DC 9/11: Time of Crisis

>> Goodness gracious.

Must be something here I'm just

not communicating.

>> No, Mr. Secretary.

We understand how much you want

to revamp the Department of

Defense.

You've made that very clear.

I guess we're not communicating

our problem.

Lack of available funds.

Both political parties are

committed to a Social Security

lockbox.

>> Well, Social Security is

a wonderful thing, Congressman,

but without national security,

it won't be much use.

>> That's, uh-- That's pretty

dramatic.

>> No doubt.

But be clear, gentlemen.

We've got North Koreans

launching missiles.

We had an attack on the World

Trade Center in 1993.

Then the USS Cole, the East

African Embassy bombings, the

Khobar Towers.

There's a war going on out

there.

Now, it's in slow motion, but

it's real.

And there's no reason to believe

that the people responsible for

these events have decided to

take up new careers.

There's bound to be more.

>> More?

Can you be specific?

>>

Not at this moment.

But mark my words, there'll be

something.

Yeah.

An event.

And we-- you and I-- don't want

to be on the wrong side of that

event.

Our military must be

transformed, made ready for this

new world, or we'll be very much

on the wrong side, Social

Security lockbox or not.

[children laughing and

chattering]

>> Thing is, you don't pronounce

that "E," but there's a reason

it's there.

So, Cindy, can you say that

word?

>> Game.

>> No, so everyone can hear it.

>> Game.

>> Yeah, see?

Bunch of good readers here, huh?

>> Yeah.

>> A second plane has hit the

second tower.

America is under attack.

>> Say that word for me?

>> Game.

>> Guess you know why that E's

at the end of that word.

It all begins with reading.

I think you've all done a

terrific job.

>> Mr. President, are you

aware--

>> We're gonna talk about that

later.

Thank you very much.

>> Thank you.

>> I would imagine, uh, what we

just saw was a twin engine--

It appeared to be a twin-engine

jetliner.

>> This is clearly deliberate.

>> A chilling, chilling horrible

scene that we just saw.

...the World Trade Center

the very soul and the very

heart of our nation, Joe.

>> A twin-engine jet...

>> Al Qaeda?

>> Is it true?

>> ...people work in these

buildings each and every day.

It happened right at 9:00 A.M.

A good number of those folks

were already at their desks.

...the plane slamming into the

second building.

Look at it.

It's coming in from the side,

coming low, hitting the building

about in the middle.

Folks, uh, you see the pictures.

It looks like Hollywood, but

this is real.

>> Roger that.

That's been confirmed, ma'am.

Both towers.

We understand Senator Kennedy is

standing by.

>> Well, the hearing will of

course be postponed.

We can testify about education

initiatives another day.

But we'll continue

on to the Hill.

>> Postponement notwithstanding?

>> Absolutely.

This is a day to stay orderly.

We'll appear with Senator

Kennedy and...

and explain to the press.

It'll be good to see him on a

day like this.

He knows so much about...

national loss.

>> Mr. President.

>> ...of the police and the fire

department and the emergency

technicians are headed to...

>> Rummy?

>> Yes, Mr. President?

>> Hike alert status-- Delta.

>> That's military, CIA,

foreign, domestic, everything.

And if you haven't gone to

DEFCON 3, you ought to.

>> Done.

But there's still 6,000 civilian

aircraft in the air.

>> Norm Mineta will ground 'em.

In the meantime, I want you to

get your boys up there.

We'll pass on the word.

>> As you can see, this is a

story of enor-- of enormous

magnitude.

>> Vice?

>> Your current, Mr. President.

>> We are at war.

Is the Counterterrorism Task

Force up and running?

>> Yes, and we're checking all

flights in progress.

>> Mineta's gonna ground the

whole civil aviation fleet.

>> In the works.

>> Okay, you just keep Rummy up

to speed on that.

You let me know how that order

progresses.

I want you to brief

congressional leadership.

I'm gonna make a statement, and

then I will call you from Air

Force One.

>> Is Karen with you?

>> Nah.

She stayed home.

Last night was her wedding

anniversary.

>> There's a makeshift studio

setting up next door.

>> You ready?

You up to speed?

>> Those are two separate

things, Andy.

I know we're at war, but face

it, we are in a scramble mode.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is

a... difficult moment for

America.

Today we've had...

a national tragedy.

Two airplanes have crashed into

the World Trade Center in an

apparent terrorist attack on our

country.

Now, we're gonna hunt down and

find those folks who committed

this act.

Terrorism against our nation

will not stand.

Now if you'll all join me in a

moment of silence.