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9/11 Anniversary Service, Gen. Martin Dempsey Speaks at 9/11 Ceremony; Chuck Hagel Speaks at 9/11 Ceremony; President Obama Speaks at 9/11 Ceremony

Aired September 11, 2014 - 09:30   ET

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


UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, the United States Army Chief of Chaplains, Major General Donald Rutherford.

MAJ. GEN. DONALD RUTHERFORD, U.S. ARMY CHIEF OF CHAPLAINS: Let's pray together.

Lord of hope, we have endured over a decade of conflict. We have raised a generation that has never seen a sunrise without war on our national horizon. When we look back on the events that brought us to the present, it would be easy to despair. Let us not forget we have yet to write the ending of our national story. That we take a moment to remember the day that it began when we witnessed the flames of hatred that were extinguished by acts of valor. We heard the cries of the lost that were met with the prayers of the grateful. We live every day with those memories of those whose dreams the darkness left unfulfilled, the concluding handshake, a last good-bye, and a final kiss.

We remember those that we lost and we grieve for them. We grieve for their families and for ourselves. And we come to remember them as well as those who continue to fight in our frontiers and those who stand watch within our borders at home. We come to remember that those who expected weakness have instead seen strength. Those who wanted division have instead seen unity. Those who are sewed seeds of violence and hatred have watched us harvest the fruits of grace and of hope.

Thirteen years ago, the lights of (ph) darkness hoped to extinguish, they still shine today. And our hope and resolve that (ph) the darkness cannot enter our lives. In His grace and mercy we pray this day, amen.

CROWD: Amen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, 13 years ago today, at 9:37 a.m., the Pentagon was attacked. Please join us in observing a moment of silence to remember those who perished.

Ladies and gentlemen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey.

GEN. MARTIN DEMPSEY, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, Mr. Secretary, distinguished guests, thank you for being here this morning. I want to offer a special welcome to the families and friends of those

we lost on these grounds 13 years ago. We know these memorial ceremonies, and we know you've been through many, are especially tough, emotion-filled moments for you. It takes a great deal of courage to keep coming back here. So, thanks for being here.

Not long ago, I received a note from a mom whose daughter is buried just across the way at Arlington Cemetery. She said the pain of losing someone you love, even years later, never really goes away. At any instant, a smell or a color or a song or a date on the calendar, like today, can bring into stark relief that first raw moment when everything changed. She said if there's any secret to grieving, it's that there can be room for sorrow and joy, sadness and pride, to exist in the same space at the same time. And she learned that grief is not a lack of faith, nor a sign of weakness, it's just the price of love.

Today is foremost about reflecting and about remembering and about the love for the 184 lives that ended here at the Pentagon and those that perished in New York and in Somerset County. Today is also about strength and about resolve. We find strength in the children who lost parents on 9/11 and who have blossomed into fine, young adults and are now making their own mark on their world. We find resolve in the men and women that 9/11 roused to step forward to defend our country, a generation that has served in Iraq and in Afghanistan. And today offers us, all of us, the opportunity to rededicate our own lives to the causes of our great nation and its great future. For as one of our nation's leaders said, we could easily allow our time and energy to be consumed by the crisis of the moment, of the day, but we must also lay the groundwork to help define our future.

It's now my privilege to introduce the man who spoke those words and who strives to live them every day, our nation's secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel.

CHUCK HAGEL, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: General Dempsey, thank you.

Mr. President, Mrs. Obama, distinguished guests, family members, survivors, we will never forget what happened on this day at this hour in this place, an act of terror that shook the world and took the lives of 184 Americans. Today, we remember those we lost on that day, this day, as we are surrounded by those who loved them. We celebrate our nation's strength and resilience, surrounded by those who embody it. And we draw inspiration from the ways in which survivors and victims' families continue to honor their legacy.

Our thoughts also turn to others whose lives were forever changed that day. The first responders and survivors whose heroism and resilience we celebrate. The Pentagon personnel who came to work the next day with a greater sense of determination than ever before, and the men and women in uniform who have stepped forward to defend our country over 13 long years of war, bearing incredible sacrifices, along with their families. We live at a time of many complicated challenges, but America has always faced challenges and we have always responded as a nation united in purpose, woven together in a fabric of strong character and resounding commitment to each other and to our country. To lead our nation at such a defining time requires not only the

courage and the vision to lead, but the humility that recognizes this unique privilege. These traits are embodied in our commander in chief.

Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Good morning.

CROWD: Good morning.

OBAMA: Scripture tells us we count as blessed those who have persevered.

Secretary Hagel, General Dempsey, members of our armed forces and most of all the survivors of that September day and the families of those we lost, Michelle and I are humbled to be with you once again.

It has now been 13 years. Thirteen years since the peace of an American morning was broken. Thirteen years since nearly 3,000 beautiful lives were taken from us, including 125 men and women serving here at the Pentagon. Thirteen years of moments they would have shared with us. Thirteen years of memories they would have made.

Here, once more, we pray for the souls of those we remember, for you, their families, who love them forever, and for a nation that has been inspired by your example, your determination to carry on, your resolve to live lives worthy of their memories. As Americans, we draw strength from you, for your love is the ultimate rebuke to the hatred of those who attacked us that bright, blue morning. They sought to do more than bring down buildings or murder our people. They sought to break our spirit and to prove to the world that their power to destroy was greater than our power to persevere and to build.

But you and America proved them wrong. America endures in the strength of your families who, through your anguish, kept living. You've kept alive a love that no act of terror can ever extinguish. You, their sons and daughters, are growing into extraordinary young men and women they knew you could be. By your shining example, your families have turned this day into something that those who attacked us could never abide and that is a tribute of hope over fear and love over hate.

America endures in the tenacity of our survivors. After grievous wounds, you learned to walk again and stand again. After terrible burns, you smiled once more. For you, for our nation, these have been difficult years, but by your presence here today, in the lives of service that you have led, you embody the truth that no matter what comes our way, America will always come out stronger.

America endures in the dedication of those who keep us safe, the firefighter, the officer, the EMT who carries the memory of a fallen partner as they report to work each and every day, prepared to make the same sacrifice for us all. Because of these men and women, Americans now work in a gleaming Freedom Tower. We visit our great cities. We fill our stadiums and cheer for our teams. We carry on because, as Americans, we do not give in to fear, ever. America endures in the courage of the men and women who serve under

our flag. Over more than a decade of war, this 9/11 generation has answered our country's call and three months from now our combat mission in Afghanistan will come to an end. Today, we honor all who have made the ultimate sacrifice these 13 years, more than 6,800 American patriots, and we give thanks to those who served in harm's way to keep our country safe and meet the threats of our time.

America endures in the perennial optimism that defines us as a people. Beginning tomorrow there will be teenagers, young adults, who were born after 9/11. It's remarkable. And while these young Americans did not know the horrors of that day, their lives have been shaped by all the days since, a time that has brought us pain but also taught us endurance and strength. A time of rebuilding, of resilience and of renewal. What gives us hope, what gives me hope, is that it is these young Americans who will shape all the days to come.

Thirteen years after small and hateful minds conspired to break us, America stands tall and America stands proud. And guided by the values that sustain us, we will only grow stronger. Generations from now, Americans will still fill our parks, our stadiums, our cities. Generations from now, Americans will still build towers that reach toward the heavens, still serve in embassies that stand for freedom around the world, still wear the uniform and give meaning to those words written two centuries ago, "land of the free, home of the brave." Generations from now, no matter the trial, no matter the challenge, America will always be America.

We count as blessed those who have persevered. May God bless your families who continue to inspire us all. May God bless our armed forces and all who serve to keep us safe, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, you just heard the president of the United States speak near the Pentagon to honor those fallen when Flight 77 crashed into the Pentagon, killing hundreds inside. And just a reminder, Flight 77 was traveling from Dulles, Virginia, to Los Angeles. One hundred and eighty-four people were killed in the crash, 184 were aboard that plane.

We're going to take a break. We'll be back with much more in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Sadly, the War on Terror is not over, but this time it's not al Qaeda, but ISIS. As you know, the president laid out his strategy to defeat ISIS before it hits the homeland.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: But I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This counterterrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: America agrees ISIS is evil, but many are confused about what the United States should exactly do. "The Washington Post" E.J. Dionne brings up an interesting point. He writes, quote, this contest for public opinion has taken place in the shadow of the attacks of September 11, 2011. For understandable reasons, the United States was thrown off balance by the horrific events of 13 years ago, and we have never fully recovered.

Joining me now to talk more about this, CNN Chief National Security Correspondent, Jim Sciutto, Sally Kohn, CNN political commentator, and Amy Holmes, anchor for "the Hot list" on theblaze.com. Also joining us, Josh Rogin, CNN political analyst and national security correspondent for "The Daily Beast." So Sally, I'll start with you. Do you think E.J. Dionne is right?

SALLY KOHN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I do. First of all, I think this is an incredible important moment that we remember what did happen, we remember the lives we lost. We thank our first responders without question. Second, it's important to remember the world didn't change 13 years ago. What happened was the world crossed our door steps and we changed. And the rationale for using military force, for going in and invading other countries around the world changed as well. We allowed that to happen. What's incredibly disturbing about the president's decision here is two points. One, that I don't think bombing, and a lot of experts don't think bombing will actually solve the problem of ISIS, it may make it worse. But also second, that he has furthered this idea of preemptive war, of preemptive strikes created under the Bush administration, started after 9/11, that there doesn't have to be a direct threat against our homeland, just the prospect of a future potential threat is enough for us to risk American lives and treasure.

COSTELLO: That sets up my next question nicely. Amy, are we overreacting because of what happened 13 years ago?

AMY HOLMES, ANCHOR, "THE HOT LIST", THE BLAZE.COM: Well I think we do want to preempt a terrorist strike because we learned 13 years ago precisely what these terrorist organizations are capable of. And what has changed dramatically since 13 years ago is this new terrorist threat ISIS, is bigger, richer and far more powerful than al Qaeda. We're talking about estimates from 10,000 to 15,000 militants on the ground. They've seized territories. Contrary to the president's statement last night that the Islamic state is not a state, in fact, it does control territory including local governments in Iraq and Syria. We're also talking about an organization that's estimated to be worth about $2 billion in assets. That includes money that they stole from the bank in Mosul and also military assets. Sally, I'd have to disagree with you. Of course, the world has changed and the terrorist threat has only metastasized as far as I can see.

COSTELLO: So Josh, I'll throw this question to you. It's true ISIS is a terrible danger. I think the confusion comes in when terrorism experts, like Peter Bergen, write that ISIS really isn't a direct threat to the U.S. homeland. It's a direct threat to the people of the Middle East, but not to Americans directly. So do you agree with that, first of all? I'll start there.

JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Right. I think the consensus from our reporting inside the intelligence community is ISIS doesn't pose a direct threat to the U.S. right now, but they could and soon. I think when we're talking about how we view the War on Terror, 13 years after 9/11, to the day, there's a genuine disagreement. The president said last night that we're safer than we were then. Senior intelligence officials, including DIA director Mike Flynn said no, we're not safer than we were 13 years ago. So there's no consensus even inside Obama's own administration as to whether or not what we've been doing over 13 years is working. It definitely doesn't seem to be working for the people of Iraq and Syria. Are we in a pre-9/11 moment? It's impossible to know. But the bottom line is that this campaign of Islamic extremism is expanding, not in Pakistan but in North Africa, in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan. And if you look around the world, after 13 years, you have to ask yourself what we're doing, is it enough? Of course, military is only one part of it. What a lot of people are looking for is a much broader strategy that includes radicalization and all the other things that we would really need to tackle this threat.

COSTELLO: That's more food for thought. So Jim, I'll ask you this, because some people think the United States initially overreacted in light of what happened 13 years ago. And then President Obama overcorrected. Now we're somewhere into the messy middle of what's right and what's not right. Is there any truth to that?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY: It's interesting. When you look at President Obama, in some ways he pulled back, withdrawing troops from Iraq, for instance, and also making plans for complete withdraw in Afghanistan, although leaving some residual force there. There are other ways he went further than President Bush. For instance, expanding the use of drones. The number of drone strikes al Qaeda in Afghanistan as well as Yemen, Somalia, like the one that killed the al Shabaab leader just last week , have vastly expanded. You also have president Obama continue the program that started under President Bush, which was NSA mass surveillance revealed by Edward Snowden. So although this is a president that has pulled back in some ways, he has doubled down in other ways, struggling to find that balance, a difficult balance for a president, how much to do to keep America safe. I think you saw some of that same reluctance in the lead-up to last night's speech. Speak to U.S. intelligence officials, administration officials. They're very worried about ISIS. Over time that concern has grown. But you had reluctance over these years to take many of the steps that the president is now taking. Arm the rebels. Carry out an air campaign in Syria. So this is a president who has struggled with it. It's a difficult balance to achieve. But when you look at it in the whole scheme of things, there's some ways he's gone further and some ways that he's pulled back.

COSTELLO: I wish we could go on, but I'm out of time. Jim Sciutto, Sally Kohn, Amy Holmes, Josh Rogin, thanks to all of you. I'm back in a minute.

(COMMERICAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining me. As you well know, it is the anniversary of September 11, 2001. At the World Trade Center site, they're marking the moment when the south tower fell. Let's pause.