Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
Taliban Re-Emerges In Afghanistan; 9/11 Anniversary: Are We Safer?
Aired September 10, 2006 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: "Now in the News": A bloody Sunday day in Afghanistan. A suicide bombing kills the governor of the southeastern Paktia Province. Further south, in Kandahar, NATO officials say almost 100 insurgents are killed in fighting there. And in western Afghanistan, more than 100 Taliban fighters raided a government compound, killing two policemen.
Prime Minister Tony Blair is in the Middle East. And just a short time ago he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Yesterday, Mr. Blair met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The British prime minister says it is essential both sides return to peace-keeping talks.
An American journalist jailed in Sudan is on his way home. A plane carrying Paul Salopek is due to land in New Mexico this morning. For the past month Salopek was held in the war-torn Darfur region for months on spying charges. He was released yesterday after New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson traveled to Sudan and met personally with the Sudanese president.
The Atlantis space crew is inspecting the shuttle today for some possible damage. Cameras noticed three possible dings to the shuttle's thermal skin during yesterday's liftoff. Now, NASA managers don't believe the damage is anything close to what doomed the space shuttle Columbia, but just to be safe, a robotic arm will give Atlantis' exterior a closer look.
And economic growth in Afghanistan; Coca-Cola is again operating in Kabul. Afghan President Hamid Karzai was on hand for today's official dedication of this new facility. The previous Coke facility, as you'll recall, was destroyed more than 10 years ago in the country's deadly civil war. The bottling plant will provide about 350 jobs.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Maria Sharapova is the new women's champion of the U.S. Open. She defeated Justine Henin-Hardenne, 6-4, 6-4 to win her first U.S. Open and her second Grand Slam tennis title. Sharapova burst onto the scene two years ago when she won Wimbledon at age 17.
And now let's go over to Reynolds Wolf for the very latest on Hurricane Florence, find out what's going on with that.
Looks like Bermuda could be a target at this point, huh? REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No question about it, especially with a storm of this scope. I mean, you're taking a look at this thing, churning its way through the western Atlantic, and this time it is expected to strengthen.
The latest path we have from the National Hurricane Center does bring the path of this storm just the west of Bermuda, but because the wide scope of the storm, Bermuda, no question, is going to be affected. The storm passing by as we go from Monday into Tuesday. Then the storm veers off into the northeast.
Coming up, we're going to look again at Florence, but also let you know how your weekend weather will wind up and what you can expect when you start back to the workweek ahead. Back to you.
SANCHEZ: All right, Reynolds, appreciate it. We'll run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. With in- depth coverage all morning long, you next check of the headlines coming up at 7:15 Eastern.
NGUYEN: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. It's September 10th. Good morning, everybody, I'm Betty Nguyen.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. It's 7:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 3:30 in the afternoon in Kabul, Afghanistan. And we'll be paying particular attention to Afghanistan this morning. Thanks for being with us.
NGUYEN: Well, we begin this morning in Afghanistan, and that is where Al Qaeda set up shop to prepare for those 9/11 attacks. So it became the first target in the war on terror. Many Americans expected Osama bin Laden and his followers to be rounded up or killed in short order, and we all know that has not happened.
CNN's Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson joins us live from Kabul with his perspective on the war on terror five years later.
First up, Nic, let me ask you, you were there when September 11th happened. What kind of effect has the war on terror had on Afghanistan five years later?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: Well, number one, it cleared out Al Qaeda, stopped them and their training camps here in the country, it cleared out the ultra-religious Taliban, who had an iron grip on the vast majority of this country, forcing men to grow beards, women to wear the burkas, stopping girls from going to school. So all of that has changed.
Has it changed hugely? Women still wearing burkas, some men still choose to grow beards, there is still a very religious element in Afghanistan, but many things have changed for people. Just looking behind me over here, there is a construction site. It was never that way under the Taliban. This is a new hotel, what I'm standing on here. Something new is being built over there.
And I look at the gardens over there; there's men working in the fields. They're making the gardens look pretty. They're watering the fields there. That wasn't happening under the Taliban. The city feels different. It's brighter, cleaner. But no doubt about it, there are still some serious issues, security deteriorating for a start -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Let's talk about that, the war in terror in particular. What is the security situation like on the ground, and is the Taliban gaining momentum?
ROBERTSON: Well, we just heard today that the governor of Paktia Province just east of here was killed, a suicide bombing. The number of suicide bombings have gone up drastically. Were the Taliban behind it? We don't know. Was it some kind of internal politics? We don't know.
The governor there, Governor Taniwal, was a relative moderate -- he had been a professor in Australia, a professor of anthropology for 20 years. He was different, he wasn't ultra religious. He was trying to bring progress. Was he targeted because of that? We don't know. But that's what the Taliban are trying to do. They're trying to drive out a moderate government. They're trying to drive out U.S. forces here and they're trying to reinstall their own ultra-religious government.
There is no chance of that happening at the moment, that seems, but they are trying to destabilize the situation here. They target -- and we saw a suicide bombing, a deadly suicide bombing, the most deadly since they were removed from power five years ago, here in Kabul.
And in the south of the country, again, they are in a big fight with the NATO troops, the Dutch, the British, and the Canadians. Five Canadian soldiers killed in this Operation Medusa that's ongoing. Over 300 insurgents killed in the south of the country, but this is the aim of the Taliban, attack the Western troops here, try to destabilize the situation, try to get themselves back in power, although again, that does not seem likely at this stage, Betty.
NGUYEN: As we do talk about this war on terror, you can not forget Pakistan. You recently spent some time there, and many will consider it the front line in the war on terror. What is the situation like there?
ROBERTSON: Well, for the Pakistanis, they see the war on terror as having an overspill to them. They say that in their tribal border regions with Afghanistan, the population has become more radical. They even say that radicalization has tended to spill into the rest of Pakistan. The fact is that many of the Al Qaeda members who have gone on the run since September 11th have been picked up -- the big leaders -- picked up inside Pakistan.
Pakistanis are doing deals now with those tribal leaders in the tribal regions so that they don't have to fight them on their own soil, and it's certainly giving the impression, in particular to British officials who I talked to in London a few weeks ago, who said they're very angry that the Pakistanis are not doing enough to round up Taliban who are inside Pakistan. They say the leadership of the Taliban are living in Pakistan and that the Pakistani authorities are not arresting them.
So the tensions exist between international community and the Pakistanis, saying they're not doing enough. For their part, the Pakistanis say absolutely they're committed to the war on terror. They say they've lost hundreds of soldiers, more soldiers than all the coalition, the U.S., British and others here in Afghanistan. They say they're doing enough. They don't like the criticism.
The fact is that it does appear that the Taliban can exist and live freely in Pakistan, and are able to cross the border here into Afghanistan, and are able to mount significant attacks, de-stabilizing the situation, Betty.
NGUYEN: Nic Robertson joining us from Kabul, Afghanistan. Thank you, Nic.
For more for on the current state of affairs in that part of the world, you can tune into "Anderson Cooper 360". He'll be broadcasting live from Afghanistan, that's tomorrow night, 10:00 Eastern, 7:00 Pacific.
SANCHEZ: I want to show you something now, which is extremely meaningful to all of us as Americans. Think of this as the focus of our attention. Think five years ago to what we were all imagining and trying to figure out how we were going to be able to deal with this situation.
That is it. That is ground zero. That is the place where so many Americans lost their lives on that fateful day, and five years for so many have done little to ease the pain for families directly affected by 9/11. This morning, one woman's story, as reported by CNN's Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move it! Move it! Come on!
ALICE HOAGLAND, FORMER FLIGHT ATTENDANT: It was riveting and horrifying, and it's a day that we're never going to get over.
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN SUNDAY MORNING: The morning of September 11th, 2001 started out like any other day for Alice Hoagland and her family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two planes have flown into the two towers.
WYNTER: Hoagland was a flight attendant for a major airline at the time. She wasn't flying that morning, but her son, 31-year-old Mark Bingham, was on board United 93 headed to San Francisco. What happened in the skies that day would change her life and the course of history. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That is the World Trade Center, and we have unconfirmed reports this morning that a plane has crashed into one of the towers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A plane, it is described as probably being a jumbo jet-size plane, crashed into the Pentagon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: United Airlines flight 93, leaving Newark on the way to San Francisco, believed to have crashed in Pennsylvania.
WYNTER: Hoagland's son Mark was hailed as one of many heroes on that doomed aircraft, who tried to regain control of the hijacked plane. Hoagland says as a flight attendant, she never felt completely safe off the ground. She was afraid of terrorism, but she never imagined she'd lose a loved one to it.
HOAGLAND: Whether or not I imagined, the problem is real, the specter of terror is real, and it was then. And we really haven't solved the problems. It's extremely frustrating to see how little progress has been made.
WYNTER: Hoagland no longer works for the airline industry. She's lobbied for bills in Congress that specifically addresses terrorism and airline security. Five years after the worst terrorist attack in this country, she wonders how much safer we are today.
HOAGLAND: Cargo security and checked bag security, and even carry-on bag security is still mighty, mighty poor. We can not afford to have those kinds of deficiencies in security. There are lots of holes, lots of loop holes.
WYNTER: Hoagland often thinks about her son's short life and wonders what he'd be like today; and whether her sister, Candace, a flight attendant for a major airline, could meet the same fate.
HOAGLAND: Went with me into training and she still flies. Brave woman. I worry for her every day she flies. I do not think that the airlines have our best interests at heart.
WYNTER: Hoagland is no longer a frequent flier, but there's one trip she takes each year across country from her California home, to the crash site in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where she lost her only son and a big part of her own life.
HOAGLAND: I'm extremely sad. I'm extremely depressed a lot of the time. I try to be upbeat, because there's so much work to be done, that if we allow ourselves to wallow and indulge in the depression and the grief that we feel, we won't get the job done.
WYNTER: Kareen Wynter, CNN, Los Gatos, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Coming up in about 15 minutes, we'll talk to Francis Townsend at the White House. She is President Bush's top adviser on homeland security. We're going to ask her a question so many often ask, are we any safer since 9/11?
NGUYEN: We do want to know what you think, though, about this same question. Email us. Are we safer since September 11th? We'll read some of those responses on the air later in this newscast. Send those emails in.
SANCHEZ: Bermuda suddenly becomes a target and we need to go to Reynolds Wolf and find out what's going on with this thing.
Florence is what -- got a bead on it, right?
WOLF: Oh pretty much so, I would say with a storm of this size in Bermuda, it's right in the path of it. And I'll tell you what's really unfortunate as well, is with this storm, as you know, Rick, really the most dangerous part of a hurricane or any tropical system is really the northeastern quadrant, the northeastern corner of this storm, and that appears to be the area that will brush right past Bermuda.
Latest we have from the National Hurricane Center is that winds are sustained at 80 miles per hour. So this is a weak hurricane. However, it is expected to strengthen to a Category 2 storm by 2:00 a.m. Monday morning with winds at 110 miles per hour, then passing just to the west of Bermuda, and then by 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, it will begin to weaken to just a Category 1 and then veer off to the northeast.
So again, if you happen to know anyone in Bermuda, certainly you want to have a good thoughts for them and give a phone call.
Meanwhile, the rest of the nation, chances of storms in the Central Plains. South of the Great Lakes we could have a rumble of thunder through Kentucky, Tennessee, also into parts of central Florida.
That's a look at your forecast, back to you at the news desk.
NGUYEN: Thank you, Reynolds. Appreciate that.
WOLF: You bet.
SANCHEZ: Back to the war on terror, and the question, are we safer or not? That is in fact the question that many are asking. The partisan divide on the Hill, though, looks at it a little differently. And our Dana Bash will explore Republican and Democratic views, that's coming up in about six minutes.
NGUYEN: Plus, in our "Faces of Faith," a casualty of 9/11. We'll look back at the life of a priest made famous in death.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: "Now in the News": We are watching Florence. The storm is a Category 1 hurricane, expected to hit Bermuda some time tomorrow. Winds now up to 80 miles per hour.
Forecasters are warning it will be stronger when it hits Bermuda. Island residents are urged to board up, stock up on supplies. CNN's Hurricane Center is -- and will continue to be -- tracking this storm for you.
Also, numerous events are planned today on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary. President and Mrs. Bush will be at ground zero this afternoon for a wreath-laying ceremony. That is going to be followed a prayer service at a nearby church. Stay with CNN throughout the day for extensive live coverage of today's memorials.
Also, two senior Republican senators head to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba today, Majority Leader Bill Frist and Majority Whip Mitch McConnell. They want to see conditions of the detention centers themselves. The trip is a prelude to possible legislation sought by the president to allow military tribunals of the Guantanamo detainees.
NGUYEN: An American journalist jailed in Sudan is on his way home. A plane carrying Paul Salopek is due to land in New Mexico this morning. For the past month, Salopek was held in the war-torn Darfur region on spying charges. He was released yesterday after New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson traveled to Sudan and met personally with the Sudanese president.
A landmark day for Montenegro, the now independent country, held it's first general election. The U.S. recently signed a military cooperation agreement with Serbia, opposing their independence; 43 percent of people there call themselves Montenegrans, 32 percent still consider themselves Serbs, the rest, Bosnian, Albanians and Muslims.
We run down the top stories every 15 minutes right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, with in-depth coverage all morning long. Your next check of the headlines, coming up at 7:30 Eastern.
SANCHEZ: And 9/11 five years later, and the fear factor. Is it politics? Is it real? President Bush talking terror these days. How safe are we? We'll talk to his homeland security adviser.
NGUYEN: Plus, keeping track of Hurricane Florence as it targets Bermuda; the forecast from our hurricane center, that's coming up in 15 minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: President Bush travels to New York today, where he's going to begin two days of events to mark tomorrow's fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Mr. Bush spent the week talking about terrorism and national security. That hasn't gone unnoticed by Democrats in this election year. Dana Bash reports from Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN SUNDAY MORNING: (voice over): You can't turn a corner on Capitol Hill without hearing a Democrat say something like this. REP. STENY HOYER, (D-MD), MINORITY WHIP: We are not as safe as we should be.
BASH: Democrats returned from summer recess determined to hit Republicans where they hope it will hurt most, their biggest strength, national security. And it has been a week of rapid fire attacks.
Monday, senior Democrats wrote this letter, asking the president to consider changing the civilian leadership at the Defense Department. Tuesday, a report on what they called Bush national security failures.
GEN. WESLEY CLARK, U.S. ARMY (RET.): In plain language, invading Iraq was a mistake, a strategic blunder.
BASH: Wednesday, an ill-fated Senate resolution calling for Donald Rumsfeld to resign.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM-CLINTON, (D-NY): And at the center of so many of the wrong calls, the misjudgments, the strategic blunders has been the secretary of Defense.
BASH: Thursday, this response to the president's dramatic announcement, high-profile terror suspects should be tried by military commissions Congress must set up.
SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MINORITY LEADER: He's had years to bring these murderers to justice, and he's waited until now, two months before the election. It's a cynical, but typical move from the campaigner-in-chief.
BASH: The dizzying number of Democratic events are aimed at competing with the president's election year megaphone. He's telling Americans that Republicans, not Democrats, are going to keep them safe. The Democratic Party chairman says it's a strategy born out of past of mistakes.
HOWARD DEAN, CHAIRMAN, DEMOCRATIC PARTY: To be honest with you, I think the Democrats used to run and hide when this kind of stuff used to come up.
BASH: And Republicans are making sure national security comes up.
SEN. BILL FRIST, (R-TN) MAJORITY LEADER: The bill before us now will provide the structure and resources necessary to strengthen our sea ports' vulnerabilities.
BASH: From port security to border security to military commissions to NSA surveillance, September's calendar is filled with national security measures Republicans hope to take back on the campaign trail as accomplishments, while they slam Democrats as obstructionists.
FRIST: Well, the defeat-a-crats, is a pretty good name for the Democrats, I think, at this juncture. BASH: In the past, Democrats did block security-related measures and paid a political price. Republicans were able to beat Democrats by painting them as weak on defense. The strategy this year is to avoid that, when a security bill comes up, expect most Democrats to vote yes. Dana Bash, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Well, all the posturing by both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill raises the key question, are we safer? The White House perspective now. Frances Townsend is the assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism; she joins us this morning from the White House.
Good morning to you.
FRANCES TOWNSEND, WHITE HOUSE, HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISER: Good morning, Betty.
NGUYEN: OK, first question. Let's get right to it, is America safer five years after September 11th?
TOWNSEND: Betty, as you know, you've heard the president say, we're safer, but there's more to do. There's more to do to secure the country. We have made enormous progress, both giving the tools to the people who need them, like the Patriot Act and the Terror Surveillance Program, but the president has also enhanced the intelligence, and law enforcement community, adding resources where they're needed most to prevent the next attack.
NGUYEN: Let me show you something. A recent poll by CNN shows that for the first time, a majority of Americans are dissatisfied with the war on terror. Let's put those numbers up. You can see them right there. 53 percent not satisfied, just 47 percent, satisfied, and that was 75 percent back in 2002, and has dropped ever since. So if America is safer, how do you explain these results?
TOWNSEND: Betty, I'll be honest with you, I don't really know what the questions that were asked in the poll. What I can tell you is, we don't make terrorism policy --
NGUYEN: The question that was asked is how are things going for the U.S. in the war on terror and 53 percent say they are not satisfied and 47 percent say that they are satisfied. So that was the exact question asked.
TOWNSEND: Betty, we don't set counterterrorism policy based on polls, and the country would be in an awful chaotic mess if we did. The answer is, we've taken a lot of steps that have made the country safer. In addition to which, we haven't been attacked as a result of many of those things, both on the offense, in our fight overseas, as well as the defensive measures we've taken here at home.
NGUYEN: Let me show you something else in the same poll, just to gauge the American public, and how they feel on the situation after September 11th. This other poll talks about, if America is back to normal. How do Americans feel about being back to normal, if they are, indeed, and in fact, only 2 percent feel that they are back to normal; 29 percent say they will eventually be back to normal, and 70 percent say that they will never be back to normal.
So what is being done? You talk about all these things being done to make America safer. What is being done so people feel like they are indeed safer and will eventually get their lives back to normal?
TOWNSEND: Part of what we've encouraged the American people to consider is what they can do as individuals and families, and in their communities, to prepare for a terrorist attack. So that they don't feel that they have to think about this every day, but rather, that this is something where they can go about their normal lives.
I mean, after such a tragedy and so many people killed and injured, there's no question that America is deeply scarred by this, but preparedness efforts are really, family communication plans, and that sort of thing, are the sorts of things that give us confidence that we know how to respond in the event of another terror attack.
NGUYEN: And on Friday, a Senate Intelligence report showed that Saddam Hussein's government really had no relationship with Al Qaeda, which was the basis for a lot of information that was used to go to war with Iraq. So being the case, how can you tell Americans that things are getting better, you will get back to normal, and you will win this war on terror, when we look at the information that was used to go to Iraq and a lot of it was false, specifically the information that said that Saddam Hussein's government did have ties to Al Qaeda?
TOWNSEND: As the president has said, Betty, the intelligence on Iraq was wrong, but it was wrong, and it persuaded both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, many of whom voted for the Iraq war resolution.
The fact is that we're there, and we've heard in the words of bin Laden and Zawahiri, that Iraq is the central front in the war on terror. We can't afford leave there and cede that field to the terrorists from which they could plan another attack.
NGUYEN: You mentioned Zawahiri, let's talk about that person, and Osama bin Laden. How close is the U.S. to catching these two?
TOWNSEND: Well, there's enormous resources devoted every day to this effort. As you know, we have coalition forces in Afghanistan. We work with our ally and partners in Pakistan every day -- and our allies around the world. It really is going to come as a result of both the military intelligence and our international alliance.
NGUYEN: All right. Frances Townsend, homeland security adviser, a top adviser, mind you. Thank you so much for your time today.
TOWNSEND: Thank you, Betty.
This morning on "Late Edition" with Wolf Blitzer, Wolf will put the same question, are we safer, to u.s. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Plus, Democratic Senator John Kerry in an exclusive interview. You want to tune in at 11:00 a.m. Eastern.
SANCHEZ: Florence upgraded to a Category 1 hurricane and on its way to Bermuda. So how are people in Bermuda preparing for Florence? A report and the weather update from Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf. That's coming up in just five minutes.
Also, he's considered the first official casualty of 9/11 at the World Trade Center, in our "Faces of Faith", we're going to look back at the life of a priest made famous in death.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Take a look. Now in the news, Hurricane Florence is expected to hit Bermuda tomorrow. It is a category one hurricane, carrying 80 mile an hour winds. Forecasters warn it will be stronger when it hits Bermuda. Island residents are told to board up and stock up on supplies. CNN's Hurricane Center is tracking Florence. We do have a report from Bermuda that is just three minutes away.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Majority Whip Mitchell McConnell head to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba today. They are the two most powerful Republicans in the Senate, and they want to see for themselves the conditions at the detention facilities. The trip is a prelude to possible legislation sought by the president to allow military tribunals of the Guantanamo detainees.
Now to Baghdad. A pair of bombings in the capital killed at least a half dozen people and wounded nearly 30 others. Also today Iraqi police responding to a reported murder stumbled across an apparent bomb-making operation. Thirty home-made bombs were found in that apartment.
SANCHEZ: This morning a huge gathering outside Munich, Germany, for Pope Benedict. The Pope is on a six-day visit to the native Bavaria area. While here, the Pope plans to visit the small town where he was born and the one where he was ordained as a priest as well. We run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING with in-depth coverage all morning long. And your next check of the headlines is coming up at 7:45 eastern.
NGUYEN: Welcome back. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, September 10th. Good morning, everybody, I'm Betty Nguyen.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez and thanks so much for waking up with us this morning.
NGUYEN: Folks in Bermuda are waking up to quite a storm. Florence is now a category one hurricane, beating a path toward Bermuda. Folks there are preparing for the worst. CNN's Karl Penhaul has this report from Bermuda.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An American bride races to tie the knot as storm clouds gather over Bermuda.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We pray that all your days together will be blessed.
PENHAUL: Tiffany Manning and Tim Govin came from Boston to marry on this paradise island.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hope you all have a very safe time whenever Florence decides to visit us.
PENHAUL: They bumped up the wedding by a day to stay ahead of the storm.
More nervous about the marriage and the arrangements or more nervous about the storm?
TIM GOVIN, GROOM: Probably the storm and people traveling in. We had a couple of people just get here, you know, in the nick of time.
PENHAUL (on camera): Down here, Horseshoe Bay on the south side of the island, the surf's picking up, and the rain's lashing down. Now Bermudans and tourists alike can only wait to see how big a punch Florence will pack.
(voice-over): These girls are skin-boarding before the storm whips the waves into a dangerous swath. Island authorities are already issuing hurricane warnings.
ROSEANDA YOUNG, ACTING POLICE COMMISSIONER: Batten down as soon as you can. Finish before late Sunday afternoon. Stay inside and allow the emergency services to get through and do the work that's required.
PENHAUL: Bermuda's capital, Hamilton, echoes to a pre-storm symphony of power tools and hammers. Hurricane Fabian hit Bermuda three years ago, killing four people and causing millions of dollars damage.
PETER SMITH, WORKER: They're the insurance company, so they have to show by example. Board up and don't take any chances.
PENHAUL: Do you think it's going to be bad this time?
RICHARD HARTLEY, WORKER: No, don't think so. Cross your fingers.
PENHAUL: Back at the wedding, it's time for Tim to slip the ring on Tiffany's finger.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Timothy sir, you may kiss your bride. Give them a big hand.
PENHAUL: Ready for a honeymoon, hunkering down for a hurricane. Karl Penhaul, CNN, Bermuda.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
(WEATHER REPORT) SANCHEZ: We call it going global, and what we do is we check in with our international desk.
NGUYEN: Yes we do, Brenda Bernard joins us with stories that she's been working on. Good morning Brenda.
BRENDA BERNARD, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Betty. Israelis demanding answers. Take a look at this massive demonstration last night in Tel Aviv. Tens of thousands of people gathered, calling on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to order an independent inquiry into his handling of the war in Lebanon. It was the largest public show of dissatisfaction with Mr. Olmert since he took office in May. Polls show his popularity plummeted over Israel's failure to crush Hezbollah guerrillas. The prime minister has promised only a government probe, not an independent investigation. The death toll from the war, about 1200 Lebanese, most of them civilians and 157 Israelis, two thirds of them soldiers.
More nuclear talks under way with Iran. The country's senior negotiators are meeting with European Union officials for a second day in Vienna. Both sides have reported progress in talks aimed at finding a compromise over Tehran's nuclear program. They're trying to build on that progress now. This could be Iran's last chance to avoid U.N. sanctions for its refusal to freeze its uranium enrichment work.
And reports from Australia say crocodile hunter Steve Irwin will be buried in the grounds of his family's zoo and that a family service was held this weekend. Irwin's manager calls the reports conjectures, saying the family will make a statement tomorrow about the funeral. Irwin's death last week set off an unprecedented wave of public mourning in Australia. He died when a stingray's barb pierced his chest. A public memorial service is expected within 10 days. Betty?
NGUYEN: All right, thank you Brenda.
Well, he was a man who fought his own demons and he said about himself, I'm no saint, but that is exactly how many others just saw him, as a saint. "Faces of Faith" in five minutes right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
SANCHEZ: Also, are we any safer since 9/11? You tell us what you think. In fact, we'd like to know what your thoughts are on all this. Email us at weekends@cnn.com. And we'll share your responses with the rest of our viewers just a little bit later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: The first of many memorial events marking the 9/11 anniversary begins in a few hours. About a thousand motorcycles will rumble from Dulles Airport and the Pentagon beginning at 11:00 a.m. eastern. The president's going to be in Manhattan for a wreath-laying ceremony at Ground Zero later this afternoon. And CNN will have extensive live coverage of today's memorials throughout the day.
A bloody Sunday in Afghanistan. A suicide bomber kills the governor of the southeastern Paktia province. Further south in Kandahar province, NATO officials say almost 100 insurgents were killed in fighting there. And in western Afghanistan, more than 100 Taliban fighters raided a government compound, killing two policemen.
NGUYEN: Top U.N. officials have started work to win the release of two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Now, the kidnappings in July helped trigger Israel's war with Hezbollah that left Lebanon in shambles. The U.N.'s deputy secretary general says a U.N. facilitator has been appointed to work to free those soldiers. We do run down the top stories every 15 minutes right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING, with in-depth coverage all morning long. So, your next check of the headlines coming up at the top of the hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire department chaplain Father Mychal Judge, and our sister --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is our spiritual leader. He was our buddy, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mychal never knew he was a saint. Mychal thought he was one of the worst sinners.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: In our "Faces of Faith," we look back at a man many consider a saint. Father Mychal Judge, a beloved New York City Fire Department chaplain made famous in death. Reverend Judge was the first officially recorded victim of the World Trade Center attack. He was killed when debris fell on his head as he followed firefighters into the north tower. "Saint of 9/11" is a film about Father Judge, a memorial to his life of service and his fight with his own private demons.
Joining us now this morning is Malcolm Lazin, he's the film executive producer, and Thomas von Essen, former New York City Fire Department commissioner. Thank you both for being with us. Malcolm, let me start with you and tell us why you put this film together. What do you want people to walk away with after they've watched this?
MALCOLM LAZIN, EXEC. PROD., "SAINT OF 9/11": Well, Michael was a quintessential Franciscan priest and an authentic American hero, and this is really in one sense the Anne Frank story of 9/11. It looks at one individual life and who was death certificate 0001. And I think what people walk away with was that his life far eclipsed his dramatic death.
SANCHEZ: What made him the Anne Frank? What was it about his character why you would make that comparison?
LAZIN: Well, I mean, he was someone who served the neediest of our society. He touched people in really remarkable ways. There is now actually a worldwide movement to have him named as a saint. He was a humble man. He was an Irish-American, first generation with a great sense of humor. And he touched people in really profound ways. He was a person who really was dedicated to peace and reconciliation and faith and hope. He was a lead clergy person for TWA flight 800, and you know, in so many incredible ways, people related to him. And if they met him, they never forgot him.
SANCHEZ: Thomas von Essen, you knew him, met him, in fact, saw him on September 11th. What was it about him that made him so special and tell us what you saw on that day?
THOMAS VON ESSEN, FMR. NYC FIRE COMMISSIONER: Well, he was able to connect with everybody in our department, from the top level fire officers to the pro b. When we had a serious injury or a tragic death, he'd be at the emergency room at the hospital with us. He'd follow up, meet the family, spend a couple of days with them before a funeral. He'd speak at the funeral. He was able to bring back so many of our guys who may have slipped away from the church, bring them back to the church, in his own funny, irreverent, religious way, he was, I think, a great advocate for the church, and sometimes on the wrong side of them because he was so, so irreverent and such a character. He was just a good man.
SANCHEZ: You know what's interesting, is from what I read, he was struggling with both, alcoholism at a time, or at least problems with alcohol, I should say. I don't know if it was actually defined as alcoholism, homosexuality as well. This is not someone that when you look at them, you think, ok, there is the quintessential priest, right?
VON ESSEN: Well, he marched to a different drummer, that's for sure. But so many people do have those issues to deal with. So many people do have ghosts and you know, are dealing with alcoholism and other issues that are stressed with all the time. And he was there for them confidentially, he was there for them in a group, in any way that people needed help, he was there.
SANCHEZ: Malcolm, in fact he was remembered saying a couple of times that he would certainly never want to be remembered as a man who was perfect. Do you deal with some of those issues in the film, his private struggles?
LAZIN: Oh, absolutely. I mean, we really deal with how did this man become this quintessential priest, and in fact, he was a priest for 40 years, the first 17 he was an alcoholic, the last 23, he was a sober priest. And he went to AA on a daily basis. You know there were by the way, 13 cities across this nation that are screening "Saint of 9/11" as part of the national fifth anniversary remembrance. I mean, he's literally -- the power of Mychal Judge reaches across this country and in many ways, he defines what true heroism is. And let's not forget, there were 343 firemen that lost their lives on that day, and what Mychal symbolized and what they symbolized was putting others first, and I think that's really one of the tremendous messages of "Saint of 9/11".
SANCHEZ: There is no question, when you speak of them and when you speak of this particular priest, that that is what most people think about, is these firefighters and first responders ran into that building without thinking of anything else but themselves. We wish you a lot of luck with this film, it sounds delightful. We thank you both for being with us. Thanks so much.
LAZIN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Betty, over to you.
NGUYEN: Well, speaking of September 11th, you can see CNN's original coverage, uncut, unedited, as it happened live five years ago. Nicole Lapin from cnn.com joins us to talk about exactly how viewers can catch that.
NICOLE LAPIN: Well Betty, on this September 11, 2006, CNN Pipeline will stream free, uninterrupted footage of CNN's coverage on September 11, 2001. So, from 8:30 in the morning Eastern Time through midnight, "Pipeline" will show you CNN as the story unfolded. It will be real time, exactly how it played out on our air five years ago.
Now in addition to the original 9/11 coverage, "CNN Pipeline" will also be streaming memorial services from D.C., from New York, from Pennsylvania, all throughout the day. And cnn.com has also dedicated a memorial page to the victims of 9/11. It's a really tough list to look at, almost 3,000 names. But at this page, you can get a look at the people behind that huge number. You can search by age if you want, from the youngest of the victims, two years old, to the oldest, 85, and those whose ages are still unknown. It's a day we're never going to forget here at CNN, so we ask you to join us in remembering, remembering 9/11 and remembering those who lost their lives. So Betty and Rick, it's all at cnn.com and you can watch at cnn.com/pipeline.
NGUYEN: It's going to be very difficult to do, but an important part of history. Thank you, Nicole. Appreciate that.
SANCHEZ: And the question that we're putting to you, our viewers, on this morning. Are we safer since 9/11? Tell us what you think. Email us at weekends@cnn.com and we're going to read some of your answers. We'll do so right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Looking back on September 11th, five years after the fact. Today our question to you -- is America safer since September 11th? That's the email question. We've got some really interesting responses from our viewers, that being you. And of course, we want to get more of it. Let's start with Larry from South Carolina. Larry says, "The events of 9/11 were a wake-up call that we are not as secure as we have believed for so many years. We are only marginally safer than we were before 9/11 but we are still buying into the political smoke that we are safer." And he continues to say, "Why? So our leaders can trample over more of our constitutional rights under the guise that there is still more that we can do." That again from Larry in South Carolina.
SANCHEZ: And then we also have another email. This one's coming in from Alvie. "Absolutely! If only the various security agencies could reveal all the possible attacks designed to harm Americans we would be able to know for a certainty just how safe we have been made by tightened security." And Alvie goes on to say, "If our security agencies drop their guard just for a moment we would get another blast just like 9/11."
Two opinions, two different people responding to our question, which so many Americans actually talk about throughout the days and debate, are we any safer since 9/11.
NGUYEN: Yes, keep those emails coming. We'll continue to read them throughout the morning. I know you have thoughts on it, especially with tomorrow being the anniversary.
SANCHEZ: Speaking of 9/11, straight ahead in our next hour, we're going to take you to Afghanistan and the front lines in the war on terror, where there's fierce fighting going on this morning there.
NGUYEN: And another hurricane to tell you about this morning, and this one is named Florence. We'll show you where the storm's headed.
But first, if you are planning to hit the links, as I know you are, Rick, Reynolds has your fairway forecast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Tomorrow does mark the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and among today's many planned memorials is a wreath-laying ceremony this afternoon at ground zero in lower Manhattan. President and Mrs. Bush will be on hand for that event. Looking at live pictures of ground zero right now. You'll want to stay with CNN for extensive live coverage of today's memorial.
SANCHEZ: Escalating violence in Afghanistan in the south NATO led forces say they have killed 94 Taliban insurgents. In the west more than a 100 Taliban fighters raided a government compound killing two policemen and the governor of southeastern Paktia Province was killed today in a suicide bombing outside his office. A report from Kabul is just straight ahead.
NGUYEN: A hurricane is churning off the eastern seaboard and Reynolds Wolf has the details of Florence is her name.
WOLF: Absolutely. This is one big storm, this is the largest storm of the planet this time and it has maximum sustained winds are at 80 miles per hour and it's forecast has strengthen to a category 2 storm overnight and into the morning. In fact as we make our way into tomorrow, it looks like I'm thinking around 8:00, 9:00 in the morning the storm should pass just to the west of Bermuda. We are going to give you latest on the storm coming up in just a few moment, plus we will let you know how your weekend will round out weather wise and what to expect for the work week ahead.
Back to you.
NGUYEN: Like the sound of that. Thank you Reynolds.
While British Prime Minister Tony Blair is trying to keep the peace in the Middle East, a short time ago he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Yesterday he sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. The British prime minister says it is essential that both sides return to peacekeeping talks.
SANCHEZ: Time for inspection aboard the space shuttle "Atlantis" today. Crewmembers used robot cameras to try and search for any damage that was suffered during the liftoff. NASA managers say there may have been three dings to the shuttles thermal skin. Don't believe the damage is close to the severity that doomed the space shuttle "Columbia."
We do run down the top stories every 15 minutes here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING with in-depth coverage all morning long certainly when need be. Your next check of the headlines is coming up at 8:15 Eastern.
NGUYEN: Take a look at this. It is tennis with a twist. We will show you the new heart-pounding way to hit the courts. Looks like a lot of fun.
From the CNN Center this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING, September 10th, 8:00 am at CNN Headquarters in Atlanta and just after 4:30 in Kabul, Afghanistan. Good morning, everyone. I'm Betty Nguyen.
SANCHEZ: I'm Rick Sanchez. We want to thank you so much for being with us this morning.
Violence is heating up in Afghanistan once again. Taliban attacks in the east and in the west, while in the south NATO-led troops take on insurgents in a major offensive. Journalist Tom Coughlan is joining us live from the Afghan capital of Kabul to bring us up-to-date. Boy it seems like all of a sudden we're talking about the same thing we were four and a half years ago. Tom.
TOM COUGHLAN, JOURNALIST: That's right Rick. We are talking about the same thing we were talking about four and a half years ago. The situation in Afghanistan in the south of the country at the moment is pretty critical, that's according to the general in charge of NATO, General James Jones. He said that the country was facing decisive moments a few days ago. Four hundred and twenty Taliban have been killed in the south of the country in the past week, and some of the worst fighting we've seen since 2001. A major offensive led by NATO forces there in the south. Operation called Operation Medusa. That led to 94 Taliban deaths overnight, in heavy fighting, heavy exchanges of fire. We have also seen the death of the governor in central Afghanistan today to a suicide bomb and also attacks on more than a hundred Taliban fighters on a police station in the west of the country that was this afternoon.
SANCHEZ: When we use the word resurgence, which all of us over here are using when describing the story we can't help, but think how can there be resurgence unless something happened to precipitate it. Perhaps military officials lowered their guard or something? Is there any way of putting our finger on what may have precipitated this resurgence?
COUGHLAN: Well, there are many theories on this. One clear thing that you can point to in the redevelopment that's gone out here in Afghanistan since 2001 is that there was a big distraction from Afghanistan in 2003. Well that distraction continues today. That's the war in Iraq. Iraq is seen by many here as having drawn resources away from the redevelopment work here. The reconstruction particularly in the south of the country and could have energies from the world's super power, the United States, on Iraq and that's one of the results of that. One of the repercussions for that and may be the resurgence we now see in the Taliban here in the south.
SANCHEZ: Yes the old too much going on all at once theory. Tom Coughlan we thank you for bringing us up to date on that situation there.
Betty over to you.
NGUYEN: And if you are just joining us, President and Mrs. Bush will be in New York later today to commemorate the fifth anniversary of 9/11. It is one of many memorial events planned around the country. CNN's Elaine Quijano is live at the White House with the latest on all of this.
Good morning to you, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Betty. That is right this afternoon President Bush and the first lady will head to ground zero for a wreath-laying ceremony. It's really the start of two days of somber commemorations of the 9/11 anniversary, but it's intersecting at an interesting time politically as well. We're just two month away from the congressional mid-term elections. Republicans and Democrats are both trying to convince American voters that their party can keep the country safe.
Now already this past week we've seen President Bush layout his views in a series of speeches on the war on terror. He's defined the enemy and given a progress report in the terrorism fight and also urged Congress to pass legislation dealing with military trials for terror suspects. Well, today, amid Democratic criticism that the country is less safe, the president's Homeland Security adviser Fran Townsend insisted the administration has learned the lessons of 9/11.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOWNSEND: They were safer, but there's more to do. There's more to do to secure the country. We've made enormous progress, both giving the tools to the people who need them like the Patriot Act and the terrorist surveillance program, but the president has also enhanced the intelligence community and the law enforcement community adding resources where they're needed most to prevent the next attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP) QUIJANO: Now Democrats argue that the president and Republicans who supported him have mismanaged the terrorism fight. So as we go through the couple of days here Betty it's a delicate balancing act for the White House, which is mindful of trying not to appear as though it's politicizing the September 11th anniversary. As for the president and his activities after the wreath laying today he'll have a couple of activities in New York including breakfast with New York city firefighters, tomorrow he will go to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, as well as the Pentagon and of course tomorrow he'll deliver remarks in a prime time oval office address to the nation. White House press secretary Tony Snow says it will be a reflective speech and not a political address.
Betty.
NGUYEN: Well let's talk about politics for a minute. Two of the most powerful Republicans in the Senate are headed to Guantanamo Bay today. Talk to me about their mission and what they plan to do.
QUIJANO: Well that is exactly right. The top Republicans in the Senate, Senator Bill Frist and Mitch McConnell are heading to Guantanamo to get what they say is a first-hand look basically at the detainee situation there, but it's coming at a time when they're trying to push through the president's legislation on detainees and how they should be tried, the administration feels in military courts.
Now it has run into some opposition, the president's proposal has from some moderate Republican senators. Senators John McCain, John Warner and Lindsey Graham. There are concerned about a provision that would bar detainees from being classified evidence against them. The White House says talks are ongoing but it's very likely, Betty that we're going to be hearing more about this in the days ahead.
Betty.
NGUYEN: CNN's Elaine Quijano at the White House for us this morning. Elaine thank you.
CNN's prime time coverage of the 9/11 anniversary begins at 8:00 eastern with "Paula Zahn Now." Then at 9:00 Wolf Blitzer leads our coverage of the president's prime time address followed by "Larry King Live" from ground zero. And at 10:00 Eastern Anderson Cooper is live on the ground in Afghanistan with a first-hand look at what's really happening there in the war on terror.
SANCHEZ: This weekend more than a thousand people visited the Pentagon, 184 people died there on 9/11. A solemn marker is posted outside that says we will never forget.
NGUYEN: A new CNN poll reveals growing pessimism in the aftermath of 9/11. The fifth anniversary of the attacks is accompanied by strong feelings, 85 percent of those surveyed confessed feeling sad, 74 percent are still angry, 44 percent are afraid and 43 percent say they harbor feelings of vengeance.
The Bush administration likes to remind Americans that there hasn't been a terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11. Even so, significantly more people today believe the country will never be back to normal. The latest poll shows 70 percent now feel that way compared to more than 50 percent in the years immediately after the attack.
SANCHEZ: One of the biggest changes after the attacks is the country's security, but is it enough? What do you think? Are we safer since 9/11? E-mail us at WEEKENDS@CNN.com and we'll read some of your responses on the air later in the newscast.
Also "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" will tackle the issue of America's security coming up at 11:00 Eastern. Hear from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, also see Wolf Blitzer's exclusive interview with Democratic Senator John Kerry. All of this beginning in less than three hours.
NGUYEN: Our coverage of the 9/11 anniversary does continue next hour. I'm going to talk with a counselor about the ongoing mental health problems for the first responders at ground zero. What is being done today to help them deal with tomorrow?
SANCHEZ: The connection between a busy doctor's office and a new school year coming up at the bottom of the hour. Why you may be waiting longer to get that appointment with your physician.
NGUYEN: In just five minutes, tracking hurricane Florence. Find out if the storm will impact the U.S. Mainland.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): What happens when you serve up a backhand or a volley in a heart pounding aerobics class. You're experiencing cardiovascular tennis. A class designed for beginners as well as advanced tennis players.
HEATHER SILVIA, CARDIO TENNIS PRO: It allows you to socialize with your friends approximate. It's designed to get you out of the gym and outside, having a blast. It's designed to keep your heart rate up.
COSTELLO: Cardio tennis combines drills and exercises like running through ladders, jumping jacks, lunges and squats. Grace Dunn says she's addicted to it.
GRACE DUNN, CARDIO TENNIS PLAYER: It's better than being inside working in the gym and running the neighborhood. It's more fun.
COSTELLO: Some serious tennis players say it can improve your tennis game.
BILL OSTERHOLD, CARDIO TENNIS PLAYER: Instead of hitting 50 or 60 balls in a half hour. You'll hit 120.
ROB JULIAN, CERTIFIED TENNIS PRO: Everybody is moving all the time. There is no stop in cardio tennis.
COSTELLO: The best part? Women can burn up to 300 to 600 calories in an hour-long class and men can burn upwards of 800 calories.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Good job.
COSTELLO: Carol Costello, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Many memorials are planned today on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary. Among them is a wreath-laying ceremony this afternoon at ground zero in lower Manhattan. You're looking at pictures now of somewhere we were targeted on just four and a half, five years ago. The president and Mrs. Bush will be on hand for that event.
Stay with CNN for extensive live coverage of today's memorials.
NGUYEN: They're setting up barricades for those wreath-laying memorials.
Well now to southern Afghanistan NATO-led forces say they've killed 94 Taliban insurgents in fighting over night and earlier today. In the west more than 100 Taliban fighters raided a government compound killing two policemen and in the southeast the governor of the Paktia Province was killed today in a suicide bombing outside his office.
Well Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Majority Mitch McConnell head to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, today. They want to see the conditions at the detention facilities. The trip is a prelude to possible legislation to allow military tribunals of the Guantanamo detainees.
SANCHEZ: British prime minister is now wrapping up a peacekeeping visit to the Middle East. Earlier today he met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Yesterday Mr. Blair met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
We run down the top stories every 15 minutes for you right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Within that coverage all morning long. Your next check of the headlines is coming up at 8:30 Eastern.
NGUYEN: We're going to check the headlines while Reynolds Wolf has been very busy with a woman called Francis. She's kind of a bitter woman, isn't she? Growing and in strength. WOLF: Yes. Florence is -- it is a very strong storm. It is a category one at this time, but it is expected to strengthen. Florence by tomorrow is expected to be a category 2 storm if not sooner and it has got just a beat on Bermuda. The latest path we have from the National Hurricane Center brings the storm just to the west of Bermuda, but keep in mind the strongest part of the storm will be on the northeastern quadrant and as that drifts on through and I'd say that you pass 9:00 in the morning on Bermuda, right before that at 2:00 a.m. it's expected to have winds at 110 miles per hour putting it as a category 2 storm and once it moves a little bit farther to the north it will interact with cooler water which will cause the storm to weaken considerably by 2:00 a.m. Wednesday and deeper into the north Atlantic. The biggest effect we'll feel on the eastern seaboard is really going to be heavy surf from Miami to Charleston to Norfolk, even up in New York City and Boston. Heavy surf along the coastline.
Meanwhile we're seeing strong storms in parts of the Gulf Coast, south of New Orleans. Some very severe thunderstorms as we make our way back into the Cornbelt, south of Chicago, cleared through Davenport and Des Moines and Omaha. Showers and storms, light stuff now, but heavier storms possible into the afternoon. So it looks like it will be a wet/dry for you if you happen to be driving in the mid west.
That's a look at your forecast around the nation. Lets send it back to you at the news desk.
SANCHEZ: You know what is interesting is the way that storm will hit Bermuda, it will be pushing the water into the island, I imagine causing some serious storm surge effects.
WOLF: No question about that, I would say at a minimal of eight feet, maybe as high as 10 feet. It will be a rough time for them in Bermuda.
NGUYEN: They're being told to board up and prepare for the worst. All right, Reynolds. Thank you.
WOLF: You bet.
SANCHEZ: It is the lingering health effects of 9/11.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no question that people have developed very high rates of respiratory illnesses.
SANCHEZ (voice over): Is it also responsible, though, for cases of cancer?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Coming up in the next hour we'll weigh both sides of this medical debate. NGUYEN: And in 10 minutes "House Call" tackles the germ drawbacks of a new school year. Find out how to keep your kids healthy when they head back to class.
But first, greetings from Americans hero's overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi my name is Specialist Wagner (ph). I'm from Portland, Oregon. I'm stationed here in Kabul, Afghanistan. I just wanted to send a message to my brother back home, Mike from Portland, Oregon, I miss you and I love you and all my friends, I hope you guys are doing good and I miss you. And I can't wait to come home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hello I'm Petty Officer Sono (ph) stationed here at NSA, Bahrain. I'd lake to say hello to my wife Helen and my daughter Katia (ph) back home. I love you and I miss you both.
Go Navy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Giving you a live picture now of ground zero. You can see crews are out there, many setting up for the memorial services that will be held both today and tomorrow. As you know, close to 5:00 Eastern today the president will be laying a wreath at ground zero and we will take that live here on CNN.
SANCHEZ: For those of us who were there covering the story as I was, there is a picture that is seared in my mind of exactly what was happening as those towers suddenly started to come down as it is for so many people in this country. That's why we continue to receive eye reports from people around the nation marking the first anniversary of September 11th. Here's in fact a picture of Stephen Kosloff sent us this. It slow shows the lingering debris after the towers fell. Stephen says he took the picture from a bypass and people walking along were eerily quiet.
NGUYEN: Daniel Daly sent us this image of last year's memorial for the World Trade Center. Look at that picture. You can see the moon coming through the lights representing where the twin towers once stood.
SANCHEZ: Here's a moving tribute to all September 11th victims. Ron Gorman bringing his light a candle in September memorial. The bus is covered inside and out with the names and the faces of all the fallen victims.
NGUYEN: So if you have photos or videos such as this send it to us to at CNN.com/ireport. Stay tuned to CNN as we observe the fifth anniversary of September 11th, with distinctive contributions from our viewers.
SANCHEZ: All morning long we've been asking for your thoughts and to get your e-mails to this question. Are we safer since 9/11?
NGUYEN: Ken in Texas writes, "Bin Laden is still alive and well. Commanders in Afghanistan are asking for more troops. Iraq's elected president is meeting with Iranian leaders. Safer? No."
SANCHEZ: We also have this one. It's coming in from Michele. "Although many changes have been made to our national security, I do believe we are but not because of any of this, but we as Americans have become much more vigilant, much more aware of our surroundings and much more willing to report anything of a suspicious nature."
Saratoga, New York, is where Michele is writing to us from.
NGUYEN: Keep those e-mails coming. That's the e-mail question this morning. Is America any safer after 9/11? We'll read them on the air. The address there on the screen WEEKENDS@CNN.com.
SANCHEZ: The Taliban go on the offensive in Afghanistan. The details when we check the mornings top three stories in just a couple of minutes.
NGUYEN: Keeping healthy in a new school year can be hard especially for the little ones. Dr. Sanjay Gupta in "House Call" will show you what you need to do.
SANCHEZ: Also coming up at the top of the hour the physical and mental fallout facing ground zero first responders. We'll tell you what problems they're dealing five years after the attacks.
NGUYEN: But first, more greetings from some of America's finest overseas.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just like to say hi to my husband Jim and to all my family and friends and all of the guard people and my good guard family. It's a pleasure being here serving all of you and running into other North Dakota soldiers that are here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm Tannisha Henderson I'm from Memphis, Tennessee, coming all of the way from Kabul, Afghanistan. I'd like to send out to Bobby my fiance. Baby, I love you, I hope you're feeling better. I can't wait to see you soon. I'll be home soon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Among today's 9/11 memorials is a wreath-laying ceremony this afternoon at ground zero in lower Manhattan. The president and Mrs. Bush will be on hand for that event. CNN will have extensive, live coverage of today's memorials.
A bloody day in Afghanistan, in the south NATO-led forces says they killed 94 insurgents. In the west more than a hundred Taliban fighters raided a government compound killing two policemen. And then in the east a suicide bomber killed the governor of the Paktia Province. What's happening in the coalition efforts in Afghanistan? CNN's Anderson Cooper is in the war-torn nation as part of our 9/11 anniversary coverage. You can watch "AC 360" Monday at 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
Reynolds Wolf is following Florence for us as she seems to be making a beeline toward Bermuda. Problem? If so, how big?
WOLF: It could be a huge problem. This is just an enormous storm. Right now Rick this is the strongest storm we have on the planet, category one and we had a hurricane hunter aircraft going into the center of the storm and it is expected to strengthen, it is strengthening as we speak and by the time we get into the overnight hours into tomorrow we're looking at this being a category 2 storm. The latest path we have from the National Hurricane Center has it moving to the west of Bermuda and as you know the strongest part of the storm will be the northeastern quadrant of the storm. The northeastern corridor, so it will be brushing past Bermuda. The minimum, the storm surge will be 10 feet and as soon as it interacts with cooler water it will begin to die out. Now Rick we'll have more updates on Florence throughout much of the morning. Plus a look at your forecast around the nation.
Back to you.
SANCHEZ: Reynolds, thank you so much.
WOLF: You bet.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
