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CNN Saturday Morning News

Ceremonies at Ground Zero; 9/11 & Ramadan

Aired September 11, 2010 - 07:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes coming to you from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Now, the ceremonies in New York, they're going to be held at a park, Zuccotti Park, it is called. It is adjacent to the World Trade Center on the southeast corner, really, from where the World Trade Center site is. That program set to begin at 8:40 Eastern Time.

There are going to be four different moments of silence throughout that ceremony.

The first is going to be at 8:46. That is the first moment of silence. That is when the first plane struck the North Tower on that morning of September 11th.

Right after that, families of the victims will then be allowed to start entering the actual World Trade Center site.

Then at 9:03, the second moment of silence. That is when the second plane hit the South Tower.

Then at 9:59, the third moment of silence. That is when the South Tower fell.

And then the fourth moment of silence, at 10:28 a.m., that is to commemorate the fall of the North Tower.

The program set to wrap up around noontime. And as always, as we've seen over the years, they will have family members who will be up at the podium reading the names of every single victim of that day.

The vice president, Joe Biden, will also be attending the events in New York. The president will make remarks at the Pentagon. That is where 184 people died.

The president's remarks are scheduled to start at 9:40 Eastern Time. We'll bring that to you live.

And as I mentioned, the first lady, Michelle Obama, as well as the former first lady, Laura Bush, will both speak at the ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Michelle Obama will speak around 10:40 Eastern Time. We will bring you those remarks live as well.

I do want to take you now back to New York, and our Susan Candiotti who is standing for us near Ground Zero in New York. Susan, good morning to you.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J.

In fact, a little while ago, we saw bagpipes that will be part of the honor guard that arrived walking down the street here near Ground Zero, with a contention of people dressed in everyday clothes walking behind them to show support. And that was the first time we had our first touching moment, I would say, of this day.

It's a gorgeous day out here. Much like it was nine years ago on 9/11.

This is a time where, as you said, very shortly families are already beginning to arrive at the scene. It is a day for them to share pain, to share memories, and to try to share some strength from each other, draw upon each other to move forward.

But it is also a time for them to try to look ahead, because for the first time, they will have some tangible progress that they can see of the 9/11 memorial. I had a chance to have a first-hand look at it yesterday as we had a tour of it. And there will be stunning things for the family to see.

Now, they will be able to look at the outline of the reflecting pools that are taking form at this time. They will be simply amazing to see, surrounded by a wall with the names of all those who died not only in the 9/11 attacks but also in the attack on the World Trade Center back in 1993, cascading waterfalls -- all of this looking down seven stories below where there will be a museum. That won't be ready until a few years from now.

However, the memorial itself on the plaza level will be open by this time next year. So, it will be a beautiful ceremony that we're expecting to witness this day -- T.J.

HOLMES: Susan, one more thing. Do we know how many family members they are expecting this year? Because over the years, of course, you can expect that all the families can make it year after year. But do we know how many families members possibly might be showing up today?

CANDIOTTI: No, we haven't had a precise or even an estimated number on that, thus far. But for the first time, also, you will have not only family members reading the names, but they will be helped and assisted by the people who have been working on this 9/11 memorial. So, that will be interesting to see as well.

HOLMES: All right. Susan Candiotti for us in New York -- we will continue to check in with Susan throughout the morning -- thank you, as always.

Well, we are seeing Muslims right now celebrate the end of Ramadan, the holy month of Ramadan. But some of the celebrations were toned down and then there are protests as well in other places. We'll explain this to you. It's four minutes past the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Six minutes past the hour here now on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

More than 1 billion Muslims across the world are observing the end of the month of Ramadan. This year, and the Ramadan falling on the anniversary of September 11th. And there were some Muslims out there who were worried that pictures of an all out celebration during this symbolic weekend may come across the wrong way.

Soumaya Khalifa joining us once again here to discuss this and other things with us. She's is executive director for the Islamic Speakers Bureau here in Atlanta.

Ma'am, good morning. Thank you for being here with us once again.

And we talked there -- some Muslims were worried about it and thought they needed to tone it down a bit in celebrations. How did you feel about the idea? Some people think it's a shame Muslims should even have to tone anything down during their holy month.

SOUMAYA KHALIFA, EXEC. DIR., ISLAMIC SPEAKERS BUREAU OF ATLANTA: Yes, there's that feeling. But I think most Muslims want to be respective of people's emotions around this time and they don't want to see people perceiving the celebration of the end of Ramadan, of Eid, of something being celebrated anything close to 9/11.

HOLMES: Now, I would assume that just has so much to do quite frankly with the tone of things we've seen and a couple of controversies, whether it's this guy down in Florida who wants to burn the Koran and this Islamic center that's stirred up so much controversy. That's specifically why Muslims thought maybe should tone things down a bit?

KHALIFA: Well, probably that adds to it, but I think the sensitivity around 9/11 also had lot to do with it as well.

HOLMES: Oh, you think it would be there no matter what, not just a matter of these controversies.

KHALIFA: Yes. Maybe it wouldn't have been that much heightened, but I think it would have been.

HOLMES: How will you and other Muslims now -- what can we expect to see on this particular day for Muslims across the U.S., at least?

KHALIFA: Well, across the U.S., there are a lot of memorial services for 9/11. I'll be participating myself in a couple today and was involved in a couple yesterday. And today is a day of service for Muslims to go out and give back to communities across the country. And that service projects across the country. HOLMES: Is this a good time, a good opportunity for outreach, for the rest of the country, many who may not understand Islam, many who may harbor some hard feelings against Islam right now to see Muslims serving -- to see Muslims praying for the victims of -- is this a good opportunity, quite frankly?

KHALIFA: I think it is. I think it's up to all of us to take that situation that we're in and make it into an opportunity. I know of a lot of churches across the country who are choosing to read from the Koran tomorrow and we have received many, many requests on what verses should those churches be reading. And we made recommendations to that.

So, I think from the Christian tradition, from the Jewish tradition, from people of no faith tradition at all, there has been definitely an opportunity to reach out.

HOLMES: How much has this guy in Florida hurt the cause right now of more partnership and more understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims? How much has he hurt and hijacked the whole debate, quite frankly -- this pastor who planned a "burn the Koran" day?

KHALIFA: Well, he has hijacked it to a certain extent and people who wanted to fall into that trap did fall into it.

But I think others saw beyond that. A lot of clergy are going beyond that saying, stop it, this is not the right thing. Americans don't burn books, much less sacred texts. And let's do something about it.

So, there is a campaign by many, many churches -- just again, as I mentioned earlier, of reading the Koran, of reaching out to the Muslim neighbors, of sending out e-mails. I have received dozens and dozens of e-mails, phone call, text messages telling me how they -- you know, those clergy and people of faith, how horribly they feel about what's happening with Mr. Terry Jones and what he's doing.

HOLMES: All right. Last thing here, what are your hopes for what things will be like tomorrow, quite frankly? We have gotten all this controversy and back-and-forth leading up to this day. What are your hopes that we will all wake up tomorrow and we'll have a better day, a better world? What are your hopes for tomorrow, I should say?

KHALIFA: I love that question. Thank you so much for asking it.

I think my hopes for tomorrow is a peaceful world. It's a world where we all connect with each other as human beings. We realize that we have differences but we have so much more similarities. And let's look at those similarities and let's work together to eradicate poverty, to eradicate illnesses.

There's so much work to be done around. And let's use that energy to make the world a better place.

HOLMES: Soumaya Khalifa, it's good to have you in studio with us once again. Thank you so much. And I know you have some ceremonies to get to and some commemorations and also celebrating the end of the holy month of Ramadan. So, we appreciate you taking time out for us.

KHALIFA: Thank you. And I just wanted to say that my heart goes out to family members of the victims of 9/11. I know there were many Muslims there as well, either in the Twin Towers or as first respondents, as well as fellow other Americans.

HOLMES: Absolutely. Thank you so much for that.

KHALIFA: Thank you.

HOLMES: All right. Eleven minutes past the hour. Quick break here on the CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We'll be right back.

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HOLMES: All right. Twelve minutes past the hour now. After the largest terror attack on U.S. soil, the way Americans travel and who crosses our borders became the highest national security concern.

Keeping one of our nation's busiest cities safe, fell in part to the hands of New York City's police department. And this morning we're joined by the man in charge of trying to keep that city safe, New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, joins us now.

Sir, good morning to you and thank you for being with us on this day. Here we are nine years later. Just how much safer is New York, would you say, than it was nine years ago?

COMMISSIONER RAYMOND W. KELLY, NYPD: Well, no doubt about it, it's considerably safer. We've done an awful lot. We devote over 1,000 police officers every day to protecting our city. We have first class counterterrorism operation with world class analysts.

But there's no guarantees. The city is still on the top of the terrorist target list, unfortunately. We've had 11 plots against the city since September 11th, 2001. And we have to remain vigilant.

HOLMES: Are there any new threats to your city on this day specifically?

KELLY: No. There are no specific threats to New York. Of course, we always believe that there is sort of an ongoing constant threat to the city, as history has shown. But we have no specific information to indicate a threat today.

HOLMES: As the city continues -- I mean, that's a busy, bustling city. You know you have mass transit. You know you have targets and buildings. I guess, but over the next -- here we are nine years later, but even over the next few years -- I guess, how do you see new issues you might have in protecting that city? Are there new things popping up, if you will, just as the city naturally evolves, that are going to cause challenges for you trying to protect down the road?

KELLY: Well, I'm standing in Lower Manhattan. And we have put in place and we're continuing to build a Lower Manhattan security initiative, which will ultimately consist of about 3,000 cameras. These are both public and private sector cameras, radiation detector, license plate readers. We have a coordination center not too far from here where we have both public and private sector stakeholders who work here on a 24-hour basis.

We're taking that technology and migrating it north to midtown Manhattan. And we're building a midtown Manhattan security initiative.

So, we're using a lot of technology. We hope to use a lot more of it. Obviously, as technology is developed, we want -- we want to utilize that as well.

HOLMES: And, sir, that proposed Islamic center and mosque that's not too far away from where you're standing, but literally two blocks away from the World Trade Center site, where those towers once stood -- is that presenting any specific challenge for your police force today? Because I know we have dueling protests that are going to be taking place down there today.

KELLY: Yes, well, we'll have at least six protests today -- may have more sort of ad hoc protests. And that is -- that location is the focal point. So, we'll have, obviously, additional police officers in that immediate vicinity and other location where's the demonstrations are going to take place.

So, it's obviously the focus of a lot of attention. And probably will be for the foreseeable future. So, we'll have additional resources near that site and the surrounding area.

HOLMES: Sir -- and right now, in your city as well, is this guy Terry Jones, this pastor out of Florida who planned a "burn the Koran" day. He landed in your city last night. Not just him being in the city, but specifically what he has done, the message he's put out and that has gone out around the world. Even the White House has said this man is possibly a threat to our soldiers abroad.

But do you think what he has done has possibly made your city, if it's possible, even more so of a target or is bringing some undo attention to your city again?

KELLY: Well, it certainly was an unwise thing for him to do. We met him when he got off the plane last evening. We had an extensive discussion with him.

We believe we know what his plans are, at least what he says his plans are. We're going to know where he is at all times. We'll keep a close tab on him.

You know, it's difficult to say whether or not it's raised the problem level here, if you will. But we're going to keep a close tab on him today and tomorrow.

HOLMES: Yes, a couple of things. Why was it important, in your opinion, to keep close tabs on him and what is your understanding that he's told you of what his plans are in your town? KELLY: Well, he's going on a television show this morning in which he says that he's going to say he's not going to burn any books. His plans after that are -- were not clear. He says he has no specific plans after that.

We told him things that we didn't want him to do, or areas that we thought it was best for him not to go to. And he seemed to agree with that. But as I say, we're going to keep a close eye on him today.

HOLMES: You're keeping a close eye, you think, for his own protection?

KELLY: Yes, I think that's certainly an issue. I think his safety could be an issue. And we emphasized that to him last evening. And he seemed to agree.

You know, we would like to make certain that he remains safe while he's in this city and then leave. His plan right now is to leave on Monday.

HOLMES: All right. Commissioner Kelly, one last thing here for you -- what are these days like for you personally?

KELLY: Well, of course, for everyone within the city on 9/11 it brings back terrible memories. I live very close to Ground Zero. I was out of my house for a couple of months, lost friends. Just have such a traumatic impact certainly in this neighborhood, things, vision, sights that you will never forget.

I can remember the sight of the tower falling and thinking that it just couldn't happen. I was a police commissioner 1993 when the towers were attacked at that time and I remember sitting with the engineers in the basement about 9:00 at night saying, this building could never come down. When I saw that sight, when I saw the building coming down, it just, you know, unimaginable to me.

So, it's just -- it's a lot of bad memories, but the city has come a long way in the last nine years. We're stronger. New Yorkers are tougher. They're resilient people.

And the city is thriving. Even in this economic downturn, the city is doing relatively well compared to the other cities. And I credit that to -- attribute that to the mayor's leadership, but the resilience of New Yorkers.

HOLMES: All right. Commissioner Kelly, always a busy day -- and as you just described, a very personal day for you as well. But we appreciate you taking the time out with us here on this anniversary. Sir, thank you so much.

KELLY: Thank you, sir.

HOLMES: All right. Twenty minutes past the hour. Quick break. We'll be right back.

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HOLMES: Taking a look now at some of the stories making headlines today -- including the headline grabbing reverend from Florida who called this burn a Koran day. You're seeing a picture there from last night. He arrived in New York City, even though no one is exactly sure why he's there.

He claims, at least while he was in Florida that, in fact, he had a meeting set up with the imam who is behind the proposed Islamic center and mosque at Ground Zero. However, that imam has come out and says no meeting is set up.

We also just got word in the live interview from the commissioner of the New York Police Department, Ray Kelly, saying in fact the police department met Terry Jones, the pastor, at the airport last night, want to find out where he was going, what he would be doing in their city. And also, they wanted to keep up with him because they are afraid for his own safety.

He said that the pastor told them that he was going to be doing a couple of interviews while he was in town and that, in fact, in the interviews he was going to say that he was not going to be burning any Koran. And also that Jones, according to Commissioner Kelly, would be leaving New York sometime on Monday.

We'll keep you posted.

Also, today's release of an American hiker from a prison in Iran has been canceled. You see her there on the left. She was captured with another two fellow Americans more than a year ago, charged with spying by Iran.

We had gotten word a couple days ago that in fact she could be released this weekend, on Saturday, but then Iran came back out and said no. The process has not been completed and she would not be released today. A lump has been found in her breast and there are some concerns about her health.

Right now, we will keep a close eye on that story, as well.

Also, the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor from Iraq or Afghanistan will be decorated at the White House. You're seeing his picture there -- Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta being honored for his service in Afghanistan in October of 2007.

Now, this is how it happened. The 25-year-old apparently saw two Taliban fighters dragging a fellow soldier away. He ran after them, killed one, wounded the other.

The soldier he went after, tried to help, died later from his wounds. But Giunta did keep him from being captured.

Now, we are going to have plenty of coverage throughout the day on the ceremonies to commemorate the 9/11 attacks which happened nine years ago today. The pictures you're seeing there, the one on your left, that is of Ground Zero. And you see that at the bottom of the screen there, that large square, that is going to be one of the memorial pools, reflective pools when the memorial is built.

But that spot right there is where one of the tower actually stood. That is literally a footprint of one of those towers. It is right now still very much a construction site. Families are starting to gather there now.

The official ceremony will then begin at 8:40. Four different moments of silence -- two different moments of silence to commemorate when those planes actually struck the towers and then two more moments of silence to actually commemorate when the towers actually fell.

The vice president will be participating in that ceremony at Ground Zero.

Then on the right, you're seeing Shanksville, Pennsylvania. That's where another flight also crashed on September 11th, killing a number of people as well. We'll take you there. The first lady will be a part of that ceremony.

I'm going to hand this over to Sanjay Gupta in just a moment. I'll be back at the top of the hour with more live news and again, all the ceremonies on this 9/11 anniversary.

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