Giuliani Says Country Making Progress in War on Terror

Sept. 11, 2006 — -- Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani became known as "America's Mayor," for his leadership after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Five years later, Giuliani said that the attacks of Sept. 11 were "still going on."

"We can't consign this to history," Giuliani said to "Good Morning America's" Diane Sawyer today.

A potential 2008 presidential candidate, Giuliani said that he didn't think the United States was losing the war in Iraq or the war on terror.

"It took about 30 years for this terrorism to develop," he said. "It's going to take more than five years to deconstruct them. I'm surprised at the progress we've made. We haven't been attacked in five years."

Workers Should Get Health Care

Giuliani also dismissed comments made by former Environmental Protection Agency Director Christine Todd Whitman, who said that New York City, not the federal government, should be responsible for the health-care costs of ground zero workers who suffer from chronic respiratory ailments.

Whitman said Sunday night on "60 Minutes" that city officials had failed to force workers to wear protective masks after being warned the air was dangerous.

"It doesn't make any sense to point fingers," Giuliani said.

Giuliani said that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had said workers should wear masks but did not enforce standards.

Nevertheless, he said, workers should receive lifetime health benefits, and all levels of government should be responsible.

"Given the fact they were all injured as a result of their work here, they all should be taken care of, and the city government should be part of it, and the state government should be part of it, and the federal government should be part of it," Giuliani said to "Good Morning America."

Rebuilding Takes Time

Giuliani said he was not surprised by the slow pace of rebuilding at ground zero, because it's such an emotional issue.

"A lot of things in the last five years have surprised me, but that one didn't. I thought it would take a long time," he said. "Some people want to see a park. Some want to see a grand, soaring memorial, which is what I would like to see. Some people want office buildings."

Whether he makes a run for president in 2008 or not, the former New York City mayor will remain a powerful voice on security issues in the post-9/11 world.

"I think of the firefighters and the police officers who rushed here [ground zero] and died fighting for our freedom," Giuliani said. "To the memory of these people, we have to remain vigilant."