America Remembers Sept. 11 Victims
7th Anniversary Of Terrorist Attacks Marked By Familiar Rituals In New York, D.C. and Pa.
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Bin Laden Still At Large
Seven years after the 9/11 attacks on America, Osama Bin Laden is still alive and leading a resurgent Al Qaeda. Sheila MacVicar reports.
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Pentagon's 9/11 Memorial Opens
A memorial has opened at the Pentagon for those who died when American Airlines Flight 77 struck the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. David Martin reports.
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Red Tape At Ground Zero
Seven years after the 9/11 attacks, the former World Trade Center site remains undeveloped. Many are dissatisfied with the pace of reconstruction, as Harry Smith reports.
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President Bush led a White House gathering in observing a moment of silence marking the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. Standing next to the president for the brief South Lawn ceremony were his wife, Laura, and Vice President Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne. (CBS)
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People walk through a flag memorial at the Pentagon during a ceremony marking the 7th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
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A woman holds flowers and a photo as she waits for the start of the seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks commemoration ceremony held at Zuccotti Park in New York Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. The ceremony remembers those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 (AP Photo/Patti Sapone)
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Gene Stilp, left, of Middle Paxton Township, Pa., leads a sunrise memorial at the temporary Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Photo Essay
The Attacks: 7th Anniversary
Relatives, friends and dignitaries remember the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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Sept. 11 And Since
Reflecting on the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the day that changed America.
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Photo Essay
Ground Zero Health Crisis
Aftermath of the collapse of the twin towers and victims of the toxic cloud it spawned.
Relatives of victims killed at the World Trade Center gathered in a park in lower Manhattan for readings from dignitaries and a recitation of the names of the dead. Later Thursday, Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain were due at ground zero to pay silent respects.
"Today marks the seventh anniversary of the day our world was broken," Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the start of the ceremony, calling Sept. 11, 2001, a "day that began like any other and ended as none ever has."
The ritual in New York included moments of silence in the morning at 8:46, 9:03, and 9:59 and 10:29 - the times when two hijacked jets slammed into the trade center buildings and the twin towers fell.
Services were also held in Pennsylvania and at the Pentagon, where a new memorial was dedicated at a ceremony attended by President Bush. The Pentagon Memorial contains 184 benches - one for each victim that will glow with light in the night.
Among the speakers at the New York ceremony were three who were young children when their fathers went to work at the World Trade Center seven years ago and never came home. The children are now about 10, 11 and 13.
"I remember playing in the yard with him. I remember him pulling my wagon. He was strong. He always made me feel safe," said Alex Salamone, wearing the soccer jersey of his father, John. "I wish I could remember more, but we were so young when he died."
Family members and students representing more than 90 countries that lost victims on Sept. 11 read the names of 2,751 people killed in New York. At the same time, family members descended to the nearby footprints of the twin towers and paid their respects to their lost loved ones.
Relatives of victims began arriving at dawn at ground zero, now a huge construction site. American flags were draped over silent cranes, and some families held signs saying "We miss you," "We love you" or "You will never be forgotten."
The ceremony included many tearful remembrances as family members reflected on the amount of time that has passed since 2001 and expressed their support for American troops.
"They took from us innocent lives in the names of their God, and it seems some people have forgotten what happened here seven years ago," said Rosaria Reneo, sister of victim Daniela R. Notaro. "Our lives are filled with pain and always will be. Thank you to all the men and women fighting for us."
The family of Sept. 11 victim Michael Diehl went to ground zero wearing white T-shirts bearing his photo and 9/11/01.
"It's still very hard for us to come here. It doesn't get any easier," said Diehl's sister-in-law, Norma Linguito. "I just wish they'd get the memorial up so we can have something, a marker, to remember everyone."
McCain and Obama planned to visit the site after the ceremony concluded Thursday afternoon. The candidates agreed weeks ago to pull their campaign ads for the day and were appearing together Thursday night at a forum on volunteerism and service.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke at the ceremony - as he has every year in New York - drawing applause from some in the crowd. As the names were being read, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine and New York Gov. David Paterson walked down a ramp to lay flowers in the pit where the towers stood.
Last year's reading by Giuliani, then a presidential candidate, drew protests from family members who said the city was ill-prepared for the terrorist attacks under his leadership and questioned whether he should be there while running for the White House.
Many families had no opposition to McCain and Obama's visit, but some questioned whether the visit was necessary. "It's probably going to be more commercial. This really should be a day for the people who lived and worked down here," said Jane Wixted, who lost her police officer son Glen Pettit on Sept. 11.
But Pettit's former colleague, Chris DeAngelo, was glad they were coming. "One of them is going to lead this nation," he said. "And for that reason, both should come here to see what happened."
At the Pentagon memorial dedication, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld mourned the airline passengers and those who "one morning kissed their loved ones goodbye, went off to work and never came home."
The Pentagon memorial is the first of three major Sept. 11 memorials to be completed. The 2-acre park, located at the spot where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon's west wall, consists primarily of 184 cantilevered benches, each bearing a victim's name.
The president and first lady marked the anniversary during a moment of silence on the South Lawn of the White House, then went to the Pentagon where the president spoke at a service.
In Pennsylvania, several hundred people gathered to read the names of 40 victims killed in Shanksville where Flight 93 came down after passengers reportedly stormed the cockpit to thwart terrorists' plans to use that plane as a weapon like the others. McCain was among those honoring the victims.
Memorials are years away from being built in Pennsylvania and New York. As in past years, two bright blue beams of light will shine at night on the New York City skyline, in memory of the fallen towers.
The New York ceremony included one more victim name than last year. The city restored Sneha Philip, a woman who vanished on Sept. 10, 2001, to its official death toll this year after a court ruled that she was likely killed at the trade center.
As the nation marked the seventh anniversary of 9/11, most Americans believe the U.S. is adequately prepared to deal with another terrorist attack against the country, according to a new CBS News poll.
In the poll, 52 percent said they thought the U.S. was adequately prepared, compared to 39 percent who said the U.S. was not prepared. This is the first time since March 2003 - right after the U.S. invasion of Iraq - that a majority held that opinion. As recently as last September, after the revelations of a failed terrorist plot in London that summer, 56 percent said the U.S. was not adequately prepared.
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See all 615 CommentsObama has several areas of vulnerability,lack of experience both on foreign and domestic issues and his naivety.
This is a candidate who supports, for example, driver''s licenses for illegal immigrants. It was an idea first proposed by former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.
This is an insane idea. We''re going to give government-issued IDs to illegal immigrants that we can''t keep track of and we don''t know where they are, we can''t account for them today. When a government-issued ID is necessary to rent a car, rent a truck, make a credit card, get on an airplane, all things terrorists need to do to mount another attack on this country.
Obama''s has a total lack of realistic experience regarding terrorism and national security.
I think national security and energy are the two issues that McCain must stress to take Obama down.
Thanks for interrupting a story of rememberance with your usual brand of unqualified invective. You should be ashamed - but of course you won''t - neocons have no meaning for that word.
While mourning your American losses on 9/11 please remember the 327 foreigners who died also, including 67 of my fellow country men.
Posted by gop_will_win
Your comments express your stupidity, ignorance and lack of intelligence.
Posted by John43218 at 08:43 AM : Sep 11, 2008
If John McCain cared about the National Security Of the United States, he would not have picked Sarah Palin as his replacement.
McCain voted against the Webb amendment calling for adequate troop rest between deployments.
McCain voted against an amendment that would provide $20 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for health care facilities.
McCain voted against increasing Veterans medical services funding by $1.5 billion in FY 2007 to be paid for by closing corporate tax loopholes.
McCain voted to table an amendment by Senator Dodd that called for an additional $322,000,000 for safety equipment for United States forces in Iraq.
McCain urged other Senate members to table a vote (which never passed) to provide more than $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment in Iraq related to a shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, and tactical vests.
McCain voted against increasing the amount available for medical care for veterans by $650,000,000.
When it comes to their claim to support the troops, John McCain and his party are flat-out liars. The message is simple - if you really support the troops, stop voting Republican.
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I seen an advertisement for a liberal 9-11 fest. Free turbins, maniquines in soldiers clothing to be spat upon, hamburgers cooked with burning flags. You people are sick!
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Posted by shanev137 at 08:28 AM : Sep 11, 2008
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Yes he did. It was a long time ago. You must have forgotten that. Lets move on.
The Michigan Messenger reports on efforts by state Republicans to suppress voter turnout, mostly among blacks.
Ohio Republicans are poised to follow a similar gameplan.
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Posted by tuckerndfw at 09:06 AM : Sep 11, 2008
based on what? the fact that you are obsessed with Bush?
Posted by jamesm12341 at 09:23 AM : Sep 11, 2008
Bush is obsessed with self...
Posted by john43218
Which is EXACTLY why we can''t afford another 4 minutes let alone 4 years of Bush.
Posted by gop_will_win at 09:19 AM : Sep 11, 2008
Lets move on.
Don''t you wish...
Democratic Leadership.
Posted by john43218
So what in all your Republican magninamity would you all do if elected mayor of one of these cities. Now remember the crime rates in those cities are directly related to federal Republicans cutting any plan supposed to re-employ or educate the poor. They are responsible for cutting after school programs which would help to keep kids off the streets. They are responsible for high housing costs so that the poor need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet etc.etc. So what exactly would a Republican mayor of Detroit say do other than *** and moan it''s all the democrat''s fault?
Posted by gop_will_win
I bet gop_will_win is the latest reincarnation gop soccermom/forever/hockeymom.
So are you saying that the action was somehow justified?
Are we not supposed to respond?
Is there anything going on in the world that the Jews can''t be blamed?
The palestinians live as they do because they continuously attack Israel. Evertime Israel relaxes the borders, they are attacked again.
What would you do?
AAAAAwwwww whats the matter was I right on the button with what I sad and the facts were 99.9% correct. Thats Hurts Doesnt it gop_will_win when the facts are right in your face you douschbag.
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Posted by XmanBorg
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The facts are 9-11 happened during Clintons watch and everyone knows this, Clinton started the Iraq war over cigars, and we elected George W Bush to solve all problems and ills which he has. Amen.
What makes people think that if terrorist were able to coming to our back yard and bomb not only the twin towers but also the PENTAGON and this government didn''t do anything to protect us, Heck!! they didn''t do anything to protected themselves!!, that we can step out of our element and go into their world and kill them where ever they may be.
Kill who?...everyone but Bush knows that terrorist cells are scattered all over the world.
Yes what happened on 9/11 was a very hard reality and it could happen again because it shouldn''t of happened the first time under this governments watch.
You Dousch bag get an original thought and dont copy my stuff, your a cut and paste douschbag democrat.
What makes people think that if terrorist were able to come into to our back yard and bomb not only the twin towers but also the PENTAGON and this government didn''t do anything to protect us, Heck!! they didn''t do anything to protected themselves!!, that we can step out of our element and go into their world and kill them where ever they may be.
Kill who?...everyone but Bush knows that terrorist cells are scattered all over the world.
Yes what happened on 9/11 was a very hard reality and it could happen again because it shouldn''t of happened the first time under this governments watch.
What makes people think that if terrorist were able to come into to our back yard and bomb not only the twin towers but also the PENTAGON and this government didn''t do anything to protect us, Heck!! they didn''t do anything to protected themselves!!, that we can step out of our element and go into their world and kill them where ever they may be.
Kill who?...everyone but Bush knows that terrorist cells are scattered all over the world.
Yes what happened on 9/11 was a very hard reality and it could happen again because it shouldn''t of happened the first time under this governments watch.
Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of England, spoke most eloquent and kind towards his parliament about us, as they debated the course of action to pursue.
John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia, provided steadfast support to us as we pursued justice in Afghanistan.
Vicente Fox, the President of Mexico, provided support and challenge to President Bush as we deployed to Afghanistan. It was President Fox who disagreed with President Bush about the USA invasion of Iraq. History proves that President Fox (Harvard Educated) knew something about effective foreign policy that the USA didn''t know. Mexico did end relations with Cuba after being one of their only allies under the Fox administration.
Saddaam Hussien was interviewed and revealed his greatest fear was his Iranian neighbors. Bluffing about his WMD program and being uncooperative with UN weapons inspectors, was his most effective deter for an Iranian invasion. He was executed with no WMD or proven ties to any Al Queida operations.
The Leaders in our world need discernment, wisdom and humility. Watching them debate and deliberate after the 9-11 disaster seemed to be like watching Henry Fonda in "Twelve Angry Men".
Seven years and still, all we have is hole in the ground with a bunch of construction workers standing around, scratching their brains, waiting for something to build itself into a sense of national pride.
Seven years, and steam still rises from a patch of dirt in the center of a once proud city that could do ANYTHING in a New York Minute.
Seven years...
I think THEY won
The story isn''t just that there are religious fanatics that want to harm us but that there are "Americans" who will stand by and watch.
The story is that Republicans hate American values.
George W Bushie was sitting in a class room with a bunch of Children during story time and after the first plane hit he sat there for COUNTLESS Minutes looking like a DUMBFOUNDED REETARDED DOUSCHBAG and thinking what should I do.
The FACTS:
1. George W Bushie had a Memo warning about an attack on the USA a few weeks before 9-11 and he did nothing.
2. Both World Trade Center Towers Collapsed after getting hit by Jets and World Trade Center # 7 burned for hours and also Collapsed.
3. The Pentagon was also hit by a Jet and United Flight 93 was plane # 4 but was saved by some very brave American citizens who fought back !
4. All this Happen on 09-11-2001 when George W Bushie was President and on the Republicans Watch.
5. So the Country is NOT SAFER OR MORE SECURE with a Republican as President, Republicans are ( 0 for 1 ) advantage terrorists, Because Bushie had warning an attack was going to happen and did nothing and all this happen on the Republicans WATCH.
6. You can put Lipstick on a Pig but it%u2019s still a Pig.
There''s plenty that we don''t know about September 11 and it''s worth trying to learn what we can but here''s what we know for sure. We were attacked on that day by people who did it before then and will do it again if they can.
Whether Al Quaeda & the Taliban are aligned with Sadaam or the CIA or Mossad or Bush or Iran isn''t what matters. What matters is they are the ones we know did it, brag about, and threaten and train to do it again.
They''re living and training in Pakastan and conducting cross border raids against our troops in Afghnaistan while similtaneously operating new terrorist training camps while Pakastan claims soverirn authority over territory they say they can''t control.
We need to go get the people who actually attacked us and send the message to anyone who wants to follow suit that if you attack the American people we won''t just threaten to follow you to the gates of hell, we''ll actually do it!
Let''s roll!
George W Bushie was sitting in a class room with a bunch of Children during story time and after the first plane hit he sat there for COUNTLESS Minutes looking like a DUMBFOUNDED REETARDED DOUSCHBAG and thinking what should I do.
The FACTS:
1. George W Bushie had a Memo warning about an attack on the USA a few weeks before 9-11 and he did nothing.
2. Both World Trade Center Towers Collapsed after getting hit by Jets and World Trade Center # 7 burned for hours and also Collapsed.
3. The Pentagon was also hit by a Jet and United Flight 93 was plane # 4 but was saved by some very brave American citizens who fought back !
4. All this Happen on 09-11-2001 when George W Bushie was President and on the Republicans Watch.
5. So the Country is NOT SAFER OR MORE SECURE with a Republican as President, Republicans are ( 0 for 1 ) advantage terrorists, Because Bushie had warning an attack was going to happen and did nothing and all this happen on the Republicans WATCH.
6. You can put Lipstick on a Pig but it%u2019s still a Pig.
''Nope. Not a one.''
''Its fascinating who shows up at a funeral. Isn''t it?''
''Its nuts.''
God Bless those who serve our great country (in any capacity) and those who have sacrificed for her.
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