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CNN Live Sunday

President Bush Visits WTC Ruins

Aired November 11, 2001 - 15:08   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.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: And as we mentioned just a few moments ago, it was two months ago today that global terrorism came to America's shores on a large scale. All totaled, the attacks of September 11 killed nearly 5,000 people. Recovery efforts are still under way there.

President Bush honored the victims of the attacks during a visit to the World Trade Center ruins today, and CNN's senior White House correspondent John King, has more on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN KING, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The president closed his visit to New York with a visit to Ground Zero, the rubble that once was the World Trade Center. Two months after the terrorist strike, the memorial service there. Two by two flags brought up on the scene representing the country's 86 in all, who had citizens that fell victim to the terrorist strikes here in the United States on September 11.

Mr. Bush using this ceremony organized by the United Nations to try to remind the world that it has a stake in this fight too. Before leaving the site, the President signed a wall. Again, on that wall, the listing of all the countries who had victims in the terrorist strikes, Mr. Bush writing "Good will triumph over evil. May God bless you all."

It is the Veteran's Day weekend here in the United States. Mr. Bush attending a breakfast earlier in New York this morning honoring veterans of past conflicts and saying that those serving overseas now share in the proud legacy of those who have fought for the United States before.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One veteran of World War II recalled the spirit of the American military and the relief it brought to suffering peoples. America, he said, has sent the best of her young men around the world, not to conquer, but deliberate. Not to terrorize, but to help.

KING: Back in Washington, Vice President Dick Cheney took the lead role in the annual ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, a wreath laying among the tributes there to veterans of conflicts past and in his remarks at the ceremony as he looks backwards and pays tribute to veterans of past conflicts. Mr. Cheney also took a moment to salute those serving overseas now in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan. KING: Mr. Cheney also took a moment to salute those serving overseas now in the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now Americans must fight again. In this new century, war has come to us. The terrorists who attacked this country have declared themselves the mortal enemies of the United States and will be dealt with as such. Americans have no illusions about the difficulties that lie ahead. We cannot predict the length or the course of the conflict, but we know with absolute certainty that this nation will persevere and we will prevail.

KING: After that ceremony at Ground Zero, it was back to Washington for President Bush, Moore Coalition Building in the week ahead. The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, due for talks in Washington and at the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas. Mr. Bush, of course, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan, the broader war against terrorism to come, but also hopes to make progress with the Russians on the issue of a US missile defense and in reducing the nuclear arsenals of both nations.

John King, CNN, New York.

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