraqi capital. Last month, insurgents killed nearly a dozen people in attacks on churches in Baghdad and Mosul.

So, what went wrong in Iraq? Why are insurgents still battling coalition and Iraqi government forces? With us from Stanford University Larry Diamond, a senior fellow with the Hoover Institute; he's also a specialist on democratic development and how U.S. foreign policy affects democracy aboard.

Mr. Diamond, thanks for joining us.

LARRY DIAMOND, HOOVER INSTITUTE: Good day, Kelly.

WALLCE: So let me ask you very simply what went wrong in Iraq?

DIAMOND: Well, many things. I think it's now well established that we did not have a viable and coherent plan for the post-war period. In my opinion, we didn't have nearly enough troops in Iraq. We had enough to win the war but didn't have enough to win the peace. They didn't have enough body armor, didn't have enough equipment.

When we much later tried to stand up the Iraqi police, they were starved of adequate communications gear, again body armor, cars and so on. So the mission has been under planned and under resourced from the beginning.

WALLACE: Let me ask you also, you say in an article that you have recently written, that you also think the U.S. did not listen enough. What do you mean by that?

DIAMOND: I don't think we listened enough to the Iraqi people. We tended to be isolated in the Green Zone, where now the American embassy is succeeding our occupation authority. And we didn't listen to esteemed figures from the Iraqi community, who had a lot of support among their constituencies. For example, Ayatollah Sistani, who was repeatedly saying you have to have an elected government, you have to have an elected constitutional assembly. Ironically, he was more democratic, at least on the surface, in what he was demanding than the United States formal planning. Eventually, we adjusted, but we lost a lot of time and a lot of momentum.

WALLACE: Supporters of the president will say war is a difficult thing, and there are certain consequences that you just can't anticipate. Isn't that possible here?

DIAMOND: Kelly, we had an enormous body of analysis, both from the future of Iraq project that it commissioned by the State Department and from private studies like that done by the Rand Corporation, that did anticipate many of the problems that we've experienced in the post-war period.

And I think there is some responsibility here on the part of the Pentagon leadership and others in the Bush administration that failed to take this very elaborate advance analysis seriously enough.

WALLACE: Let's look forward. Suppose you had a chance to be in the Oval Office with President Bush and you could give him your advice about what you think the U.S. should be doing to try to restore the peace in Iraq. What would you tell him?

DIAMOND: Well, I think one thing that we're doing now is good, though it's tardy. That is really making a very high priority of standing up the Iraqi armed forces. The army, the National Guard, the police and so on. That has to be our highest priority. We have to put everything into it.

But we should also be saying, which we are not, very clearly to the Iraqi people, to their neighbors in the Arab world, and to the entire world, that we have no imperial ambitions there. That we will not seek permanent military bases, and that we plan to leave the country militarily, completely, as soon as it's able to defend itself.

WALLACE: Larry Diamond, we have to leave it there. Thanks so much for joining us on this Saturday afternoon.

DIAMOND: You're welcome.

WALLACE: Larry Diamond, senior fellow with the Hoover institute, talking about the situation in Iraq.

Coming up next, a sworn U.S. enemy with a growing nuclear capability. What will the United States do about Iran? Stay with CNN and find out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Questions of weapons of mass destruction are again being asked about a country in the Middle East. Again, there are differences of opinion between the United States government and the United Nations over what to do about those concerns. National Security Correspondent David Ensor looks at the questions over Iran and nuclear weapons. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Washington wants the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors to send Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions over its nuclear program which U.S. intelligence has said could give Tehran materials for a bomb by 2007.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The clandestine Iranian nuclear weapons program pose as threat to international peace and security that that threat crosses the jurisdiction of the Security Council, which should take the matter up.

ENSOR: The U.S. position is crystal clear. But Washington is not likely to get its way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The real fireworks will be between the European Union and the United States. Perhaps it will be behind the scenes, but over what to do.

ENSOR: The European foreign ministers tried to convince Iran to fore go nuclear weapons, but they offered little in return. EU talks with Tehran are continuing. Iran has told the IAEA it is converting enough yellowcake into uranium hexa fluoride (ph) make five nuclear weapons.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Europeans had a deal with Iran they won't do this. It's clearly in the deal. Iran can re-interpret it all it wants.

ENSOR: The compromise may be an IAEA resolution that warns Iran to cooperate more fully with inspectors, and could even include a deadline for compliance. But a real showdown Iran is likely to wait until after the U.S. presidential election in November.

ROBERT EINHORN, FMR. ASST. SECY OF STATE: What everyone, particularly the Iranians want to do is get through the next three months and see who they're dealing with in December.

ENSOR: Senator Kerry has said he would talk directly with the Iranian regime. Though, like President Bush, he's called an Iranian nuclear bomb unacceptable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Iran feels under very little pressure to give up its nuclear program. It believes that the U.S. military is stretched thin worldwide, and so it's not under great military threat from the United States.

ENSOR (on camera): Many experts say whoever wins in November, the U.S. should offer talks to Iran. It will take carrots as well as sticks from the U.S., they say, if Iran is to be convinced not to go down the nuclear weapons road -- David Ensor, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: Here now a look at other stories making news around the world. Israel pulls most forces out of the northern Gaza Strip today. The four-day raid, Israel's largest in Gaza in months, was aimed at stopping Palestinian rocket attacks into southern Israel. Witnesses say troops and tanks began leaving the biggest refugee camp before dawn.

After 39 years, Charles Jenkins is on active duty in the U.S. Army. The Army sergeant is accused of defecting to North Korea in 1965. The 65-year-old turned himself in at an Army base in Japan. Officials say he faces six charges connected to his disappearance.

Three Chinese tourists are still missing. They were part of a group stranded by floodwaters caused by heavy rains. A one-hour operation rescued nine of the tourists. It's feared the others may have washed away trying to wade through the flood waters.

A weekend definitely to prepare for the worst. After the break we'll have a report from the Florida Keys, where residents are boarding up or heading out amid fears about where Hurricane Ivan will hit. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Hard to believe, but for the third time in the past month, storm-weary residents in Florida are on the run from a hurricane, boarding up windows and making the long trek inland. Thousands along the Florida Keys have already abandoned the island chain as Ivan wobbles westward. This morning, Florida's Governor Jeb Bush warned Florida's residents.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH, FLORIDA: We have been asking repeatedly the residents of Florida prepare for this storm. It's been said this is going to be a very powerful storm. In all likelihood, it will hit our state. We don't know exactly where, but this is the time for people in the Panhandle and the people on the west coast, particularly, to make sure that all of their preparations are complete.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Complicating matters, Hurricane Ivan is on a very unpredictable course to storm Florida beaches sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday. CNN's Susan Candiotti is in Islamorada and she joins us now by phone.

Susan, what is the situation there?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kelly.

Well, for the first time really we've been experiencing (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we had a little shower not too long ago, which makes you wonder what lies ahead. For now, the sun is back out.

Traffic here extremely light. Even locals say for the first time, they've been seeing more and more people following a mandatory evacuation order that has been in place for over 24 hours now, for residents of the Florida Keys.

Emergency management officials very happy about the mandatory evacuation response. They say that about -- they estimate 30,000 people pulled out in the last 24 hours, even though that is actually half of the numbers they'd been hoping for. (AUDIO GAP)

Last minute preparations still under way. The worry here is that -- (AUDIO GAP) tracking a little bit.

WALLACE: Susan, we're having a little bit of problem with your cell phone that's to be expected. We'll keep checking back with you throughout the afternoon.

Susan Candiotti, reporting from Islamorada in Florida, as people evacuate, awaiting Hurricane Ivan.

If you are looking to escape the worries of the world, there is a place to head. South of the border. I will talk with a travel expert about the best ways to enjoy Mexico.

Still to come how to properly strut yourself in the Big Apple's fashion world. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Don't let the recent spate of hurricanes to scuttle your plans for a fall beach vacation. Our weekend getaway, takes us to Mexico, far from the eye of the storm, joining us in San Francisco, Don George, global travel editor with "Lonely Planet".

Thanks for being with us today.

DON GEORGE, GLOBAL TRAVEL EDITOR, "LONELY PLANET" PUBLICATIONS: Hi, Kelly.

WALLACE: My first question, why shouldn't people be worried? Isn't there any chance of hurricane season impacting parts of Mexico?

GEORGE: I've been in Mexico, especially the areas we'll talk about all seasons and have never had really significant hurricane problems at all. High winds sometimes, but not significant hurricane problems.

WALLACE: So, what are the best places to go, the best values out there?

GEOGE: Well, I'm focusing on two places. One is on the Pacific side. The gateway would be Puerto Vallarta. The others on the Caribbean side and the gateway would be Cancun.

To start with Puerto Vallarta, you can fly there in three or four hours from the states. And you can easily take a boat from the beautiful colonial town of Puerto Villarta to some incredible beach resorts, like Jalapa, for example, which is a very laid back place. You can get a hotel in Jalapa for about $50 a night and you can spend a heavenly long weekend there. WALLACE: The other area you want to focus on, why is that the best place to go right now?

GEORGE: Well, in the other area in the Caribbean, in the Yucatan, you can fly to Cancun. Again, they have great fares right now, $300, $400 from the U.S. East Coast. And you can go take a bus ride for an hour to a tiny fishing village. The area is called Playa del Carmen. And you can just have a wonderful experience there just lying on the beach, but there are also really wonderful archaeological ruins about an hour by bus from the village. You can have a beach vacation. You can get the richness of archaeological discovery. You can get it all and it's just in a long weekend.

WALLACE: Is it the best time to go right now, in early fall? Is that because of weather and to avoid crowds?

GEORGE: These the shoulder season. The big summer season is over. The big holiday season has not yet begun. Prices drop in the shoulder season. It's a great time to get good airfares, it is a wonderful time to get good hotel deals. And the restaurants are still open, but the prices come down. So in just about everything you want to do as a traveler, you're going to get better fares, better deals.

WALLACE: And what's the best advice to people who might be planning to trip to Mexico, in particular, when it comes to money, carrying cash, using credit cards, being careful of fraud. What's the advice?

GEORGE: I always tell people to be sure to carry some cash, because there's going to be places where you won't be able to use credit cards. Otherwise, it's great to have a credit card. Use your credit card as often as you can.

Of course, use common sense when you're going to the beach. Don't carry a lot of cash with you and leave it on the beach. Carry minimal cash with you in those situations. And just keep your wits about you. Use normal common sense in terms of going out on the streets with a lot of money on you.

WALLACE: While you were talking, we're putting up some side panels about what are some of the most popular activities if you travel to Mexico right now. What are some of the most popular activities?

GEORGE: Well, there's snorkeling, there's scuba diving, there's beach combing, hiking, horseback riding, having a Pina Colada on the beach as the sun sets, is one of my favorite activities.

Really, all of the gamut of wonderful beach activities. Swimming is available to people who go to Mexico. The weather is great. The Caribbean side, especially the warm water is very attractive right now. Long, white sand beaches for endless walking. It's pretty much heaven right now.

WALLACE: It sounds like heaven. It sounds dreamy. I wish we could all go right now. Don George, we'll have to leave there it. For anyone, of course, wanting more information go to lonelyplanet.com for more information.

Thanks for joining us today.

GEORGE: Thank you.

WALLACE: The art of walking. How models learn the proper way to turn -- take a turn on the catwalk. That's coming up ahead. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: Fashionistas are getting a peek at spring 2005 styles during New York's Fashion Week as models show off the fashions they try not to become catwalk roadkill. CNN's Anderson Cooper now with the science of the supermodel strut.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There they are strutting their designer clad stuff down the runway. What's up with that walk?

Some models seem to stroll, others strut. We're not sure why, but some seem to be stomping or even high stepping. This kind of thing can't come naturally. And it turns out Jay Alexander actually teaches models how to walk.

JAY ALEXANDER, CATWALK AFICIANADO: This is not natural. It's fashion is theater. Fashion is theater, I think, for most people.

ANDERSON: Remember, models get paid thousands of dollars to walk this way. But sometimes, things don't quite work out.

That's the stumble. It's rarely seen, but always draws a gasp from frightened onlookers. It's one thing to watch Carrie Bradshaw to slam head-first on to the runway. It's quite another when a stumbler is a highly prized supermodel commanding a high price just for her graceful gait.

Unlike other species, it's the female known for prancing and preening. The male model can be, well, a bit boring. If you want to see a supermodel, they'll be held captive on catwalks in New York City for the next several days.

For the chance to spy them walking their walks is granted only to a chosen few, calling themselves fashionistas and they gather under tents to stalk their stylish prey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: That was CNN's Anderson Cooper, again with the science of the supermodel strut. New York's Fashion Week wraps up next week.

There is much more ahead here on CNN SATURDAY. In just a few minutes "In The Money". Find out why it is good to be an NFL team when it comes to the bottom line. At 2 p.m. Eastern, CNN LIVE SATURDAY, tune in for a little legal sparing as lawyers from both sides of the courtroom debate the latest developments in the Scott Peterson trial. And at 3 p.m., it is Next @ CNN. What kind of scientific data can be recovered from a damaged space capsule.

First, time for a check of what's in the news at this hour.

Slightly weaker, but still strong and dangerous, Hurricane Ivan is pounding Jamaica with maximum sustained winds of 150 m.p.h. Combined with heavy rains it could dump as much as 12 inches in its wake. Forecasters say Ivan is moving to the Cayman Islands next.

With hugs, tears, and memories, Americans mark the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks, today.

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