5:00ment we'll see you back here in 30 captioning sponsored by cbs l rings ) >> september 11, 2001. you will remember this day as long as you live. >> barnett: 20 years after the attack on america, the nation refuse a sacred vow, to never forget. the thousands of innocent victims and the heroes who lost their lives saving others. >> these americans were brave, strong, and united in ways that shocked the terrorists. >> barnett: also tonight, why the accused architect of the attacks has yet to stand trial. the latest from guantanamo bay. plus, inside afghanistan with the taliban back in power.

and the struggle against extremism in the middle east. >> reporter: i'm holly williams in saudi arabia, the home country of 15 of the 19 hijackers on 9/11. >> barnett: finally, stories of survival >> and in that 10 to 15 seconds you're thinking what? >> something flying that low and directly at us. >> barnett: and remembering a life lost. >> a lot of energy and a lot of volume. >> loud! >> loud. >> this is the "cbs weekend news." >> barnett: good evening. adriana diaz is off. i'm errol barnett. 20 years after the september 11 atacks, the thousands of people lost that day are being honored at events across the the country. but the assessment of where america stands in its fight against terrorism appears mixed. tonight, the taliban is back in power in afghanistan. also in a new propaganda video released today, the man who replaced osama bin laden to lead

al qada reappeared to praise the 9/11 hijackers saying they had, "stabbed america in its heart." we will get to all of that in just a moment. but we begin with cbs' michael george at the memorial. good evening, michael. >> reporter: errol, today, family members said the heartbreak of 9/11 still feels fresh, but they also reminded us of the strength that got the nation through its darkest hours. ♪ what so proudly we hailed ♪ >> reporter: on the ground where the world trade center once stood, today, thousands of 9/11 family members stood with the nation's leaders to mark a somber milestone. 20 years have passed. the ruins of the twin towers are gone, but the pain remains. >> and it still feels like yesterday. until we meet again, my love, rest in peace. >> reporter: the ceremony began with a bell ringing to mark the moment hijackers crashed flight 11 into the north tower on a sky-blue september

day, much like today. then, a moment of silence for the lives lost. >> you have gone too soon, but the memory of you will forever be in our hearts. >> reporter: many of the family members reading the names of the victims are children who grew up without knowing their loved ones. >> we will meet again one day, and it will be nothing but tears of joy when we do. i love you dad. we all do. >> reporter: others urged the nation to come together and embrace the spirit that swept over the country after the attack. >> that's what mattered. it was the response, and we can get there, and that we value our american lives more than just whose side are you on ♪ amazing grace ♪ >> reporter: at the pentagon, where flight 77 hit, general mark miley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, honored

the fallen. >> remember them today for not only who they were but what they could have become. >> reporter: in shanksville, pennsylvania, where the fourth hijacked jetliner crashed after passengers fought for control of the plane, former president george w. bush implored americans to fight extremists at home and abroad. >> we have seen growing evidence that the dangers to our country ca come not only across borders but from violence that gathers within. they are children of the same foul spirit, and it is our continuing duty to confront them. >> reporter: first responders paid a heavy price. retired new york city firefighter kevin kelly lost several friends and colleagues on 9/11. >> it's easy for somebody who wasn't down there, who didn't experience it to just remember it one day a year. for me, it's every day. >> reporter: and every day we also remember the thousands of

victims who died after 9/11 of related illnesses. the september 11 victim compensation fund says the number who have died of illnesses is now higher than the number who died the day of the attacks. errol. >> barnett: a sobering detail there. michael george, thank you. former president donald trump did not participate upon in any of today's ceremonies, but he did visit a new york city police precinct and firehouse. mr. trump repeated his baseless claims of election fraud and also described the biden administration's handling of the u.s. withdrawal from afghanistan as "horrible." we meant to show you this cbs news poll which found most americans feel the nation's war on terrorism has been at least somewhat successful. still, most do not think the u.s. accomplished what it set out to be in afghanistan. that war was america's longest, claiming the lives of more than 2200 u.s. service men and women. tonight, cbs' charlie d'agata is in neighboring pakistan. charlie. >> reporter: errol, when

america and its allies launched the offensive in afghanistan in the wake of 9/11, they called it "operation enduring freedom." now, once again under taliban control, any of the freedoms gained are quickly being taken away. white taliban flags wave near the u.s. embassy today, taliban members strolling by everywhere, intentional signs that the country is under new management. normal rules do not apply. now, just take a look at kabul university where a group of young women came to a class in a full burka. they say in support of the taliban going above and beyond current taliban rules. the u.n. has raised want alarm on the taliban crackdown on demonstrations, now banning them until further notice, and condemned the apparent brutal beating of journalists who are covering those demonstrations. and as we saw for ourselves at the border with pakistan, the taliban have been stopping afghans from fleeing the country

without the correct travel documents, which really makes up the majority of those wanting to get away. now, here in pakistan, we've been trying to get to the region where navy seals killed osama bin laden but in 2011. the entire compound has been leveled. we're being told, the media has been told, it's strictly forbidden from entering that region they say over 9/11 because it's simply too sensitive. errol. >> barnett: charlie d'agata, thank you. this week, the case against the five men accused of aiding the 9/11 hijackers inched forward with pretrial hearings. this happened at a military court in guantanamo bay, cuba. senior investigative correspondent catherine herridge is there. >> reporter: errol, military prosecutors say they are committed to a fair and just outcome, but after more than a decade of legal arguments over evidence and allegations the defendants were tortured in c.i.a. custody, there is still no trial date. ♪ ♪ ♪ to mark the 20th anniversary,

a special presentation of the colors at guantanamo bay, where the defendants are held in a military prison not far from the courthouse custom built for their tral. nearly ability00 prisoners have passed through the detention camps. 39 remain today. among them, the five 9/11 defendants, including the self-described architect of the attack, khalid sheikh mohammed, who are accused of war crimes, including conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, hijacking, and the intentional murder of civilians. in their first court appearance sense the pandemic hit, the men appeared older, some thinner. in the gallery, a hand full of 9/11 family members. >> we are cautiously optimistic, if you want to call it that, cautiously optimistic that there are light at the end of the tunnel. >> reporter: the 9/11 case will also explore who helped the hijackers move seamlessly around the u.s. before the attacks. the biden administration is in the process of declassifying records from a secret f.b.i. probe into the hijackers'

support network. errol. >> barnett: all right, thank you, catherine herridge. now, saudi arabia has always denied any involvement in the 9/11 attack, but 15 of the 19 hijackers were saudi citizens. holly williams is in riyadh with more on the struggle against extremextremism there. >> reporter: saudi arabia's long been criticized for school textbotextbooks that denigrate non-muslims and even justify violence against them. now, say the authorities, the curriculum has been rewritten. >> some activities... >> reporter: school principal hussein al feify told us the students are learning to live in peace with followers of other religions. it's part of a transformation in this conservative country, aimed at promoting so-called moderate islam. extremist preaching has been banned. women have greater freedoms, including finally being given the right to drive. and on television, this popular

historical drama, um haroon, recently showed muslims, christians, and yous living in harmony. in saudi arabia it's north short of radical. the saudi arabian government has always denied any involvement in the 9/11 attacks, but the 15 saudi hijackers were citizenned of a closed off islamic kingdom, and some believe that religious fundamentalism here helped radicalize them. at this antiques market in riyadh, the saudi capital, many of the men are still getting used to the changes. just a few years ago, women couldn't walk the streets without covering their head. now the country is trying to entice foreign tourists. >> before we would go out, when they see a muslim, they say it is tourist. when they come here they see different things. >> reporter: people used to think you were a terrorist? >> yes. but now when they come here and see the people, nice people. >> reporter: saudi arabia's

reforms are limited. this country is not a democracy, and the regime is widely criticized for its human rights record. but 20 years after the september 11 attacks, the saudi athorities hope that creating a more liberal society will help stamp out violent extremism. errol. >> barnett: holly williams, thank you. straight ahead, survivor stories from the pentagon, reuniting to remember sacrifice and heroism.

>> barnett: today, at the pentagon, this day of remembrance began with the unfurling of a large american flag. the 9/11 attack was the deadliest foreign attack on u.s. soil since the war with the british back in 1812. cbs' david martin spoke with three people inside the pentagon 20 years ago today. >> i just looked up, and a plane was flying directly at us. >> reporter: sean boger was one of the few people at the pentagon who saw the plane

coming in so low, it took down a street light. light. from the moment you saw the plane, how long was it until it hit? >> i'd say about 10-- maybe 10 to 15 seconds. >> reporter: 10 to 15 seconds. and in that 10 to 15 seconds, you're thinking what? >> just couldn't believe something that big would be flying that low and flying directly at us. >> reporter: at 530 miles per hour, loaded with 7,000 gallons of jet fuel and carrying 59 souls. boger was in that control tower for the pentagon's helio pad. what did it sound like? >> like someone sawing metal. >> an explosion, like a bomb. and when i opened my eyes, there was a fireball just passing right beside me. >> reporter: it was sheila moody's first day at the pentagon and her office was on the outer ring of the building, directly in the path of the plane. this is that room today. >> totally different cubicles? >> yes, totally different.

looking around, and then coming to the realization, i'm trapped. am i going to die? i'm going to die here? >> reporter: of the 46 people in her office, she was one of only three to survive. >> i remember praying like, "god, i don't believe you brought me here for me to die like this." and that's when i heard the fire extinguisher. >> reporter: first responders were making their way into the will building. >> all my breath was gone and i'm doubled over and i'm coughing. there was movement and i reached out through the smoke and there was a hand on the other side of the smoke and he just grabbed me and pulled me through. hey, you! >> reporter: the hand belonged to an army ranger named chris braman. he rescued three people, but sheila moody is the only one who lived. after the building collapsed, braman labored 60 hours straight, searching the ruins for bodies. he recovered 63, exactly one-third of all the people who died that day at the pentagon.

>> my rule was the bodies were never to touch the ground again because they died with honor, and they were going to go out with honor. >> reporter: before entering the building for the first time, braman had asked god to give him strength. who's to say what guided him to sheila moody. >> i was praying to get in the building and she was praying to come up on the, and we both got our prayers answered. >> barnett: absolutely incredible. we'll be right back.

>> barnett: here's the latest on the pandemic now. nationwide, the number of new cases and hospitalizations is dropping, but friday, the death toll hit its highest number since february. for the 37% of the country that is still unvaccinated, the c.d.c. says the risk of dying of covid is 11 times higher, compared to those fully vaccinated. health experts say vaccine mandates, like president biden's federal order, will help slow the pandemic. >> the most important thing we can do to protect against any

variant-- be it delta, mu, or c1.2-- is to get vaccinated. >> barnett: the f.d.a. is warning parents once again to hold off on getting children under 12 vaccinated until the shots are proven to be safe and effective for them. we witnessed a solemn procession in lawrence, massachusetts, today. the body of marine sergeant johanny rosario pichardo was escorted by fellow marines and state and local police. sergeant picardo was one of 13 service members killed in the suicide bombing at kabul airport last month. next for you here on the "cbs weekend news," we head to michie field at west point and a special cadet salute.

♪ ♪ ♪ >> barnett: that is a special tribute today at windsor castle. the welch guard played the star

spangled banner there during the changing of the guard. queen elizabeth sent a message to president biden remembering 9/11 victims, survivors and their families. there was a special salute today for america's service academy mes. black knights ran on to the field carrying flags to mark 9/11. there were more red, white, and blue colors at annapolis where the midshipmen hosted the falcons of the air force. and when we return, remembering barbara. a life lost on 9/11, but never forgotten.

>> barnett: 2,977-- that's the official number of lives lost on september 11, each one loved and sorely missed. well, tonight, we end with a remembrance of one of them. and for brad edwards of our cbs station wbbm in chicago, it's personal. >> reporter: in the middle of

michigan farmland, there's a headstone with a date on it-- 9-11-2001. here lies barbara edwards with her parents. >> there's scotty and omi, and your dad and me. >> reporter: she died in a fireball. >> this was the weekend before she passed away. >> reporter: despite what cliches tell you about the passage of time, it still burns. >> it's just a big-- a big hole that's never even closed a little bit. >> reporter: barbara's son, scott. his son, scott jr., the only grandson barbara would know. do you remember her? >> no. >> reporter: no recall of barbara's bear hugs and big kisses. years earlier, same big hugs and kisses to another edwards baby boy. that was me. barbara edwards was my godmother, my aunt. >> i'm the only one left. >> reporter: here she was at

my 1997 high school graduation. >> thank you! >> reporter: that was the the last time i ever saw her alive. >> bye! >> reporter: it's morning in dallas, texas. >> that's the coupest picture. >> reporter: home to the... >> oh! >> reporter: ...scott edwards family. does 9/11 play an active role in your life? >> yeah, it does. >> yeah,. does. >> reporter: barbara never met her now-16-year-old granddaughter. what is your full name? >> anna barbara edwards. >.>> reporter: anna barbara edwards. >> can we hold hands? >> yes. >> reporter: remembering barbara. >> a lot of energy and a lot of volume ( laughs ) >> loud! >> loud. >> reporter: barbara and my mom married two edwards boys. they had five more edwards boys. her son, scott, and i, the youngest of each family. scott became a marine. >> let's get out of here!

>> reporter: then... ( sirens ) ( coughing ) >> we had a mission that was going out that morning, and i just had to call the guys and say, "hey, you guys shut down. all flights in the u.s. are canceled. you need to just get in here." >> reporter: scott abruptly halted drills on 9-11-2001, and his brother called. >> and he just said, matter of factually, like, mom and the flaggs were on flight 77, and they're all dead. >> reporter: barbara was flying home with family friends, the flaggs, on the pentagon plane. terror begot war. scott deployed four times post-9/11. >> i just can't believe it's been that long, 20 years. i haven't seen my mom in 20 years. >> look at his face with her. >> reporter: the blond hair. >> that's the coolest picture. >> reporter: the blue eyes. >> i see so much of her in anna.

>> it's just like hearing you're, like, favorite celebrity. you tell a little boy you remind him of spider-man, that would mean the world to him. i feel the same way. >> reporter: being compared to barb. >> this was our last visit with her. >> reporter: there is one thing, though, that anna barbara edwards misses. >> i just always wish she could come, and like i had... >> reporter: she misses it all. 20 years later, not everything laid to rest does so in peace. brad edwards for cbs news, chicago. >> barnett: our sincerest thanks to brad, the edwards family, and everyone opened up today and was vulnerable in the name healing. that is the "cbs weekend news" for this saturday. i'm errol barnett in new york. good night.

captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh .org live from the bay area studios. this is kpix 5 news. having kids with us, i'm concerned for our safety in general. >> another weekend, another major and dangerous side show in san jose. how police are changing their approach to stop the stunts. the countdown to the recall election. the candidates are making the final push in the bay area and across the state. can the tragedy of 9/11 help reunify the country as it once did? the people here are hoping so. we'll have the story coming up. good evening. >> we begin with neighbors and police fed up with dangerous

side shows hijacking busy intersections in the south bay. >> kpix 5 max darrow is live in san jose to show how police are changing their strategy to combat the illegal stunts. hey, max. >> reporter: we can add this intersection in downtown san jose to the list of intersections that's been ravaged by side shows. take a look at the aftermath right here. neighbors in the area say they want the problem to stop. police say they are doing the best they can. this video was taken just after midnight a few blocks away from the heart of downtown san jose. cars burning rubber showing off for a huge crowd blocking the intersection of park avenue and waughs way. spectators gathered once law enforcement showed up. >> we used a coordinated, organized response. we were able to prevent a lot of these individuals from leaving the side show and were able to