News that's not news: Rudy Giuliani isn't running for President

In all the hype over New Jersey Governor Chris Christie endorsing Mitt Romney as the GOP presidential candidate, America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, has announced today that he is, just like Christie, not running for president.

Not America's President, at least this time around.

Politico reports that Giuliani, a Manhattan College alum, made the announcement at a Long Island Association event.

Asked by the group's president Kevin Law about reports that he had sent messages to New Hampshire supporters to keep their powder dry, Giuliani joked that they must have gone missing, according to one attendee.

And he added definitively, "If it's too late for Chris Christie, it's too late for me."

Giuliani had entertained the prospect of another presidential bid after his failed attempt last election. At the Manhattan College 9/11 remembrance event, we asked him if he'd like to make it official to us, but he just laughed and said he wasn't ready to jump into the race yet. But what little buzz he generated died when Texas Gov. Rick Perry joined the race. Perry was the only sitting governor to endorse Giuliani four years ago, and a handful of the former mayor’s aides and supporters are backing the Texas governor this year.

Today is the 10th Anniversary of U.S. forces in Afghanistan

A decade ago today, the U.S. began its response to the 9/11 terror attacks, invading Afghanistan in search of the Taliban and attempting to stabilize the Middle East.

Congressman Eliot Engel issued the following statement on the 10th Anniversary of American military engagement in Afghanistan. Engel is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The statement weaves between applauding the reasons for going to Afghanistan and President Obama's withdrawal plan, with condemning the actions of getting sidetracked into Iraq in search of weapons of mass destruction. Make sure to jump below for the full statement.

“The heady days of American forces and the Northern Alliance overthrowing the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, and quickly stabilizing the country are long gone. This situation has become a seemingly endless slog that more and more resembles a civil war.

“Our initial involvement in Afghanistan was the right thing to do. Its government sheltered a terrorist organization that directly attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, killing almost 3,000 people.

“However, instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan, America got sidetracked into Iraq based on spurious information about non-existent weapons of mass destruction. We are still in Iraq, and we are still in Afghanistan. As each day passes, more Iraqis and Afghanis ask why we are still there. The American people have been asking the same question. I can’t help but believe that if the Bush Administration never attacked Iraq, the war in Afghanistan would have been won long ago, and our country would be $1 trillion less in debt," Engel said.

Jump below for the full statement.

Giuliani headlines 9/11 remembrances

The former mayor returns to his alma mater
to share his story of 9/11.

For your consideration, here is my story on Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaking at Manhattan College that appeared in this week's Riverdale Review and Bronx Press. 

By Brendan McHugh 

No one has the same experience of Sept. 11 as Manhattan College alumnus and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, and he shared his story in front of hundreds of wide-eyed college students Friday afternoon. 

While some lectures at Manhattan College end up with students checking cell phones and whispering to one another within a few minutes, Giuliani held the room for over 30 minutes, discussing the day’s horrific events and the conclusions he has drawn in the 10 years that has followed. 

Jump below for the rest.

9/11 remembered by politicians

The 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan.

Jump below for statements from various politicians remembering Sept. 11. Check the upcoming issue of the Riverdale Review and Bronx Press for coverage of the events from this past week.

Gillibrand reflects for 10th anniversary of 9/11

Here is a letter we received from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. Jump below for the entire piece.

“Remembering Our Heroes Sacrifice”

By U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Like all Americans, I will never forget where I was the morning of the 9/11 attacks. I was traveling with my husband when I received the call from my mother that would change my life. I was living in New York City at the time, so when I heard the news, I was overwhelmed with horror, trepidation, and extreme anxiety for friends and loved ones in harm’s way.

As I reflect on that terrible day 10 years later, the overwhelming image that stays with me is the amazing acts of heroism and selflessness we saw that absolutely define us as a nation – ordinary Americans who didn’t need to be asked to commit extraordinary acts. They ran up those towers as everyone else was running down to search for survivors and save lives, spending countless hours on the pile of rubble in the days that followed recovering those we had lost.

Cabrera to deliver petitions to Bloomberg concerning prayer at 9/11 10th Anniversary Ceremony

They're praying to pray at the 9/11 ceremony.

At the steps of City Hall Wednesday, City Councilman Fernando Cabrera will join community leaders and clergy members in presenting Mayor Bloomberg a petition with over 60,000 names on it in hopes of allowing prayer at this year's 10th anniversary ceremony.

“During 9/11, the faith community served as pillars for many New Yorker’s coping with the tragedy. As a pastor during the tumultuous aftermath, I know firsthand that it was a time where people were searching for meaning and things bigger than themselves,” Cabrera said. “People’s Faith helped fill this void and continue to serve as spiritual and emotional support.”

“While many of the voices in this effort have divergent views on a wide-range of issues, I believe that we can put our differences aside to call for the uniting force of prayer,” said Councilman Cabrera. “I sincerely hope that the Mayor will allow prayer in this year’s ceremony as we remember and honor the victims of a tragedy that is still being felt today.”

Bloomberg has declined to have any religious representation at the ceremony. A mayoral spokesperson told CNN last week:

The ceremony was designed in coordination with 9/11 families with a mixture of readings that are spiritual, historical and personal in nature. It has been widely supported for the past 10 years and rather than have disagreements over which religious leaders participate we would like to keep the focus of our commemoration ceremony on the family members of those who died.