When we visit the memory of 9 11, we thread on sacred ground. 13 years ago the world watched on a clear Tuesday Morning as we suffered loss we could not possibly have imagined and witnessed heroism we will never forget. Today, we come together once more in reverence to those sacred memories, to help consecrate those Sacred Places where so many lives were lost and so many were saved. Were honored to have the secretary of the interior here, representative hoyer, president of the firefighters, my fire chief from california, so many distinguished guests who have sacrificed so much for our country, including max cleeland. Its so nice to be here with senator casey and representative shuster, the representatives of one of the areas so affected and with our speaker, mr. Boehner. Thank you for making this occasion possible, mr. Speaker, and with leader reid. Leader mcconnell. I think we will all agree that as many ceremonies that we may participate in, this is singular in terms of how deeply ro
And once again serve as your moderator. I want to start tonight by welcoming the north american wide radio and Television Audience tuning in to this debate everywhere from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to cpac to cspan across the continental United States. A warm hello also to the online audience watching this debate right now on munkdebates. Com. Its terrific to have you, as virtual participants in tonights proceeding and hello to you, the over 3,000 people who have filled Roy Thompson Hall to capacity for yet another munk debate. This evening, we engage with the geopolitical debates of the moment. Has the administration of barack obama through inaction and incompetence as its critics will claim, fanned the flames of global conflict and encouraged the very forces that want to roll back individual rights, the rule of law, economic globalization. Or, and its a big or, has this president wisely, courageously, disavowed the role of global policeman for the United States, a role em
Think that argument doesnt exist anymore. Its the old bad news is good news. We thought we heard the end of that, maybe we havent. Even so, markets near a record. August, too, consistently bad the last few years. Speaking of the jobs numbers, were they real . Some noted economists are openly saying they dont believe them. They feel things are much better out in the economy than that report suggests, so well try to separate fact from some fiction coming up. Also today, think a gop victory in the senate will be good for business . The conventional wisdom, but think again. At least thats what barney frank says. He wrote about it on cnbc. Com and hell be here to make his case, but hes not going to be alone. Larry will also be here and i have a feeling things might heat up, so stay tuned for what should be a fun debate. Well stand back and let them go at it for a little while. Yes, we will. You saw the dow open lower this morning on the disappointing jobs report, has come back in the aftern
[applause] ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States of america, barack obama. [applause] president hollande, people of france, friends, family, our veterans. If prayer were made of sound, the skies over england that and night would have deafened the world. Pilots tapped their gauges. Commanders pored over maps. Fully aware that for all of the months of meticulous planning, everything could go wrong. The winds, the tides, the element of surprise, and above all the audacious bet that will waited on the other side of the channel would compel men not to shrink away, but to charge ahead. Freshfaced gis rubbed trinkets, kissed pictures of sweethearts, checked and rechecked their equipment. God, asked one, give me guts. In the predawn hours, planes rumbled down runways, gliders and paratroopers slipped through the sky, giant screws began to turn on an armada that looked more like ships than sea. More than 150,000 souls set off toward the site this tiny sliver of sandwich helpe
Today they are one of many. They are called the old guard al qaeda. I have no doubt right now, somewhere they are planning attacks against the United States. I have no doubt that they are trying to communicate with affiliates all over the world and im sure they are, but the way that is perceived today versus the way that was received is wildly different. When bin laden was in charge, is wildly different. Still focused on far in any attacks against the u. S. I try to be as specific as possible because you will see when i get to the fifth part, this is what i talk about how we have to focus our strategy. A couple dozen old guard committed operatives in pakistan and afghanistan, al qaeda central. Al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, the most important element in the world at this point, they have a repeated capability and they have tried on three occasions to do next journal operations attack in the u. S. I have no doubt they are planning an attack against us right now. A are the Decisive P