Transcripts For CSPAN Capital News Today 20090912

guantanamo, that has released a terrible recruiting tool from al qaeda. i think that has been a good thing. i think the obama administration's outreach through speeches and interviews with arabic television -- that has been noticed. the polls now show there are muslims turning away from al qaeda. part of that is because they did not view america so poorly now. i think that is an improvement. you have to give the bush administration credit. and what the intelligence -- a lot of the intelligence, the screen to go through the airport, has had an impact. it is a mixed bag like most things. host: round lake, ill. caller: i use to talk to all the time. my question is, as far as safe britr, i do not think you are r. . . they killed a couple people the first time and kimmed over 3,000 the second. with the findings to make us safer, we don't really know who safer, we don't really know who is coming in and out of o and kill people smothers, sons, daughters, you are going to have enemies. i just pray that the american people keep vigilant. bush did not keep us safe. we kept him save. that is called the secret service. keep us safe. we kept him safe. guest: we are not safe. i didn't say we were safe. he makes a good point. securing the boarders is probably impossible. we haven't done it very well. we'll tried. all these thwarted plots show we have made progress could another attack happen? absolutely. host: secretary of state, robert gates will hold a memorial. the president will be there in about 10:00. after this call from austin, we'll take you live to watch. austin, texas. caller: thank you. it wasn't the greatness of all kieda that caused fooim. the f.b.i. lady knew they were flying planes. we never did follow up on that. there was a document out that bin laden had planned he was going to do something to attack us by planes. host: what about intelligence sharing within the u.s. guest: he's exactly right. there were terrible intelligence lapses that lead up to 9/11. we have developed this intelligence czar and we have worked together an intelligence center where f.b.i. and >> tomorrow, ron pollack talks about health reform michael creighton then discusses issues in the financial industries, including the failure of a nine banks so far in 2009. perry bacon previews [unintelligible] susan newly discusses her group on their opposition to any tax on sugary drinks. coming up next on c-span, i look back at some of the 9/11 ceremonies, including this morning's white house moment of silence. >> this week, during a special session, the supreme court heard oral arguments on campaign finance. >> would we not be doing more harm than good by ruling in a case that does not involve business corporations and does not follow the traditional lonn- profit corporations? >> starting october 4, an extensive look at the rule, traditions, and history of the courts from its justices during supreme court week. >> 1.7 million new immigrants each year, half of them are followers of islam. christopher caldwell on c- span's today. >> today is the eighth anniversary of the september 11 attacks on new york city and washington, d.c.. there were in number of ceremonies to mark the occasion. among them, president and mrs. obama joined 200 staffers on the white house south lawn for a moment of silence. [trumpet plays taps] >> following that moment of silence, the president traveled to the pentagon where defense secretary robert gates as it is ceremony marking the anniversary of the terrorist attack on the pentagon. also taking part was michael mullen. 184 people died on american airlines flight 77 that crashed into the pentagon. this is about 20 minutes. >> please direct your attention to the pentagon flag pole in remembrance of the people lost. ladies and gentlemen, the national anthem of the united states. ♪ ♪ tbs ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, admiral michael mullin. >> good morning and welcome. i offer a special honor to those who died in the attack on september 11, 2001. we are here to reflect and remember. who among us can ever forget where we were? when we saw? how we felt as citizens and as a nation? i myself remember the shutter and the smoke, the ship mates i lost and how the whole world changed that day. as americans, we share a common sore owe for the 185 lost here and some in new york and in pennsylvania. some young, some not so young. all of them taken from us, stolen from us right before our eyes and well before their time. our grief is real and it is warranted. if i may, let me ask and urge that we look upon this day not only with sorrow that we have gratitude for the life they wanted us to live. let us face the future with the same resolve our men and women in uniform encourage. they struggle to ensure another day like that day never happens again. america has sent her armed forces forward with that task. in harm's way, you have deployed them. they stand for you and for each other. many of them, more than 1 million have enlisted because of 9/11. they volunteer to defend their country and fight for something bigger than themselves. from afghanistan to iraq and 1,000 other places, they areíkc doing just that. they are supported by extra ordinary families who work and worry and wage too much. al qaeda and the extremist allies would like nothing better than to strike us again. eight years of war has changed our troops and families but it has not vested them. when i visit them in the field, in hospitals and here at home. rather than reach forewords i do not possession, i will turn to those of the poet william earnest henley for what i believe speaks best. "in the fell clutch of circumstance, i have not winced nor cried allowed. under the blujonings of chance, my head is bloody but unboued. beyond this place of wraj r wraj and cheers loose by the horror of shade and yet the menace of the years finds and shall find me unafraid." mr. president, ladies and gentlemen, the men and women of your military stand before you mournful of our lost, respectful of our duty but una fraftd task of menace of these years. join me now in a moment of silence and reflection. >> thank you. ladies and gentlemen, the secretary of defense, the honorable robert gates. >> mr. president, madam first lady, distinguished visitors, among all, family and friends, thank you for being here today. on september 11, 2001, the pentagon, world trade center and a field in pennsylvania absorbed the worst attack since the war of 1912. speaking during the openings months of world war i said the stern hand of fate has centered us to an elevation that leads us to see the every lasting things of a nation. the key things we have forgotten, honor, duty and patriotism and the ar row of sacrifice pointing to the heavens. we honor the dead today and speak to the survivors whose lives were changed on that day eight years ago. words are inadequate to remove the pain of that loss. we can find some solace because they lived and because of the great sacrifice and thousands more since that day. we remain a strong and free nation. they are represented by the men and woman they see around you. the program that begins today is being run by lisa dolan who lost her husband on 9/11. she and other 9/11 family members have added something to this program. we are grateful and honored on this day that the president and first lady who has made the welfare of military families her personal pry or theed is here to remember this anniversary. it's here i am proud to introduce the president of the united states. >> secretary gates, admiral mullin, family and friends of those we lost this day, michelle and i are deeply humbled to be with you. eight septembers have come and gone. nearly 3,000 days have come and past. almost one for each of those taken from us. no turning of the seasons can diminish the pain and loss of that day. no passage of time and no dark skies could ever dull the meaning of that moment. on this day at this hour, once more we pause and prays a nation and an a people in city streets where our two towers were turned to ashes and dust, in a quiet field why a plane fell from the sky and here where a single stone fell from the building and is black ned by the fires. we remember the names of those we have lost. we read their names and press on this day that marks their death, we recall the beauty and maening of their lives. men and women and children of every color and creed from across our nation and even others. they were innocent going about their daily lives. they now dwell in the house of the lord forever. >> we honor all those that gave their lives so that others might live. men and women who gave life to the simple statement i am my brother's keeper. i am my sister's keeper. we pay tribute to a new generation. young americans saw their nation in an hour of need says i will do any part. wednesday more we grief you and your families, no words can fill the space in your heart, the empty space in your home. on this day, we pray you find solace in the faces of thoughs you love and know you have the unending support of the american people. skrip tur teaches us a truth. the mountains may fall and give away the flesh may fail. after all the suffering, god will restore you and make you strong, firm and sted fast. so it is, so it has been for these families. so it has been for the nation. let us renew our resolve against those who plot against us still. in defense of our nation, we will never waiver. in pursuit of al qaeda, we will never faulter. let us renew the commitment in defense. all those who protect us here at home. mindful that the work is never finished. we will do anything in our power to keep america safe. not the human capacity for evil but good. not the desire to destroy but the impulse to save and build. this first national day of service and remembrance, we can summon once more that the ordinary goodness of america to serve our communities and strengthen our country and better our world. most of all, on a&pá di when th sought to sap our confidence. let us remember how we came together as one nation, one people as americans united not only in our grief but in our resolve to stand with one another, stand up for the country we all love. this may be the greatest lesson of our day. the strongest rebook to those who attacked us. with such sense of purpose need not be a fleeting moment. it can be a lasting virtue. through you, the men and women leave a legacy that still shines broitly in the darkness and calls on all of us to be strong, firm, united. that is our calling today and in all the septembers still to come. may god bless you and comfort you. may god bless the united states of america. [applause] >> at this time, president obama will pay special tribute to the 184 lives lost at the pentagon by playing a wreath at the zero age line of the memorial. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, this concludes our ceremony. thank you for your attendance. ♪ >> the senate observed a moment of silence this morning to honor those killed in the september 11 attacks. several senators offered remarks. we will begin with senator kit bond of missouri. senator from missouri. mr. bond: mr. president, i thank the chair. eight years ago today terrorists based in afghanistan carried out the deadliest attacks on american soil since pearl harbor. it was on that horrifying september morning in 2001 that america's worst fears were realized. no longer was terrorism something that only happened on the other side of the globe. instead, those terrorist killers struck the very heart of america, here at home. long before 9/11, there were deadly warnings, warnings that for most part went unheeded. for over two decades al qaeda and other terrorists attacked our nation, from the marine barracks bombing in beirut in 1983 to the pan am 103 bombing in 1988, from the first world trade center bombing in 1993, the embassy bombings in 1998, to the u.s.s. cole attack in 2000. while al qaeda declared war against the united states a long time ago, it took the tragedy of september 11 and the loss of thousands of lives before america decided to fight back. today, as we reflect on the anniversary of 9/11 and the lives lost that day, we can honor the victims and their families by finishing the job in afghanistan and defeating the terrorists who are bent on death and destruction. i agree with the comments from my colleague, the senator from michigan, who said that we need to build the afghan army to 240,000. we need to build and strengthen the afghan police. but we also must support president obama's chosen general, general stanley mcchrystal and his request for needed troops and resources. president obama has called afghanistan an international challenge, security challenge of the highest order. i agree. when the president stressed -- quote -- "the safety of people around the world is at stake" he did not overstate the importance of succeeding in afghanistan. president obama used even starker terms when he spoke to our veterans at this year's e qtdo)@ @ @ @ @ h@ @ @ @ ak@ @ from which all kind would plot to kill more americans. this is not just to war worth fighting, it is significant to the defense of our people. i could not agree more. i hope that he will focus his attention on the american people, on achieving victory in afghanistan. to repeat -- terrorism as the premier challenge of our time. nothing else will matter much, not even health care reform. reform. i can tell you that al qaeda and other radical islamist terrorists have not tried to stop striking americans here at home and our allies around the world. it is critical that in my own party that republicans support president obama in the fight against terrorists. we republicans must demonstrate that politics ends at the water's edge and strongly support the strategy the president has laid out with his generals for a victory in afghanistan. let us avoid the politics we too often saw in iraq. declaring defeat where our troops and -- in theater were fighting for their lives and our freedom, undercutting our president while he tried to help alleys to join us in the battle. for my democratic colleagues, i hope that the follow the stirring words of their leader of their party at the v.f.w. don't give into the pundits, don't give into the left wing that has declared defeat in afghanistan as they did so vocally in iraq. much, i might add to the grave concerns of the troops in harm's way, which i heard firsthand by e-mail from my son in fallujah. many of the naysayers are saying that victory in afghanistan isn't possible. we hear the refrain over and over, it's been eight years, why haven't we left? unfortunately our country has a history of abandoning afghanistan. earlier this week in an interview, defense secretary robert gates acknowledged what a serious strategic mistake our nation made turning our backs on afghanistan after soviet forces were defeated there two decades ago. sadly, under administrations of both parties, america has repeatedly ignored the lessons of history, repeatedly turned our backs on afghanistan. it is no wonder the people of afghanistan doubt our commitment to their defense. the problems we face in afghanistan today are in many ways more complex than those we faced on september 12, 2001. we know that al qaeda has found sanctuary in pakistan's federally administered tribal area. the taliban government is gone, but the taliban insurgency has risen and grown in strength. it has prevented the true afghan government to establish itself throughout afghanistan an threatens afghanistan's long-term ability. if it is not stopped, this insurgency could allow a safe haven for al qaeda and other terrorist groups to flourish in afghanistan. we cannot let that happen. president obama's new strategy implemented by general mcchrystal is our best chance at success. while we're on the right path to long-term victory in afghanistan, the road won't be easy. in fact, it will get worse before it gets better. we've seen evidence of this already. the fighting has been tough in afghanistan the last few months and too many of our brave troops have been wounded or killed in action. these recent casualties should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been following events in afghanistan. u.s. marines recently began clearing rural areas in southern afghanistan that served as taliban safe havens for years. before the operations began, our military commanders very clearedly -- clearly warned congress and the american people that taking southern afghanistan back from the taliban would be costly. as the father of a marine who served two tours in iraq, i didn't take this news lightly. many of my colleagues in the senate and i agree then and agree now that defeating the militants is a job that must be done. our brave marines will no doubt succeed in clearing these areas in southern afghanistan of terrorists. the same terrorists who throw acid in the face of young girls on their way to school and kill mullas who have the audacity to disagree. much needs to be done in a country recovering from decades of war. key to our success is general mcchrystal's recognition of the importance of building sustain able security in afghanistan through the use of smart power, combining military power with economic, development, education, and diplomatic strategies. while we need military forces to build security in the short term, sustaining long-term security requires smart power. before afghans can choose peace in the democratic process, they need enough food to eat and a stable community in which to live. that's exactly what smart power seeks to do. this same strategy is proving successful in afghanistan's province. during a visit to afghanistan in 2006, with general ikee eikenbei heard the need to rebuild the cultal section in afghanistan. i tried to do so through a university consortium that would set up a service through usaid, unfortunately, usaid lacked the vision to enact this vision. i told the airmen whose civilian lives were farmers an possessed other expertise to empower the afghans. for over a year the agricultural development teams, a.d.t., helped afghans value high -- have high-value. decades of war in afghanistan have left most of the country mired in 18th century practices. these a.d.t. teams provide agricultural specialists to help the afghans rebuild their agricultural no how and sow the seeds of peace in afghanistan. thanks to the a.d.t.'s hard work poppy production has been virtually eliminated where it was the second most prolific producer of poppies before. the first of these teams started to work in february of 2008. the second rotation is under way, and i just joined friends and family back in missouri to celebrate the sendoff of the third rotation of the a.d.t. by showing a consistent commitment to the people, these citizen soldiers have built relationships and trust at the local level, influencing the hearts and minds to reject radical extremists. like the show me state motto, missourians have shown the way forward. thanks to their leadership, 10 other states are sending agricultural specialist teams to provinces in afghanistan. this makes it clear that we need to increase the investment in smart power strategies. 10 other state national guards are committed to the vital mission of building sustainable economies, protecting them with military force province by province. we need appropriate military protection in every province in afghanistan of the guard is uniquely suited to this mission, but we also need federal military and economic efforts. in addition to smart power, general mcchrystal understands that counterinsurgency strategy is key to success in afghanistan. i've been disappointed to listen to the talking heads here in washington advocating for an alternative approach, emir counterterrorism strategy. it's easy, of course, to play armchair general from thousands of miles, but these talking heads seem to have forgotten that the counterterrorism strategy failed in iraq and, not surprisingly, it's failed so far in afghanistan. counterterrorism by remote control doesn't cut it. the so-called surgical strikes whether by air or ground increased civilian casualties and only allowed insurgents from the taliban to al qaeda to filter back in once the attacks are over. this approach leaves the people in the country subject to retaliation if they don't cooperate with terrorists. the counterinsurgency strategy will ensure the violent insurgents are defeated and don't come back. i agree with the administration that part of this strategy must allow some of the day fighters, those who are not taliban idealogues to lay down their reference and return to peaceful lives. if we're getting the job done right, we will lure desperate young men away from the false promises of extremism. a viable and appropriately resourced counterinsurgency is not only successful for success in afghanistan, it is pivotal in the future of pakistan. driving terrorist safe havens out of eastern and southern gas is crucial, but not in taliban militants continue to find sanctuary in the remote borders of pakistan. the threat these transplanted terrorists pose has become more real in the recent months as the world watched the taliban creep closer to military fits. we -- facilities, we muss support the -- we must support afghanistan. the horrors of nuclear armed terrorists would be put at risk and put at risk freedom-loving people everywhere, not a risk that we or the world can take. the stakes of turning our back on this conflict could not be higher. america ignored the fact that afghanistan became one giant training camp for terrorists in the 1990's. thousands of americans died on 9/11 as a result. and thousands of our brave troops have died in defense of our nation since then. we face a similar threat today eight years after 9/11. al qaeda shifted their terrorist sanctuaries from afghanistan to the fatah of pakistan. the taliban, people who sheltered osama bin laden now fight efforts by the international community to bring stability to afghanistan. a u.s. withdrawal in whole or in part from afghanistan now would be unambiguous approval for the return of taliban control over afghanistan. in turn, this would lead to the establishment of safe havens for many of the world's most violent and feared terrorists. americans abandonment of afghanistan now could possibly hand over the keys to a nuclear armed kingdom of violence-loving terrorists. mr. president, i conclude by saying i just returned this past august from denmark and greece, two relatively small countries, but steadfast allie allies in tr resolve to support the mission and stablize afghanistan. declaring defeat in afghanistan today would signal to our allies that americans no longer have the resolve to defeat terrorists. declaring defeat in afghanistan would signal to our enemies by waiting us out, violent extremists can triumph over economic might in the international community. declaring defeat in afghanistan today would signal to the families of those who died on september 11, and the troops that have fought since then in the years since -- the service to their country, that their loved ones died in vain. these are not signals our great nation should ever send. instead we must declare our courage, resolve and patience to provide current resources and more troops to allow the smart power strategy of general mcchrystal to succeed. this alone is the signal america should send. mr. president, i thank the chair and my colleagues and i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from florida. mr. nelson: mr. president, before i make some comments about our departed colleague, senator kennedy, i must comment on the gravity of the remembrance of this day in history several years ago. there's not a person living who was old enough at the time on that fateful day in 2001, that does not remember exactly where they were when the tragedy occurred that this nation was struck by terrorists. struck from within. our nation has grown-up in its history of always having been protected in the homeland, protected by geography by two big oceans that kept us insulated from attack from without. and then suddenly we were shocked into the realization that we could be attacked on our own homeland. and, of course, what america has done in reaction to that in perfecting our defenses, in increasing our intelligence apparatus so that we get the information before the terrorists can carry out their adeed. that has been significant in the protection of this nation and its people. of course, we remember exactly that fateful day, every one of us. this senator was only a few yards from this chamber on the west front of this u.s. capitol building in a g@ @ @ @ h@ @ @ b% we leapt to the window overlooking the mall in the direction of the pentagon and could see the black smoke rising. it's interesting, the reactions that you have at a time like that. my wife and i had just a few days before moved into an apartment overlooking the southwest corner of the pentagon. it is called pentagon wrote. of course, i leapt to a telephone to try to get a message to her, to get out of the apartment and to get into the basement garage. being an unsuccessful to richard, i can back into the room. everyone had deserted out into the hallway. hearing the capitol policemen at the bottom of the stairs saying "get out of the building. run! run! get out of the building! " of course the report had come in that the fourth airplane was inbound for washington. it was a day that brought senator rockefeller and me together, as he beckoned to me to get into his car. and as we drove away from the capitol complex, scrambling with our cell phones trying to get our office staff to tell them to get out of the buildings and get to a location that they could inform us away from the capitol complex. and senator rockefeller and me winding through streets in washington until we got to a location where we could wait to try to get additional information. since then, of course, our capitol police force, the department of homeland security has come through with procedures and instructions that are much more definitive than we had on that day. i'll never forget on that day, mr. president, then when senator rockefeller and i decided that we needed to move away from the location that we were, we wanted to get to a place that we could get news, we went to his home. and hearing not a sound in the sky since all air traffic had been ceased on order of the secretary of transportation. but then hearing that silent sky being pierced by the sound of f-15's overflying the capitol. it was a day that we not only can remember, but that we can take great lessons and instruction from to prepare not to let it happen again. and one that we remember today, and those people who sacrificed, those people who were the dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. mcconnell: mr. president, september 11 is a day of the year that has special resonance for all americans, and always should. earlier this week i was honored to stand with some of the family members of those who died eight years ago this morning on flight 93. they were here to mark the establishment of a memorial to those brave men and women who gave their lives that day over a field in pennsylvania and who in the process may very well have saved the lives of many of us here. their role in history will now be forever memorialized here in the capitol, ensuring that we never forget their sacrifice nor the sacrifice of the thousands of other innocent men and women who were taken from us on that terrible day. and this is just as it should be, because as i said during the ceremony earlier this week, there are some moments in the life of a nation that are worth remembering. there are others that are impossible to forget. september 11, 2001, is both. all of us who lived through that day know this to be true. we know that with each passing year, the day itself may become more distant in time, but the memories do not. and, yet, it's important that we mark that day each year with sadness for those that we lost. with solemn pride in the heroes of 9/11, and with renewed determination to confront terrorism wherever it is found. the memory of the fallen impels us. mr. president, i yield the floor. mrs. murray: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from washington. mrs. murray: i ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. murray: mr. president, like all american, i will never forget where i was on septembe september 11, 2001. and i will never forget the way that our country responded. in the face of great teadged americans came -- tragedy americans came together with courage and unity. eight years later, we continue to face great cal eption. as a -- great challenges. as a government and nation, we look to tackle of challenges that we face today. safety remains number one. we have troops working hard to protect and defend our nation. at the same time we continue to recognize that our diversity is also america's greatest strength. despite our many differences in times of need, we are always one nation united. this year, for the first time, 9/11 has been designated a national day of service and remembrance. it's with a heavy heart that i stand on the floor of the senate today marking this day with a cloak and white roses on the desk of our departed colleague, senator ted kennedy. ted worked to designate this day as one of service and in april the president signed the edward m. kennedy serve america act making that goal a reality. ted would be proud of each and every american who took up that call. the mission of this new designation is to honor the victims of 9/11 and those who rose to service in response to the attacks by encouraging all americans and others throughout the world to pledge to voluntarily perform at least one good deed or another service activity on 9/11 each year. in this way we hope to create a lasting and forward-looking legacy. annually rekindling the spirit of service, tolerance and compassion that unified america and the world in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. i can't think of a better way to honor the memory of those who were lost than by taking a moment today to remember and then performing a good deed or act of service. september 11th isn't just a day of national loss, but of personal loss. my thoughts an prayers go out to -- and prayers go out to everyone who lost a friend or loved one. your loss is our loss and you are forever in our hearts. thank you, mr. president.nent, . all americans take occasion today to commemorate the terrible attacks of 2001. each of us has the cause to reflect on some of the lessons our nation has learned in the wake of 9/11. it is often hard to think clearly about the days before those attacks when the world seemed at once a safer and more distant place and our country, a superpower in a secure neighborhood. we saw before 9/11 that america had interests across the globe and we believed that our actions must be motivated by the ideals that have made us great. yet we also often assumed wrongly that the volatility that spilled across distant shores would never wash over ours. that instability and repression in remote and obscure places was cause for tragedy but not for alarm. we've learned a lot since that day. we've learned that history is often made in the very remote and obscure places that draw so little of our attention. we have learned that the degree of freedom and stability in other countries is connected to the security that we enjoy at home. and we have learned that we must remain the authors of history, or face becoming its victims. today i'd like to spend a few moments discussing recent events in one of those places which i bet seems like a peripheral concern to most concerns. few of us wake up in the morning scouring the papers for the latest news from lebanon or follow the ins and outs of politics in beirut. yet in recent days, we've seen the pour tense of a new political crisis in lebanon and while all of us must hope that it will be resolved easily and peacefully, we know from the history of that country that it very well may not be. yesterday prime minister designate assad hariri stepped down unable to form a national unity government some two and a half months after his election in june. after his mod pratt and relatively pro-western party won the largest number of seats in the lebanese parliament, mr. hariri posed the formation of a broad-based government that would even award a share of the cabinet post to hezbollah. yet hezbollah has been intent on thwarting these efforts to form a cabinet. despite the fact that the lebanese constitution confers on the prime minister and president the power to make cabinets appointments and irrespective of attempts to form a government, talks have broken down over the demand by hezbollah allied party that it retain the telecommunications ministry. this may appear to be a small and insignificant point of contention and surely not one that would prompt any incoming prime minister to abandon his post until we consider that hezbollah badly wants to retain control over telecommunications and surveillance in lebanon. hezbollah, of course, not only possesses a surveillance capacity and an independent communications and broadcasting system but also retains vast weaponry befitting its status as an independent maliciousia. along with its syrian and iranian sponsors, hezbollah continues to both exert influence outside the constitutional process and invite foreign medalin meddling. i urge parties in lebanon to form a government in a manner that respects the constitutional process. over the longer term, it's abundantly clear there can be no durable peace in lebanon or long-term stability in the political process there as long as hezbollah continues to act freely as an armed independent militia. according to some reports, hezbollah remains today the best amended force in the country, better armed, indeed, than even the lebanese armed forces which invites further fighting at some point between hezbollah and israel and suggests that hezbollah will continue to use its military power to induce cooperation with its demands at home. sooner or later, one way or another, and as the united nations security council has demanded, hezbollah must be disarmed. we should also make perfectly clear to syria that better ties with the united states will require no interference in neighbor's affairs. the administration made a major unfortunate to reach out to syria sending a number of delegations to damascus and making clear that better ties with the united states are possible if syria changes its ways yet we should recall it has been just four years since there was an emerging on the political stage after there was a suicide bomber that crossed the syrian border into iraq and syria maintains its hostility to israel and its close ties to the government of iran. it must be clear there must be real change on these issues in order for syria to enjoy significantly warmer relations with the united states. some americans might reasonably ask, why? why should we care about freedom in the democratic a as operatios oaspiration ofthe lebanese peop? don't we have enough problems at home without spending time and attention on the affairs of a small country far from our in answering this, i would like to return to the team in which i set up to say these remarks. the instability in such places is not often confined to its borders. in the lands where depression and despair are rife, and tolerance and extremism grow in the hearts of some, violence in the minds of a few in lebanon, like in some in other places, the population as buyers to something other than to be pulled from side to side by a sluggish and crew militia. -- by a thuggish and cruel militia. they want to build a better life for themselves and their children. as americans, we must demonstrate that we stand beside them in this hope. . advancing this noble goal on advancing this noble goal on this ♪ what so proudly we held at the twilight's last gleaming. who's a bright stars through the perilous fight. oh the ramparts to be watch were so gallantly streaming. and the rockets red glare. the bombs bursting in air. gaper through the night -- gave proof through the night that our flag was still there boat say does of that star spangled banner -- oh, say does that star spangled banner yet wave? for the land of the framee and e home of the brave? ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, rev. daniel. >> let us pray. lord god almighty, in the trauma of every human life as well as a life of a nation, there are certain days that will never be forgotten. made in remembrance of september 11, 2001 always awake in in the heart of this nation a prayer and praise and petition and lead everyone to create a service of self the giving and community building. it seems lord of the women are most vulnerable you touch human hearts with the blessing of your yhvçspirits that leave us witha light from above. certain moments of grass was personally and hold us together and changes forever. the immediate affect of heroic deeds were children's tears as well as a whole nation in mourning has a way a melting down the human heart to a new depth of self perception. your love will not ever the but the vulnerable alone. -- leave the vulnerable along. you use the moment to move a person from pride and ambition to find a new level of understanding and compassion for one's neighbors with all their troubling imperfections. once your gift of freedom is rebuilt, we become instruments to serve others and build the glory of a nation reflecting your own goodness and justice. amen. >> ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the house to represent this is, the hon. john boehner. >> to the victims, their families, and the first responders to there that day, we will never forget. to those who perpetrated this heinous act, we will never forget. today we mark the incident marked between the air and travel. we saw fear come out of a clear blue sky. we saw a monument of our power and our pride turned to dust in an instant. we felt in one day fanaticisms terrible cruelty and the terrible beauty of selfless sacrifice. now the moment of grief and shock are scarred over. now we can say grief and shot as the a -- grief and shock as if they were just words. in eight years, we have doled perhaps our grief but for an hour we college back. for an instant we call it back. deliberately we call is back today. pain fades, but today we get it back. in the face of such in human evil hour memory keeps us human. we hear the voices of those we loved and lost. we feel their presence. we come here again and say these words not because fear or pain compel us, but because we choose to. we imagine our dome and destroyed. for the men and women they gave it their lives, we send our thoughts to the dead in new york, arlington, and pennsylvania. to those who lost their lives under our flag in each year since and to those who loved them and love them still. this is an hour for reopening wounds. however much it stings, we will do so again and again as long as memory lasts. mark helprin once reflected on soldiers who led seen death and his words hold true for us as well. "that they cannot forget, and that they do not forget, that they never allow themselves to heal completely it their way of expressing their love for friends who have perished and they will not change because they have become what they have become to keep the ball and alive -- keep the fallen alive." as the minority leader said, we will never forget. >> ladies and gentlemen, the republican leader of the senate, and the hon. mitch mcconnell. >> it is an honor to be here today with family members of the brave years of flight 93. they are important place in history will be forever memorialized here at the capitol. we will never forget their sacrifice nor the sacrifices of so many others on that sad day. in the life of a nation, some moments are worth remembering. others are impossible to forget. september 11, 2001 is both. with each passing day, the days become distant but the memories do not. some remember a warm smile, a last goodbye, a waiver from the departure gate, the color of a dress or a tie. others remember hearing about a friend or a friend of a friend and contemplating the horrible details. all of us remember exactly where we were the moment we realized what had happened. -- and exactly what we did on that day eight years ago. for many of us here, we did the same thing we are doing now. we came together here at the capitol to show our solidarity with one another. -- with the victims, and with the rest of the nation stunned but not silenced by the face of evil. our hearts were broken but our spirits were not. united in purpose, we resolved to confront those who led done these acts even as he confronted -- comforted the families and friends of those to whom they were dumb. eight years later, that confrontation continues. brave americans are still inspired by the sacrifices of the victims of 9/11. today we also honor them. we will never forget those who died on september 11, 2001. those whose lives ended in a flash or those who gave their lives that day so that others might live. all of these people hold a permanent place in our hearts. that story is still unfolding. we know the theme. it is the same today as it always was. ordinary men and women pursue their dreams. they come together in moments of crisis with the kind of heroism and sacrifice that people will speak of four centers. today we remember the men and women of 9/11, knowing that they will never be forgotten. >> ladies and gentlemen, majority leader of the senate, the hon. harry reid. >> this solemn anniversary has no parallel in our lifetime for the we lost more loved ones on that one morning then the number morning said have gone since that day. we still mourn. we still hurt. we still hope. we still stand tall a marvel at the incomparable heroism wishes. -- heroism we saw on that day. some wake up every morning and know they may have to run into a burning building while everyone else runs out of the building. some wake up and no they will have to sacrifice their own lives to a fellow soldier can wake up in a the same. some like those on flight 93 wake of as passengers and travelers, sons and daughters, and choose to become heroes. though we grieve, we are also grateful for them. though they leave us too soon, they be this with a legacy of three that we cannot fully fathom. -- of bravery that we cannot fully fathom. we revere those who died is that many others may live. we stand in a building that might not be here but for those heroes. we know what it means to be thankful. >> ladies and gentlemen, the speaker of the night is states house of representatives, the hon. and nancy pelosi. >> just a few moments ago, we unveiled a plaque in the heart of the u.s. capital to commemorate some of the heroes of 9/11. -- the men and women of flight 93. their families are standing by our side today. i ask all my colleagues to take a moment to recognize these mothers and fathers and sons and daughters for keeping the memory of those heroes alive. [applause] it is a humbling experience as it always is when we tread on the sacred ground of 9/11. for those of us who were engaged in a profession that is based on words and speaking, we find our inadequacies because words are inadequate to express the gratitude, respect, the debt that we have to all of these families. now we gathered to honor all of the heroes of that fateful day eight years ago. the firefighters and first responders and rescue workers and all those repairs try to save others. we are more those who refuse to leave their co-workers behind whose lives were cut short. we recall our men and women in uniform abroad fighting for our values, protecting our nation, and making in normal sacrifices so that our children can no safety and security. we honor those who lost their lives. it is in their names that we mark this day. it is in their memory that the pledge to never forget this unspeakable tragedy. in this in their voices that guidance, inspire us, and echo in our hearts each time we stand on the steps of the capital. belle vie clair memories of destruction and despair, americans forget about our differences and embrace our shared heritage. in the tragedy we found unity. in the fallen towers, we located the strength to carry on. in the darkness of that day, we saw the light of a brighter future. we express our deepest sympathy to the family of the victims who remain the conscience of our effort to keep the memories of the fallen alive. today we do this gathered inside with the threat of rain. we will close by singing god bless america, because god surely did bless america. may god bless the memories of all of the heroes of 9/11. now may god continue to bless the united states of america. now let us have a moment of silence in memory of all those who were lost on 9/11. >> ladies and gentlemen, rev. gary black will deliver the benediction. >> let us pray. lord god almighty, creator in sustainer of the universe, as we approach another anniversary of a tragedy that united this nation, except our thanksgiving for your sustaining providence. may our gratitude motivate us to strive for union teen and to develop a greater awareness of the fragile nature of our allies. -- of our lives. let this continue to come for those for whom the date september 11 rekindles a sense of sadness and loss. cancel those whose lives are imprinted with the shocking images of the at season of distress. lord inspire our citizens to incline their hearts to you in prayer that your continuing mercies may always sustain us. maybe we commit ourselves to the noble principles upon which our nation was founded. in the days to come, do for us and this land we love exceedingly abundantly above all the weekend s or imagine. -- we can ask or imagined, according to your power, working in and through us. we pray in your sovereign name, on them. >> on them. >> joined the singing of god bless america. >> ♪ land that i love. stand beside her and guide her through the night the light from above. from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with snow. god bless america my home sweet home god bless america my home sweet home ♪ >> this concludes our ceremony. thank you for joining us. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] >> also of the u.s. capitol, and nancy pelosi spoke a day congressional black ceremony for the victims of flight 93. it crashed in pennsylvania. we will also hear from the president of families of flight 93. this is 20 minutes and. >> is a pleasure for me to welcome all of the to the capital. i know you have waited a few moments to get here. at the moment, we are having a vote on the house floor for a resolution in memory of those who made that sacrifice on 9/11. it will take is a mother mum until he can join us. -- another moment until he can join us. some are the true heroes of september 11, 2001 with this plaque, the memories of those individuals will remain etched in the walls of the u.s. capitol. everyone who visits here and around the world will see those names for evermore. the names that are etched forever in the hearts of the friends and families and loved ones here in the capital. i hope you'll visit frequently and that it will be a comfort to you. their bravery and sacrifice to put their lives on the line [unintelligible] these will be their eternal monuments and their enduring contribution for those of us who work here in the capital, this might have been the target of flight 93. we think it was. we will remain eternally grateful for the heroes of that flight for their courage and character. not because they saved our lives, but they prevented a beacon of democracy to be violated by these terrorists acts. may god bless their memory. may god bless all of you and all of us with the strength to except that the may god continue to bless the united states of america. i now want to introduce represented shuster of pennsylvania who is one of the authors of the legislation. he is on the floor as we gathered here voting on a resolution. >> e years ago, we watch on our tvs ago. i watched from an office across the street. i was in the first year of my first term in congress. i watched as everybody did the reports on the first plane crash. i watched live the sampling press. then we heard the reports of a third plane. it was then when 40 passengers and crew members, ordinary people by all accounts, it did an extraordinary thing in the face of extraordinary circumstances. the men and women of the flight came together from different backgrounds and creed and ethnicities. the unified as americans and sacrificed their lives to save the lives of countless numbers of citizens. line 93 is believed to be heading right here to this capital. many of this year would have been in mortal danger if it were not for the bravery aboard the flight. it is fitting that we honor their sacrifice of a tournament -- permanent memorial. it is a symbol of freedom and liberty around the world. thank the heroes of flight 93 for their sacrifices. that was the first line of defense against terror. they demonstrated to the world our strength, resolve, and courage as americans. they launched the first counter- attack in the fight against terrorism. their courage will never be forgotten. today we market for ever. reading mark it forever. -- today we mark it forever. but like to thank all our men and women who are servigng@o in law enforcement's around the country. they are making america is a place to live and work. may god bless all of you and me got contain to bless the united states of america. thank you. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, the senator from north dakota, the hon. king conrad. >> thank you. thank you for this opportunity. a special thanks to the families of the people who were on flight 93. we honor very much your relationship to those kelly on here today. i remember 9/11 so well. i came into the capitol complex and security people evacuate us because the pentagon had been struck. we went back to our offices and there we saw the horror of the world trade center being hit. then security people rushed into my office and told us we were to evacuate our offices because there was a plain 15 minutes out and they thought the capitol complex might be the carvin -- be the target. that was flight 93. to think we all been learned of the extraordinary bravery of the passengers on that flight. i introduced this resolution in 2004 because i felt that those brave men and women should be remembered forever in this symbol of our freedom and democracy. when visitors come to our great capital, they will see this plot. they will be reminded of the tragedy and triumph of the flight 93. more than that, the extraordinary acts of courage by the men and women on board. more than 2000 years ago, the greek historian wrote of an " the bravest are surely those who have been the clearest division of what is before them, and glory in danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go to meet it." that is what the passengers and crew of flight 93 did. they saw the danger. they rose up to meet it. we honor their courage here today. we also honor their families. we recognize their sacrifice and we do it in this very building, the capital of our nation. i'm humbled to be here with you. we thank you for your service and sacrifice as well. >> ladies and gentlemen, the president of families of fight -- of flight 93. >> >> thank you. if not for the courage of 40 brave souls, our course of events main have veered off in more radical path in the ensuing years. madam speaker, house and senate leadership, families, friends, it is an honor to stand before you today representing the 40 crew and passengers to be able to speak for those brave souls for ever held in the family's hearts and loved ones and held collectively by carnation. it is a humbling experience. it could be -- could have been any one of us that morning. as i think that to those days following 9/11, i am immediately reminded of the moment time with the magnitude of the actions of our family members became painfully tangible. while accepting the white house, our families were literally embraced by the outpouring of gratitude from the staffers the true here in washington. individual citizens of fully understand the personal and political devastation. it was at that moment that i realize the broad implications of the courageous efforts. it is with their pride and i stand before you knowing that it not for the actions of those brave passengers played out over the skies of southwestern pennsylvania, many lives on the ground in washington as well as this great symbol of our democracy could have been lost, for there in the trauma of the day. it is only appropriate that i think our leaders in washington for their continued commitment to memorialize the heroes of united flight 93. the tragedy of their loss is eased by the knowledge they had an opportunity to fight in concord the medieval threatening them that morning. this plot will ensure that their actions are for ever held a similar is steam. -- with similar to the steam. esteem. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. before we unbuild this debt to, i want to acknowledge how honored we are to have with us the leadership of the senate', the senate majority leader harry reid, republican leader mitch mcconnell, deputy leader of the senate, richard durbin, senator john kyl of arizona, senator bob casey of pennsylvania, and senator frank lautenberg of new jersey. center roland burris from illinois, representing the administration and here in his own rights, secretary of interior salazar. senator barbara boxer of california. are there any other members? steny hoyer. the minority leader john boehner, the republican leader of the house. senator isaacson of georgia. senator gramm of south carolina. senator shot team -- shahim from new hampshire. senator franken and minnesota, and the newest member of the senate. senator feingold who is with us. senator boy and a bit of ohio. senger merkley of oregon. senator alt mire of pennsylvania. senator gil brandt of new york. senator read and write island from a -- senate term rtor reidf rhode island. any other member is ths? congressman dan to of pennsylvania. reaching dench of pe -- center dench of pennsylvania. i think we should take them as a sign of the enormous gratitude that we have. i hope we will go from here to our 9/11 ceremony were real honor you. anyone who visit here will see the name of your loved dom. now we will on bail. -- now we will unviel. unveil. [applause] >> [unintelligible] >[reaading list of honored heroes] [reading list of honored heroes] [readintg lisg list of honored heroes] >> and brave sacrifice on september 11, 2001. they say to the u.s. capitol from destruction. chefs >> of the next, senator carl levin discusses u.s. involvement in afghanistan. that of the pollard -- that'll be followed about german chancellor on july -- angela merkel. this week during a special session, the supreme court heard an oral argument on campaign finance. the first session for a sonia sotomayor. >> would only be doing more harm than good by a broad ruling in a case that does not involve business corporations and does not involve the traditional for non-profit corporations. >> hear the argument in its entirety saturday at 7:00 p.m.. starting october 4, and next pensive look at the role -- an extended look at the role of justices during supreme court week. is there more than one definition of conservative? saturday, an editor on the debts of conservatism. for the complete book schedule online. >> armed services chair carl levin was among a delegation of senators to travel to afghanistan. he talks about his trip and the need for u.s. training and equipping of afghan military and police forces before any additional american troops are exported. good morning. eight years ago our nation was attacked by people bent on destruction. it is always appropriate to remember the shock of that day and the innocent lives lost in the efforts our nation has made since then to ensure that afghanistan cannot again become a safe haven for terrorists seeking to attack. i believe the best way to succeed in afghanistan is to take major steps to strengthen and support the afghan army police. in short, we need a surge of afghan forces. the obama administration's new strategy focuses on securing the afghan population safety. change in strategy has led this to "live, eat, and train together with the afghan security forces, to plan and to operate together and a pending one another and to hold each other accountable and to treat the afghans as equal partners. general met christopher put it this way. the success of the afghan security forces is our goal. the best way to achieve that goal in my judgment is that we increase and the accelerate dramatically our efforts to support the afghan security forces and their efforts to become self-sufficient. that they have the manpower, equipment, and the support to secure their own nation. for a long time, many of us have urged a goal of 240,000 afghan troops and 100 -- 160,000 active employees by 2013. i believe it is both possible and essential to a chance those goals of by a year. to do that, we are going to need more trainers including greater contributions from our nato allies. it will require additional of a man. there must be a major effort to transfer a significant amount of the equipment that is coming out of iraq to the afghan army and police. finally, we should make a concerted effort to separate the local taliban from their leaders. in iraq, large numbers of young iraqis switched over to our side and became dean son of iraq. the same process exists in afghanistan here is what the general had to say. he said that most of the fighters that we see in afghanistan are afghans. most the we do not see our deeply alogical or politically motivated. most are operating for pay. some are frustrated with local leaders. i believe that there is significant potential to go after men and low-level taliban fighters and leaders and off for them reintegration into afghanistan under the constitution. this possibility was not apparently factored into general mix crystal's assessment. there is no plan yet to put in place this approach in afghanistan. there should be. when we visited a village, one elder told us when we ask them how long american forces stay here, he said the following. "until the moment that you make our security forces self- sufficient, and then you will be welcome to visit us not the soldiers but as guests." we need a search of afghan security forces. we have not done nearly enough to put that in that motion. to do that, we are going to need many more trainers, hopefully including a much larger amount of nato trainers. where one to meet a surge of equipment that is coming out of iraq instead of coming home. a great deal should be coming to a pianist and. we need a plan. -- to afghanistan in stead. we need a plan to fight the local fighters. our support of this search of the afghan security forces will show our commitment to the success of a mission that is clearly in our interest. we will do so without creating a bigger u.s. military footprint that provides propaganda for the taliban. we should implement these steps on an urgent basis before we consider an increase in u.s. ground combat forces beyond what is already planned by the end of this year. >> if you are talking about not putting any more troops there, do you suggest that those who are already on the ground change the mission are you calling on nato to fully decrease their troops? by how many trainers you think we will need. i assume this came down earlier. what was the reaction? >> we met with secretary clinton on the hill. does anyone else have a question? i'm just kidding. [laughter] of course this came up in our meeting. i expressed my a review as i have expressed it today. they obviously understood. if they did not react positively or negatively. they welcome the. the three of us met senators -- the three best met. what i'm saying is, and i'm saying it carefully, we should complete the plan number of troops other planned to go in for the share but what we must do if we are going to succeed in afghanistan is to focus the strength of the afghan military forces. we need to do it in the way we have not yet done it. about six months ago or so, the majority of the members of the armed services committee wrote to the president. -- urging that there be an increase in the goal for the size of the afghan armyto to wonder if 40 -- to 240,000 soldiers. that was may 19. it is a fairly long and detailed letter talking about the importance of adopting a much larger goal. we talked about 2003. we should not only adopted that larger goal, but we should do it a year earlier. on the equipment side, senator mccain and i in march wrote to secretary gates quoting a general who was the commander of the combined forces in of can a san essaying j. forces him saying that -- he said it was a peacetime system of getting equipment approved. we have been pressing this issue. more trainers, more equipment to afghanistan for about six months. this -- these are the steps that i believe that we need to take before we consider additional combat forces. i want to say that as clearly as i can. that is the position i think. i think there is a major consensus about strengthening the afghan army. i do nothing that is the question. we have not adopted the new goals. we have not put in place the trainers to help us reach those goals by 2013. we have not adopted a major effort to get equipment to the afghans. and some of the budget coming here, i think the american people would support getting essential equipment, we are talking bullet and vehicles to the afghan army to the vacant a major responsibility for their own security. what we do not yet have them place is a plan to reintegrate into afghan society those local taliban fighters. that is what we must do, take the steps on an urgent basis before we consider additional combat forces. >> what pieces -- what if he comes back and says if he needs additional troops? >> i am saying this is my recommendation to the present. >> nancy pelosi said there is love a great deal support -- there is not a great deal support. to think that is a true statement? >> my recommendation is how we can best succeed in afghan the san -- afghanistan. having the best way to did beat the taliban -- i think the best way to defeat the taliban is for the afghan army to be large and strengthened and for us to co op of these local taliban fighters. my judgment as to how we can best succeed is that. there are a number of things we have going for us. one is the hatred of the people of a afghanistan for the taliban. only 5% of the afghans support the taliban. secondly, and they have an army. it is willing to fight, an army that is dedicated, that is motivated, and that army need to be significantly enlarged and strengthened. that should be our focus. >> separate from that, [unintelligible] >> i think there is a significant number of people in the country that have questions about deepening our military involvement in afghanistan. i am motivated and as chairman of the armed services committee in succeeding in afghanistan. we will make sure that afghanistan is not much -- not once again harboring -- under the domination of taliban. >> [unintelligible] what is your sense of the resources the general will need? >> i do not know what he'll be asking for. we met with him at length. he did not share with us nor do we expect him to. -- the options that he is looking at. as of right now, it is likely that there will be requests from him for additional combat forces. i think that is likely based on stories as we read and body language set to get from him. that is the trend likely here. i think it is hopefully useful and constructive for those of us that test and a lot of time from a policy perspective and looking at the complexity of the pianist and and how we can succeed for us to share our ideas about how best to succeed in afghanistan. i do not have a sense as to where the president's thinking is. i think there is a consensus not only among leaders but also the american people that it should be a goal to strengthen the afghan security forces. i think even people who disagree as to whether we ought to send additional combat forces would fundamentally agree with that idea. that is important. this is not a matter where we want to pull out and forget it. i think most people want to say strengthen the afghan security forces. it is an important goal. we ought to build on the. and then we can look at what have we not done. why have we not for six months adopted a much higher goal in terms of the level of those forces? why have we not put in place and equipment strategy for those forces when we are bringing back a historic amount of equipment from iraq at a great cost? why have we not yet adopted a plan for the option local television fighters. . . the three of us will be meeting with him next week and talking to colleagues. obviously, this is an issue which everyone of us in this country, it's less everybody in congress, is deeply interested in. yes? >> do you describe how you feel about this -- can you talk specifically about this? do you support that? do you think that is enough? do you think that should be reconsidered? >> on the second question, before we consider additional combat forces, we ought to take the steps that i have outlined and others to deal with the afghan security forces. that is my answer. before we consider additional combat troops, we ought to digby's steps. that is the answer to the second part. the ones that are already in the pipeline i think should go there, but in terms of your second question, i am not frustrated. i am determined that i give my best advice based on the experience i have and based on the responsibilities that i have. that is to simply give my best advice to the president of the united states and to the people around him, and i am doing that, and that is something i am determined to do, so i am not the least bit frustrated. in fact, i have had great access to the secretary of defense and the security advisor to president and to admiral mullin. i could not ask for greater access, and that is what i will continue to utilize, is that access. >> when senator warner returned from iraq, i wonder if you could give your assessment of -- are we at that kind of tipping point of what is the situation like to you on the ground in afghanistan? >> the situation has deteriorated. it can be turned around, so that is my assessment. if we can get and plays a larger afghan army that is equipped, i think this thing can turn around. if we can put in place a plan to reincorporate the society of afghanistan, those lower-level taliban people that are open to that, i think this thing can turn around, so that is my feeling about it. it is a very different situation in parts of afghanistan, by the way. i would not want to generalize about all of afghanistan, but i think it is clear in some parts of afghanistan, the security problem has worsened. >> you are speaking as of may. what happens? -- happened? >> -- >> what about the secretary of the army? >> as of yesterday morning, there are discussions under way. i think between be administration, and i know with those members that have blocked aid vote on his nomination -- i do not know what happened. i do not know if anything came with them or not. hopefully, the blockages can be removed so we can get to a vote. there are some senators that have had a hold on that. we have done everything we can do to remove the hold, but the administration has to have some kind of conversation, and i do not know about the general idea. i hope we can get to this nomination next week. it is long overdue that we vote on it. >> will they be included? >> there are 4000 traders included in the additional troops that have been previously approved by the president. -- trainers. we have been assured that assessment will be made for us, regardless as to whether the administration moves in precisely the direction that i have recommended. we will get the numbers as to what traders and others can be done in order to move these goals forward. to 2012. the goals here being the 240,000 for the afghan army, so we will get the numbers. currently though, according to the numbers that we do have, we are short about 12% of the needed trainers based on the current goal for the training of the afghan army and police. >> in afghanistan, -- >> yes. as a major layer of complication to this process. i do not know if that is an understatement, but it is an accurate statement. i think it complicates it until it is straightened out. >> he talks about success in afghanistan. what is your definition of that? >> unstable country which is not run by the taliban, which has democratically or is it as democratically as possible has an elected officials. when the people of afghanistan feel that they are secure. obviously, we hope that we will see the delivery of services to the people of afghanistan. we hope that the nation can be built there, which will gain the confidence of the people that they, in fact, are having their needs met by economic policies, by development policies. that is all very desirable. that will affect, i think, the ability of the afghan army to provide security, but i focus as chairman of the armed services to focus on that. we want all of those other googles to be accomplished. >> do you think we should pull out? >> do i think that? i think we should set a dime for -- time frame. >> what about the role and all of this? could all of this also go to pakistan and help them in their fight against the taliban? >> we had a day in iraq. there is actually some progress being made in pakistan. some of the successful attacks on the terrorist leaders have had a positive effect. it has given confidence to the pakistan government to the people that they fundamentally do not like that they are no longer with us. at least some of those. there is a network in pakistan which is the current major source. that is of people that are going back and forth across that border. into waziristan. hopefully they will address the problems that caused not only to them but to us by the activities of the vote -- that network, but we are cooperating with the pakistan government and hope that we can strengthen them in their efforts, which i think now have got some hopes for success in taking on the terrorist groups that threaten their own survival. >> senator, you do not argue forcibly about a timetable for withdrawal. tried to force them to get their act together. now, senator feingold says we should have a timetable for withdrawal for afghanistan. why not? >> this situation is different. there is a whole host of differences between the two, including differences in the situation in the army and the situation is very different in terms of the political divisions that exist in iraq. they're obviously divisions in afghanistan. i believe in iraq that the only way that we could force the political leaders in iraq to reach political compromise on the key issues of revenue division for the oil revenues, constitutional changes, the only way that we could force that and get them to do it, what only they could do, is to tell them there is an end point to our troop presence, which was essential. at this time, i do not think we need a mechanism in afghanistan. for me, what is needed in afghanistan is to focus on the strength of the afghan military and police. >> i am in the low confused. if we have more trainers going in, are you saying this would just be some military you are attacked solely for training? >> there would need to be additional trainers. we would be supplying additional traders also. if the afghan army is going to even get the current goal of 140,000, much less to the 240,000. it is likely to be a goal that general mcchrystal will propose. the defense minister in afghanistan has recommended that level for a long time. 17 of us wrote to six months ago urging the adoption of that larger level. to get to there, there will have to be a significant number of trainers. i do not have that number now, but there should be a significant portion of that coming from nato. it would seem to me that the least they could do is provide the trainers that are essential to give the afghan army up to the point where everybody believes they should be. i think you'll find that general mcchrystal will adopt that 240,000 goal by 2013, but i am suggesting it is so important that we focus on the afghan military strength that we bring that go up to 2012, and that is where we will be getting data from our folks in afghanistan as to what would it take in terms of trainers, in terms of support, in terms of equipment, in terms of logistics, in terms of mid-level leadership, whether it will take to get us to that goal, or better yet, get them to that goal by 2013, or as i would hope, 2012. yes? >> another question, perhaps a little off topic, but on national security. there was an exercise by the coast guard on the potomac river as they were dealing with the 9/11 ceremonies. shots being fired, alarms going up. a lot of people were concerned, and it was a big media event none of the police were told about it. no police at all were told about this as far as i can tell. >> after the fact is i am sorry, were not told about what? >> about this plan. >> this plan or the event? >> where not told about the fact that the coast guard was going to have the security event on the potomac simulating apparently live fire and things of that nature. >> i am surprised because that strikes me that kind of coordination should exist. yes? >> ground forces. how critical is it for the u.s. to maintain military bases in afghanistan from which they could send out trips or go after al qaeda in pakistan? >> well, that is a reason for our presence in afghanistan. it is not the major reason, but it is certainly a legitimate reason for us to have a presence in afghanistan, but the major reason is because of the importance of being partners with the afghans, and what they want to do, which is to take the responsibility for their own security -- they feel very passionate about that. we talked to the minister about the need for his own country to take responsibility for their own security, and he is very, very eloquent about that subject, and i think most afghan leaders are. they want to have the ability to take on the taliban. they hate the taliban. they have lived under the taliban, and the main reason we are there is to help them succeed in their efforts, because we never again want to see and afghanistan under taliban control, because they will harbor again the al qaeda attacked us. now, i do not know if that answers your question, but a third reason for being there is the one that we just had. it is going to depend upon the circumstances in pakistan. i am more concerned about the iranian role in iraq. there is the situation. what is the what? in terms of the equipment, i am not positive. i think there was an equipment situation where the was equipment coming in from iran that was needed. i am not positive about that. in i cannot remember because it was many months ago, where there was another incident. maybe they are up to a mixture of this. >> your concerns regarding the corruption and the allegations prove -- allegations? >> the afghan army right now has got great support from the afghan people. they are the number one institution in the eyes of the afghan people, and that institution, however, can only be as strong as it needs to be if it is defending the government and is guided by a government and is supervised by a government that has the support of the afghan people, and right now, because of the elections situation, there are clouds above the results, and it's when -- when those clouds are removed, hopefully it will be clear that uncertainty will be there, and that is not healthy in terms of public support in afghanistan, and for the government that is in charge of the army, but the government itself is the number one institution in afghanistan in the minds and hearts of the people of afghanistan. ok? thank you. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> on tuesday, german chancellor angela merkel address to the german parliament regarding recent actions in afghanistan. friday, september 4, the german commander issued an order for an oil strike against two oil tankers that were being held by the taliban. u.s. airplanes carried out that attack, and there were reports that civilians were killed in that. nato launched an investigation into that incident. this is about 15 minutes >> mr. speaker -- this is about 50 minutes. >> mr. speaker, last friday, the heaviest to place in the framework of the mission. it was with a loss of life. there are contradictory reports of what happens, especially about civilian victims. we will not be able to clear this up this morning. from the outset, and in clarity, i will say that any innocent deaths in afghanistan is one too many. [applause] we mourn every single one, everitt innocent wounded being one too many. -- every innocent wounded. i mourn along with their family members. i also mourn the victims caused by german actions. to me, it matters that as chancellor in this great house, i can tell this to the afghan people. i think that i can say this also in your name. afghanistan, this wooded country, deserves a more peaceful future. this is a hope. ladies and gentlemen, we will study friday's events as an assessment. we will ask all of the fundamental questions that have been on the table. it is right. it is necessary even to debate this today. as german chancellor, let me state the following. first, the complete inquiry about last friday's attack is to be a duty and goes without saying, as well as for of government. they will do this all of the means at its disposal. i cannot and will not prejudge today and the outcome. there will not be any whitewash. i will also guarantee that i will not accept any premature judgments. and i have heard many rumors in the last few days. i will say i will not take it either from this country, nor from abroad. i have spoken about this, and i have been very frank. for me, the defense ministry will have a thorough assessment of the attack. it is absolutely important. it will be based on all of the facts and actionable. second. the mission with our neighbor partners in afghanistan is necessary. it contributes to the international security, world peace, and protect the life of german citizens from the evil of international terrorism. it was the reason for the mission at the beginning and still is. the afghan government agreed then and still agrees. we know how many afghani citizens have big us to not fight the taliban alone. third, the second presidential election in afghanistan marks the beginning of a new quality stage of relations -- relations with the international community. we must take decisions about the next steps, decisions that would have been taken even without friday's events. with the second presidential election, afghanistan must start with the takeover of this responsibility. with present sarkozy and prime minister brown, i think that with the second presidency, the time has come now towards year and it to talk to the new afghan government. about a takeover about what is measurable. therefore, we proposed to the u.n. secretary general that he calls the conference before the end of this year in order to take stock of the situation and have the perspective of our afghan policy. i also expect guidance by the political -- for the country. they will have to determine clearly the afghan responsibilities in order to block crime, corruption, and the drug trade. they will have to have clear rule of law. above all, they will have to work with the afghan armed forces. this includes a schedule.  to tell us what is the best way to adopt local conditions in our engagements and have to gain the partnership of the different local leaders in other words, france, great britain, and germany expects to have conditions in this conference which will allow it responsible takeover strategy. in all responsibility, i insist that our top political priority is and remains and afghanistan that can take care of its own security, and afghanistan that can take care -- can prevent its soil from becoming the nest of international terrorism once again. within the next five years, the life of our new afghan compact, we must see a substantial progress. this will allow a withdrawal, step-by-step, of international troops that is what i mean when i talk about a responsible takeover strategy. these two words are linked won with the other. then, we will have reached our goal. fourth, from the outset, our commitment in afghanistan has been a mix of economic development and security. we are convinced that we cannot have one without the other. both are intrinsically linked. that is why the federal government has set up a comprehensive program and development programs. from infrastructure to police training. we owe it largely to the german government that all of our nato partners now share this conviction. at the beginning, they were made fun of very often. they call this the water boy. today, are blended security policy has reached a consensus among our allies. it is a long-lasting success with our german afghan policy. for this, i think all of those who contributed to the government, the defense minister, and the development minister. the people in afghanistan in very difficult circumstances were able to vote. they showed great courage. they demonstrated their commitment to peace, unity, and democracy. they deserve our respect. we have not closed our eyes either of the circumstances surrounding the elections. the audit led by the a electoral commission is very vital, but the mere fact that it exists, which is not the case in many other countries, is proof already of the progress accomplished by afghanistan. [applause] fifth, from the outset, we have insisted with our partners get the entire region be involved in the process. the german foreign minister has met with the afghan and other governments. it has become part of the international strategy. 6, this has always been mutual trust. trust between the afghan government and friendly people. the capacity to handle their own affairs. equally important for me, i expect german citizens to trust their government and their parliament are doing all that are in their power to ensure the security of the country. this is with the strictest insurance that the truest one is the right one. mr. speaker, and ladies and gentlemen, i said at the outset. the circumstances of friday's air attack will be studied. as if it were a test tube. we will answer all of the question is linked to our presence in afghanistan. i will even go further. a german foreign policy will be put to the test. this has existed since the foundation of the republic. germany is committed to peace in the world. it is in the preamble of our constitution. germany is a real democracy. we protect our citizens, their lives, and their goods with all legal means. [applause] and germany has close alliances and partnerships in this world. the german solution is no option in our foreign policy. the task of any leadership is to turn these three principles into reality this is one of our heaviest tasks. because in the end, it has to do the protection of life, and when we commit them also with the risking the lives -- make no mistake about it. in doing nothing would cost us just as much as acting. [applause] anyone who entertains the thought of a withdrawal of germany from the fight against international terrorism, especially in afghanistan, should think about it. let us not forget, let us never forget the circumstances that led my predecessor and my own government to afghanistan. it is because a taliban- controlled afghanistan had become the cradle that gave birth to at september 11. friday, it will be the eighth anniversary. other tax have followed 9/11, including in europe and especially in madrid and london. germany, too, and we know it, is a target. one gang was discovered just in time. the consequences of their project would have been horrible. let us not confuse the causes our mission in a standstill and is a response to terror, not the opposite. [applause] their mission was to and is in the most pressing interests of the security of our country, it rests on the decisions of the security council in united nations. since 2002, this mission has been vetted also listens. they have been vastly supported by parliament. also, it is extraordinarily important for our troops. let me thank all of view, including in the minority. you have endorsed this responsibility. our boys and girls are risking their lives in this mission. we must think of them, as well. also, our police officers who are training their counterparts. [applause] mr. speaker, ladies and gentlemen, germany's actions on the basis of the three principles opens for us the possibility to make afghanistan in stabler and more independent partner in the fight against international terrorism. we will no longer have to have them rest on their partners. it is one of the toughest international challenges of our time. to face it is my goal and the goal of the federal government. that is the current task of the government. therefore, i am asking all of you for support now and in the future. [applause] >> up next on c-span, a conversation about al qaeda and spain. then, treasury secretary timothy geithner talks about the troubled assets relief program. after that, students studying engineering at the elementary school level and earlier. tomorrow night on c-span, a memorial service for journalist and former cbs evening news anchor walter cronkite who died earlier this year at the age of 92. among the speakers, president obama, former president clinton, tom brokaw, an apology 11 astronaut buzz aldrin -- apollo 11 astronaut. >> this week, the role of conspiracy theories with the author of "real enemies." the history professor on booktv. >> a discussion now on al qaeda in spain and their impact on u.s. security from today's "washington journal." this is just over 30 minutes. in the meantime, james kitfield, who has been on this program for the past eight years talking about al qaeda and the war and afghanistan and 9/11, he is with us with this new article from the "national journal." one of the quotes from his article is -- what does that mean? guest: it means is still out there, still plodding, still training, still trying to attack the west. what i try to address in the article and what has interested me and a lot of other counter- terrorism experts is that we would have thought there would have been a lot more successful attacks on the west. and there were a rash of successful attacks -- the london bombings, the madrid bauman from the bombings in istanbul. but they have tapered off. attacks on the west have not been successful since 2005, and they are limited attacks. the question in a lot of people's minds is why. maybe we are doing something right. maybe we have been lucky. the idea behind the story is to put one of these failed plot under the microscope and to see what it taught us about what we're doing right. host: we will get to that in just a moment, but on the maur macro level you write this- that said, what has that done for the war on terror? guest: that was the original move -- mujahedin, a lot of them trace their experiences back to the experience is against the soviet union. there were very experienced, hardened people. they have had to recruit to replace those guys, and they have been able to, but you cannot replace experience. they're having a quality control problem. as you bring in less experienced people, the era of less good at operational security, less fluid at moving in the west, for instance. we still see these al qaeda facilitators the train in these camps and then go to europe and other places and try to initiate local cells, but these guys are not as good as the originals, apparently. the fact that a credit is in pakistan trouble areas means that intelligence is focused like a laser on communications and cummings and goings in the pakistani trouble areas. theseç guys, more often, before they even get to their place where they want to initiate a plot, are being followed. host: why did you go to spain to report on al qaeda? guest: i wanted to put a failed plot under the microscope to see what we could learn from that. in the barcelona a plot that they exported from last year, i'd have striking similarities between daud and his successful madrid plot of the -- of 2004 where they killed almost 200 people and injured 1700 more. the similarities were striking and in both cases, bin laden initiated it. both spots were for the same motivation, trying to peel off spain from the military coalition in iraq of 2004 and afghanistan in 2008. they both involve one of these facilitators who came directly from an al qaeda training camp to spain to initiate a local cell by radical preacher or a local mom. they both involve the suicide bombings. they both involved communications through cyberspace. yet one was successful and one was not. i thought it made a good case study to see what we did in the second case that we were not able to do in the first. guest: absolutely, i mean, these guys study each plot, the ones that are successful, the ones that are not successful. they go through their own little dissertations and case studies to see what worked and what did not. madrid was considered a spectacularly successful terrorist plot. the accomplished peeling off of our military alliance coalition -- the peeling off of spain from our military alliance coalition. and 9/11, that to them was a very successful operation but they have been unsuccessful in trying to repeat either instance. host: international efforts? guest: the intelligence sharing is obviously far better than it used to be. our allies in the west and in the east have set up these counter-terrorism centers that are now talking to each other. we have passed laws and bilateral agreements for intelligence sharing. in this case, it was clear that one of the plotters was actually an informant for french intelligence. in this case, they did, and that is of a basically supported this plot. host: the terrorists in the failed course a lot of plot, so many of them were from pakistan. guest: a lot of them were from algeria and morocco. for a long time, we have said one of the grid vulnerabilities we have are these 15 million muslim immigrants in europe. the diaspora -- this has long been seen as the vulnerability. in this case, there are some 15,000 pakistani immigrants. host: 15,000? guest: yes. they are able to move freely sort of in that sea, but what is interesting, though, someone figured them. when talking to the top counter- terrorism people -- some one fingone fingeredc them. there is a lot of dissatisfaction with al qaeda. the primary reason is their wont to slaughter of muslims. that is a strategy -- their wan ton slaughter of muslims. they bombed a wedding party in jordan. they were bombing the holy land. i think a lot of imams are coming out to say this is not right, and the second reason have come lost all legitimacy out against the spirit of -- against that. every time bin laden or al- zawahiri have issued these threats and cannot follow through, they are seeing as an -- they are seen as not successful. we will put our allegiance as elsewhere. host: is it important to send more troops to afghanistan? guest: it is a related, but different subjects. let's put it this way, the success you have had in keeping out on the defensive in the smaller region of the pakistani trouble areas, if afghanistan fails and the taliban retake afghanistan, there is no reason to assume that al qaeda will not have a larger, more successful century in afghanistan than they did before 9/11. i think failing in afghanistan -- a larger more successful sanctuary in afghanistan than they did before 9/11. i think failing in afghanistan is something to focus on. host: capturing bin laden? guest: it would certainly be nice, wouldn't it? i would love for them to catch him. but i think the movement would go on. he has created a movement and movements do not normally die with a single person. but having said that, he is the figurehead. it would be a substantial blow against al qaeda if he were captured or killed. host: i want to go back to your comment and a statement from your article about muslims in europe. "officials do not discount a cut is unmistakable focus on young muslim men in europe and the u.s. guest: and that makes the point that i was referring to. we are torching a lot of these plots, but we are also seen -- we retorting a lot of these plots, but we're also seeing not just instantaneous action from local cells. a lot of these cells have local immigrants involved in them. two intelligence services, the british and the dutch, both revealed, as with the barcelona and madrid plots, that all of these plots have facilitators with direct ties to al qaeda and have trained in terrorist camps in either afghanistan or pakistan. so, they are still trying there is a lot of smoke up there with these failed plot. without much smoke and i were there was going to be fired. -- with that much smoke i worry there is going to be fire. there was a plot to bomb jewish centers in your, iraq -- a plot to bomb fort dix and other plots of thwarted in the u.s. host: were those homegrown plots? and how sophisticated were they? guest: you have to put each one under a microscope. those were seemingly homegrown plots. you have to really wait until those things -- the really nice thing about the spanish system is that they try these things in open court. you can learn a lot more. some people say it is better if you do not learn those things because intelligence secrets come out. the other argument that is that you can actually understand what happened. i am not sure if there was a facilitator in from outside in those american plot. there certainly were in almost all of the european plots in recent years. host: james kitfield has been running about national security intelligence and the wars for many years. and has written a book about it. "prodigal soldiers" is another book he has written. he has been awarded for his coverage of the iraq war. how many times have you been to afghanistan and pakistan? guest: my focus was iraq until recently and i have been there four times. host: first caller is from indiana. caller: i wonder if this would have taken place earlier if bill clinton -- if the bill clinton glitch had not been involved and whether donald rumsfeld is still grinning from ear to ear, and dick cheney, if it is going to take something like what happened in 2001 on this datq4to cause an uproar in afghanistan. . . of their nuclear weapon talk, that is supposedly a threat, i wonder if you had any thought fz al qaeda is involved if that. is iran going to be involved? why have we military encircled them. also, i think it's pretty interesting russia has tie was iran. guest: an interesting question. on al qaeda's relationship with iran, it's not a natural alliance. iran is shia, al qaeda is suni. this is included killed by one of our predators strikes, so i doubt very much if we9qh are attacked again if in let anything to do with it. basically, they use hezbollah for its nefarious terrorism operations. it is in bed with hezbollah. it is not a natural front of al qaeda. as far as us in circling iran, what is kind of erotic is that we have taken away the taliban -- what is kind of ironic is that we have taken away all of taliban to the east which is why iran is feeling strapy right now. all of its regional competors we have taken out. caller: i wanted to express my deepest sympathy. i have friends who lost their daughter on one of the flights into the twin towers. they were on the anti-war march. they were well aware that the strike on that day had nothing to do with iraq. mr. kitfield, i wanted to ask you, the core excuses. but al qaeda, their core issues. when are their objections? our military basis on land in that part of the world to protect our access to oil. what are their core objections to the west? >> guest: sure. that's a very good question. they want to establish an islamic surrounding by strict sharia law. they want us to withdraw all support from israel, saudi arabia and egypt so that they can take over those countries. very much like the taliban had in afghanistan before 9/11. they see us and our money and support for these regimes as thwarting that. >> christopher called well will be on c-span q&a, sunday at 8:00 p.m. is the muslim population in europe a threat to you? guest: it is a potential threat. when you have people who are s dispoe sesed and angry and some iman can say it's these western culture. . they will listen. i think our own muslim population is pretty well inter he greated in the united states. we have to keep our eyes on and make sure there's not a d dispossesed muslim population that feels like they are discriminated against. guest: spain has decide the the best way to try these is in open court. there may be military ways to do that. there is something good that comes of the public being able to see in open court just what really evil people these are. host: democrat, you are on the air. caller: the only true way to measure whether we are any safer is to try to find out how to measure the intensity and determination of the people who want to attack us. is it any less today than eight years i mean, they probably will not use planes. it will probably do a timothy mcveigh said or something of that nature or blow up the mall. that is the first thing. then, bush/cheney constantly tell us they kept us safe. well, here is a factoid for them. more american citizens, more american people have died at the hands of our enemies under the bush/cheney regime than under carter, reagan, bush sr., and clinton combined to, combined. now, that is a factoid for you. more americans have died under the -- underhe

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