PBS NewsHour; March 21, 2011 3:00pm-4:00pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Lehrer: JETS FIRED MORE CRUISE MISSILES AT LIBYAN TARGETS TODAY, AIMED AT KNOCKING OUT THE QADDAFI FORCES' COMMAND AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS. GOOD EVENING. I'M JIM LEHRER.

>> Ifill: AND I'M GWEN IFILL. ON THE NEWSHOUR TONIGHT, WE HAVE REPORTS FROM TRIPOLI, WHERE THE ASSAULT DESTROYED A BUILDING IN QADDAFI'S COMPOUND, AND FROM THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY STILL IN REBEL HANDS.

>> Lehrer: JEFFREY BROWN REPORTS ON THE WEEKEND APPROVAL OF CONSTITUTION CHANGES IN EGYPT THAT PROVIDE FOR NEW AND OPEN ELECTIONS.

>> Ifill: RAY SUAREZ UPDATES THE GROWING TURMOIL IN YEMEN, AS RIVAL GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION TANKS DEPLOY IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL.

>> Lehrer: PLUS, WE GET AN OVERVIEW PERSPECTIVE ON THE UNREST IN THE ARAB WORLD, FROM FORMER U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORS ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI AND BRENT SCOWCROFT.

>> ifill: AND JUDY WOODRUFF GETS THE LATEST FROM JAPAN, WHERE OFFICIALS NOW ESTIMATE MORE THAN 21,000 PEOPLE ARE DEAD OR MISSING, AND THERE'S NEW EVIDENCE OF RADIATION IN VEGETABLES, MILK, AND WATER.

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>> Lehrer: A COALITION LED BY THE U.S. MILITARY HIT LIBYA TODAY WITH A DOZEN MORE CRUISE MISSILES. IT WAS THE LATEST WAVE OF ATTACKS THAT BEGAN SATURDAY NIGHT. THE GOAL WAS TO IMPOSE A NO-FLY ZONE AND STOP MOAMMAR QADDAFI'S FORCES FROM ATTACKING CIVILIANS. IN CHILE, PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID THE COALITION ACTED TO UPHOLD A CORE PRINCIPLE.

>> WHEN THE ENTIRE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY ALMOST UNANIMOUSLY SAYS THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL HUMANITARIAN CRISIS ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE, THAT A LEADER WHO HAS LOST HIS LEGITIMACY DECIDES TO TURN HIS MILITARY ON HIS OWN PEOPLE, THAT WE CAN'T SIMPLY STAND BY WITH EMPTY WORDS.

>> Ifill: THE PRESIDENT SAID THE U.S. WOULD TURN OVER LEADERSHIP OF THE OPERATION TO ALLIED NATIONS WITHIN DAYS. THE U.S. MILITARY ALSO SAID QADDAFI'S ABILITY TO CONTROL HIS FORCES HAS ALREADY BEEN SHARPLY REDUCED. WE HAVE THE FIRST OF TWO REPORTS ON THE SITUATION INSIDE LIBYA FROM INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS, BEGINNING WITH JONATHAN MILLER IN TRIPOLI. Reporter: 2100 HOURS LAST NIGHT. MORE THAN 10 BRITISH WARPLANES PREPARE FOR ANOTHER BOMBING RUN TO TRIPOLI. WE KNOW NOW THEIR MISSION WAS ABORTED, THEIR PAYLOAD OF STORM SHADOW MISSILES RETURNED FROM LIBYA INTACT. THE REASON? INTELLIGENCE THAT THERE WERE CIVILIANS IN THE TARGET AREA. WELL, IT'S PROBABLE THAT THESE ARE THE CIVILIANS THEY'RE REFERRING TO, THE HUMAN SHIELDS PREPARED TO DIE, THEY SAY, TO PROTECT MOAMMAR QADDAFI. THEIR CARNIVAL OF DEFIANCE INSIDE THE LEADER'S COMPOUND BOMBED BY THE AMERICANS IN 1986. LAST NIGHT QADDAFI'S COMPOUND WAS BLITZED AGAIN. THIS TIME BY THE BRITS. VERY LATE LAST NIGHT THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENT BROUGHT JOURNALISTS TO INSPECT THE DAMAGE. IT WAS AN ADMINISTER'S BUILDING THEY WERE TOLD. THANKS BE TO GOD, THEY SAID, NO ONE DEAD OR INJURED. THEY BROUGHT US HERE TO SHOW US THE DAMAGE. WE'RE IN THE INNER SANCTUM OF THE LEADER'S COMPOUND. THEY SAY THIS IS ALL THE EVIDENCE THEY NEED TO SHOW THAT THE COALITION IS TRYING TO KILL QADDAFI. BRITAIN'S MINISTER OF DEFENSE TOLD CHANNEL 4 NEWS THAT TODAY WHAT HIT THIS BUILDING WAS A TOMAHAWK CRUISE MISSILE FIRED FROM A BRITISH SUBMARINE. THE BUILDING WAS BELIEVED TO HAVE CONTAINED MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT MAKING IT, A LEGITIMATE TARGET. QADDAFI'S FAMOUS BED WIN TENT WHERE HE WORKS AND ENTERTAINS HIS VISITORS WAS JUST OVER 100 METERS FROM THE BLAST SITE. THE LEADER'S WHEREABOUTS ARE PRESENTLY UNKNOWN. JUST OVER 100 MILES FROM TRIPOLI, QADDAFI'S FORCES ARE STILL REPORTED TO BE BESIEGING THE CONTESTED CITY OF MISRATA. NO FRESH FOOTAGE HAS EMERGED TODAY. BUT THE RESIDENTS CLAIM HIS TROOPS ARE USING CIVILIANS AS HUMAN SHIELDS AND FIRING ON UNARMED CIVILIANS TOO. THIS DESPITE GOVERNMENT AFFIRMATIONS THAT IT'S STICK TO GO THE CEASE-FIRE. COALITION WARPLANES WILL RIGHT NOW BE READYING FOR THEIR THIRD NIGHT OF RAIDS ON LIBYA. THE LEADER HIMSELF HAS NOT BEEN SEEN OR HEARD FROM SINCE JUST BEFORE THOSE STRIKES BEGAN.

>> Lehrer: QADDAFI'S FUTURE REMAINED AN OPEN QUESTION. PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID AGAIN TODAY, "IT IS U.S. POLICY THAT QADDAFI HAS TO GO." BUT THE HEAD OF THE U.S. AFRICA COMMAND, ARMY GENERAL CARTER HAM, LEFT THE DOOR OPEN.

>> I COULD SEE ACCOMPLISHING THE MILITARY MISSION WHICH HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO ME AND THE CURRENT LEADER WOULD REMAIN THE CURRENT LEADER. IS THAT IDEAL? I DON'T THINK ANYONE WOULD SAY THAT THAT IS IDEAL. I WOULD REITERATE THOUGH THAT I HAVE NO MISSION TO ATTACK THAT PERSON, AND WE ARE NOT DOING SO. WE ARE NOT SEEKING HIS WHEREABOUTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> Ifill: THE LIBYAN REBELS

>> Ifill: THE LIBYAN REBELS INSISTED TODAY THEY WOULD NEVER NEGOTIATE WITH QADDDAFI. INSTEAD, THEY SCRAMBLED TO TRY TO RETAKE GROUND THEY HAD LOST. QADDAFI'S FORCES PULLED BACK FROM BENGHAZI AFTER BEING BLASTED BY COALITION AIR STRIKES. THE REBELS PUSHED FORWARD, BUT THE FIGHTING WAS FIERCE. MARTIN GEISSLER FILED THIS REPORT FROM EASTERN LIBYA.

>> Reporter: EAST LIBYA'S CELEBRATIONS HAVE BEEN SHORT LIVED. TRY TELLING THIS MAN THE WAR IS OVER. TOTALLY DISTRAUGHT HE DROVE HIS COMRADE FROM THE BATTLEFIELD. ON THE ROAD OUT OF BENGHAZI QADDAFI'S TANKS ARE STILL BURNING, BUT THE AIR STRIKE HERE DIDN'T KILL HIS FIGHT COMPLETELY. WE STOPPED AT A CHECK POINT. REBELS BROUGHT MORE WOUNDED FROM THE FRONT. THE CALL FOR SUPPORT. THIS MAN TOLD ME HIS CONVOY HAD BEEN HIT BY ARTILLERY. HIS THREE BROTHERS AND A COUSIN HAD BEEN KILLED. AS THE WOUNDED COME BACK, THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF VOLUNTEERS TO REPLACE THEM. THIS IS WHERE THE ROAD STOPS. WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT QADDAFI'S TROOPS HAVE A TANK ON THE GATES OF THE TOWN ABOUT TEN KILOMETERS FROM HERE AND IT'S FIRING ON ANYTHING COMING TOWARDS IT. IT'S A SHARP REMINDER TO THESE REBELS, IF ONE WERE NEEDED, THAT THEIR FIGHT IS FAR FROM WON. HEADING BACK TO BENGHAZI WE PASSED A TOURIST ATTRACTION. HUNDREDS HAVE FLOCKED FROM THE CITY TO SEE WHAT REMAINS OF ONE GOVERNMENT ARTILLERY DIVISION. CELEBRATORY GUN FIRE RATTLED ALL AROUND BUT THERE WAS ANGER TOO. THESE TANKS WERE SENT TO DESTROY THEM AND THEIR CITY. THE AIR STRIKE CAME IN THE NICK OF TIME.

>> THEY THINK IT'S OKAY TO ATTACK BENGHAZI PEOPLE. THEY DESTROY IT COMPLETELY.

>> WE WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANKS TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND FOR ALL OF THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE IF IT'S GOING TO BE LIKE FACE TO FACE WITH THIS, IT WILL BE CARNAGE.

>> Reporter: BACK INSIDE BENGHAZI, WE STOPPED AT THE HOSPITAL. THE CHAOS CONTINUED AS CASUALTIES FROM THE FRONT KEPT COMING. THIS MAN ANSWERED THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS THIS MORNING. AN HOUR LATER CAUGHT IN A SHELLING HE LOST BOTH HIS ARMS. AND JUST A FEW FEET AWAY, ANOTHER AWFUL STORY. FIVE-YEAR-OLD MOW HACK ED AHMED WRITHING IN PAIN. HIS FAMILY'S CAR CAME UNDER SHELL FIRE ON SATURDAY. HIS FATHER AND BROTHER WERE KILLED. HIS MOTHER LIES CRITICALLY ILL BESIDE HIM. EVEN IF LIBYA DOES WIN ITS FREEDOM THEY WILL HAVE PAID AN AWFUL PRICE.

>> Lehrer: IN ONE OTHER DEVELOPMENT TODAY, FOUR NEW YORK TIMES JOURNALISTS WERE RELEASED BY LIBYAN AUTHORITIES AFTER BEING DETAINED LAST WEEK.

>> Ifill: NOW FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SITUATION IN LIBYA, WE TURN TO RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL DUTCH REMKES. HE SPENT 32 YEARS IN THE AIR FORCE, INCLUDING SERVICE AS A TOP COMMANDER OF OPERATION NORTHERN WATCH, THE NO-FLY ZONE OVER IRAQ. AND ROBERT MALLEY, WHO SERVED AS DIRECTOR FOR NEAR EAST AND SOUTH ASIAN AFFAIRS AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DURING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. HE'S NOW MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP. WELCOME TO YOU BOTH. GENERAL, I'D LIKE TO START WITH YOU. WHAT ARE OUR GOALS IN LIBYA AS A COALITION? ARE THEY BEING MET SO FAR?

>> YES, GWEN, I THINK THEY ARE BEING MET. THE GOALS OBVIOUSLY TO PREVENT SADDAM HUSSEIN'S TROOPS FROM COMMITTING ATROCITIES AGAINST THE CIVILIAN POPULATIONS IN THOSE LARGE POPULATION CENTERS ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF LIBYA. WE WANT TO PREVENT MOAMMAR QADDAFI FROM HURTING THE INNOCENT CIVILIANS THERE SO I THINK SO FAR THINGS ARE GOING QUITE WELL.

>> Ifill: HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THE CIVILIANS, AS WE SAY?

>> WE'LL BE WATCHING THEM VERY CLOSELY THROUGHOUT THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS TO SEE WHAT THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND ACTUALLY DO. GENERAL CARTER HAM HAD ALREADY MENTIONED THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE'S ASKED THE FOLKS TO DO ON THE GROUND, THE SIGNAL FROM THEM SHOULD BE VERY SIMPLE. LAY DOWN YOUR ARMS AND BACK AWAY FROM THE CIVILIANS.

>> Ifill: ROBERT MALLEY, ARE WE MEETING THE GOALS WE SET? ARE THEY WORTHY GOALS?

>> MILITARILY AS WE JUST HEARD WE ARE PROBABLY MEETING THEM. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COLONEL'S FORCES ARE ATTACKING IN THE CITIES OUTSIDE OF BENGHAZI AND OTHER CITIES. WE'D THEN HAVE TO GO IN TO PROTECT THE CIVILIANS IN THOSE CITIES. TO BECOMES MUCH HARDER AND PROBABLY NOT POSSIBLE TO DO FROM THE AIR. THE REAL PROBLEM IS ALTHOUGH THE MILITARY GOALS CAN BE ACHIEVED I THINK WE'RE HEARING THE POLITICAL SUCCESS IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY WHETHER COLONEL QADDAFI STAYS IN POWER. MANY TIMES WE MAY SAY THAT THIS IS A LIMITED OPERATION TO PROTECT CIVILIANS. I THINK THE STAKES ARE CLEAR. IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE DEFINED POLITICALLY AS A VICTORY FOR THE UNITED STATES AND THE OTHER COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO WANT TO SEE OR AT LEAST THE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE GOING WANT TO SEE COLONEL QADDAFI OUT OF POWER.

>> Ifill: PART OF THE POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC UNDERPINNINGS HAD TO DO WITH THE SUPPORT THAT CAME FROM THE ARAB LEAGUE WHICH IS NOW SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS WHAT WAS INTENDED. DOES THAT UNDERCUT THE MISSION IN.

>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE. I MEAN THIS WAS EMINENTLY PREDICTABLE EVEN THOUGH IT MAY SEEM ABSURD THAT THE SAME ARAB LEAGUE THAT BACKED THE RESOLUTION AND NEW WHAT IT WAS GETTING INTO THE NEXT DAY STARTS RAISING QUESTIONS. I THINK IT TELLS US SOMETHING ABOUT THE STATE OF THE ARAB WORLD TODAY. EVERYTHING IS UNCERTAIN. EVERYTHING IS IN FLUX. WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IS THAT ARAB LEADERS ARE TRYING TO ASSESS WHERE THE PUBLIC OPINION IS. THEY ARE AGAINST COLONEL QADDAFI'S REPRESSION OF HIS OWN PEOPLE. THEY DON'T LIKE THE SIGHT OF WESTERN AIRPLANES BOMBING LIBYA. WE'LL SEE A LOT OF ZIG-ZAGGING FROM ARAB LEADERS TODAY WHO DON'T REALLY HAVE A FOOTING.

>> Ifill: PART OF THE CONCERN FROM THE ARAB LEADERS AND OTHER CRITICS IS THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT A NO FLY ZONE WOULD BE WAR I GUESS, WOULD BE SO BLOODY. WOULD BE SO DISRUPTIVE. IS THIS A BASIC... YOU'VE CERTAINLY MANAGED NO FLY ZONE EFFORTS BEFORE. WAS THIS A BASIC MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT MEANT?

>> I THINK SO. THE CRITICAL PIECE OF THIS WAS THAT WE HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR FORCES ARE NOT THREATENED BY SADDAM... I KEEP SADDAM BUT I MEAN QADDAFI'S SURFACE TO AIR MISSILES. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO DO WAS TO MAKE SURE THOSE THINGS ARE NO LONGER A THREAT TO OUR FORCES. HE INITIALLY CALLED FOR CEASE-FIRE. WITHIN HOURS HE WAS ALREADY SHOOTING AT HIS OWN CIVILIANS, HIS OWN POPULATION. WE COULDN'T TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD ANYMORE. AT THAT POINT THE GLOVES HAVE TO COME OFF AND WE HAVE TO TAKE... TO MAKE SURE THAT QADDAFI CAN'T USE THOSE.

>> Ifill: SHOULD THE GOAL, GENERAL, BE TO STOP THE INCURSION BY QADDAFI'S FORCES OR TO STOP QADDAFI HIMSELF?

>> IT SHOULD BE TOWARDS THE FORCES. THE MANDATE, THE U.N. MANDATE OF 1973 IS VERY CLEAR. IT'S TO STOP THE FORCES FROM ATTACKING INNOCENT CIVILIANS AROUND THE COUNTRYSIDE. THAT'S THE MANDATE. THAT'S WHAT THE COALITION FORCES ARE TRYING TO DO.

>> Ifill: IS IT POSSIBLE, ROBERT MALLEY, TO DO ONE AND NOT THE OTHER?

>> IT'S UNCLEAR. IT DEPENDS. IF THE GOAL IS TO PROTECT THE CIVILIANS AND YOU TAKE THE POSITION THAT COLONEL QADDAFI IS A DANGER TO CIVILIANS, THE CIVILIANS IN LIBYA THEN BY DEFINITION YOU HAVE TO TAKE HIM OUT. THAT'S NOT THE MISSION THAT MANY COUNTRIES SIGNED UP FOR. YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE AND MORE DISSENT. YOU'RE SEEING IT ALREADY. THE RUSSIANS AND CHINESE, THE ARAB LEAGUE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING. THERE'S PROBLEMS THAT COME OUT, IF THE SCENARIO IS BAD, FOR EXAMPLE, YOU END UP WITH A REVISION BETWEEN EASTERN LIBYA AND THE REST. THAT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE LIBYANS. IT MAY BE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD LIVE WITH. YOU MAY SEE AN ENTRENCHED DIVISION BETWEEN THOSE TWO SIDES. A GOOD SCENARIO COULD BE VERY PROBLEMATIC IF IN FACT COLONEL QADDAFI IS TOPPLED. WHAT HAPPENS TO LIBYA AFTERWARDS? WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT DIVISION BETWEEN THE EAST AND THE WEST? WE DON'T KNOW LIBYA THAT WELL. IT'S A BLACK BOX. IN SOME WAYS IT'S BLACKER BOX THAN EVEN IRAQ WAS. COLONEL QADDAFI AND WHATEVER COMES AFTER HIM IF IN FACT HE IS TROUBLE, IS UNKNOWN TO US.

>> Ifill: GENERAL HAM SAID THEY HAD SUCCEEDED IN DEGRADING COLONEL A QADDAFI'S CAPABILITIES, MILITARY CAPABILITY. IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THAT TO BE ENOUGH? YOU DEGRADE HIS ABILITY TO WREAK HAVOC AND THEN YOU WALK AWAY? OR IS IT THAT ONCE WE'RE IN THERE, IT BECOMES MORE DIFFICULT AND MORE DIFFICULT TO COME OUT?

>> I THINK AS MR. MALLEY INDICATED, IT WILL BE QUITE FLUID ON THE GROUND FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. ONE OF THE SCENARIOS YOU COULD SEE PLAY OUT IS THAT THE REBELS BECOME EMBOLDENED AND PERHAPS EVEN THOSE FORCES WHO ARE LOYAL TO QADDAFI MAY THROW IN THEIR LOT WITH THE REBELS AT THAT POINT. IT'S HARD TO TELL AT THIS POINT.

>> Ifill: WHAT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SIMPLY HANDING THE REINS OF THIS OPERATION OVER TO NATO? IS... THE WAY THAT GENERAL HAM PUT IT TODAY IS YOU CAN'T JUST SHAKE HANDS AND WALK AWAY? WILL THAT TURN OUT TO BE A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED THAN FIRST ANTICIPATED?

>> I DON'T THINK SO. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THESE COALITION PARTNERS FOR MANY MANY YEARS AS YOU KNOW. NATO IS CERTAINLY A VERY STRONG AND CAPABLE COMMAND-AND-CONTROL FUNCTION. IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR OVER 50 YEARS. I DON'T SEE THAT AS BEING A REAL CHALLENGE. I THINK YOU'LL ALWAYS SEE THE U.S. INVOLVED IN SOME WAY WHETHER ON THE SIDES OR AS PART OF THE MAIN OPERATION. AS THE PRESIDENT SAID WE'RE GOING TO START HANDING OUT THE RAINES TO NATO AND THE COALITION FORCES TO CARRY ON.

>> Ifill: THE PRESIDENT IN HIS REMARKS IN CHILE MUST HAVE SAID A HALF A DOZEN TIMES THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL UNDERTAKING. IS IT REALLY?

>> WELL, IT IS. I MEAN IN SOME WAYS THIS IS PRESIDENT OBAMA'S CHANCE TO DO WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH DID IN IRAQ BUT IN A VERY DIFFERENT WAY. THREE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENT WAYS. ONE IT IS INTERNATIONAL AND HAS A SECURITY COUNCILMAN DATE. SECOND THE U.S. IS NOT IN THE FOREFRONT. IT'S LETTING OTHER COUNTRIES TAKE THE LEAD. THIRD AND THIS IS THE WAGER. WE'LL HAVE TO SEE IF IT WORKS. HE'S HOPING THAT THE PEOPLE OF LIBYA, THE REBELS AND THE PEOPLE AROUND COLONEL QADDAFI STEP IN AND GET RID OF HIM SO YOU DON'T NEED GROUND FORCES TO DO IT. IF HE SUCCEEDS IT WILL BE A SUCCESS THAT IS COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN IRAQ BUT IT IN SOME WAY OF THE ROLL OF THE DICE BECAUSE AGAIN WE SIMPLY DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT LIBYA TO KNOW HOW THINGS WILL UNFOLD.

>> Ifill: IF WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT LIBYA, GENERAL HAM, I WONDER IF YOU AGREE WITH THAT. SECONDARILY, IS IT POSSIBLE TO ARM THE REBELS WITHOUT GETTING ON THE GROUND AND LITERALLY HANDING THEM THE INFORMATION OR AT LEAST HAVING INTELLIGENCE THAT ALLOWS US TO HAND THE POWER OVER TO THEM IF THEY THEMSELVES ARE NOT CAPABLE AT THIS POINT?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN'T SAY THAT THEY'RE NOT CAPABLE JUST YET. WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT ANYTHING REALLY ON THE GROUND JUST YET. WE NEED TO WATCH AS THIS THING UNFOLDS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS TO SEE WHAT THE REBELS ARE ABLE TO DO. AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER PLACES, EGYPT NAMELY, IS THAT AT SOME POINT THE MILITARY DOES THROW IN ITS LOT WITH THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. THEY HELP THEM ACHIEVE THEIREN.

>> Ifill: IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S HAPPENING OR NO SIGN OF IT HAPPENING YET SO FAR IN LIBYA GENERAL RECCH KES.

>> NO, IT'S NOT HAPPENING JUST YET. AS THE REBELS BECOME MORE EMBOLDENED OVER TIME AND NO LONGER HAVE THE ATTACKS OCCURRING AGAINST THEM FROM QADDAFI'S TROOPS AGAINST THEM I THINK YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THEM BECOME MORE BOLD AND START TO WIN OVER SOME OF THE MILITARY.

>> Ifill: ROBERT HAM... ROBERT MALLEY, HOW MUCH TIME ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WHO KNOWS? REALLY. THE GENERAL KNOWS FAR BETTER THAN I. THESE THINGS ARE MUCH EASIER TO GET INTO THAN GET OUT OF. IT MAY DRAG ON LONGER THAN WE WANT. IT COMES TO THE QUESTION YOU ASKED AT THE BEGINNING. IS THIS ABOUT PROTECTING BENGHAZI AND THE CIVILIANS THERE OR IS IT GOING TO END UP BEING MORE MUCH? AS THE GENERAL SAID IF TOMORROW THE REBELS COUNTERATTACK AND QADDAFI FORCES AN ATTACK ON THE COUNTERATTACKERS WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US? DO WE THEN GO AFRICA DAFFY'S FORCES BECAUSE HE FOUGHT BACK? THIS COULD GET QUITE COMPLICATED. THE FIRST QUESTION YOU ASKED WAS THIS THE RIGHT MISSION? WAS IT WORTH IT? OF COURSE IF IT ENDS UP SAVING THE CIVILIANS OF BENGHAZI PEOPLE WILL LOOK BACK AND SAY IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. IN THE MEANTIME WE SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT COULD GO WRONG AND MAKING SURE THEY DON'T.

>> Ifill: THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> MA'AM.

>> Lehrer: STILL TO COME ON THE NEWSHOUR, CHANGES TO EGYPT'S CONSTITUTION; ANTI-GOVERNMENT PROTESTS IN YEMEN; BRZEZINSKI AND SCOWCROFT ON THE CHANGING ARAB WORLD; AND THE RACE TO BRING JAPAN'S NUCLEAR PLANT UNDER CONTROL. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: THE SYRIAN ARMY DEPLOYED AROUND THE CITY OF DARAA TODAY, AFTER THREE DAYS OF MASS PROTESTS, AND A CRACKDOWN. AT THE SAME TIME, RIOT POLICE CHASED AWAY A SMALL CROWD AFTER THE FUNERAL OF A PROTESTER WHO WAS KILLED ON SUNDAY. SINCE FRIDAY, SEVEN PEOPLE HAVE DIED AT THE HANDS OF SECURITY FORCES IN DARAA. ONE WAS AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS TEAR GASED. IN BAHRAIN, THE SUNNI KING, HAMAD BIN ISA AL KHALIFA, ACCUSED FOREIGN ELEMENTS OF FOMENTING SHIITE PROTESTS AND TRYING TO SUBVERT HIS KINGDOM. HE SAID THOSE DETRACTORS HAD BEEN FOILED WITH THE HELP OF TROOPS FROM SAUDI ARABIA. THE PROTESTERS STAGED WEEKS OF RALLIES, DEMANDING A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY-- UNTIL LAST WEEK, WHEN THE KING USED FORCE TO END THE PROTESTS. THE U.S. ARMY HAS APOLOGIZED FOR GRAPHIC PHOTOS THAT SHOW U.S. TROOPS POSING AND EVEN SMILING ALONGSIDE DEAD AFGHANS. A MILITARY STATEMENT CALLED THE PICTURES "REPUGNANT." THE GERMAN MAGAZINE "DER SPIEGEL" PUBLISHED THREE OF THE IMAGES ONLINE YESTERDAY AND IN PRINT TODAY. THEY STEM FROM THE DEATHS OF THREE UNARMED AFGHANS LAST YEAR. FIVE U.S. SOLDIERS ARE CHARGED WITH MURDER AND CONSPIRACY. THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN IVORY COAST HEEDED CALLS TODAY TO JOIN THE ARMY AND DEFEND PRESIDENT LAURENT GBAGBO. VOLUNTEERS GATHERED IN ABIDJAN, CHEERING AND PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE TO GBAGBO. HE HAS REFUSED TO STEP DOWN DESPITE LOSING HIS REELECTION BID LAST FALL. AT THE SAME TIME, OPPOSITION FORCES CONTINUED ADVANCING IN THE WEST. THEY ARE LOYAL TO ALASSANE OUATTARA, THE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PRESIDENT. ELECTION WORKERS IN HAITI HAVE BEGUN COUNTING BALLOTS FROM SUNDAY'S PRESIDENTIAL BALLOTING. THE ELECTION IS BETWEEN MIRLANDE MANIGAT, A FORMER FIRST LADY AND SENATOR, AND MICHEL MARTELLY, A POPULAR SINGER WHO HAS NEVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE. THE VOTING WAS MOSTLY ORDERLY, ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE STOOD IN LINE AT POLLING STATIONS FOR UP TO THREE HOURS. INITIAL RESULTS ARE NOT EXPECTED UNTIL MARCH 31. IN BUSINESS NEWS, WIRELESS PROVIDER AT&T ANNOUNCED PLANS TODAY TO BUY T-MOBILE FOR $39 BILLION. THE COMBINED COMPANY WOULD BECOME THE LARGEST U.S. CARRIER, WITH NEARLY 130 MILLION CUSTOMERS. THE DEAL COULD CLOSE IN ABOUT A YEAR, PENDING APPROVAL FROM FEDERAL REGULATORS. THE AT&T DEAL HELPED GIVE WALL STREET A BOOST. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 178 POINTS TO CLOSE ABOVE 12,036. THE NASDAQ ROSE 48 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 2692. THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL FIELD FOR 2012 MOVED CLOSER TODAY TO HAVING ITS FIRST MAJOR CONTENDER. FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY ANNOUNCED HE'S OFFICIALLY BEGUN EXPLORING A RACE. HE SAID IT'S TIME FOR THE PEOPLE TO "TAKE BACK" THE GOVERNMENT. OTHER MAJOR REPUBLICAN HOPEFULS ARE STILL MULLING THE RACE. FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE WARREN CHRISTOPHER DIED FRIDAY AT HIS HOME IN LOS ANGELES. HE'D SUFFERED KIDNEY AND BLADDER CANCER. CHRISTOPHER LED THE STATE DEPARTMENT UNDER PRESIDENT CLINTON FROM 1993 THROUGH 1996. HE OVERSAW COMPLETION OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS WITH CANADA AND MEXICO. BEFORE THAT, HE WAS DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE UNDER PRESIDENT CARTER, AND NEGOTIATED THE RELEASE OF 52 AMERICAN HOSTAGES IN IRAN IN 1981. WARREN CHRISTOPHER WAS 85 YEARS OLD. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO JIM.

>> Lehrer: AND TO THREE TAKES ON REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE AND CONFLICT IN THE MIDDLE EAST, FROM NORTH AFRICA TO THE ARABIAN PENINSULA. JEFFREY BROWN STARTS WITH EGYPT.

>> Brown: MILLIONS OF VOTERS QUEUED UP FOR HOURS SATURDAY FOR A REFERENDUM HELD JUST FIVE WEEKS AFTER PRESIDENT HOSNI MUBARAK'S RESIGNATION. THE 41% TURNOUT DWARFED THAT OF ANY RECENT EGYPTIAN ELECTION. FOR SOME THE VERY ACT OF VOTING WAS AN END IN ITSELF.

>> SAYING YES OR NO IS NOT PROBLEM. WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS GO AND OUT.

>> Brown: AT STAKE A SERIES OF REVISIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD LOOSEN ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, LIMIT THE PRESIDENT TO TWO FOUR-YEAR TERMS, REQUIRE APPOINTMENT OF A VICE PRESIDENT, RESTRICT THE USE OF STATES OF EMERGENCY-- MUBARAK HAD ONE IN PLACE THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF HIS RULE-- AND PAVE THE WAY FOR THE NEW PRESIDENT TO REQUEST REDRAFTING OF THE ENTIRE CONSTITUTION. IN THE END, THE YES VOTE WAS OVERWHELMING. 77%, MORE THAN 14 MILLION EGYPTIANS, APPROVED THE CHANGES. FOUR MILLION VOTED NO. NEARLY 23%. THE REFERENDUM WAS BACKED BY THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD, WHICH IS WELL ORGANIZED AND STANDS TO GAIN FROM AN ACCELERATED TIMETABLE FOR ELECTIONS.

>> TODAY THE EGYPTIANS GOT THEIR FREED A.M. BACK TO DETERMINE THEIR FATE.

>> Brown: BUT SOME SECULAR AND LIBERAL LEADERS OF THE UPRISING AGAINST MUBARAK OPPOSED THE REFERENDUM CLAIMING THE MEASURES DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH. OPPONENTS INCLUDED TWO LIKELY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ARAB LEAGUE SECRETARY GENERAL MUSSA AND NOBEL PEACE LAUREATE EL BARADEI WHOSE SATURDAY VISIT TO A POLLING STATION WAS CUT SHORT BY A MOB THROWING BOTTLES AND ROCKS AT HIM AS HE WADED THROUGH A CROWD. WE'RE JOINED BY THE ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ARAB POLITICS AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY WHO RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A VISIT TO EGYPT. WELCOME BACK.

>> CLEARLY.

>> Brown: CLEARLY AN HISTORIC MOMENT. CERTAINLY UNLIKE ANY RECENT, RECENT ELECTION IN EGYPT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. THERE HAVEN'T BEEN FREE AND FAIR GOVERNMENTAL NATIONAL ELECTIONS INY QIPT FOR 60-SOME YEARS. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE OUTCOME WAS, PEOPLE'S VOTES COUNTED. THAT'S CERTAINLY SIGNIFICANT.

>> Brown: THE MILITARY REMAINS IN CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT. THESE AMENDMENTS WERE PROPOSED BY A COMMITTEE THAT THE MILITARY PUT TOGETHER. IT PROVOKED SOME DIVISIONS AS WE SAID. EXPLAIN THE ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST.

>> CERTAINLY. THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST, WHICH WERE LED BY A BROAD RANGE OF OPPOSITION PARTIES AND OPPOSITION GROUPS, PROGRESSIVE POLITICAL FIGURES AND SO ON, WERE THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS DON'T GO FAR ENOUGH, THAT THEY LIMIT THEMSELVESS TO THE PROCEDURES OF HOW THE PRESIDENT IS ELECTED AS OPPOSED TO DEALING WITH PRESIDENTIAL POWERS. ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT THINGS ABOUT THE LAST 30 OR 40 YEARS IN EGYPT HAS BEEN THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS TREMENDOUS POWERS, SWEEPING POWERS TO IMPRISON PEOPLE, TO CLOSE NEWSPAPERS, DECLARE STATES OF EMERGENCY AT HIS WILL. IT WAS AN IMPERIAL PRESIDENCY. SO ONE OF THE CRITICISMS WAS THAT THE CONSTITUTION DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH. EGYPT NEEDS A NEW CONSTITUTION. ALSO THAT BY VOTING YES ON THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT PACKAGE, PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WOULD OCCUR TOO QUICKLY AND THAT THE NEW POLITICAL MOVEMENTS AND GROUPS, THE YOUTH FORCES THAT LED THE REVOLUTION AND SOME OF THE OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES, WOULDN'T BE PREPARED, WOULDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO ORGANIZE FOR THOSE ELECTIONS AND THE ONLY GROUPS THAT ARE ORGANIZED ON THE GROUND RIGHT NOW AND THAT WOULD THEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EARLY ELECTIONS WOULD BE REMNANTS OF THE OLD REGIME AND THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD.

>> Brown: THAT EXPLAINS THE POST ELECTION ANALYSIS WE'VE HEARD THAT THIS DOES... THE BROTHERHOOD, FOR EXAMPLE, AS ONE OF THE PARTIES THAT CAN BENEFIT MOST.

>> THAT'S CORRECT. I THINK IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE, HOWEVER, TO THINK THAT BECAUSE THE BROTHERHOOD SUPPORTED THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT IT WAS A 77% OUTCOME. I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE AT ALL. BUT CERTAINLY THE BROTHERHOOD PUSHED FOR A YES ON THESE AMENDMENTS BUT THEY'VE ALSO DECLARED AND THERE'S EVERY INDICATION TO BELIEVE THEM THAT WILL ONLY CONTEST 35% OF THE SEATS IN THE UPCOMING PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION. THAT'S BEEN THEIR PATTERN IN THE PAST.

>> Brown: THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT. WHAT IS THEIR STANCE NOW? THEY KEEP SAYING THEY WANT TO HAND BACK POWER AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE. I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, BEING IN CHARGE OF EGYPT RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE, IS A DIFFICULT POLITICALLY SENSITIVE MATTER. IT OPENS THEM UP TO CRITICISM. THEY WANT A PROCESS IN PLACE. THEY WANT TO HAND OVER POWER, I THINK, TO AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT, A PARLIAMENT AND A PRESIDENT RELATIVELY SOON. THEY SAID SIX MONTHS.

>> Brown: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT, RIGHT?

>> SURE. THEY'VE SAID THERE WILL BE A CONSTITUTIONAL DECLARATION LATER THIS WEEK, BUT THE PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS WERE THAT THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS PROCESS ARE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN JUNE, FOLLOWED BY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN AUGUST. OF COURSE THE PARLIAMENT THAT IS ELECTED AS YOUR PIECE SUGGESTED WILL ELECT A 100- PERSON BODY TO DRAFT A NEW CONSTITUTION.

>> Brown: IN THE COMING WEEKS, THE COMING MONTHS YOU EXPECT TO SEE WHAT? MORE POLITICAL PARTIES FORMING, REACHING OUT TO THE PEOPLE?

>> OH, I THINK IT WILL BE INCREDIBLY VIBRANT POLITICALLY. NEW POLITICAL PARTIES FORMING, COALITIONS FORMING, OF COURSE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED INDIVIDUALS THAT THEY WANT TO STAND IN ELECTIONS. AND THEN ALL KINDS OF MOVEMENT HAVING TO DO WITH SPECIFICS OF NEW POLITICAL PARTIES LAW, CALLS FOR THE END OF THE EMERGENCY LAW BEFORE THESE ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE. THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

>> Brown: WE WILL WATCH, OF COURSE. THANKS AGAIN.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME.

>> Ifill:

>> Ifill: AND RAY SUAREZ HAS THE STORY IN YEMEN.

>> Suarez: THE NATION AT THE TIP OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA HAS BECOME A HAVEN FOR AL QAEDA BUT ALSO A QUIET U.S. ALLY IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. NOW, ITS RULER OF MORE THAN 30 YEARS IS UNDER PRESSURE FROM DEMONSTRATORS, HIS GENERALS, AND DIPLOMATS TO STEP ASIDE. FOR MORE, WE TURN TO CHRISTOPHER BOUCEK, AN ASSOCIATE IN THE MIDDLE EAST PROGRAM OF THE CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE, AND A FREQUENT VISITOR TO YEMEN. DO THESE DEFECTIONS, REGULAR RESIGNATION REPRESENT A REAL TURNING POINT IN THE STRUGATE OF THE OPPOSITION AGAINST THE PRESIDENT OF YEMEN.

>> A WEEK AGO I WOULD HAVE SAID NO BUT I THINK THERE'S A CUMULATIVE EFFECT. WHAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF FOREIGN AMBASSADORS THAT HAVE RESIGNED THERE'S A CUMULATIVE EFFECT. IT SHOWS DECREASING SUPPORT FOR THE PRESIDENT AND THE REGIME.

>> Suarez: AT THE SAME TIME AS MAJOR GENERAL RESIGNED AND TOOK HIS ARMORED DIVISION TO KEY SIGHTS IN THE CAPITAL, OTHER HIGH-RANKING GENERALS DECLARED THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO THE PRESIDENT. DOES THIS BRING YEMEN ONE STEP CLOSER TO CIVIL WAR?

>> I THINK THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A REAL CONCERN THAT VIOLENCE COULD ESCALATE. YOU'D HAVE AN UNINTENDED ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE. THERE ARE TOO MANY GUNS AND TOO MANY GRIEVANCES IN YEMEN. THERE ARE VERY SIGNIFICANT POWER PLAYERS LINED UP ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS. EARLIER TODAY I THINK THERE'S A VERY, VERY REAL FEAR THAT THINGS WOULD TURN VERY VIOLENT AND VERY BLOODY. SPEAKING WITH PEOPLE IN YEMEN A FEW HOURS AGO IT SOUNDS LIKE TENSIONS ARE REDUCED SOMEWHAT.

>> Suarez: IS THIS PRESIDENT WHO HAS BEEN IN OFFICE FOR 32 YEARS, PRESIDENT SALEH, THE TYPE OF LEADER WHO IS READY TO TURN THE GUNS ON HIS OWN PEOPLE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS AND MONTHS, WE SEE THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS FOR MOST PURPOSES UNTIL LAST WEEKEND TRIED TO MANAGE THIS SITUATION, I BELIEVE. I THINK HE'S TRIED TO MANAGE THE PROCESS. ULTIMATELY I THINK THIS WILL BE A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT WHERE YOU HAVE YEMEN'S POWER WORKING TO COME TO A SETTLEMENT. IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE PRESIDENT CANNOT STAY IN POWER UNTIL 2013. THIS CANNOT GO ON FOR TWO MORE YEARS. THAT'S BEEN MOVED UP AN AWFUL LOT IN LIGHT OF TODAY'S EVENTS AND WHAT HAPPENED OVER THE WEEKEND.

>> Suarez: IS THIS MORE LIKE TUNISIA, MORE LIKE EGYPT? OR STILL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE MORE LIKE LIBYA?

>> I THINK WE DON'T KNOW. HONESTLY, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE YEMEN. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL NOT LAST MUCH LONGER THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING. IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT WHILE THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE TO GET OUT OF HAND-- AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS IT TO GET THAT FAR-- I THINK THE FEAR IS THAT IT MAY ESCALATE UNINTENDED.

>> Suarez: TODAY THE DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR BEN RHODES MADE WHAT WOULD SEEM TO BE AMERICA'S STRONGEST STATEMENT YET. OUR CONCERN IN THE IMMEDIATE TERM HAS BEEN WITH THE VIOLENCE. THIS SHOULD BE CHANNELED INTO A POLITICAL DIALOGUE. WHERE IS THE UNITED STATES IN ALL OF THIS? SALAE IS AN ALLY, ISN'T HE?

>> I THINK FOR OUR POLICY ON YEMEN HAS BEEN TERRORISM AND SECURITY AND AL QAEDA IN A ARABIAN PENINSULA TO THE EXCLUSION OF ALMOST EVERYTHING ELSE. DESPITE WHAT PEOPLE IN THE ADMINISTRATION SAY WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON TERRORISM. WE'VE NOT BEEN FOCUSED ON THE CHALLENGES SUCH AS UNEMPLOYMENT, GOVERNMENT ABUSES, CORRUPTION. I THINK THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL BRING DOWN THE STATE. AL QAEDA IS OUR PROBLEM. IT'S NOT YEMEN'S BIGGEST PROBLEM. I THINK WE NEED TO NOT HAVE A DIALOGUE THAT WE SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT AND WILL PROVIDE THEM MILITARY AND SECURITY ASSISTANCE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE. EVERYONE SEES THAT WE'RE SUPPORTING THE REGIME AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PEOPLE.

>> Suarez: DOES INSTABILITY IN YEMEN ALSO THREATEN A SORT OF OPEN PLAYGROUND FOR THE VERY FORCES THAT THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN WORRIED ABOUT IN THAT PART OF THE ARABIAN PENINSULA?

>> ABSOLUTELY. I THINK AS YOU SEE THE GOVERNMENT'S CAPACITY DECREASE AND YOU SEE THEIR PRESENCE ERODE FROM THROUGHOUT PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AND BIGGER CITIES YOU SEE THE SPACES IN BETWEEN GET LARGER AND LARGER. IT'S THOSE SPACES THAT AL QAEDA OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHER OPPOSITIONS TAKE ROOT. IT'S NOT JUST AN ISSUE IN YEMEN BUT A REGIONAL ISSUE AND A DOMESTIC SECURITY ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY. IT IS A THREAT TO SECURITY.

>> Suarez: THIS IS NOT A COUNTRY DOTTED WITH BIG CITIES OR A DENSELY POPULATED PLACE. WHEN WE SEE THINGS HAPPENING IN THE CAPITAL, WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN SMALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES SCATTERED ACROSS ARID LAND.

>> THE MAJORITY OF THE FOREIGN REPORTERS WERE EXPELLED LAST WEEK. THERE ARE VERY FEW FOREIGN REPORTERS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW. NO FOREIGN BUREAUS. WE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN MUCH OF THE COUNTRY. IT'S A PLACE WHERE WESTERNERS AND AMERICANS MORE AND MORE DID NOT GO TO. WE DO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE CAPITAL. I THINK THIS IS NOT JUST HAPPENING IN THE CAPITAL. IT'S IN OTHER PLACES TOO.

>> Suarez: THANKS FOR JOINING US, CHRISTOPHER BOUCEK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Lehrer: NOW, SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THE MIDEAST TURMOIL FROM TWO FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORS. ZBIGNIEW BRZEZINSKI HELD THAT POST FOR PRESIDENT CARTER. HE'S NOW A COUNSELOR AT THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES. AND BRENT SCOWCROFT HAD THE SAME JOB DURING THE GEORGE H.W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION. HE NOW HAS HIS OWN CONSULTING FIRM. DR. BRZEZINSKI, ARE ALL OF THESE EVENTS-- EGYPT, YEMEN, ADD IN BAHRAIN AND SYRIA AS WELL AS LIBYA OBVIOUSLY-- ARE THEY ALL CONNECTED?

>> THEY ARE, OF COURSE, ALL CONNECTED IN A WAY. BUT ALSO, OF COURSE, EACH OF THEM HAS ITS OWN INDEPENDENT DIMENSION. STILL I THINK WE'RE DEALING WITH A PHENOMENON WHICH, IF NOT HANDLED CORRECTLY, CAN EITHER PLUNGE THE REGION INTO INCREASING VIOLENCE, DISARRAY, OR ALTERNATIVELY AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME BEGINS TO SETTLE AND EVOLVE AND STABILIZE. HOW WE PLAY AND HOW OUR FRIENDS PLAY AND HOW THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PLAYS IT AND ULTIMATELY ALSO HOW THE ARAB LEAGUE PLAYS IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.

>> Lehrer: WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN ON THIS, GENERAL SKOWCROFT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS ALL PART OF ONE LOOSELY CONNECTED REVOLUTION?

>> I THINK IT'S PART OF ONE LOOSELY CONNECTED REVOLUTION IN THIS SENSE: WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS THE IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION BECAUSE NOW THE WORLD IS POLITICIZED. FOR MOST OF OUR HISTORY, THE AVERAGE MAN DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN HIS OWN VILLAGE. HE DIDN'T CARE MUCH. NOW EVERYBODY IS WITHIN EYESIGHT OF A TV OR EARSHOT OF A RADIO. THEY HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON SFIM.

>> Lehrer: ONE OF THOSE LITTLE INSTRUMENTS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. THEY'RE ACTIVATED BY IT. IN ADDITION, THE DEVICES LIKE FACEBOOK MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO ORGANIZE A DEMONSTRATION. YOU CAN CONTACT A MILLION PEOPLE IN 30 MINUTES. TURN OUT IN A SQUARE AT 10:00 IN THE MORNING. THIS IS UNIQUE. I THINK THAT'S THE REASON THAT THE FRUIT PEDDLER IN TUNISIA HAS SWEPT THE REGION. I THINK IT'S A NEW PHENOMENON THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH FROM NOW ON.

>> Lehrer: BACK TO YOUR POINT, DR. BRZEZINSKI, HOW THE UNITED STATES... IS THERE A U.S. POLICY THAT COULD BE FORMED THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE EACH ONE OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND IT WOULD ALL FIT UNDER THEIR VERY NEATLY?

>> I DON'T THINK WE CAN DOMINATE THAT PROCESS BECAUSE THAT PROCESS IS AUTONOMOUS. IT'S PART OF HISTORY. IT'S PART OF A PHENOMENON I'VE BEEN WRITING ABOUT FOR YEARS, THE GLOBAL POLITICAL AWAKENING OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD BECOMING ACTIVATED THE WAY BRENT JUST DESCRIBED IT. BUT WE SHOULDN'T ELUDE OURSELVES INTO THINKING THAT IT IS INEVITABLY POINTED IN A DEMOCRATIC DIRECTION. BECAUSE TYPICALLY THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS POLITICAL AWAKENING I'VE BEEN TALKING TENDS TO BE EXTREMIST, FERVENT, EUPHORIC BUT POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS. AND THIS IS WHY, FOR EXAMPLE, RIGHT NOW I THINK WE'RE CAUGHT IN A SITUATION IN WHICH CHOICES SEEM TO BE BAD. BUT IN MY MIND AT LEAST ONE IS WORSE THAN THE OTHER. IF WE DIDN'T REACT, FOR EXAMPLE, TO WHAT QADDAFI WAS ABOUT TO DO IN BENGHAZI AND ELSEWHERE, WE MIGHT HAVE PRECIPITATED A SITUATION IN WHICH OTHERS ELSEWHERE IN PLACES AT PLAY WOULD ACT SIMILARLY. SO WE HAD TO MAKE A DIFFICULT CHOICE. IT CAME SLOWLY. IT STILL ISN'T CLEARLY ARTICULATED. I'M SOMEWHAT IN AGREEMENT WITH SENATOR LUGAR WHO TODAY TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR A CLEARER STATEMENT OF OUR GOALS. BUT I THINK WE ARE POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> Lehrer: DO YOU AGREE? POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

>> I'M NOT SURE WE ARE, NO. I THINK WE KNOW... WE'RE TALKING ABOUT INTERVENING MILITARILY IN LIBYA.

>> YES, YES. WE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION IN MOST OF THESE PLACES. ONE THANK THAT IS CLEAR IS THAT THEY ARE UNIFIED ON GETTING RID OF THE LEADERSHIP. IN MOST OF THESE PLACES. WHAT'S NOT CLEAR IS WHAT THEY REPRESENT AFTERWARDS. AS DR. BRZEZINSKI SAID FREQUENTLY THE AFTERMATH OF THROWING OUT THE OLD BAD GUY IS A PERIOD OF TURMOIL AND THE SUCCESS OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TOUGHEST ELEMENTS WHO KNOW HOW TO RUN A SOCIETY. THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.

>> Lehrer: WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, TO SIT BACK AND HAVE DONE NOTHING WHILE PEOPLE WERE SLAUGHTERED IN BENGHAZI?

>> OKAY. EVERYWHERE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE KILLED, THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO INTERVENE? HOW ABOUT ZIMBABWE? YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE THE SAME KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCES. I THINK THE PRESSURES WERE GREAT. QADDAFI IS A MAN THAT IS EASY TO HATE. BUT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE THERE'S VIOLENCE IN THE REGION. THERE'S VIOLENCE IN YEMEN. VIOLENCE IN BAHRAIN. DO WE FOLLOW THE SAME THING THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROTECT THE PROTESTORS AT ANY COST?

>> Lehrer: THAT'S THE QUESTION, IS IT NOT?

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU CAN'T INTERVENE EVERYWHERE. YOU DON'T CONCLUDE THAT YOU INTERFERE NOWHERE. YOU HAVE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT. WHAT ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES? AND THIS PARTICULAR CASE, ONCE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT UPRISING IN LIBYA AND ONCE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT QADDAFI WAS SETTING OUT TO CRUSH IT AND TO CRUSH IT ABSOLUTELY BRUTALLY, NOT TO RESPOND TO THAT WOULD NOT ONLY BE MORALLY DUBIOUS BUT IT WOULD BE POLITICALLY QUESTIONABLE BECAUSE ITS AFTER EFFECTS WOULD BE FELT IN BAHRAIN IN YEMEN, PERHAPS EVEN IN EGYPT. AND ELSEWHERE. WE HAVE TUNISIA, ALGERIA AND SO FORTH. REMEMBER, THE ARAB LEAGUE CAME OUT QUITE CLEARLY IN OPPOSING WHAT HE WAS DOING. SO WE HAD NO CHOICE. NOW HOW WE GO ON FROM HERE IS A DIFFICULT QUESTION. WE HAVE TO DEFINE OUR OBJECTIVES. MY OWN GUT FEELING IS THAT NOW THAT WE'RE ENGAGED, WE HAVE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT THE OUTCOME IS NOT A DIVIDED LIBYA. IT'S NOT A CIVIL WAR. NOR IS IT AN ENTRENCHED FIERCE AND REVENGEFUL QADDAFI IN POWER.

>> Lehrer: IS THAT YOUR POINT, GENERAL SKOWCROFT, THAT WE CAN'T MAKE SURE OF ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> WE CAN'T MAKE SURE. FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE NOT UNIFIED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE ABOUT. WE, THE BRITISH AND THE FRENCH, HAVE DESCRIBED IT SOMEWHAT DIFFERENTLY. THE GERMANS ABSTAINED ON THE U.N. RESOLUTION. THE ITALIANS HAVE GONE BACK AND FORTH ON WHETHER THEY WOULD LET THEIR AIR BASES BE USED. THE TURKS HAVE GRAVE RESERVATIONS. AND EVEN THE ARAB LEAGUE WHO CALLED FOR INTERVENTION CALLED FOR US TO INTERVENE NOT THEM TO INTERVENE. AND EVEN WITHIN THE ARAB LEAGUE THERE'S... THE PROBLEM IS THERE'S NO UNITY ON WHAT IT IS WE'RE TRYING TO DO. ARE WE TRYING TO PROTECT CIVILIANS? ARE WE TRYING TO THROW OUT QADDAFI? ARE WE GOING TO END UP OWNING LIBYA LIKE WE OWN IRAQ, LIKE WE OWN AFGHANISTAN? IS IT GOING TO BE "OUR" PROBLEM?

>> Lehrer: WHAT ABOUT YOUR COMMUNICATIONS ISSUE TURNED THE OTHER WAY, THAT THE PEOPLE IN BAHRAIN... IF THE... DEVIL'S ADVOCATE QUESTION. IF THE U.S. AND THE OTHERS DID NOT INTERVENE, THAT WOULD SEND A MESSAGE TO SOMEBODY IN BAHRAIN AND TO YEMEN AND ALL THE OTHERS, AHA, THEY'RE GOING TO SIT BACK. WE CAN DO ANYTHING WE WANT TO. WE CAN KILL OUR PEOPLE TOO. IF WE WANT TO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT. BUT IN BAHRAIN IF WE INTERVENE, ARE WE GOING TO INTERVENE TO THROW OUT THE KING? IN BAHRAIN? WHO IS BEING SUPPORTED WITH SAUDI TROOPS?

>> Lehrer: GOOD QUESTION. DR. BRZEZINSKI.

>> LOOK, WE ARE WHERE WE ARE, RIGHT? TO NOW STOP AND DISENGAGE IT WOULD BE A CALAMITY FOR US AND FOR THE REGION AND EVEN FOR THE ARAB LEAGUE WHICH ENDORSED IT. NOW WE HAVE TO ASK OURSELVES VERY SERIOUSLY WHAT LUGAR WAS ASKING THIS AFTERNOON. WHAT ARE OUR OBJECTIVES? IN MY JUDGMENT THAT OBJECTIVE HAS TO BE AN OUTCOME WHICH PERMITS IN LIBYA A FREE POLITICAL CHOICE. UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP HOPEFULLY OF THE ARAB LEAGUE AND ALSO THE UNITED NATIONS, A SITUATION IN WHICH QADDAFI IS NO LONGER A SERIOUS PLAYER. PERHAPS THROUGH THE DEGRADATION OF HIS ARMED FORCES AND AT THE SAME TIME SURREPTITIOUS APPROACHES OF THE LIBYAN MILITARY WHO CAN SPLIT HIS MILITARY BECAUSE MANY OF HIS GENERALS MUST BE CONCERNED THAT ABOUT TO LOSE AN ARMY AND CREATE A SITUATION WHICH IN THE END LOOKS LIKE A SUCCESS FOR US AND FOR THE WIDER PRINCIPLES THAT WE'RE TRYING TO PROMOTE. AT THIS STAGE TO TURN BACK AND SIMPLY TO SAY THIS IS A TERRIBLE MISTAKE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT WOULD BE A DISASTER.

>> Lehrer: THE DICE HAS BEEN ROLLED.

>> CLEARLY THEY'VE BEEN ROLLED. THEY WERE ROLLED SEVERAL DAYS WHEN THE MILITARY ACTION STARTED. THEY WERE ROLLED EVEN A FEW DAYS EARLIER WHEN THERE WAS A VOTE BY THE UNITED NATIONS WHICH SEEMED TO AUTHORIZE SEVERAL THINGS AT THE SAME TIME GIVING THOSE WHO WERE PREPARED TO ACT AN ENORMOUS DEGREE OF LATITUDE AND PERHAPS THAT IN PART IS SOME OF THE SOURCE OF THE CONFUSION.

>> Lehrer: DO YOU AGREE, GENERAL, THAT LIKE IT OR NOT, OPPOSED TO IT AS POLICY AS YOU ARE, THAT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO CHOICE BUT TO MOVE ON.

>> RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO CHOICE BUT TO MOVE ON. I JUST WISH WE HAD THOUGHT MORE SERIOUSLY STRATEGICALLY DOWN THE ROAD FIVE YEARS WHERE ARE WE LIKELY TO BE? FIRST OF ALL, A NO-FLY ZONE BY ITSELF IS UNLIKELY TO DEFEAT QADDAFI. OUR DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SAID EVEN IN LIGHT OF A NO-FLY ZONE, HE'S LIKELY TO WIN. THAT MEANS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE. WHAT I WORRY ABOUT-- AND IT'S MAYBE IT'S HAMPERING BECAUSE I AGREE WITH DR. BRZEZINSKI, WE ARE ON A COURSE NOW AND WE PROBABLY HAVE TO CONTINUE IT. BUT I HOPE WE WILL CONTINUE IT WITH A MORE THOUGHTFUL VIEW OF ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT MAY HAPPEN AS WE GO DOWN THIS COURSE.

>> Lehrer: GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Ifill: ENGINEERS IN JAPAN PRESSED FORWARD TODAY WITH EFFORTS TO RESTORE POWER TO THAT CRIPPLED NUCLEAR PLANT. THEY MADE PROGRESS OVER THE WEEKEND TOWARD GETTING THE COOLING SYSTEM BACK ON. IN WASHINGTON, A TOP OFFICIAL WITH THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAID THREE OF THE SIX REACTORS AT THE FUKUSHIMA PLANT HAVE DAMAGE TO CORES. BUT HE SAID ALL ARE CONTAINED, AND IT APPEARS EMERGENCY CREWS ARE GETTING CLOSER TO CONTROLLING THE SITUATION.

>> WE BELIEVE THAT THE SPENT FUEL POOLS ON UNITS THREE AND FOUR-- WHICH HAD BEEN TWO COMPONENTS OF PARTICULAR SAFETY CONCERN-- THAT THE SITUATION THERE IS STABILIZING, AND THAT THE CONTAINMENT IN ALL THREE UNITS-- ONE, TWO, AND THREE-- APPEAR TO BE FUNCTIONAL, AND THAT THERE'S WATER BEING INJECTED INTO THE REACTOR VESSELS IN UNITS ONE, TWO, AND THREE.

>> Lehrer: AT ONE POINT TODAY, SMOKE BILLOWED FROM TWO OF THE REACTORS, BUT OFFICIALS REPORTED NO INCREASE IN RADIATION. MEANWHILE, POLICE SAID THE DEATH TOLL FROM THE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI HAS REACHED 8,800, AND COULD TOP 18,000. FOR THE SURVIVORS, DAY-TO-DAY LIVING HAS BECOME A GRINDING STRUGGLE. ALEX THOMSON OF INDEPENDENT TELEVISION NEWS REPORTS FROM TARO ON THE NORTHEASTERN COAST.

>> Reporter: FUEL SHORTAGES REMAIN SERIOUS HERE. 250 CARS TWO MILES TO GET A 7 LITER RATION. EMERGENCY VOLUNTEERS DO GET FUEL, BUT EVEN THEY ARE FINDING IT HARD. WE PICKED UP WITH THIS DELIVERY OF RICE, NOODLES AND NAPPIES. THE OLD PEOPLE'S HOME SURVIVED THE TSUNAMI SO NOW IT'S HOME FOR MORE THAN OLD PEOPLE. 30 HOMELESS FAMILIES ALSO BILL ITED HERE NOW. UNLOADING, A PORT WORKER HERE BEFORE THE PORT WAS OBLITERATED. NOW ONE MORE THOUGH OF THE ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS GETTING JAPAN MOVING. HIS FAMILY IS SAFE BUT HIS HOUSE IS DESTROYED. AS FOR WORK AT THE PORT WHEN THE PORT HAS BEEN WRECKED?

>> WELL, I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN I'LL BE WORKING AGAIN.

>> Reporter: BACK IN WHAT WAS TARO, THE ARMY ARE GOING THE EXTRA MILE TOO. MOSTLY TO RECOVER BODIES HERE. THEY ARE RECOVERING A WARDROBE ITEM BY ITEM. AND A SOLUTION OF SORTS HERE TO WHAT COULD WELL BE THE WORLD'S BIGGEST RUBBISH PROBLEM. ROUND THE CLOCK THEY CART THE RUBBLE OFF TO THE EDGE OF TOWN. AND THEY'RE DUMPING IT IN THE TOWN'S BASEBALL STAYED UP. THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PLAY BASEBALL HERE ANYMORE. FRINGED IRONICALLY BY THE TSUNAMI WALLS WHICH WERE INADEQUATE. THE BIG QUESTION BEING ASKED UP AND DOWN JAPAN NOW NOT JUST ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE SEA DEFENSES ADEQUATE BUT WHETHER PEOPLE SHOULD BE LIVING IN AREAS LIKE THIS AT ALL. THE PORT'S WEBSITE STILL BOASTS THAT THE VAST SEA WALLS HERE WILL STAND ANY TSUNAMI. THEY TOOK 25 YEARS TO BUILD. THE MASSIVE ST. LOUIS GATE CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING ANYTHING. LOOK AT THOSE GATES TODAY. BUSTED OPEN. HIGH GRADE STEEL CONTORTED LIKE CHEAP PLASTIC. LOOK AT THE TSUNAMI WALLS THEY WERE SO PROUD OF. NO WONDER THE DEBATE HERE IS BEGINNING. NOT ABOUT HOW TO REBUILD AND REDEFEND. BUT WHETHER TO.

>> Ifill: JUDY WOODRUFF HAS MORE ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE PROBLEMS AT THE NUCLEAR PLANTS.

>> Woodruff: AND FOR THAT WE'RE JOINED BY OLLI HEINONEN. HE SERVED AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL FOR THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY. HE NOW TEACHES AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S KENNEDY SCHOOL. MR. HEINONEN, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING WITH US. THERE WAS THE BAD NEWS ABOUT SMOKE COMING OUT OF SOME OF THESE REACTORS TODAY BUT THEN THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME GOOD NEWS THAT THE PUMPS ARE WORKING IN A COUPLE OF THE REACTORS, THAT THE POWER LINES ARE RESTORED. HOW SIGNIFICANT IS ALL THIS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, IT IS VERY SERIOUS AS WE HEARD. THIS IS BY FAR NOT RESOLVED BUT WE SEE THAT THE ENGINEERS ARE WORKING HARD. ONCE THEY GET THE POWER RESTORED PROPERLY, THEY CAN LOOK HOW THE EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN DAMAGED, WHICH EQUIPMENT CAN BE USED AND WHICH EQUIPMENT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THEN WE START TO SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS LONG LONG TUNNEL.

>> Woodruff: WHEN WE HEAR THE MAN AT THE NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION SAYING THAT THERE IS, I THINK HE USED THE TERM, CONTAINMENT IS NOW FUNCTIONAL IN THREE OF THE REACTORS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> IT MEANS THAT THE FUEL WHICH WAS IN THE REACTOR ITSELF IS CONTAINED PROPERLY SO THERE IS NO EMERGENCY TO THAT END. BUT THE COMPANY STILL HAS TO MAINTAIN AND RESTORE THE ADEQUATE COOLING OF THOSE REACTORS FOR THOSE FOUR UNITS WHICH WE MENTIONED. THIS IS STILL A BIG WORK TO BE DONE. THE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ARE THOSE SPENT FUELS WHICH ARE AT THE TOP OF THE REACTOR IN THE REACTOR HALLS WHICH DON'T HAVE ANY CONTAINMENT AND WHICH HAVE BEEN ARTIFICIALLY COOLED IN THE LAST FEW DAYS USING WATER WHICH HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM THE HELICOPTERS OR BROUGHT BY FIRE BRIGADES IN PLACE. THAT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH ALSO NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE WE CAN START THE REAL RECOVERY OPERATIONS.

>> Woodruff: IT'S STILL ALL ABOUT GETTING ENOUGH WATER BACK IN THESE REACTORS?

>> THAT'S WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT. IT ONLY CAN COME WHEN THERE IS ADEQUATE ELECTRICITY IN THE PLACE.

>> Woodruff: SO DO WE KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW WHAT HAS TO BE DONE PHYSICALLY FROM AN ENGINEERING STANDPOINT TO GET THINGS TO A PLACE WHERE IT'S SAFE?

>> I THINK AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THEY ARE STILL DOING DAMAGE ASSESSMENT BECAUSE THE RADIATION LEVELS ARE FAIRLY HIGH THERE. THEY DON'T WHICH EQUIPMENT IS FUNCTIONAL, WHICH IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THIS WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS OF TIME BEFORE THEY CAN COME TO THIS CONCLUSION. THEN WE CAN GO TO THE ROUTINE RECOVERY OPERATIONS. BEFORE THAT, WE HAVE THIS SOMEWHAT TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT THERE IN THE PLACE.

>> Woodruff: IT'S INTERESTING. YOU SPEAK ABOUT THE RADIATION LEVELS BEING HIGH BECAUSE WE ALSO HEARD TODAY THE SPOKESMAN WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING THAT RADIATION LEVELS ARE AT, I THINK HE USED THE TERM, BACKGROUND LEVELS IN DOZENS OF JAPANESE CITIES.

>> THAT'S TRUE BUT I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE RADIATION LEVEL FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO THE RECOVERY OPERATIONS AT THE REACTORS AND TRY TO STABILIZE THEM. THEN THE RADIATION OUTSIDE OF THE FUKUSHIMA POWER PLANT, 30 KILOMETER ZONE, THEY INDEED HAVE COME IN THE LAST FEW DAYS DOWN. THIS IS ENCOURAGING.

>> Woodruff: LET ME ASK YOU ALSO ABOUT THE FOOD REPORTS BECAUSE WE HEAR ON THE ONE HAND THAT MILK, GREEN VEGETABLES THAT ARE BEING GROWN IN THE AREA NEAR THE REACTORS, THE WATER SUPPLY, THAT THERE'S BEEN SOME RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HEAR THAT THESE LEVELS ARE NOT DANGEROUS TO HUMANS. SO HOW CONCERNED SHOULD PEOPLE BE?

>> I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE SHOULD FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AUTHORITIES. THEY HAVE THE BEST KNOWLEDGE IN THE CURRENT SITUATION. I ALSO SEE THAT IT HAS DONE ITS INDEPENDENT EVALUATION. LOOK ON THOSE AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. SO I THINK THAT THIS PART OF THE PROBLEM IS UNDER CONTROL. PROVIDED THAT NOTHING CHANGES AT THE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS BECAUSE IF THERE ARE MORE RELEASES, THEN ALL THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE.

>> Woodruff: AT THIS POINT, DOCTOR, WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ANSWERED IN THE COMING DAYS?

>> WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE REAL DAMAGE TO THESE REACTORS, HOW TO FIX THOSE IN SUCH A WAY THAT WE CAN COOL THE FUEL ON REACTOR HALLS AND COOL THE REACTORS AND STABILIZE THE SITUATION. THOSE FACTS ONLY COME ACTUALLY WHEN THE ELECTRICITY IS BROUGHT ON SO THE ENGINEERS CAN SEE WHAT LEVELS IN VARIOUS PLACES, WHICH ARE THE TEMPERATURES, WHICH ARE THE RADIATION, SO THEY CAN START WITH THE CLEANING OPERATIONS.

>> Woodruff: WE THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN FOR BEING WITH US. WE APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED.

>> Lehrer: AGAIN, THE OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY. A COALITION LED BY THE U.S. HIT LIBYA WITH A DOZEN MORE CRUISE MISSILES. PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID OTHER COUNTRIES WOULD TAKE OVER LEADERSHIP OF THE OPERATION WITHIN DAYS. AND IN YEMEN, A NUMBER OF SENIOR MILITARY COMMANDERS DEFECTED TO THE OPPOSITION AND DEMANDED PRESIDENT SALEH STEP DOWN. AND TO HARI SREENIVASAN, FOR WHAT'S ON THE NEWSHOUR ONLINE. HARI?

>> Sreenivasan: THERE'S MORE ON JAPAN, INCLUDING A MAP OF ELECTRICITY OUTAGES IN AREAS HIT BY THE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI. ON LIBYA, WATCH THE FULL DEFENSE DEPARTMENT BRIEFING ON THE MILITARY MISSION NOW UNDER WAY, AND READ OUR GUIDE TO THE QADDAFIS, EXPLORING THE LIBYAN LEADER'S FAMILY TREE. PLUS, THIS WEEK MARKS THE ONE- YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE NEW HEALTH CARE REFORM LAW. TELL US WHAT QUESTIONS YOU STILL HAVE ABOUT THE LEGISLATION AND HOW IT'S AFFECTED YOU. WE'LL POSE THEM TO EXPERTS ON OUR "RX FOR REFORM" PAGE. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE, newshour.pbs.org. GWEN?

>> Ifill: AND THAT'S THE NEWSHOUR FOR TONIGHT. ON TUESDAY, WE'LL LOOK AT THE STRUGGLE TO FIND ENOUGH CLEAN WATER IN THE MEGA-CITY OF DHAKA IN BANGLADESH. I'M GWEN IFILL.

>> Lehrer: AND I'M JIM LEHRER. 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:

>> OIL COMPANIES MAKE HUGE PROFITS.

>> LAST YEAR, CHEVRON MADE A LOT OF MONEY.

>> WHERE DOES IT GO?

>> EVERY PENNY AND MORE WENT INTO BRINGING ENERGY TO THE WORLD.

>> THE ECONOMY IS TOUGH RIGHT NOW, EVERYWHERE.

>> WE PUMPED $21 MILLION INTO LOCAL ECONOMIES, INTO SMALL BUSINESSES, COMMUNITIES, EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS.

>> THAT MONEY COULD MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. MOVING OUR ECONOMY FOR 160 YEARS. BNSF RAILWAY. PACIFIC LIFE-- THE POWER TO HELP YOU SUCCEED. AND BY TOYOTA. AND BY THE ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION. SUPPORTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND IMPROVED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE 21st CENTURY. 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 "THE ELECTRIC COMPANY" IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY... FIND YOUR VOICE AND SHARE IT, AMERICAN GREETINGS, PROUD SPONSOR OF "THE ELECTRIC COMPANY." AGREEMENT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION'S READY TO LEARN GRANT, AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU, THANK YOU. ds: Shrink -- When you shrink something, you make it smaller. Shrank -- If you made something smaller, you shrank it. Measure -- When you want to figure out the size of something, you measure it. Inch -- and inch is a specific length. It's shorter than your thumb. Height -- height is how tall someone or something is. So we have Shrink, Shrank, Measure, Inch, and Height.