PBS NewsHour; August 9, 2011 6:00pm-7:00pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Woodruff: WHIPLASH ON WALL STREET: MARKETS END THE DAY WAY UP AFTER A WILD DAY OF TRADING, AND A GLOOMY FORECAST BY THE NATION'S CENTRAL BANK. GOOD EVENING. I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

>> Ifill: AND I'M GWEN IFILL. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT, WE LOOK AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S DECISION TO HOLD INTEREST RATES NEAR ZERO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS AND ASSESS ITS IMPACT ON A WEAKENING ECONOMY.

>> Woodruff: THEN WE GET THE LATEST ON THE RIOTS AND LOOTING RAGING ACROSS LONDON AND SPREADING ELSEWHERE IN BRITAIN FROM NED TEMKO OF THE "LONDON OBSERVER."

>> Ifill: IN A SPECIAL REPORT FROM GLOBAL POST, THREE SYRIAN DISSIDENTS SHARE STORIES OF PEACEFUL PROTESTS AND VIOLENT CRACKDOWNS.

>> FOR US, WE USE OUR HANDS. FOR THEM THEY USE THEIR GUNS. WE NEED TO FILM EVERYTHING FOR MEDIA.

>> Woodruff: AND RAY SUAREZ LOOKS AT A CAMPAIGN LINKING TEENS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> FOR THE GIRLS IN THE UNITED STATES, IF THEY HAVE A SENSE THAT THEY CAN REALLY TOUCH A GIRL IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, IT MOTIVATES THEM.

>> Woodruff: THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S NEWSHOUR. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

>> OKAY, LISTEN. SOMEBODY HAS GOT TO GET SERIOUS.

>> I THINK...

>> WE NEED RENEWABLE ENERGY.

>> ...RENEWABLE ENERGY IS VITAL TO OUR PLANET.

>> YOU HEAR ABOUT ALTERNATIVES, RIGHT? WIND, SOLAR, ALGAE.

>> I THINK IT'S GOT TO WORK ON A BIG SCALE. AND I THINK IT'S GOT TO BE AFFORDABLE.

>> SO, WHERE ARE THEY?

>> IT HAS TO WORK IN THE REAL WORLD. AT CHEVRON, WE'RE INVESTING MILLIONS IN SOLAR AND BIOFUEL TECHNOLOGY TO MAKE IT WORK.

>> WE'VE GOT TO GET ON THIS NOW.

>> RIGHT NOW.

>> MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160 YEARS. BNSF. THE WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT FOUNDATION, WORKING TO SOLVE SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: WALL STREET RALLIED SHARPLY LATE TODAY WITH THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIALS GAINING WELL OVER 400 POINTS. STOCKS ROARED BACK AFTER THE FEDERAL RESERVE'S NEW PRONOUNCEMENT ON THE ECONOMY, BUT ONLY AFTER A LONG DAY OF GYRATIONS. THE MORNING STARTEDED WITH U.S. STOCKS RISING STRONGLY. AFTER THE ROUTES OF RECENT DAYS, INCLUDING MONDAY'S HUGE LOSSES.

>> IT'S ALL MOMENTUM, GUYS. I THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE A LITTLE PANICKED ABOUT THEIR STOCKS SAW THE BOUNCE THIS MORNING AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE UNLOAD SOME OF THEIR POSITIONS OR AT LEAST LIGHTEN THEM UP. QUITE FRANKLY IT'S REALLY A MOMENTUM-DRIVEN MARKET.

>> Woodruff: IT TURNED NEGATIVE AGAIN AFTER A WARNING THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE FEDERAL RESERVE. IN A STATEMENT, THE CENTRAL BANK'S POLICY-MAKING PANEL SAID, QUOTE, ECONOMIC GROWTH SO FAR THIS YEAR HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLY SLOWER THAN EXPECTED. THE COMMITTEE NOW EXPECTS A SOMEWHAT SLOWER PACE OF RECOVERY. BEING MORE SPECIFIC THAN USUAL, THE FED SAID IT EXPECTS TO KEEP ITS KEY INTEREST RATES NEAR ZERO FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS WHERE IT'S BEEN SINCE DECEMBER OF 2008. THE FED'S WORD TRIGGERED SELLING AT FIRST. WITHIN MINUTES, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE WAS DOWN MORE THAN 180 POINTS FOR THE DAY. AND THEN JUST AS SUDDENLY THE MARKET SHOT BACK UP AS INVESTORS PUSHED ASIDE THEIR FEARS FOR NOW. BY THE CLOSE, THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE HAD ROCKETED TO A GAIN OF NEARLY 430 POINTS TO CLOSE NEAR 11,240. THE NASDAQ ADDED ALMOST 125 POINTS TO WIND UP AT 2482. IN EUROPE, MARKETS REBOUNDED FROM MONDAY'S BIG LOSSES. STILL THE WATCH WORD WAS CAUTION.

>> WE MUST SAY THAT THE MARKETS ARE STILL VERY VOLATILE. VERY PUSHED AROUND. WITH NERVOUS INTERVENTIONS ON THE MARKETS. BUT YOU MUST NOT PUT YOUR TRUST IN A SPECIFIC TIMING. WE MUST STAY VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE MARKETS.

>> Woodruff: OFFICIALS ON THE CONTINENT REMAIN WORRIED ABOUT THE SOLVENCY OF ITALY AND SPAIN. EVEN AFTER THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK TRIED TO HELP BY BUYING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF THEIR BONDS. GERMANY'S ECONOMIC MINISTER CALLED FOR ALL OF THE 27 EURO- ZONE NATIONS TO TAKE ACTION.

>> IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ONLY SET UP BAILOUT FUNDS. RATHER WE NEED NEW STABILITY PACT FOR EUROPE.

>> Woodruff: IN ASIA MARKETS SLID INTO TERRITORY DOWN 20% FROM THEIR RECENT PEAKS. THE SELLING FOLLOWED WORSE THAN EXPECTED INFLATION DATA FROM CHINA AND WORRIES ABOUT THE U.S. CREDIT RATING DOWNGRADE. STILL, THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE SIGNS THAT MAJOR CREDITORS ARE LOOKING TO DIVEST OF THE U.S. ECONOMY.

>> SO WHILE CHINA MAY BE LOOKING FOR OTHER PLACES TO PUT ITS RESERVES, I THINK THE DOLLAR WILL STILL BE... I THINK U.S. TREASURE RYES WILL STILL BE A PLACE WHERE CHINA WILL PUT ITS MONEY.

>> Woodruff: BACK ON WALL STREET, SOME ANALYSTS SUGGESTED THAT DOWNGRADE OR NO DOWNGRADE, NERVOUS INVESTORS SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER U.S. GOVERNMENT BONDS.

>> THE SAFEST PLACE FOR YOUR MONEY RIGHT NOW IS THE MOST EYE RONIC PLACE. THAT'S IN U.S. TREASURYS.

>> Woodruff: FOR MANY THOUGH GOLD WAS STILL THE HAVEN OF CHOICE TODAY. IT SET ANOTHER RECORD, RISING TO $1740 AN OUNCE. FOR MORE ON WHAT THE FED SAID AND HOW THE MARKETS REACTED, WE'RE JOINED BY DIANE SWONK, CHIEF ECONOMIST FOR MESIROW FINANCIAL, A CHICAGO-BASED FIRM. AND NEIL IRWIN, WHO COVERS THE FED FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST." IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU BOTH WITH US. THANK YOU. DIANE, LET'S START WITH WHAT THE FED SAID TODAY. THEY HAD A GLOOMY FORECAST FOR SOME TIME TO COME. THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP INTEREST RATES LOW FOR SOME TIME. INTERPRET.

>> WELL, I THINK ACTUALLY THE STATEMENT WAS EVEN MORE BREAKTHROUGH THAN THAT. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND REVIEW AND MAKE ANY ACTIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARY TO THE SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF THEIR BALANCE SHEET. THAT'S FED-SPEAK FOR THE OPENING THE DOOR TO ADDITIONAL QUANTITATIVE... WE HAD SEEN THE BIG BOND-BUYING PURCHASES OF TREASURY BONDS THAT ENDED IN JUNE OF 2011. SO THEY'RE OPENING THE DOOR TO THAT. THEY'RE GOING TO CLARIFY THAT OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS. MY GUESS IS THE JACKSON HOLE WYOMING MEETINGS WILL BE QUITE INTERESTING AGAIN WITH LOTS OF NEWS COMING FROM THERE. ONCE TRADERS GET DOWN TO INTERPRETING THE FULL BODY OF WHAT THE FED WAS SAYING IS THE FED REALLY STOOD BY THE G-7, THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES THAT SAID ON SUNDAY THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE WHATEVER LIQUIDITY NECESSARY IN THE WAKE OF THE DOWNGRADE BY S&P.

>> Woodruff: NEAL IRWIN, HOW DO YOU SEE WHAT'S SIGNIFICANT IN WHAT THE FED SAID TODAY.

>> WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THE ECONOMY IS EVEN WEAKER THAN WE THOUGHT IT WAS WHEN WE MET LAST IN JUNE. SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD A SLEW OF WEAK ECONOMIC DATA IN THE LAST FEW DAYS ALL THIS MARKET VOLATILITY. ALL THAT IS MAKING THEM SAY, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE CAN DO TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, TO PUSH MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY. THE ANSWER THEY CAME UP WITH TODAY WAS THIS KIND OF MODEST STEP OF SAYING WE'RE NOT GOING TO KEEP INTEREST RATES LOW FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD WHICH WE HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS. WE'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM LOW FOR TWO MORE YEARS TO AT LEAST THE MIDDLE OF 2013. THAT SHOULD MEAN LOWER INTEREST RATES ACROSS THE ECONOMY.

>> Woodruff: DIANE, UNUSUAL, I'M READING THAT THEY PUT A DATE-CERTAIN OR AT LEAST A DATE AROUND HOW LONG THEY WANT TO KEEP THESE RATES LOW.

>> RIGHT. THAT'S ONE OF THE UNPRECEDENTED PARTS OF THIS STATEMENT TODAY. I THINK IT TOOK PEOPLE A WHILE TO DIGEST THAT. WAS THAT GOOD NEWS OR WAS THAT BAD NEWS AS NEAL AND OTHERS HAVE POINTED OUT. ALSO WITH THAT WE ALSO SAW THE DISSENT. THREE OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE PRESIDENTS SAID WE DON'T LIKE THAT YOU WANT TO PUT IT OUT TO 2013. THAT ALSO CONFUSED FINANCIAL MARKETS BECAUSE THAT'S AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF DISSENDS OF PEOPLE SAYING I DON'T VOTE WITH THEM. THERE'S SO MUCH FATIGUE ABOUT WASHINGTON, DEBATE AND DISAGREEMENT, THAT THEY SORT OF FOLDEDED THAT INTO THE REST OF WASHINGTON. THAT'S THE WRONG DECISION TO MAKE ON THE FED. BEN BERNANKE HAS TOLERATED A LOT MORE DISSENT THAN OTHER FED CHAIRMEN AND SUCCESSFULLY MOVED FORWARD WITH WHATEVER HE WANTED TO DO DESPITE ALL THE DISSENTS HE HAD TO FACE IN RECENT YEARS.

>> Woodruff: HOW DO YOU READ THE DISSENT, NEAL. WAS THERE MORE CONFUSION THAN CLARITY COMING OUT OF THIS TODAY.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S TOO MUCH CONFUSION. THERE'S A WING OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE, SEVERAL POLICY MAKERS ON THAT BOARD WHO FEEL THAT THE INTEREST RATE POLICIES THEY'RE PURSUING RISK INFLATION, THEY RISK DRIVING THE DOLLAR DOWN AND ASSET BUBBLES. THOSE POLICY MAKERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF NOT IMMEDIATELY SOMEWHAT TIGHTER MONETARY POLICY. NOT HAVE THIS ULTRALOW INTEREST RATE POLICY IN PLACE FOR TOO MUCH LONGER. AND SO IT'S NOT SHOCKING THAT THEY WOULD DISSENT AND NOT WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PROMISING TO KEEP THE POLICY IN PLACE FOR EVEN LONGER. AT THE SAME TIME, THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING TENSION AS, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES AND THE FED WILL HAVE MORE DISSENTS AS TIME GOES ON MOST LIKELY.

>> Woodruff: DIANE, LAST NIGHT ON THE PROGRAM AND ELSEWHERE WHERE YOU'RE HEARING ECONOMISTS SAY THAT THE LIKELIHOOD IS NOW GREATER OF A SECOND RECESSION. WHAT DID WE HEAR OR WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM THE FED TODAY THAT EITHER CONFIRMS THAT OR FIGHTS AGAINST IT?

>> WELL, I THINK CERTAINLY THE FED ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE WEAKENED U.S. ECONOMY AND AFFIRMED AND VALIDATED WHAT WE ALL FEARED ABOUT THE U.S. ECONOMY AND THAT IS IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND CERTAINLY SINCE THE LAST MEETING THE U.S. ECONOMY LOOKS A LOT WORSE THAN IT DID. WE'RE IN A RECESSION TO THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR AND THE YEAR, THE SIX MONTHS PRIOR TO THAT. ALSO THAT THE PROSPECT IT'S NOT AS TEMPORARY AS WE THOUGHT. SOME OF THE WEAKNESS. IT'S MORE STUCK WITH US FOR A LITTLE WHILE LONGER. THAT SAID, THE FEDERAL RESERVE STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT'S NECESSARY. WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR THE SITUATION AND TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO OPEN THE DOOR TO DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY. THEY OWNED DOOR TO ADDITIONAL QUANTITATIVE... THEY DIDN'T GIVE US A CERTAIN AMOUNT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. THEY DIDN'T SAY THEY'LL DO IT RIGHT AWAY BUT THEY DID OPEN THE DOOR TO DOING MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS IN THE FUTURE IF NECESSARY. I THINK THEY LIKELY WILL BE NECESSARY. THAT WILL HELP TO AVERT A DOUBLE DIP. UNFORTUNATELY IT WON'T HELP US TO REVERT THE REALITY OF A STILL VERY SUB PAR MODESTLY GROWING ECONOMY.

>> Woodruff: NEAL, IF SOMEBODY ASKS IS THE FED DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE THEY DOING?

>> I THINK THEY WOULD POINT OUT THAT'S HAD INTEREST RATES NEAR 0 FOR TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS. THEY'RE GOING TO KEEP THEM THERE FOR TWO MORE YEARS. THEY ALSO HAVE A VERY LARGE BALANCE SHEET. THEY'VE BOUGHT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF BONDS TO TRY TO KEEP INTEREST RATES LOW. INTEREST RATES ARE NOT THE PROBLEM IN THIS ECONOMY. IT'S HARD TO ARGUE THAT MORTGAGE RATES ARE TOO HIGH OR THAT CORPORATE BORROWING RATES ARE TOO HIGH, THAT THAT'S THE REASON WE'RE IN SUCH A DIFFICULT ECONOMIC SITUATION. WHATEVER AILS THE U.S. ECONOMY IS BIGGER THAN MONETARY POLICY, BIGGER THAN THE FEDERAL RESERVE. THE QUESTION IS IS THERE MORE TO DO? WOULD IT HELP IF THEY BOUGHT ANOTHER TRILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF BONDS TO DRIVE MORE INTEREST RATES DOWN TO STRENGTHEN GROWTH. THEY'LL BE CONSIDERING THAT IN MONTHS AHEAD.

>> Woodruff: I GATHER THERE'S NO CONSENSUS ON THAT.

>> THERE'S NOT. THAT'S WHY WE SAW ALL THE DISSENTS TODAY.

>> Woodruff: DIANE, YOU'VE MENTIONED THE CONFUSION ABOUT TODAY. IS THAT WHY THE MARKET SEEMED TO BE ALL OVER THE PLACE BEFORE IT WENT UP CONSIDERABLY AT THE END OF THE DAY?

>> I THINK SO. I THINK ALTHOUGH NEAL AND I BOTH WATCH THE FED VERY CLOSELY I SAW ONE COMMENTARY SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS MUTINY BY THE FED. I THOUGHT THIS ISN'T MUTINY. WE ALL KNOW WHO THEY ARE. NEAL AND I KNOW THESE PEOPLE. WE KNOW WHERE THE DIFFERENT GROUPS ARE. I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT WASN'T AS MUCH A SURPRISE TO US AS IT WAS TO SOME IN THE FINANCIAL MARKETS TO SEE ACTUALLY THREE DISSENTS. THE NUMBER WAS THE HIGHEST SINCE THE EARLY 1990s. 199 OR SO. I THINK THAT'S WHERE THERE WAS A BIT OF SURPRISE. THE NUMBER OF DISSENTS THEY SAW. WE'RE IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY. THE FACT THAT WITHIN THE FED YOU HAVE SOME DEBATE ABOUT WHICH COURSE YOU TAKE IN THIS UNCHARTED WATERS THESE CERTAINLY NORMAL AND HEALTHY. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING BEN BERNANKE HAS EMBRACED AND ACTUALLY ENCOURAGED. I THINK ONCE THE MARKETS SETTLED DOWN WITH THAT CONCEPT THEY WERE OKAY. AS MUCH AS NEAL AND I WATCH IT AND I AGREE WITH NEAL ENTIRELY WE ALL KNOW WHO THEY ARE. THIS WAS I THINK A LITTLE BIT MORE... IT BLUNTED THE MESSAGE A LITTLE BIT INITIALLY.

>> Woodruff: HOW DOES THE S&P DOWNGRADE LOOK NOW FOUR DAYS OUT?

>> WELL, IT'S AMAZING. WE'VE SEEN THIS REMARKABLE VOLATILITY IN THE STOCK MARKET AND OTHER FINANCIAL MARKETS, BUT IRONICALLY ONE OF THE EFFECTS IN THE MARKET HAS BEEN TO HAVE MONEY GUSH INTO TREASURY BONDS SO U.S. TREASURY YIELDS HAVE FALLEN DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST THREE DAYS. IT'S A GOOD TIME TO REFINANCE A MORTGAGE, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> Woodruff: WHICH IS CONTRADICTORY.

>> IT IS BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THE U.S. TREASURY BOND IS STILL VIEWED DESPITE WHAT S&P SAID FRIDAY EVENING AS THE SAFEST ASSET IN THE WORLD. WHEN TIMES LOOK SCARY, WHEN THE WORLD LOOKS SCARY GLOBAL INVESTORS STILL SAY I WANT THE SAFETY OF U.S. GOVERNMENT BONDS.

>> Woodruff: IS THE U.S. ECONOMY STRONG OR NOT, DIANE?

>> IT'S NOT STRONG BY ANY MEANS BUT IT IS STILL LIMPING OI LONG. THAT'S ABOUT THE BEST WE CAN HOPE FOR. IT CERTAINLY BETTER THAN THE ALTERNATIVE. THAT IS THE DOUBLE-DIP RECESSION OR WORSE.

>> Woodruff: LET ME ASK YOU BOTH JUST QUICKLY. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR GOING FORWARD? DIANE, I'LL QUICKLY STAY WITH YOU. ARE ALL EYES ON WASHINGTON, ON THE WHITE HOUSE, ON THE STOCK MARKET, ON EUROPE OR WHAT?

>> WELL, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE GROWTH PICK UP SLIGHTLY OVER THE SUMMER BUT SLIGHTLY IS THE OPERATIVE WORD. WE'RE MARKING DOWN OUR FORECAST FROM WHAT IT HAS BEEN. THE ECONOMY WILL CONTINUE TO LIMP ALONG. THAT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE MILLIONS THAT ARE STILL UNEMPLOYED ESPECIALLY THE LONG- TERM UNEMPLOYED. IT WILL BE A VERY HARD ENVIRONMENT WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE FED ACKNOWLEDGED TODAY BY SAYING IT WANTED TO HOLD INTEREST RATES LOW TO MID 2013. THAT'S SAYING WE WON'T HAVE A STRONG ENOUGH ENVIRONMENT. IT WOULD BE A BIT OF RELIEF IF THE ECONOMY WAS SO ROBUST IF THE FED HAD TO RAISE INTEREST RATES TODAY. I THINK THAT'S COUNTERINTUITIVE BUT THAT WOULD BE THE IDEAL IS WE WERE OVERHEATING AND GROWTH WAS SO STRONG AND UNEMPLOYMENT WAS SO LOW.

>> Woodruff: WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THE DAYS TO COME.

>> THE TWO BEST THINGS THAT COULD HAPPEN FOR U.S. GROWTH IN THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS WOULD BE FOR THE EUROPEAN SITUATION TO BE RESOLVED, TO GET A SENSE THAT EUROPE WILL NOT DISSOLVE INTO A NEW DEEP RECESSION OR A BREAK UP OF THE EURO-ZONE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THE OTHER THING THAT COULD HELP A LOT IS THE SENSE THAT WASHINGTON POLICY MAKERS CAN REACH AGREEMENTS AND NOT HAVE THIS BRINKSMANSHIP THAT THREATENS DEFAULT OVER DISAGREEMENT ABOUT WHAT OUR PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD BE.

>> Woodruff: BACK TO WHERE WE WERE A FEW DAYS. NEAL IRWIN, DIANE SWONK, WE THANK YOU BOTH.

>> Ifill: STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR, THE DEVASTATING RIOTS RATTLING BRITAIN; SYRIAN DISSIDENTS SPEAKING OUT; AND GIRLS HELPING GIRLS HERE AND ABROAD. BUT FIRST, WITH THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY, HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: THE REMAINS OF 30 AMERICAN SERVICE MEMBERS ARRIVED AT DOVER AIR FORCE BASE IN DELAWARE TODAY. THE 22 NAVY SEALS, PLUS EIGHT AIR FORCE AND ARMY TROOPS, DIED SATURDAY IN AFGHANISTAN. TALIBAN MILITANTS IN THE TANGI VALLEY APPARENTLY SHOT DOWN THEIR HELICOPTER WITH A ROCKET- PROPELLED GRENADE. TODAY PRESIDENT OBAMA TRAVELED TO THE DOVER BASE TO MEET WITH FAMILY MEMBERS AND ATTEND THE RETURN CEREMONY. PENTAGON OFFICIALS BARRED MEDIA COVERAGE OF THOSE EVENTS. WISCONSIN HELD A SERIES OF RECALL ELECTIONS TODAY, TRIGGERED BY REPUBLICAN EFFORTS TO CUT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS FOR PUBLIC WORKERS. THE RESULTS COULD GIVE DEMOCRATS CONTROL OF THE STATE SENATE. VOTERS WERE DECIDING TODAY WHETHER TO OUST SIX REPUBLICAN SENATORS. TWO DEMOCRATS FACE RECALLS NEXT WEEK. LOCAL AND NATIONAL GROUPS HAVE PUMPED NEARLY $30 MILLION INTO THE RACES. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS ANNOUNCED THE NATION'S FIRST FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS FOR LARGE TRUCKS AND VEHICLES. THEY WILL AFFECT MODEL YEARS 2014 TO 2018. THE STANDARDS WILL MANDATE THAT BIG RIGS OR SEMI-TRUCKS CUT FUEL CONSUMPTION BY 23%. GASOLINE-POWERED HEAVY-DUTY PICKUPS AND VANS WILL HAVE TO REDUCE THEIR CONSUMPTION BY 10%. BUSES AND FIRE TRUCKS WILL FACE A 9% REDUCTION IN FUEL USE. AFTER MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT, TRUCKING EXECUTIVES SAID THEY WELCOMED THE NEW REGULATIONS.

>> IN OUR OPERATIONS, FUEL IS EITHER THE NUMBER ONE OR NUMBER TWO EXPENSE FOR EVERYONE THAT MOVES FREIGHT IN THIS COUNTRY. WE'VE BASICALLY BEEN STUCK FOR PROBABLY THE LAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT FUEL EFFICIENCY FOR A LARGE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE.

>> Sreenivasan: LAST MONTH, THE PRESIDENT UNVEILED A DEAL WITH AUTOMAKERS TO DOUBLE THE FUEL EFFICIENCY OF CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS. INTERNET GIANT AMAZON TRIED TO GET BACK TO BUSINESS TODAY AFTER TWO MAJOR SERVICE OUTAGES IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS. ON SUNDAY NIGHT, A LIGHTNING STRIKE CUT POWER TO AN AMAZON DATA CENTER IN DUBLIN, IRELAND. IT DISABLED THE COMPANY'S CLOUD SERVICES. THAT'S VIRTUAL SPACE THAT CUSTOMERS USE TO STORE DATA OR RUN THEIR OWN WEB SITES. EUROPEAN USERS WERE KNOCKED OFFLINE. AND LAST NIGHT, AMAZON'S CLOUD SERVERS FOR THE EASTERN U.S. WERE DISRUPTED BY A GLITCH IN ROUTING WEB TRAFFIC. IT CAUSED SLOWDOWNS AND OUTAGES FOR SITES LIKE NETFLIX, REDDIT, AND FOURSQUARE. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO GWEN.

>> Ifill: AND WE TURN TO THE VIOLENT UPHEAVAL IN BRITAIN. MORE THAN 500 RIOTERS AND LOOTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN FOUR NIGHTS OF UNREST THAT HAS SPREAD FROM LONDON NEIGHBORHOODS TO OTHER CITIES. THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER TOP OFFICIALS INTERRUPTED SUMMER VACATIONS TO DEAL WITH THE VIOLENCE. WE BEGIN WITH THIS REPORT FROM KEIR SIMMONS OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS.

>> Reporter: THE WORST RIOTS FOR A GENERATION LEFT BUILDINGS STILL BURNING TODAY. THIS WAS AN ELECTRONICS WAREHOUSE INEN FIELD, NORTH LONDON. SOUTH OF THE CITY, THIS WAS A FURNITURE STORE. IT WITHSTOOD TWO WORLD WARS BUT WAS RAZED TO THE GROUND IN ONE NIGHT. ACROSS LONDON ARE BROKEN SHOPS... AND LIVES.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO. I DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE DO THIS.

>> Reporter: OVERNIGHT, THERE WERE 20,000999 CALLS, MORE THAN 100 OFFICERS INJURED. AFTER AN EMERGENCY MEETING AT DOWNING STREET THE PRIME MINISTER PROMISED TOUGH ACTION.

>> I HAVE THIS VERY CLEAR MESSAGE TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS WRONGDOING AND CRIMINALITY: YOU WILL FEEL THE FULL FORCE OF THE LAW. AND IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO COMMIT THESE CRIMES, YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO FACE THE PUNISHMENT.

>> Reporter: AS HE VISITED SOUTH LONDON, IT WAS ANNOUNCED PARLIAMENT WILL BE RECALLED ON THURSDAY. BUT IT IS ALL TOO LATE, SAY SOME, WHO HECKLED LONDON'S MAYOR.

>> I KNOW THERE ARE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLICE RESPONSE. (ALL TALKING AT THE SAME TIME) WE ARE CERTAINLY GOING....

>> Reporter: IN BIRMINGHAM WHERE THERE WAS FURTHER VIOLENCE OVERNIGHT THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER WAS BOOED.

>> BOO!

>> Reporter: AND THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS TONIGHT ABOUT THE SHOOTING OF A MAN WHICH SPARKED THE FIRST RIOT. BALLISTIC TEST RESULTS REVEAL NO EVIDENCE THAT HE OPENED FIRE AT POLICE OFFICERS BEFORE HE WAS SHOT DEAD. BUT THE VIOLENCE THAT FOLLOWED HAS NOW LEFT A 60-YEAR-OLD MAN SUFFERING LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. THE 26-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT IN SOUTH LONDON SO IT'S NOT CLEAR IF HIS DEATH WAS RELATED TO THE DISTURBANCES. THE OPERATION TO PREVENT THOSE RIOTS RUNNING INTO A FOURTH NIGHT NOW INVOLVES 16,000 OFFICERS AND THE CALL TO TOUGHER ACTION: THE USE OF WATER CANNONS BUT SUCH MOVES ARE CONTROVERSIAL.

>> THIS WATER CAN NONE IS ENTIRELY INAPPROPRIATE. THOSE WHO KEEP MAKING COMMENTS ABOUT IT CLEARLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT. YOU USE WATER CAN NON-IN FIXED LOCATIONS. THAT HAVING BEEN SAID I KNOW THE COMMISSIONER WILL CONTINUE TO REVIEW THESE TACTICS.

>> Reporter: STILL AS SHOP OWNERS PREPARED FOR THE WORST WITH SHUTTERS DOWN THE POLICE SAID THEY ARE EMPLOYING NEW TACTICS AIMED AT STOPPING ANOTHER NIGHT OF VIOLENCE.

>> Ifill: FOR MORE, WE TURN TO NED TEMKO, A WRITER FOR THE "OBSERVER" NEWSPAPER IN LONDON. NED, WE WILL KOCH BA TO THE PROGRAM. WHAT DO WE KNOW THAT IS HAPPENING TONIGHT.

>> I HESITATE TO GIVE YOU ANY BASICALLY FIRM AND FINAL JUDGMENT ON WHAT'S HAPPENED NOW BECAUSE THE SITUATION IS STILL SO FLUID BUT WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE CASE IS THAT THIS INTRODUCTION OF 10,000 EXTRA POLICE INTO LONDON HAS GREATLY CALMED THE SITUATION IN THE CAPITAL. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW SCATTERED INCIDENTS. THERE IS SOME UNCONFIRMED REPORTS THAT IN THE SUBURB THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME TROUBLE. BUT BY AND LARGE, TWO THINGS: AS I SAID, THE NUMBER OF POLICE BUT ALSO THE FACT THAT MOST BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE CAPITAL KIND OF CLOSED EARLY. WHEN I CAME TO THE STUDIO HERE ACROSS LONDON FROM THE NORTHWEST SUBURBS, IT WAS LIKE A GHOST TOWN. YOU WOULD GO TO KING'S CROSS WHICH IS GENERALLY A VERY CROWDED PART OF THE CITY AND IT WAS VIRTUALLY EMPTY. NOW THE BAD NEWS FOR THE GOVERNMENT IS THAT IN THE SECOND AND THIRD MOST IMPORTANT CITIES OF THE COUNTRY, BIRMINGHAM AND MANCHESTER, THERE HAS BEEN TROUBLE TONIGHT BUT ON NOTHING LIKE THE SCALE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS.

>> Ifill: IS THERE ANY COMMON AGREEMENT ANYWHERE IN ALL OF THIS, NED, ON WHAT REALLY SPARKED THIS? WE KNOW OF THE SHOOTING OF THE MAN WHO NOW A... WHO DID NOT SHOOT FIRST, THE YOUNG MAN MARK DUGAN. DO WE KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE UNDERLYING ALL OF THIS WHICH CAUSED A SPECTACULAR REACTION?

>> I THINK THE SHORT ANSWER TO THAT IS NO. WE KNOW THE PROXIMATE CAUSE. AS YOU SAID OF THE FIRST VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH LONDON SUBURB. WHERE THIS YOUNG MAN, ATE NOW APPEARS, DID NOT FIRE FIRST AND WAS KILLED BY A POLICE BULLET. AND THAT MOST COMMENTATORS AND POLITICIANS UNDERSTAND. THEY DON'T CONDONE IT BUT IT WASN'T THAT SURPRISING. BUT THIS EXPLOSION OF VIOLENCE THAT HAS FOLLOWED APPEARS TO BE BASICALLY USING WHAT HAPPENED MORE AS AN EXCUSE THAN AN EXPLANATION OR A REAL CAUSE. WHAT WE HAVE IS....

>> Ifill: ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO HERE-- AND I'M SURE YOU'RE DOING THE SAME THING-- IS SAY WHAT ABOUT THE AUSTERITY MEASURES? IS THIS HAPPENING MOSTLY IN POOR NEIGHBORHOODS WHO FELT UNDULY AFFECTED BY THIS OR IS THIS JUST RANDOM?

>> I THINK IT'S NOT SO MUCH POVERTY AS JUST A DEEP DISAFFECTION. I MEAN SOME OF THE RIOTERS HAVE BEEN POOR. IN SOME AREAS THEY'VE BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK. IN OTHER CASES EQUALLY THERE HAVE BEEN WHITE KIDS. THE ONLY THING THEY SEEM TO HAVE IN COMMON IS THEY ARE VERY YOUNG, AS YOUNG AS 14, 15 YEARS OL. THEY'VE KIND OF MARAUDED THE STREETS OF THE MAJOR CITIES PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK WITH THE POLICE. AND THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF AIMS: ONE, TO LOOT. ANOTHER IS ARSON. ALSO TO CONFRONT THE POLICE. BUT THE FEW WHO HAVE INTERVIEWED BASICALLY PORTRAY THIS AS A BIT OF FUN AND A BIT OF FLEXING MUSCLE. AS ONE GROUP OF GIRLS WHO WERE INTERVIEWED EARLIER THIS MORNING AFTER LAST NIGHT'S RIOTING SAID, IT'S TO SHOW THAT PEOPLE WITH WEALTH AND POWER DON'T RUN THE SHOW. WE DO.

>> Ifill: SO HOW ARE THE PEOPLE WHO DO RUN THE SHOW, LAWMAKERS IN PARTICULAR? HOW ARE THEY RESPONDING TO THIS?

>> INITIALLY, I THINK EVERYBODY WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE. YOU'VE SEEN THIS DRAMATIC TURN IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. AS YOU MENTIONED, DAVID CAMERON, THE PRIME MINISTER, CUT SHORT HIS ITALIAN SUMMER HOLIDAY. THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HAD CUT SHORT HIS HOLIDAY AS HAD THE HOME SECRETARY EARLIER. THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY CABINET MEETING THIS MORNING AT WHICH IT WAS DECIDED TO BRING IN ALL THESE EXTRA POLICE. EQUALLY SURPRISING TO RECALL PARLIAMENT WHICH IS ON HOLIDAY AS WELL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 200 2. I THINK THE POINT OF THIS IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO SHOW THAT IT HAS FULL CONTROL OF THE STREETS BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY POLITICALLY THE LAST THING IT WANTS TO DO IS TO CREATE THE IMPRESSION FUELED BY ANGER, REAL ANGER ON THE STREETS THAT SOMEHOW IT HAS LOST CONTROL. THE OTHER SIGNIFICANT....

>> Ifill: PARDON ME. AND THE SAME, I IMAGINE, GOES FOR SCOTTLAND YARD AND FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY. AND THEIR PROBLEM IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT MORALE AND THE REPUTATION OF SCOTTLAND YARD HAS TAKEN A BIG BEATING FROM THE INCOMPETENCE AND APPARENTLY IN SOME CASES CORRUPTION WHICH HAS TAINTED ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE PHONE HACKING SCANDAL WHICH WE DISCUSSED EARLIER ON THIS PROGRAM A FEW WEEKS AGO. SO THINGS AREN'T GREAT AT THE MET. YES, THERE'S A REPUTATIONAL ISSUE THERE AS WELL. ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS IS THAT ALL MAINSTREAM POLITICIANS-- AND THAT INCLUDES THE OPPOSITION LABOR PARTY-- HAVE MADE IT ABSOLUTELY CLEAR THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE LONG-TERM DEBATE-- AND THERE WILL BE ONE ON THE CAUSES OF SUCH WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE AND RIOTING-- THE MAIN POLITICAL PRIORITY IS JUST TO CREATE LAW AND ORDER BECAUSE THERE'S REAL POPULAR ALRM.

>> Ifill: HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO PAST RISING? I THINK BACK TO THE RIOTS MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO. IT WAS ALSO AN IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOOD, DISAFFECTED PEOPLE PARTICIPATING. BUT IS THIS ON A BIGGER SCALE?

>> IT'S DIFFERENT. IT IS ON A BIGGER SCALE. IT'S MORE SURPRISING IN A WAY. AS YOU MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THE '80s THERE WERE PERIODIC EXPLOSIONS. ONE THAT HAPPENS ALSO ON A COUNCIL HOUSE ESTATE. THERE WAS ONE IN LIVERPOOL WHICH HAS BEEN ANOTHER FOCUS OF VIOLENCE THIS WEEK. ALL OF THOSE WERE MUCH MORE DIRECTLY RACIALLY INSPIRED. THEY WERE A RESULT OF REAL PROBLEMS BETWEEN THE BLACK COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE WHICH IT WAS PERCEIVED AS HEAVY HANDED AND RACIST. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROGRESS ON ALL OF THOSE FRONTS IN THE LAST 20 YEARS. WHAT IS DIFFERENT THIS TIME IS THAT THIS SEEMS MUCH MORE OPPORTUNISTIC. IT SEEMS MUCH LESS COHERENT POLITICALLY AND MUCH MORE 21st CENTURY. A LOT OF THIS IS FUELED BY PEOPLE WITH THEIR BLACK BERRIES SENDING CODED MESSAGES SAYING HIT THIS STORE, HIT THAT STORE. IT MAKES IT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE POLICE. BUT I THINK WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL HOPE AFTER TONIGHT IS AT LEAST IN LONDON THEY'VE TURNED THE CORNER.

>> Ifill: WE HOPE THINGS CONTINUE TO CALM DOWN. NED TEMKO OF THE OBSERVER IN LONDON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> Woodruff: NEXT, THE UPRISING IN SYRIA. THE SYRIAN ARMY KEPT UP ITS OFFENSIVE TODAY, LAUNCHING RAIDS ON MORE TOWNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TURKEY'S FOREIGN MINISTER MET WITH SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL- ASSAD TODAY TO EXPRESS HIS CONCERN AND CALL FOR CALM. ASSAD HAS DEFIED OUTSIDE APPEALS TO STOP THE DEADLY CRACKDOWN ON A FIVE-MONTH-OLD UPRISING. WE TURN NOW TO THE VOICES OF THREE YOUNG SYRIAN ANTIGOVERNMENT ACTIVISTS. THEY WERE INTERVIEWED IN NEIGHBORING TURKEY BY THE REPORTING TEAM OF ANNA SOPHIE FLAMMAND AND HUGH MacLEOD. MacLEOD NARRATED THIS STORY FOR OUR PARTNER, THE INTERNATIONAL WEB SITE GLOBALPOST. A WARNING TO VIEWERS: IT CONTAINS DISTURBING IMAGES.

>> Reporter: IT WAS THE FUEL BECAUSE WE HAD ON THE GROUND. THE ARABIC REGIMES ARE ALL THE SAME. THEY HAVE THE SAME RULER WHO CONSIDERS HIMSELF GOD. THE SAME INJUSTICE. THE SAME INHERITANCE OF POWER LIKE IN SYRIA. SO THOSE RULERS CONSIDER THEMSELVES OWNERS OF THE COUNTRY. THE ONLY THING WE NEED WAS THIS SPARK TO BE LIT. THE SPARK WAS IN TUNISIA. AND IT WENT THROUGH THE COUNTRIES TO SYRIA. THAT'S PART MADE THE SHIFT THAT WE SHOULD GO TO THE STREETS.

>> ON MARCH 18, 2011, THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED. THE SYRIAN PEOPLE TOOK TO THE STREETS BY THE HUNDREDS, PROTEST AGAINST THE REGIME. IT WAS AN UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGE TO PRESIDENT BASHIR AND HIS FAMILY'S 41 YEARS DICTATORSHIP OVER THE COUNTRY.

>> I WAS HAPPY. BUT AT THE SAME TIME I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY AGENTS WHO WERE GATHERING. AND WE WERE ONLY AROUND 100 PEOPLE.

>> Reporter: MOST OF THE FIRST PROTESTORS WERE DAMASCUS NATIVES. A 25-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS STUDYING LAW IN BEIRUT WHEN THE ARAB UPRISINGS BEGAN. HE CAME HOME TO DAMASCUS TO JOIN A WAVE OF YOUNG PEOPLE WILLING TO RISK THEIR LIVES TO OPENLY CONFRONT THE REGIME. AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST TIGHTLY CONTROLLED.

>> BUT THERE WERE MANY WATCHING. ARE THEY SECURITY? ARE THEY WITH US? AGAINST US? BUT EVERYONE LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE WATCHING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL PASSING BY. I FELT IT COMING FROM MY INSIDES LIKE SOMEONE HOLDING A GUITAR FOR THE FIRST TIME. AND HAS NEVER PLAYEDED THEM BEFORE AND SUDDENLY FINDS HIMSELF A MUSICIAN. IT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART SO I LOOKED AROUND AND I SAW THAT AND IT WAS COMING FROM THE OTHERS THE SAME WAY.

>> Reporter: HE ALONG WITH TWO OTHER ACT I.V.F.S WHOSE STORIES FOLLOWED AGREED TO SPEAK ON CAMERA ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WHILE THEY WERE SAFELY OUT OF SYRIA ACROSS THE BORDER IN TURKEY IN JUNE 2011. INSPIRED BY THIS MAN AND HIS COLLEAGUES' EARLY ACTS OF DEFIANCE OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE BEGAN TO ORGANIZE THEMSELVES INTO MASS PROTESTS AGAINST THE REGIME. ONE OF THOSE WAS THIS MAN, A 31-YEAR-OLD CITIZEN-JOURNALISTS FROM A SOUTHERN BORDER CITY AND THE CRADLE OF THE UPRISING. HE LAUNCHED A MAGAZINE PRIOR TO THE UPRISING AND HIS STORIES CRITICIZING THE REGIME LED TO A NEARLY TWO-YEAR JAIL SENTENCE.

>> WE ENCOURAGE OURSELVES DON'T WORRY. IT'S OKAY. WHAT THEY CAN DO THEY WILL JUST ARREST US. NO PROBLEM.

>> Reporter: WITH MEDIA BANNED FROM SYRIA, HE LIKE MANY ACTIVISTS DECIDED HE HAD TO DOCUMENT EVENTS USING A CELL PHONE CAMERA, UPLOADING VIDEOS TO YOU-TUBE, TO BE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE WORLD. IN A CLIP THAT BECAME AN ICON OF THE MILITARY SIEGE, HE FILMED SECURITY FORCES MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS AND IN ALMOST APOCALYPTIC SCENE.

>> WE HAVE TO FILM THEM WHEN THEY ARREST US TO SAVE THAT FOR THE MEDIA BUT ACTUALLY THEY MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THEY CANNOT. (INAUDIBLE)

>> Reporter: FROM THE FIRST DAYS OF THE UPRISING THE REGIME USED BRUTAL VIOLENCE TO TRY AND CRUSH ITS YOUNG OPPONENTS.

>> THE GIRLS WITH US TRIED TO PROTECT THE BOYS BECAUSE (INAUDIBLE)

>> Reporter: MICHELLE, A STUDENT AND AN ACTIVIST IN HER 20s, IS FROM A FAMILY OF LONG HISTORY WITH ACTIVISM. HE HELPED ORGANIZE THREE PROTESTS IN THE CAPITAL DAMASCUS.

>> THE SECURITY DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. A FEW OF US WERE ARRESTED. WE WERE TRYING TO PROTECT THE GIRLS. I WAS DRAGGED BY MY HAIR FOR 200 METERS BY TWO SECRET POLICE OFFICERS. ONE PULLED ME BY MY HAIR. ONE PULLED ME BY MY ARM. WE GOT TO THE CAR AND THEY BEAT ME. SIX OF THEM WERE STANDING AROUND ME. AND THE PERSON IN CHARGE ALSO BEAT ME.

>> SO I HEARD A GIRL SCREAMING. SHE WAS SCREAMING LOUDLY SO I RAN TO TOWARDS THE SCREAM. OF COURSE, THEY STARTED BEATING ME. THEY TRIED TO GET ME TO THE GROUND BUT I RESISTED. BUT SOMEONE HIT ME ON MY KNEE FROM BEHIND. THEY STOOD IN THE CIRCLE AND COVERED MY HEAD WITH MY T-SHIRT. I MANAGED TO SEE A CIRCLE OF FEET AROUND ME. THEY STARTED TO KICK ME. ALL I COULD DO WAS THIS, TO PROTECT MY FACE. THEY KEPT BEATING ME BUT I DIDN'T FEEL ANY PAIN. MAYBE I HAD A LOT OF EYE DARREN LYNN.

>> Reporter: WHILE THE ARAB UPRISINGS PROVIDED THE SPARK, THE DESIRE TO CHANGE THEIR COUNTRY HAD LONG BEEN GROWING IN SYRIA'S YOUNG REVOLUTIONARIES.

>> I LOVE TO EXPRESS MY FEELINGS ON PAPER. HOW I FEEL. HOW I SEE MY COUNTRY. ALL THE TIME I MAKE A COMPARISON TO SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. OKAY. WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED. TO BE A MODERN COUNTRY. WHY IS CHANGE BAD? WHY CAN'T WE FIX IT? BUT THERE IS... I THOUGHT I WAS AT FIRST SO I STARTED A PAGE ON FACEBOOK. BUT WHEN I SEARCHED, I FOUND LOTS OF GROUPS ALREADY THERE. I WAS HAPPY SO I STARTED THIS GROUP AND STARTED TO TALK TO OTHER YOUTHS. TO MY SURPRISE, I REALIZED THAT THEY ARE THINKING JUST LIKE ME. THEY FEEL THE SAME AS I DO.

>> IN MY OPINION, I WAS STILL THINKING THAT NO SENSIBLE PERSON WOULD TAKE SUCH A RISK. BUT FOR ME THIS IS IT. THIS IS THE DECISION WE MADE. TO BE OR NOT TO BE.

>> LIKE A WAR BUT FOR US WE USE OUR CAMERA. FOR THEM THEY USE THEIR GUNS. WE NEED TO FILM EVERYTHING FOR MEDIA. NO ONE TO SUPPORT US. NO ONE TO FILM WHAT'S HAPPENING.

>> Reporter: THE INTERNET IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF COMMUNICATION FOR SERIOUS YOUTH ACTIVISTS. THE REGIME LAID SIEGE TO SEVERAL MAJOR PROTEST GROUPS, CUTTING ELECTRICITY IN AN ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE REVOLUTION OFF LINE.

>> WE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SERVER BECAUSE IT IS RUNNING OUT. (INAUDIBLE) FOR PHONE CALLS WE CREATE A NEW WAY TO CHARGE YOUR PHONE. WE USED TO HAVE SUPPORTERS WITH TWO SOMETHING ELSE. EVERYWHERE. WE USE IT TO KEEP THE BATTERIES IN THE WATER FOR ONE HOUR OR 30 MINUTES AND THEN YOU PUT THE USB ADAPTORS INSIDE THE WATER. THAT'S HOW WE CHARGE THE MOBILE.

>> Reporter: THEY'RE ADEPT AS GETTING AROUND THE REGIME'S TO SILENCE THEM. ACTIVISTS KNOW IF THEY ARE CAUGHT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE GRAVE.

>> THEY ASK, WHO IS (NAME)? I KEPT SILENT. (INAUDIBLE)

>> Reporter: HIS LOVE OF WRITING HAD GOT HIM INTO TROUBLE WITH THE REGIME. HE WAS ARRESTEDED AND SENT TO THE INFAMOUS PRISON IN THE DESERTS OF EASTERN SYRIA, SOME 200 KILOMETERS NORTHEAST OF DAMASCUS FOR 22 MONTHS.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS FOR YOU EXACTLY BUT IT'S TERRIBLE. IT'S NOT JUST AFRAID. IT'S TERRIBLE. BECAUSE YOU ARE ALONE. YOU DON'T HAVE... YOU CAN'T DEFUND YOURSELF. WILD PEOPLE CONTROL YOU. IT'S TOO EASY. THEY CAN KILL YOU. I WAS ASKING MYSELF ALL THE TIME, I HAVE TO BE STRONG A LITTLE BIT. I DON'T HAVE TO SHOW THEM THAT I AM SCARED BECAUSE IF THEY FEEL THAT YOU ARE SCARED, THEY CONTROL YOU.

>> Reporter: THE SYSTEMATIC TORE TORTURE OF PROTESTORS IN PRISONS HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED DURING THE UPRISING. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP DESCRIBE SEVERAL BRUTAL TECHNIQUES INCLUDING ELECTRIC SHOCKS AND HUMILIATING DETAINEES BY URINATING ON THEM.

>> AFTER BEING TORTURED, PEOPLE ARE MORE DETERMINED THAN BEFORE BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS BELIEF THAT AFTER ALL I SAW, EVERY TIME I SEE SOMETHING HIDEOUS, MY BELIEFS GET STRONGER. THAT WHATEVER THE PRICE IS, WE NEED TO GET RID OF THIS. I MEAN THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN CONTINUE WITH THIS REGIME. IT'S NOT A REGIME. IT'S A SGANG. ... IT'S A GANG.

>> Reporter: ALL THREE OF THESE REVOLUTIONARIES ARE STILL IN TOUCH WITH THEIR FRIENDS ON THE GROUND IN SYRIA AND REMAIN ACTIVE ON SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES HELPING ORGANIZE PROTESTS AGAINST THE REGIME. DESPITE THE THREAT OF ARREST AND TORTURE, THEY ALL HOPE TO RETURN TO SYRIA TO CONTINUE TO PUSH FOR AN END TO THE DICTATORSHIP.

>> THE GUYS WORKING SO HARD ON THE GROUND. I HOPE SOON THEY WILL BE HAPPY. I'M SURE ABOUT THAT.

>> Woodruff: TODAY THE SYRIAN STATE-RUN NEWS AGENCY REPORTED PRESIDENT ASSAD SAID HIS GOVERNMENT WOULD BE RELENTLESS IN ITS PURSUIT OF WHAT HE "TERRORIST GROUPS." THE STORY ABOUT GIRL POWER , AN

>> WE'LL BE BACK SHORTLY WITH

>> Woodruff: FINALLY TONIGHT, A STORY ABOUT ADOLESCENT AMERICANS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF GIRLS AROUND THE GLOBE. RAY SUAREZ HAS THAT.

>> Suarez: THE FLASHING LIGHTS OUTSIDE SAY CHICAGO, BUT THE GIRLS INSIDE ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE HEAVY BURDEN OF LIFE A WORLD AWAY.

>> IN ETHIOPIA GIRLS HAVE TO WALK TO GET WATER. THEY GET VERY HEAVY. WANT TO TRY IT AND SEE HOW HEAVY THEY ARE.

>> Suarez: THE LESSON ISN'T EASY BUT THAT'S THE POINT.

>> OH, IT'S HARD.

>> Suarez: A NEW UNITED FOUNDATION CAMPAIGN IS SPANNING CULTURE AND CONFIDENCE TO PROMOTE GIRL POWER.

>> GIRLS IN ETHIOPIA MIGHT CARRY WATER FOR EIGHT HOURS A DAY. THEY MIGHT WALK EIGHT HOURS TO GET WATER TO BRING BACK TO THEIR FAMILY. THEY MIGHT WALK EIGHT HOURS TO GET FUEL FOR FIREWOOD AND COOKING. THAT'S THE REALITY OF THEIR LIVES. SO WE WANT GIRLS IN THE UNITED STATES TO CARRY THOSE WATER JUGS, GET A SENSE OF HOW HEAVY THEY ARE. THEY GET A SENSE OF THESE GIRLS' LIVES.

>> 1, 2, 3. ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )

>> Suarez: IT'S A CAMPAIGN BY GIRLS AND FOR GIRLS CALLED GIRL UP. THE IDEA IS TO BUILD GRASS ROOTS SUPPORT AMONG AMERICAN TEENS AND TWEENS TO HELP PEERS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES STAY IN SCHOOL, STAY FREE FROM CHILD LABOR, AND SAFE FROM VIOLENCE.

>> IF YOU EDUCATE ONE GIRL AND SHE EDUCATES HER COMMUNITY. IF WE INSPIRE ONE GIRL WITH GIRL-UP, SHE INSPEARS HER COMMUNITY TO GET INVOLVED.

>> Suarez: LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD THE GIRL MOVEMENT CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMA WHO RECENTLY INVITED GIRL-UP GIRLS TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> KEEP IT UP.

>> IF WE GET MILLIONS OF GIRLS AROUND THIS COUNTRY ENGAGED, PRETTY SOON WE HOPE THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE NEXT GENERATION OF WOMEN LEADERS.

>> Suarez: SO FAR 200,000 GIRLS ACROSS THE U.S. HAVE SIGNED UP. ALMOST ALL THE MONEY THEY'VE RAISED IS ALREADY HELPING TO FUND U.N. PROGRAMS FOR GIRLS IN LIBERIA, ETHIOPIA, MAUL AWEY AND GUATEMALA.

>> MOST OF THEM LIVE IN ABJECT POVERTY. THEY'RE LACKING IN EDUCATION. MANY OF THOSE GIRLS DON'T LEARN HOW TO READ, WRITE OR DO THEIR NUMBERS. OFTEN TIMES THEY'RE MARRIED BY AGE 15 AND PREGNANT SOON AFTER.

>> Suarez: ON THIS DAY IN CHICAGO PROJECT GIRL PERFORMERS TACKLED GIRL-UP'S MOST RECENT EFFORT TO STOP CHILD MARRIAGES.

>> THE UNITED NATIONS CONSIDERS CHILD MARRIAGE A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.

>> Suarez: EMILY ROUGH WROTE A PIECE BASED ON PHONE INTERVIEWS ABOUT A 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM AFRICA WHO WAS FORCED INTO MARRIAGE AND PREGNANCY WHO THEN DIED IN CHILDBIRTH.

>> HIS POISON HAD FLOURISHED. MY BODY WAS CHANGING. I GREW BIG AND ROUND BUT MY HUSBAND WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND.

>> THESE WOMEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES ARE LITERALLY LEFT BY THEMSELVES AND FENDING FOR THEMSELVES. A LOT OF TIMES THEY DON'T HAVE THE STAMINA AND THE STRENGTH TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IT.

>> FOR GIRLS IN THE UNITED STATES, IF THEY HAVE A SENSE THAT THEY CAN REALLY TOUCH A GIRL IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, IT MOTIVATES THEM TO LEARN MORE, TO STAY CONNECTED AND TO RAISE MORE FUNDS.

>> Suarez: GIRL-UP ENCOURAGES PEN PALS.

>> YOU SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP IN WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. I'M FROM CHICAGO. MY NAME IS ASHLEY.

>> SHE SAYS YOU, ALL OF YOU, ARE GOING TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

>> Suarez: THE LETTERS ARE READ BY GIRL-UP STAFF IN LIBERIA WHERE 45% OF GIRLS HAVE NO FORMAL EDUCATION. A STATISTIC THE CAMPAIGN IS HOPING TO CHANGE. SUB URBAN CHICAGO RESIDENTS AND GIRL-UP MEMBER ISABEL IS ONE OF THE MANY VOLUNTEER ADVISORS FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

>> I CAN BE WITH OTHER GIRLS MY AGE AND WE CAN DECIDE TOGETHER HOW WE CAN HELP. WE CAN START A FUND-RAISER. DO EVENTS TO RAISE AWARENESS.

>> Suarez: FOR ISABEL THE MOVEMENT IS ALSO VERY PERSONAL.

>> SHE'S A TYPICAL 12-YEAR-OLD AMERICAN GIRL, A COMPETITIVE SOCCER PLAYER AND A GOOD STUDENT ENTERING THE 7th GRADE. ISABEL A A IS ALSO FROM VEE IT NATURAL VIETNAM, ADOPTED AT THE AGE OF FOUR. HER MOTHER GAVE BIRTH TO TWIN GIRLS, COULDN'T AFFORD BOTH AND SENT ISABEL TO AN ORPHANAGE. ISABEL HAS NEVER MEANT HER IDENTICAL TWIN SISTER STILL LIVING IN VIETNAM.

>> I JUST WANTED TO HELP NOT JUST HER BUT OTHER ADOLESCENT GIRLS AROUND THE WORLD.

>> Suarez: ALTHOUGH ISABEL HAS LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT HER IDENTICAL TWIN, SHE BELIEVES SHE AND HER SISTER ARE LIKELY TO HAVE VERY DIFFERENT FUTURES.

>> THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR LIVES. I GO TO SCHOOL. I PLAY WITH MY FRIENDS. I HANG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS. SHE DOESN'T GET TO HANG WITH HER FRIENDS. SHE GETS TO DO CHORES. SHE'S GOT TO WORK 24/7. IT'S NOT WHAT A NORMAL TEENAGER WOULD DO.

>> Suarez: ISABEL HOPES TO ATTEND UCLA MEDICAL SCHOOL AND PLAY COLLEGE SOCCER.

>> IT'S VERY SIMILAR GIRLS. IF THEY HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY, THEY'D PROBABLY HAVE THE SAME PRACTICE JEKT ER TO. THEY'D BOTH BE GOING TO UCLA. BOTH THINK ABOUT BEING DOCTORS OR HAVING DREAMS. AND THEN SADLY THE GIRL IN VIETNAM CAN'T GET THERE. WE'D LIKE TO GET ALL THE GIRLS GLOBALLY TO THE SAME SPOT. REAL SUCCESS.

>> Suarez: FOR THE AMERICAN GIRLS, SUCCESS FOR GIRLS GLOBALLY IS A WIN FOR THEM TOO.

>> Ifill: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY. WALL STREET WHIPSAWED, THEN SHOT HIGHER IN A LATE-DAY RALLY. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED MORE THAN 430 POINTS. THE FEDERAL RESERVE WARNED GROWTH HAS BEEN MUCH SLOWER THAN EXPECTED THIS YEAR. IT SAID IT EXPECTS TO KEEP A KEY INTEREST RATE NEAR ZERO FOR TWO MORE YEARS. AND HUNDREDS MORE POLICE POURED INTO STREETS ACROSS ENGLAND TO HEAD OFF A FOURTH NIGHT OF RIOTING. ON THE DAY THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA TRAVELED TO DOVER AIR FORCE BASE TO PAY PRIVATE TRIBUTE AND MEET WITH THE FAMILIES OF THE 30 U.S. TROOPS WHO DIEDED IN A HELICOPTER CRASH IN AFGHANISTAN, WE TURN AGAIN TO OUR HONOR ROLL OF AMERICAN SERVICE PERSONNEL KILLED IN THE IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN CONFLICT. WE ADD THEM AS THEIR DEATHS ARE MADE OFFICIAL AND PHOTOGRAPHS BECOME AVAILABLE. WE ADD THEM AS THEIR DEATHS ARE MADE OFFICIAL AND PHOTOGRAPHS BECOME AVAILABLE. HERE, IN SILENCE, ARE 14 MORE.

>> Woodruff: AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. ON WEDNESDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT THE RECALL ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN, BEING WATCHED NATIONALLY AS A REFERENDUM ON BUDGET CUTS. I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

>> Ifill: AND I'M GWEN IFILL. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE, AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. THANK YOU, AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: CHEVRON. WE MAY HAVE MORE IN COMMON THAN YOU THINK.

>> AND BY BNSF RAILWAY.

>> AND BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. DEDICATED TO THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE DESERVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE A HEALTHY, PRODUCTIVE LIFE. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org