11 years after 9/11, barack obama, unknown state senator with one daughter, 11 years later is the president in the white house, ordering drone strikes. we're kind of living in this future here. >> totally new place, 11 years later. thank you so much for being with us here on this special, special morning. so much more coverage, of course, many more moments of silents in the cnn newsroom. >> with carol costello, which begins right now. >> thank you very much. we are remembering the victims and the triumphs since the attacks. and minutes from now remembering the lives lost at the pentagon. president obama will soon be on his way there. there, he will be laying a wreath. they'll have a ceremony and also deliver some remarks. not only the president but the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, army general martin

dempsey will deliver marks as well. >> we are also in shanksville, pennsylvania, where the final hijacked airliner crashed into a field after hero passengers fought back. vice president joe biden is there. we're expecting him to speak at the top of this 10:00 hour, an hour from now. first at new york's ground ze zero, a sign of healing. an overnight breakthrough that now clears the way for a museum on the site. we'll have more on that in a minute. poppy harlow is at ground zero. >> it is a beautiful, clear, crisp morning here. really reminiscent about 9/11 itself, a day just like that day. we spent the morning talking to family members. bob hughes, here with his wife, remembering their 30-year-old son, chris hughes, who was killed. he was a trader on the 89th floor of the south tower.

his mother, for the first time today, carolyn, in a few minutes, will get to read some of those names in the ceremony. very big day for them, for all the families. they open this morning with everyone singing "the star spangled banner." there was a bell that chimed and bagpipes and they began reading the names, as they do every year. 4.5 million visitors have come down to the memorial that opened this day last year. in the past year there have been 4.5 million visitors who have come to remember and honor and many more are down here today, remembering the 2,977 victims that died. we had one moment of silence so far at 8:46 am, when that first plane struck the north tower. we're about to have that second moment of silence. >> we are about to have it, in just about 30 seconds. at ground zero, only the families of those killed will be reading names of loved ones. politicians, for the first time,

will not be speaking. we are 15 seconds away from the moment of silence marking 9:03, 11 years to the minute since the second plane slammed into the world trade center, the south tower. let's listen. >> and my sister-in-law, loretta ann vero. [ bell chimes ]

hijacked airliners reduced the two iconic buildings to a crater. that's why we want to share this remarkable time-lapsed video. this is the new one world trade center rising into the new york skyline, nearly 1,400 feet tall, due to be completed next year. also inching toward reality, the 9/11 memorial musium, dead locked in a budget fight. we understand there's been a breakthrough overnight. poppy harlow joins us again from ground zero. tell us about this breakthrough. >> reporter: it's a very big

deal. this museum, the 9/11 museum, really has been stalleled. they've all but stopped construction on it since november. political in-fighting. really, disputes over funding and who is eventually going to operate and oversee this museum in conjunction with the memorial. the port authority in new york and new jersey who is building the site, operating it behind me, they struck a deal with the 9/11 foundation overnight. apparently they're going to meet this week and they're going to get that construction back up and running around the clock to try to get this moususeum done quickly as possible. i spoke this morning with joe daniels. he is the ceo of the 9/11 foundation. take a look at what he told me. >> do you think you'll get the federal funds? what will you ultimately do if you don't? >> i think ultimately we will get the funds. when you have a champion like senator inowye, who has such a deep connection to pearl harbor,

he is championing this cause. i believe between him, senator gillenbrand, be the mayor, we will get it done. we do expect it to happen. >> reporter: a third of the operating costs needed to keep the memorial and museum going. it will cost about $60 million a year. they're asking the federal government to chip in. this agreement means that no more taxpayer from new york and new jersey will go into this. they want federal money. we had a chance to catch up with mayor michael bloomberg to talk about just that. do you think that the federal government should supply this money? >> yes. >> reporter: do you think you're going to get it? >> i hope we'll get it. i think so. they provide that kind of funding for other memorials around the country. it's not an unreasonable amount of money. it's consistent with what they do elsewheres.

this was an attack on america. it took place in new york. but it was america and what america stands for that was threatened and, fortunately, everybody came together. and hopefully the federal government will come through and help us. we'll still have to charge for the museum. we'll still have to fund raise. >> and, ultimately, we're told that it's topping $1 billion. very massive, expensive project. if all goes as planned now, they hope to have that 9/11 museum opened at the end of next year or, at the latest, 2013. big deal to the folks i've been talking to here. softer last step we've been waiting for. >> absolutely. i mean no disrespect but $60 million a year in operating costs is an awful lot of money. arlington national cemetery, that costs $45 million a year to maintain. how did this project become so

expensive? >> reporter: it's a great question. i spoke in detail with joe daniels, head of the 9/11 foundation, about that. he said the holocaust museum costs over $90 million a year to operate. the majority, lot of the costs going to security. he noted this is a place that has been attacked twice. they have to have the best security. a lot of it goes to security and simply operating here in lower manhattan is very expensive. they have faced a lot of criticism, you're right, about that high, high cost. $60 million. they pointed out to me, carol, that the memorial will always be free for people to go to. they did say we'll have to charge in some way or another, whether it's a ticket price or suggested donation for people to get in to the 9/11 museum when it opens. >> poppy harlow reporting live for us from ground zero. we'll go back to her a little later. the president and first lady begin a day of memorials, starting on the south lawn of

the white house. ♪ [ taps playing ] ♪ >> in just a few minutes, the first family will head to the

pentag pentagon. this is one of several events the first family will take part in today to remember those who were killed 11 years ago. joining me now is white house correspondent breanna keilar. >> 8:6 am when the first plane hit the world trade center there in new york. mainly white house staff, as we understand it, were there. and shortly the president and first lady will make their way over to the pentagon for a moment of silence there as well. that will take place at 9:37 am, remembering the 184 people who were killed there. the president will lay a wreath. we will be hearing remarks from the chairman of the joint chief s of staff, martin dempsey, be and from the secretary of defense, leon panetta, and president obama himself. and this afternoon, in what will be a private affair, he will go

to walter reed medical center and visiting with wounded warriors there, carol. that's something that the cameras will not see. you know, as you can probably see behind me, it's a beautiful, crisp, fall-like day here in washington, d.c. on this day that has become sort of a somber ritual here at the white house and here in washington, d.c., carol. >> reminds you of what the weather was like on that terrible day 11 careeyears ago. beautiful day. what did the president say in his weekly address? >> reporter: he talked about something that a lot of people connect with, and awhat they felt in the days following 9/11. the legacy of 9/11 is that no act can something that resonates now 11 years later, certainly in the days following 9/11 that a

lot of people felt as well. >> the great sense of patriotism that existed back then. everyone reached out a hand. i don't know. it was a great feeling in a time of great sadness. brianna keilar, thank you very much. troops entered afghanistan to hunt down the man who was responsible for 9/11. and 11 years later, they are there still today. in kabul, afghanistan, remembering the day that sent them there. there is a victory this morning for those 9/11 first responders who were exposed to toxic dust and debris at ground zero. 58 different types of cancer will now be covered under the zadroga act, be a law designed to help so many who gave so much that day. this news could not come fast enough. elizabeth cohen joins me now.

so, what prompted this change to include so many forms of cancer? >> it is a profound change, carol. just last year, authorities said we're not including cancer. those cancer patients won't see money. this is a big switch. a lot of it has to do with a study that came out with firefighters. they looked at firefighters who were down there at ground zero and compared them with firefighters who were not. they found that the ground zero firefighters had a 19% increased risk of cancer. that's a substantially increased risk. nobody can say for sure that their cancers are because of their work done that day, but i think there's enough suggestion that perhaps that's the reason that they've decided to go ahead and include these cancers. >> so, what was so toxic there? >> so much was so toxic. it was this mix of building materials, like asbestos and jet fuel. it was unprecedented. it's hard to actually study this because they haven't seen it before. this mixture had not been seen before. you can see in these videos that so many of these people were not

wearing masks and even the masks they were wearing, who knows that it really protected them so much. people just rushed down to help. they weren't thinking about protective gear. >> no, they weren't at all. a lot of these first responders had been sick for a long time. so, is the help coming kind of too late for them? >> some of them have probably passed away from their cancers and it truly is too late for them. hopefully for others it will help them get through their doct doctors bills and in other situations. i don't want to say it's too late. i'm hoping it will be helpful in some ways. but to have these cancers for years and years without any kind of financial support, that must have been very difficult. i've interviewed some of them and i know how hard it's been. >> me, too. so sad. elizabeth cohen, thank you so much. president obama and the first lady will be at the pentagon this morning, participating in a wreath-laying ceremony in a few minutes. of course, we'll carry that live

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president obama and the first lady are on their way to the pentagon right now, where they will participate in that wreath-laying ceremony. earlier this morning we saw an american flag unfurled over the building. firefighters unveiled a flag like this on 9/11. including another twist in the search for justice, following the hazing death of a college student.

florida a & m university is blaming robert champion for his own death. he died in november after a band hazing incident on a bus trip. it comes as the school defends itself in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by champion's parents. george howell has been following this case from the very beginning. it sounds unbelievable. >> good morning. this comes down to one question. first of all, did robert champion have a choice? was he forced into this, as his family has insisted, or did he have a choice in the matter? did he voluntarily go through this hazing, as you've heard many band members suggest in sworn statements. you look at this report filed by attorneys, they say very blunt terms that the university is not responsible. >> mr. champion should have refused to participate in the planned hazing event and reported it to law enforcement or university administrators. under these circumstances, florida taxpayers should not be

held financially liable to mr. champion's estate for the ultimate result of his own imprudent, avoidable and tragic decision and death. so saying this university has no responsibility for what happened. >> haze iing is against the rul at school, right? >> again, they say he signed a waiver, knew about this. this was a planned event. they say that they're not liable. >> so, what are champion's parents saying about this? >> as you can imagine, they are surprised by this response. they've been in talks with the university looking for a possible settlement. this was a surprise to them. let me read this statement from chris chestnut, family's attorney. he says, quote, the champion family is shocked at the defense famu has chosen in the brutal highwaying death of robert champion. we simply cannot ignore the audacity of an institution that blames students for their own death yet for deck aaids ignored

the hazing epidemic occurring within its own walls. from famu's attorney, sam mitchell, says that champion's voluntary participation in hazing bars his estate from taxpayer dollars. >> weren't there administrators fired for the hazing incident at the university? >> there was a shuffle. the university president resigned, given what happened here. administrators lost their jobs, inde indeed, and there were several investigations around this case. they said if this was his choice, if he voluntarily went through with this, then they have no responsibility. >> we'll see what happens. george howell, thanks so much. no school again today for 350,000 public school students in chicago. but maybe for not much longer. their teachers should be back on the job fairly soon. third largest school district went on strike yesterday after contract negotiations broke down. casey wian is in chicago.

casey, are they close to reaching a deal? >> reporter: hard to tell, carol. we thought they've been close a couple of times. both sides say they are very close. but there remain a couple of issues. issues over job be security, mainly, that remain on the bargaining table. as you can see here, many of these teachers are out on strike. they're not in school today. they are walking the lines outside their schools. in about five minutes, some of these schools, like the one i'm at today, are going to be open as safe drop-off points for parents who don't have alternative child care arrangements for their children. these started yesterday and the participation was very, very small. one of the reasons, as you can imagi imagine, some parents very reluctant to bring their children across these picket lines, sometimes walking past their very own teachers. parents are having to come up with alternative arrangements. 9:30 this morning, about an hour from now, negotiations are

scheduled to begin and teachers here say they are hopeful, perhaps not optimistic, but hopeful that a resolution to this strike can be reached, hopefully, some time today, carol. >> i know chicago police have added extra patrol since kids are out of schools. any problems to report? >> reporter: no problems to report as of now, but parents are very, very worried. it's well documented that chicago has had a very violent year. murders in the city up 32%, compared to last year. a lot of parents. a lot of police officials. a lot of school officials. really, everyone in the city very worried about the prospect of children running around on the streets with no particular place to go with this violence that has been occurring in chicago. that's one of the reasons why police officers have been taken off desk duty and deployed out into the streets to make sure the streets are as safe as possible. >> casey wian, reporting live for us this morning.

now back to our special coverage of the 11th anniversary of the september 11th attacks. half a mile from the world trade center site, stock traders will observe a moment of silence to honor victims of september 11th as well as rescue, recovery and military personnel. that starts in just about one minute. allison kosik is there now. >> reporter: this moment of silence to honor the victims of 11 begins with one hit of the gavel that will happen at 9:25. and another hit of the gavel at 9:26, at the end of that moment of silence. all the traders on the floor will start to get ready to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks. ringing the opening bell include representatives of organizations that have devoted their time to promoting 9/11 as a day of charitable giving and volunteerism. you can see them there up on the

podium, getting ready for that moment of silence. you have to realize the nyse, new york stock exchange, we're just a few blocks away from the world trade center site. many will tell you they felt the building shake when the first tower fell and how dark it was from all the debris in the air that just came inside here when they were finally allowed to go outside. let's pause for a moment to hear the moment of silence here. [ bell tolls ]

>> you could even see some wiping their eyes. you know, carol, a lot of people in this building, they most like bely knew somebody who was killed in the attacks. it's obviously a very personal and tough day today. up on the podium, just want to go through who you see there. david cain and jay widdick.

ceo of mission continues and member of the pat tillman foundation and the widow of pat tillman. i'm also hearing that there's an nba star, olympic gold medalist on the podium, too. not sure who they are, though. tyson chandler of the new york knicks. >> to spark some positive action. you mentioned some of the guests. i can see how they'll play in today's ceremony but what else are they highlighting? to say america's moving again? >> exactly. you make a really good point there. this year, carol, the nyse is recognize i recognizing organizations involved in 9/11. it was labeled a day of service in 2002, on the one-year anniversary. some people up on the podium were instrumental making that happen. jay widdick his brother, glenn, was killed on 9/11.

some of the many organizations that are out there devoted to making 9/11 a day of positive change, carol. >> alison kosik, reporting live to us from the new york stock exchange. let's go to the pentagon where president obama and the first lady are set to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor those that died there on the 9/11 attacks. with more on today's memorial, what will we see, barbara? >> reporter: carol, as we do every year here, there will be the moment of silence at 9:37, when the plane struck the building. there will be some short speeches, we're told, by the chairman of the joint chiefs, secretary of defense and, of course, the president of the united states. but, you know, you were talking about alison before about the years that have passed and how things are changing. secretary of defense panetta said he wanted to remind everyone not to forget the

truth. 11 years later there are still 77,000 u.s. troops fighting in afghanistan out on the front line in danger every day. panetta make a plea one more time for people not to forget. life moves on. it has been 11 years. but here at the pentagon, pausing not just to remember those who lost their lives here, but looking ahead, really, to what is happen iing with the troops still out on the front line, carol. >> tell us the changes inside the pentagon after, you know, they rebuild. didn't they put a special chapel in and a special room? >> yeah. you know, the pentagon has changed quite a bit. if you weren't here 11 years ago, it all looks very normal. but there are a lot of changes. there is a memorial chapel inside the building, just on the other side of the wall where the memorial is that you're looking at, where the ceremony is taking place. it was really quite extraordinary for them to put

that memorial even outside that you're seeing the live shot of. because this is a very secure facility. this is like the white house. you don't just wander in and out. but this is a place where they decided they could have sufficient security, people could come to this memorial, this grove of trees and benches and waterfalls every day of the year and pay their respects to those who lost their lives here. it was very important. there is a sense of family about all of this. the people who lost their lives inside the building, and people who lost their lives on flight american 77. it's really a pentagon's family of remembrance for all of them. they do come together every year. so, there is that. of course, in the new post 9/11 world, carol, security measures are extraordinary. a lot of them, we don't talk about. because it's like talking about security at the white house. you just don't do that. >> let's pause, barbara.

>> by placing a wreath at the pentagon memorial. ♪ [ taps playing ] ♪ [ taps playing ]

please direct your attention to the pentagon memorial flag pole to your right. in honor of patriot day and in remembrance of the 184 lives lost at the pentagon, the flag is flying at half-staff. ladies and gentlemen, the national anthem of the united states. ♪

[ star spangled banner playing ] ♪ [ star spangled banner playing ] ♪ [ star spangled banner playing ]

ladies and gentlemen, the united states army chief of chaplains, major general donald rutherfor rutherford. >> let us pray. our refuge and strength are ever present in help and trouble. remember the events september 11th, 2001. we pray for all those who grieve today. for those who witness ed and survived the attack, those who came to rescue, who stayed and probate. all the souls who were lost. especially those whose names are eternally etched into this memorial. on a day when the worst was visited upon our nation, our spirits forever inspired by the

heroic acts of val or we witnessed at ground zero. and that we feel here at the pentagon. we pray for men and women who have answered the calls to defend our country at home and abroad. inspired by their legacy, we ask for continued courage and strength of spirit to faithfully serve our military and our nation. we are thankful to -- that we may do your work, showing peace with justice, forgiveness and building community, for an abundant life for all. as we join you in prayer today, the only name we pray, amen.

>> 11 years ago at 9:37 am, the pentagon was attacked. please join us in observing a moment of silence to remember those who perished. >> the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general martin dempsey. >> mr. president, mrs. obama, mr. secretary, distinguished guests, good morning. and thank you all for being here. my wife and i offer a special

welcome to the families and friends of those we lost on these grounds 11 years ago today. one of them was chief officer william root. his memorial bench of granite and steel sits in the last row in front of me, seventh in from the far right. bill served as a marine in vietnam, flying helicopters. after the war, he became a social studies teacher and joined the army national guard, serving in the first gulf war as a medivac pilot. he was loved by his students. they were proud of his service and moved by his deep commitment to them and to our nation. one student said he opened up my eyes and my heart to the world. many others inspired by his example became teachers, nurses, firefighters and several followed him into the life of the military. bill retired from the classroom after nearly 30 years and returned to serve in the pentagon. there's no doubt among his colleagues that he lost his life

that fateful morning because in the middle of the chaos, he stopped to help somebody. there were thousands like bill that day that remind us that life takes on meaning only as the causes to which we attach ourselves have meaning. that in the end we become what we are through some cause we make our own. september 11th will always stand apart from other days. not because of what we say or hear about sacrifice, courage and character. of course, it's all of those things. but also because of what those things say about all of us, all americans. so today, as we remember the 184 lives that ended here and all who perished in new york and in somerset county, pennsylvania, let us commit ourselves to the ideals for which they lived and in which they believe. let us also honor the generation they inspired, to step forward to defend our nation, a generation who fought in iraq and who still fight in afghanistan.

let us rededicate our own lives to the cause of giving back to our graigs great nation. as one of our nation's leaders said, the strength of our democracy has always rested on the willingness of those who believe in its values and in their will to serve, to give something back to this country. and now it's my privilege to introduce to you the man who spoke those words and who lives them every day, our secretary of defense, leon panetta. [ applause ] >> mr. president, mrs. obama, general dempsey, be distinguished guests, be ladies and gentlemen and, in particular, the family members who lost a loved one here on 9/ 9/11, 11 years ago on a morning very much like this, terrorists

attacked the symbols of american streng streng strength, our economy and our commerce, be our military might and our democracy. and took the lives of citizens from more than 90 countries. it was the worst terrorist attack on america in our history. today, people gather across the united states, around the world to remember the tragic events of 9/11. some take part in ceremonies like this. others spend time in quiet reflection and prayer. all of us take a moment to remember again where we were at that fateful moment.

here together, as one family, we pause to honor and to pray and to remember 184 lives lost at the pentagon, more than 2,700 killed in lower manhattan. and the 40 who perished in that field in pennsylvania on flight 93. these victims' families remember those who were lost as mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters. the family members here today know that the entire nation, entire nation joins you in mourning the loss of your loved one. we are honored by your presence. and just as your loved ones are

heroes forever, so are all of you. today, be we also recognize and remember other heroes, those first responders who rushed to the scene behind me, be into the fire in chaos, to save lives and help in any way possible. we owe all of you a very special debt. we appreciate all you did, to provide aid and comfort to those who needed it so badly. our thoughts also turn to the survivors. on that bright, sunny, tuesday morning, be yyou reported to wo with no idea about the tragedy that lay ahead. suddenly, this building was rocked by an explosion. after the impact, many of you risked your life to help others.

many can remember the smell of the rubble and jet fuel. and some of you knew the victims as office mates and friends and knew their families. like 60 years before, a nation at peace suddenly found itself at war. for all of you and for every american, be this memorial is a place for prayer and remembrance. and it is a fitting tribute to the lives of those so cruelly taken from us. passengers and crew of flight 77, military and civilian personnel working here at the pentagon. it is a fitting tribute to all of those who were lost. yesterday, i had the opportunity to visit another memorial, the

flight 93 national memorial in shanksville. i was reminded of those horrible moments after the hijacking whe the passengers and crew were able to make frantic calls, to speak to their loved ones for the last time. they knew what was at stake. and yet they decided to fight back. together, they took swift and decisive action, to stop yet another attack targeted at the nation's capital. that spirit of selflessness, that spirit of determination and courage is the enduring legacy of 9/11. it inspires our nation. it inspires our military to ensure that such an attack will never happen again. it inspires us to never forget those who perish, to defend our

homeland. to defend our ideals. to send a resounding message to our enemies that no one attacks the united states of america and gets away with it. for today, we also recall that out of the shock and sadness of 9/11 came a new sense of unity and resolve, that this would not happen again. it inspired a fierce determination to fight back and protect our way of life. in trying to attack our strengths, the terrorists unleashed our greatest strength, the spirit and the will of americans to fight for their country. millions of americans responded. a whole new and great generation

stepped forward to serve in uniform, to fight this war on terrorism. they bled on distant battlefields. they relentlessly perfe lly pus who would do us harm. they put their lives on the line to give all of us a safer and better future, and to bring those behind these attacks to justice. because of their sacrifices, because they were willing to fight and to die, because of their dedication, our nation is stronger and safer today than on 9/11. we never gave up the search for bin laden. we successfully brought him to justice. we decimated the leadership of al qaeda. we have them on the run and we have made it difficult for them to plan and conduct another 9/11 attack. and while that group is still a threat, we have dealt them a

heavy blow. and we will continue to fight them, in yemen, in somal ichia, north africa, wherever they go. our troops provide safe haven to our allies and we will continue to pursue and fight our enemies wherever they go, wherever they hide, wherever they try to find refuge. we will never stop until we have made sure that america is safe. on this day in solemn remembrance, let us make a pledge to those who died on 9/11 and their families. it is a pledge we also make to all of those who put their lives

on the line and have paid a heavy price for the last 11 years of war. our pledge is to keep fighting for a safer and stronger future. our pledge is to ensure that america always remains a government of, by and for all people. that pledge, that legacy makes clear that no one, no one who died on that terrible day 11 years ago died in vain. they died for a stronger america. this morning, we are honored by the presence of our military and civilian leaders and we are particularly honored by the presence of the president and mrs. obama. this president has led our efforts in this fight. and i have been honored to serve with him. it is now my great honor to

introduce our commander in chief. ladies and gentlemen, president barack obama. >> secretary panetta, general dempsey, members of our armed services and, most importantly, to the families, survivors and loved ones of those we lost, michelle and i are humbled to join you again on this solemn anniversary. today we remember a day that began like so many others, arrive at school and commutes to work, early flights and familiar routines, quick hugs, and quiet moments. it was a day like this one. a clear, blue sky, but a sky

that would soon be filled with clouds of smoke, and prayers of a nation shaken to its core. even now, all these years later, it is easy for those of us who lived through that day to close our eyes and to find ourselves back there. and back here. back when grief crashed over us like an awful wave, when americans everywhere held each other tight, seeking the reassurance that the world we knew wasn't crumbling under our feet. eleven times we have marked another september 11th come and gone. eleven times we have paused in remembrance and reflection, in unity, and in purpose. this is never an easy day. but it is especially difficult

for all of you. the families of nearly 3,000 innocents who lost their lives. your mothers and fathers, your husbands and wimps, your sons, and your daughters. they were taken from us suddenly and far too soon. to you and your families, the rest of us cannot begin to imagine the pain you've endured these many years. we will never fully understand how difficult it has been for you to carry on, to summon that strength when you rebuild your lives. but no matter how many years pass, no matter how many times we come together on this hallowed ground, know this, that you will never be alone. your loved ones will never be forgotten. they will endure in the hearts of our nation, because through their sacrifice, they helped us make the america we are today.

an america that has emerged even stronger. most of the americans we lost that day had never considered the possibility that a small bond of terrorists halfway around the world could do us such harm. most had never heard the name al qaeda. and yet it's because of their sacrifice that we've come together and dealt a crippling blow to the organization that brought evil to our shores, al qaeda's leadership has been devastating. and osama bin laden will never threaten us again. our country is safer and our people are resilient. it's true that the majority of those who died on september 11th had never put on our country's uniform. and yet they inspired more than 5 million americans. the 9/11 generation, to wear that uniform over the last decade. these men and women have done everything that we have asked. today, the war in iraq is over,

in afghanistan we're training afghan security forces and forging a partnership with the afghan people. and by the end of 2014, the longest war in our history will be over. meanwhile, townless civilians have opened their hearts to our troops, our military families and our veterans. eleven years ago memorial services were held for americans of different races and creeds, backgrounds and beliefs. and yet, instead of turning us against each other, tragedy has brought us together. i've always said that our fight is with al qaeda and its affiliates, not with islam or any other religion. this country was built as a beacon of freedom and tolerance. that's what's made us strong. now, and forever. and finally, when those innocent souls were taken from us, they left behind unfulfilled work,

and tasks that remain undone. and that's why on a day when others sought to bring this country down, we chose to build it up with a national day of service and remembrance. scripture tells us do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. there's no better way to honor the best in those who died than by discovering the best in ourselves. this anniversary allows us to renew our faith, that even the darkest night gives way to a brighter dawn. today we can come here to the pentagon and touch these names and kneel beside a building where a single stone still bears the scars of that fire. we can visit the field of honor in pennsylvania, remember the heroes who made it sacred. we can see water cascading into

the footprints of the twin towers, and gaze up as a new tower rising above the new york skyline. and even though we may never be able to fully lift the burden carried by those left behind, we know that somewhere a son is growing up with his father's eyes, and a daughter has her mother's laugh, living reminders that those who died are with us still. so as painful as this day is, and always will be, it leaves us with a lesson. that no single event can ever destroy who we are. no act of terrorism can ever change what we stand for. instead we recommit ourselves to the values that we believe in, holding firmly without wavering to the hope that we confess. that's the commitment that we reaffirm today.

and that's why, when the history books are written, the true legacy of 9/11 will not be one of fear or hate or division, it will be a safer world, a stronger nation, and a people more united than ever before. god bless the memories of those we lost. and god bless these united states of america. >> president obama speaking at the pentagon, honoring those who lost their lives there eleven years ago today. brianna keilar is in washington. and i just say, brianna, the sound of planes going over the pentagon, or near the pentagon, was quite unsettling during these speeches. >> you know, that struck me as well, carol, and i think also part of it sort of shows, as

well, the normalcy, that even though this is a very somber occasion and a somber anniversary, as you heard president obama put it, and i can hear the planes right now, it's very much a real part if you're near the white house or the pentagon, that you hear planes taking off from reagan airport. but i think to me it sort of reminded me of the fact that things have somewhat returned to a bit of normal, even as people pause and they think very much about what today is, that business and commerce doesn't stop here in the nation's capital, even as you see president obama going about his, what's become, traditional activities for 9/11. a moment of silence here at the white house. a moment of silence in remarks at the pentagon. and then later today, he'll head to walter reed to meet with wounded veterans. >> i know that there was an effort to make this not a political day. in fact both candidates for president decided not to run any attack ads today. was that -- of course that was a conscious decision. but tell us why they decided to

do that. >> well, i think it is a conscious decision. obviously i think that's something that a lot of people just would strike them as indecent for that normal business, i think, to be going on and the candidates are both very much aware of that. >> brianna keilar thanks so much. let's go back to ground zero for a moment of silence honoring that heart wrenching blow when the south tower collapsed. of course that tower burned for some 57 minutes before it fell. as well you remember united airlines flight 175 struck the south tower between the 77th and 85th floors. let's pause.

david halderman jr. maile rachel hale >> also at new york's ground zero a sign of healing. an overnight breakthrough that clears the way for a 9/11 museum on the site. cnn's poppy harlow joins us now to tell us about that. what was the break thru, poppy? >> good morning, care. the breakthrough overnight was that the port authority, which is running this massive operation, has reached a deal with the 9/11 foundation. they're the ones that are overseeing the memorial which is already open and also that museum. it's 110,000 square foot museum, below ground, underneath the memorial, that was actually set to open today. it got caught in a lot of red tape, political infighting, feuds about who would pay for what, where the money was coming from, so since november the construction has really been halted. well overnight they reached a

deal, they're going to restart construction in full swing within the next few weeks, and they believe that this museum will now open at the end of 2013, or at the latest the beginning of 2014. one of the family members of a victim that i spoke with this morning said, it's really important to us to have that done, and have it completed, because it sort of is the final stage of the memorial, and it's closure, in a sense, for us. so it's been sort of a source of angst for a lot of people that want to come and want to visit it. it will have video recordings, voice recordings, clothing of some of the people in the towers. so they'll have a lot of things that will be hard for people to see, but also important for different families to look at and to remember those that they lost. so that is now back on track. very, very good news on this eleventh anniversary. >> poppy, i know people across the country would like to come and visit the memorial. it's kind of hard to get to, number one. and you have to reserve tickets

online. is that still true? >> right. you do. you have to get tickets online for the memorial. but it's free. and they told me this morning it's always going to remain free. the museum, they're probably going to have to charge admission to help pay for it. but it is -- it's a glorious place. it's a beautiful, beautiful memorial. and what we saw this morning with family members putting paper over the names of the loved ones that are inscribed around those two big pools of water, and etching their names onto paper. and that's what you see happen a lot here, carol. i did also want to play you some sound, if we have time, from of the family members that i spoke with, the father, bob hughes, who lost his 30-year-old son chris, who was a trader on the 89th floor of the world trade center -- >> can you parafreeze for us, poppy, because soon we're going to have to go to shanksville for the moment of silence there. >> of course. what he said to us, you know, he

showed us that it's still hard for him, 11 years later, i said tell me about chris and his eyes welled up and he said i can't believe it's still so hard. he said for us, 9/11 is 24/7. it's really every day for us. so they're still reliving the pain. >> oh. i don't think they'll ever stop reliving the pain. poppy harlow reporting live for us from ground zero. as i said we're going to go to shanksville now, in pennsylvania, where the final hijacked airliner crashed into a field at 10:03 eastern time. heroic passengers fought back against the terrorists, and a moment of silence will honor them.

>> christian adams. >> also, this note for you, the vice president joe biden is set to speak at the shanksville memorial. when vice president biden begins speaking, of course, we'll carry his remarks live. in the years since the 9/11 attacks, airport security has changed dramatically. you know that. you know the drill, shoes off, liquids out and hands up for the full body scan. but a new idea called the checkpoint of the future could make security screening better, easier, and possibly stress-free. cnn's sandra endo joins me now from reagan national airport. so sandra, tell us what this is all about. >> well, carol, good morning. security experts really just want to keep the process safe, but efficient. because the federal aviation administration projects that in 20 years there will be 1.3

billion people flying throughout the united states. now the international air transport association is hoping that by then, people will be able to get their boarding pass through a fingerprint or retinal scan and then breeze through the checkpoint. they're hoping that to use advanced technology can make the checkpoint process more passive than it is today. airport checkpoints as easy as walking down a hall like this. >> in seven to ten years we think it can be, yes. >> how would it work if it's going to be as easy as walking down a hallway like this? >> well, you can have standoff screening equipment that's under development now that's going to be quite a bit more capable than what exists today. and so that's how -- that's how it works. right now, we're limited by the technology, by the setup that we have. >> now the technology isn't quite there yet but the group is hoping that by 2020, that it

will be. so for right now the tsa does have to rely on those complex, high-tech body scanners and those high-tech x-ray luggage machines that they're using today. >> you know how impatient americans are, though, sandra. so are there any steps being taken right now to make it a little easier for us? >> yeah, the tsa unveiled this program last year. they really want to minimize the so-called haystack of people who may pose a threat. so through their precheck program, if a passenger registers with the tsa and is kind of a known flier to them, they can breeze through the process, if they're qualified. that means they don't have to take off their shoes, they can keep their laptops in their lag. they can even keep their belt and a light jacket on. that program has been so successful in the past year or so that 2.5 million passengers are preregistered to far. so they're hoping that will speed up the process. >> okay. so, of course, you can't travel

with full-size liquids. most people still have to take off their shoes when they go through security. are those things here to stay? or are they soon to go? >> that's interesting. because, the technology is certainly out there, it's being developed. we talked to one executive from rapidscan who actually developed this type of technology. and he predicts that in a year or two, that passengers will be able to fly with full-size liquids. but the tsa is saying not so fast. in terms of practicality, they don't know if they could actually roll out that initiative in that time frame. but clearly, that is what everyone is working on. trying to make this process more efficient, and faster, given the amount of passengers that they're anticipating in the next 20 years. >> sandra endo reporting live from reagan national airport this morning. we appreciate it. let's head back to the pentagon now and check in with barbara starr. and before barbara begins speaking i want to remind our viewers we are awaiting remarks from vice president joe biden.

he's in shanksville, pennsylvania. they're still reading names there. 40 people died on that flight. when joe biden begins speaking we'll go back to shanksville. let's head to washington now and check in with barbara starr. there was a moment of silence earlier. and some moving speeches. >> absolutely, carol. 184 souls lost here. eleven years later the president once again coming here to the pentagon, making those remarks. talking about the real mission as he sees it for 9/11, of service and duty. trying to put that note on this very sad day that as america looks forward, americans must rededicate themselves to this concept of service. and that, of course, is what the military is all about, so much is about 77,000 u.s. troops still serving in afghanistan on the front line 11 years later. this is not a day for political controversy about all of that. but everyone is well aware that this is an issue, and it was

really just yesterday that secretary of defense panetta talked about the notion of don't forget the troops. after 11 years it can be easy not to remember every day that they are out there. and it is because of the attacks on 9/11, because of everything that happened here in new york, and in shanksville, as we await the vice president coming to the podium in shanksville for that third ceremony that we have seen every one of the anniversary dates of 9/11, haven't we, eleven years later, we're still here. >> that we are. barbara starr, thanks so much. we're going to take a quick break. [ mrs. hutchison ] friday night has always been all fun and games here at the hutchison household. but one dark stormy evening... she needed a good meal and a good family. so we gave her purina cat chow complete. it's the best because it has something for all of our cats!

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with our award winning apps that allow you to transfer funds, pay bills or manage your finances anywhere, anytime. so that wherever your duty takes you, usaa bank goes with you. visit us online to learn what makes our bank so different. this morning we're bringing you live coverage of the ceremonies marking this eleventh anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. president obama was at the pentagon just minutes ago he laid a wreath for those killed there when an airliner slammed into the building. vice president joe biden is attending a memorial in

shanksville, pennsylvania. of course that's the field where a plane crashed after passengers and crew tried to overthrow the hijackers. mr. biden expected to speak any minute now. once he begins speaking we'll take you back to shanksville live. we won't leave our coverage of the eleventh anniversary of 9/11 very long. but there are other stories this morning. let's go to chicago, where it is day two of a teacher's strike that's left 350,000 students with another unscheduled day off. maybe not for much longer. nearly 30,000 teachers could be back on the job pretty soon. casey wian is in chicago. really? >> well, we don't know. both sides are very hopeful, carol, that the teachers that you can see over here are on the picket line are back in the classroom soon, where they belong. the negotiations are scheduled to resume in about 15 minutes time. those negotiations broke off last night with no agreement. both sides saying that a deal is

within reach. but there remain two very controversial issues that they're going to be talking about today. or hopefully will be talking about. that is whether principals at individual schools like this one have the authority to hire w4078ever they want to replace teachers who have been laid off because of school closings and consolidations. the union wants more control over that process. they want laid-off teachers to get the first crack at any jobs that become available. also, the way teachers are evaluated is a very contentious issue here. the school board wants those evaluations tied, at least in part, to student performance. the teachers union saying tying those evaluations to standardized test scores is unfair to teachers who work in low-income districts. if those two issues get solved this strike could get solved. so everybody's hoping that those negotiations will be productive when they resume later this morning. >> so whose side are parents' mostly on.

teachers, administer ares, the governor, the mayor? >> it's hard to say. i think parents are -- most of the parents are on the side of let's get this thing settled. they've got working parents here who have no place to take their children. there are schools like this where they do have an opportunity to at least have some temporary child care. but it's only for a half a day. the parents that we have seen at the schools are mostly in support of the striking teachers. but i'm not sure that's a real representative sample, because those who are uncomfortable with the striking teachers are probably more likely to stay away. we do know that some parents have been uncomfortable bringing their students to schools like this for temporary day care because they have to bring them across picket lines like this one and have them cross the picket line that's manned in some cases by the students' very own teacher. >> casey wian reporting live for us from chicago this morning. all across the country men, women, families, even first responders honoring the victims of september 11th.

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18 minutes pasted hour. welcome back to the newsroom. touching ceremonies going on all across the country to honor those lost on september 11th, 2001. this is a reading of the names in new york city. those names being read by family members this year, not politicians. the ceremony also taking place in shanksville, pennsylvania. as you see the speeches have begun honoring the 40 people who died there. as you know, flight 93 crashed into the ground there. who could forget todd beamer and let's roll as the passengers on board that plane stormed the cockpit, causing the plane to crash and preventing it from hitting its intended target the

u.s. capitol. president and mrs. obama are taking place in different ceremonies across washington and this afternoon they'll be meeting with wounded troops now recovering at walter reed military medical center. brianna keilar joins me with that story. good morning. >> good morning to you, carol. he'll be meeting with wounded troops, something that we actually won't get to see that will be done behind closed doors there will be no cameras. but this will really be the third of three events that president obama will do today in remembrance of 9/11. of course there was the moment of silence on the south lawn at 8:46 a.m. the time that the first plane hit the world trade center and he just wrapped up remarks not too long ago at the pentagon where there was also a tribute, a moment of silence at 9:37 a.m. in honor of the 184 lives that were lost there in that building. and on the plane, not including the hijackers, when the plane crashed into the pentagon. president obama spoke a lot

about the legacy of 9/11, carol. he said it's a day where america took something very negative and made it into something positive. a day of service, coming together, and now remembering the victims and the heroes of that day. >> i know when he talked about the third party of that legacy, though, he said that it made americans more united than ever. certainly that was true in maybe the first couple of years after 9/11, but right now, hmm, i can't say that it's absolutely true. >> i think there is sort of this contrast that you're seeing certainly in a very political battle here two months ahead of the election. as you did mention though, there's been a suspension of the advertising, which as you know, is very negativethis very tough re-election battle. but today, at least, politics being set aside, we heard president obama making his remarks. the candidates on the other side, mitt romney and paul ryan, vice president joe biden, all of them paying tribute today to the

victims of 9/11. and putting politics aside. at least for the day, carol. but i'm sure that things will return to the normal, the political normal tomorrow. >> i'm sure you're right about that, brianna keilar reporting live from the white house this morning. mitt romney, he's also remembering the 9/11 tragedy. he tweeted today -- i'm going to read it to you now. he said on this most somber day, america is united under god in its quest for peace and freedom at home and across the world. romney is in chicago right now. this morning when he arrived at o'hare airport the republican presidential candidate shook the hands of several chicago firefighters who were holding a 9/11 remembrance on the tarmac. there is a victory this morning for those 9/11 first responders who were exposed to all that toxic dust and debris at ground zero. federal officials decided 58 different types of cancer will now be covered under the zag road today act. a law designed to help those who

gave so much that day. this news couldn't come fast enough. elizabeth cohen joins me now to tell us more. >> this was a huge change. it was last year how you and wry talking about how they weren't going to cover cancer. that was the official edict. >> and now they are. >> exactly. and now they are. and one of the reasons for this change is that a study came out and they looked at firefighters and they looked at the ones who were down at 9/11, down at the site, and the ones who weren't. the ones who were at ground zero had a 19% increased incidence of cancer. they're not saying that these first responders actually got cancer from the dust at 9/11. they're just saying the possibility is there, and so we're going to, you know, give out money. >> they don't have to be 100% sure. but it's a good, educated guess, because there was a lot of toxic stuff in that debris. >> there was an unprecedented mix of toxic stuff. that's the important part. there was jet fuel mixed with

asbestos and other building materials. there's no science to go back to to say does this cause cancer? we've never seen this before. we're not sure what it causes. the educated guess is yes, it might have caused those cancers. >> some of those first responders have already died. it's just sad. will the families of those victims get some money to help them with their medical costs? >> i was just on the phone with a doctor who treated a patient who died and she said she worked really hard to get him charity care. he didn't have any money. so charity hospitals paid. this was a very expensive care and she asked me with these hospitals now go get some of that money to compensate them? i said i don't know. that's a great question. we're going to try to find that out. i think this starts to get very complicated, considering that these cancers, some of them happened in the past, some might happen in the future. some people got charity care. this gets very tangled up. >> elizabeth cohen, thanks so much. we're awaiting joe biden's speech. he's supposed to speak in shanksville, pennsylvania. you can see the scene there.

lots of people coming out to remember those who died on board that flight. flight 393 that slammed into that field. when joe biden begins speaking we'll go back to shanksville. i'm so glad you called. thank you.

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airlines flight 11, 87 people on board that plane, minus the hijackers, that hit before the 9:00 eastern hour, so you can see how long it took the north tower to fall. and of course, many people died inside that building on that day. let's pause now to listen. >> joseph girard levy. >> neil, j. levy. >> at ground zero a break from tradition for the first time, politicians were not invited to speak. only the families of those killed have been reading the names. poppy harlow joins us again from ground zero. i know you spoke to one couple that took part in this ceremony. they lost their son. >> i did.

bob and elaine hughes, and we just at 10:18 a.m. we just heard elaine hughes read her son's name. it was very emotional. they lost their 30-year-old son chris. he was a trader on the 89th floor of the south tower. and you know, even eleven years later, carol, for them it's incredibly hard. i want you to take a listen to bob hughes, and what he had to say when i asked him this morning about his son chris. tell me a little bit about chris. >> well, it is really, you know, a fun-loving -- i don't know why -- >> very hard. >> he was a very really, you know, loved the outdoors, a fun-loving type of guy, you know, always wanted to work in the financial sector. unfortunately he worked in the trade center.

but he was a real outdoors type of guy. you know, great family, you know, son. there's a lot of things you could say. but he loved the outdoors. >> and you know, carol, he also told me that there's a much bigger message. he said what he wants people to remember today, and every anniversary, is that we will never be beaten and that's part of why he and his wife come here every single year to remember their son. >> so touching. thank you very much, poppy. vice president joe bide be has just taken the podium, you see him there in shanksville, pennsylvania. let's listen. >> -- with all that you plan will happen. patrick, you're keeping the flame alive, and keeping families together is in my experience i imagine you all

find solace in seeing one another. there's nothing like being able to talk with someone who you know understands. and and it's an honor, a genuine honor to be back here today. but, like all of the families, we wish we weren't here. we wish we didn't have to be here. wish we didn't have to commemorate any of this. it is a bittersweet moment for the entire nation. for all of the country. but particularly those family members gathered here today. last year the nation, and all of your family members that are here, commemorated the 10th anniversary of the heroic acts that gave definition to what has made america such a truly exceptional place.

individual acts of heroism of ordinary people in moments that could not have been contemplated. but yet were initiated. i also know from my own experience that today is just as momentous a day for all of you, just as momentous day in your life, each of your families, as every september 11th has been, regardless of the anniversary. for no matter how many anniversaries you experience, for at least an instant, the terror of that moment returns, the lingering moment of that phone call, the sense of total disbelief that envelops you. you feel like you're being sucked into a black hole in the middle of your chest.

my hope, my hope for you all is that as every year passes, the depth of your pain recedes and you find comfort, as i have, genuine comfort, in recalling his smile, her laugh, their touch, and i hope you're as certain as i am, as certain as i am, that she can see what a wonderful man her son is, turned out to be. grown up to be. but he knows everything that your daughter has achieved. and he can hear and she can hear how her mom still talks about her. the day he scored the winning touchdown. how bright and beautiful she was on that graduation day. and know that -- know that he

knows what a beautiful child the daughter he never got to see has turned out to be. how much she reminds you of him. for i know you see your wife every time you see her smile on her child's face. remember your daughter, every time you hear her laughter coming from her brother's lips. and you remember your husband, every time your son just touches your hand. i also hope, i also hope it continues to give you some solace, knowing that this nation, all these people gathered here today, were not family members. all your neighbors, that they've not forgotten. they've not forgot the heroism of your husbands, wives, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers.

and that what they did for this country is still etched in the minds of not only you, but millions of americans forever. that's why it's so important that this memorial be preserved, go on for our children and our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren and our great-great-grandchildren because it is. it is what makes us so exceptional. and i think they all appreciate, as i do, more than they can tell you, the incredible bravery your family members showed on that day. i said last year my mom used to have an expression, she said joey, bravery resides in every heart. some day we'll be summoned. it's remarkable, it's remarkable.

how it was not only summoned but acted on. today we stand in this hallowed ground, a place made sacred by the heroism and sacrifice of the passengers and crew on flight 93, and it's as if the flowers as i walked through, as if the flowers are giving testament to how sacred this ground is. my guess, and obviously it's only a guess, no two losses are the same, but my guess is you're living this moment that yates only wrote about when he wrote, pray, i will, and sing i must, but yet i weep. pray, i will, sing i must, but yet i weep. my personal prayer for all of you is that in every succeeding year, you're able to sing more,

than you weep. and my god truly bless you and bless the souls of those 40 incredible people who rest on this ground. >> and we just heard vice president joe biden speaking at shan shanksville in honor of those 40 people who died. at terrible day at 10:03 eastern tile. we'll be back with much more. at purina one, we believe small things can make a big difference. like how a little oil from here can be such a big thing in an old friend's life. we discovered that by blending enhanced botanical oils into our food, we can help brighten an old dog's mind

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40 minutes past the hour. could one new product feat the entire u.s. economy? that would be like pouring a glass of water into the ocean,

right? well maybe not. at least one economist is saying apple's anticipated release of the iphone 5 this week could give the nation's economy a measurable bump. allison costic is at the new york stock exchange. >> this is a pretty sizable impact. jpmorgan actually puts the bump at a quarter to a half of a percentage point. in the second quarter of this year gdp grew by 1.7%, so an iphone 5 bump could get it over that 2% mark. it's equal to pumping $3.2 billion right into the economy, and in the last three months of this year. so how do we get that? it's based on a retail cost of $600 per iphone. that's just a guess. we don't know how much the iphone is actually going to cost. you take out $200 off the cost for components of the phone, and this, of course, is all based on if 8 million iphones are sold in the u.s. in the final three months of this year. you know, it's not such a far

stretch. did you know 4 million iphone 4s were sold in the first weekend that that particular -- that particular iphone launched just 4 million in a weekend. 8 is not so far off the mark. >> so we often hear the country is close to falling off a fiscal cliff. so, could the iphone 5 pull us back from the brink? >> wouldn't that be interesting? don't you feel like apple at this point is kind of taking over the world? but to be honest, you know, i don't think it can really pull us back from the brink. not unless the new iphone can help congress. wouldn't that be a nifty feature. and making me dinner. with the fiscal cliff if it doesn't act we will fall off this so-called fiscal cliff meaning spending cuts would expire, taxes would go up, it would have a huge negative impact on gdp and such a bad impact that the congressional budget office has predicted we're going to fall into a recession which is negative growth. so, you know, to be honest here

it will take more than just an iphone to pull us out of that hole. it would be a nifty feature if the iphone could walk through congress and say can you guys get off your doves and do something? >> wouldn't that be great? a lot of people are wishing they would do more than that. alison kosik thanks so much. we're going to take a short break. i was spotting, but i had already gone through menopause. these symptoms may be nothing... but they could be early warning signs of a gynecologic cancer, such as cervical, ovarian, or uterine cancer. feeling bloated for no reason. that's what i remember. seeing my doctor probably saved my life. warning signs are not the same for everyone. if you think something's wrong... see your doctor. ask about gynecologic cancer. and get the inside knowledge. his morning starts with arthritis pain. and two pills. afternoon's overhaul starts with more pain. more pills. triple checking hydraulics. the evening brings more pain. so, back to more pills. almost done, when... hang on. stan's doctor recommended aleve.

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the attacks on the world trade center and the pentagon. sent this country into an all-out war against terror. president obama was at the pentagon this morning. about an hour ago he laid a wreath for those killed when an airliner slammed into the pentagon. fran townsend is cnn's national security contributor and a member of the cia and homeland security external advisory boards. she joins me now. hi, fran. >> hi, carol. >> so what are your memories of that? and what do you think that we have learned? >> well, carol, look, i think like many americans, i had the television on that morning, and actually saws second plane slam into the world trade center. so, this day will never be the same. and, in fact, this morning coming to work i was looking at people walking to work just as they did on that day, it's a cool, you know, the air is cool, the sun is bright, the sky is clear. it's very reminiscent of that day. and i really think we've got to remember that for thousands of our fellow citizens, this day

was a tragedy and their lives have been changed forever. and frankly the life of the nation. we are stronger. we are better. we have done a lot of things to improve the security of this country. and we owe a great deal of gratitude, frankly, to the military intelligence and law enforcement officials who have kept us and continue to keep us safe. >> we just got word last night that the second in command of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula had been killed. so how big a blow is this to al qaeda? >> tremendous. the individual you're talking about, the deputy amir of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula was caught by u.s. forces and transferred to guantanamo where he served for six years. he was a saudi citizen and he was returned as many are to saudi, to his country of origin. he was put in a rehabilitation program but as we know from our own experience here in the united states, rehabilitation programs don't always work. he escaped from saudi arabia when he was released with his family. he went to yemen.

he was one of the founding members of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula. as we've heard from very senior intelligence officials in the u.s. government, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula is the most active al qaeda, you know, segment that targets u.s. interests. people who remember the underwear bomber on the northwest airlines plane one christmas and also the computer card ridges filled with explosives, and then most recently the plot out of yemen itself. and so anything that undermines their ability and al qaeda in the arabian peninsula to put together and launch an attack against us is a good thing. and so this is a tremendous blow to the leadership, as was the killing of anwar al awlaki. this is another second very important blow against them. >> so let's go back to what you said about our intelligence officials. al qaeda hasn't had a successful attack on u.s. soil in the past 11 years. >> correct. >> do we really need to worry about al qaeda anymore? >> oh, carol, i wish we could

say that we had completely eradicated this threat. but it's not the case. look zawahiri continues to be in the tribal areas between pakistan and afghanistan. we know that. we know there remains some leadership cadre there. and throughout north africa we have seen the resurgence, frankly, of al qaeda, both in the east of libya, and in the mali, mauritania area, and then we come to al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, including recently. there was a large al qaeda cell broken up into saudi arabia, and it was originally this al qaeda in the arabian peninsula which was in yemen was originally in saudi, saudi efforts pushed them out of the kingdom but we've seen even there they've continued to try to go back into the kingdom as well as yemen to launch and plan attacks. >> fran townsend, thanks so much for joining us. we'll be back. [ woman ] ring. ring. progresso. your new light creamy potato with bacon & cheese soup

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checking our top stories now. school's out for day two in chicago as nearly 30,000 teachers in the nagt's third largest school district remain on strike. but the school board president says a deal could be reached today. 350,000 students are affected by the walkout. screenings for ovarian cancer may do more harm than good according to one government panel. studies done by the u.s. preventive service task force shows ovarian cancer screenings do not lower the death rate from the disease, but instead are likely to produce many false positives, leading to unnecessary surgeries with high complication rates. overseas, actress and u.n. ambassador angelina jolie is visiting with syrian refugees at a camp in neighboring jordan today. the trip is drawing attention to the plight of more than 250,000 syrians who fled their country since the conflict began 18 months ig. there's been another twist in the search for justice

following the hazing death of a florida college student. cnn has learned florida a&m university is blaming robert champion for his own death. champion died in november after a band hazing incident on a bus trip. comes as the school defends itself from a wrongful death suit filed by champion's parents. george howe has been following this case from the beginning. tell us more. >> carol, look, it comes down to one fundamental question. was robert champion forced into hazing, as his family has insisted all along? or did he voluntarily go through with this? did he have a choice? now the university, when you read their report, that they filed, to dismiss this civil lawsuit. they say that he did have a choice. that he made this decision. they're seizing on those statements that we've heard from several other band members who say that he chose to do this. i want to read this quote directly from the university attorney respectfully. as 26-year-old adult and leader in famu's band mr. champion should have refused to participate in the planned

hazing event and reported it to law enforcement, or university administrators. under these circumstances, florida's taxpayers should not be held financially liable to mr. champion's estate for the ultimate result of his own imprudent, avoidable, and tragic decision and death. so, in very blunt terms the university is saying that they are not responsible. >> champion's parents? >> they have a different statement. and not surprising, they are shocked by this. want to read this there chris crest nut the family attorney. he says the champion family is shocked at the defense famu has chosen in the brutal hazing death of robert champion. we simply cannot ignore the audacity of an institution that blames students for their own deaths yet for decades ignored the hazing epidemic occurring within its own walls. so, you know, you hear the family saying, they are blaming the university is blaming the victim but the attorney says they're not blaming the victim, rather they're just saying the champion chose to do this. and they're not responsible. >> we'll see what happens.

george howell, thanks so much. when we got married. i had three kids. and she became the full time mother of three. it was soccer, and ballet, and cheerleading, and baseball. those years were crazy. so, as we go into this next phase, you know, a big part of it for us is that there isn't anything on the schedule.

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let's end the show on an up note. staying fit while pregnant is possible. you can still go to the gym but there are some rules you have to follow. dr. lisa masterson from tv's "the doctors" has them for today's "daily dose." >> i'm always asked, can i exercise during pregnancy? and this is so important, because we actually know it goes into making a really healthy pregnancy. but you have to consult your doctor. you have to make sure it's healthy for you. you don't have any medical conditions during pregnancy where you shouldn't exercise. the types of exercise that you do while you're pregnant are going to be low impact and high energy. walking, swimming, pilates, prenatal yoga, these are all things that are going to be maintenance and toning. they're not to push your body, just to maintain what you have going on already. you want to make sure that you're at a heartrate where you can talk comfortably. you don't want to do anything

that's jarring, like step aerobics or anything where you may have the potential to fall like bicycling. and then have fun. >> i'm carol costello. thank you so much for joining us today. cnn newsroom with ashleigh banfield starts after a quick break.