steve: after the show show, we are going to talk to miss america. join us tomorrow, same time, same channel. gretchen: we are willing to have rescue dogs here. [captioning made possible by fox news channel] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- bill: good morning, everyone. fox news alert, live pictures from the u.n. president obama addressing world leaders in one hour. security is tight. counter-terrorism officials are on high alert, sweeping the area for terrorists and bonds linked to a terror plot. this video is from about one week ago. local police are patrolling sports stadiums, hotels, and entertainment complexes as the

ongoing investigation raises a red flag. that story is still developing today. in the meantime, another fox news alert after this development in the health-care debate. the congressional budget office this morning that the newest health-care overhaul plan in the senate will mean that seniors could take a big hit in medicare benefits. the so-called max baucus bill being debated would "reduce the extra benefits that would be made available through medicare advantage plans. there are millions of americans that have signed up." the morning, everyone. good day here. obama coming up, khaddafi coming up, welcome to "america's newsroom." megyn: a couple of weeks ago the president promised seniors that they would see no reduction in benefits under health-care reform plans being debated in congress. now we hear that that is not

exactly accurate. here is the president two weeks ago. >> those scary stories about how your benefits will be cut, especially since some of the sainsame folks spreading these l tales supported a budget that would have cut medicare. that would not happen on my watch. i will protect medicare. bill: is that the case now? stuart varney leads the coverage. you have been watching this live. medicare advantage, what is now the believe on th behalf of the cbo? >> these are the bean counters, they say that if you cut $125 billion out of medicare advantage over the next 10 years, you will cut benefits. that directly contradicts what you just heard the president say. remember, this is specifically

the medicare advantage program. 10 million seniors are enrolled in medicare advantage. there is a high degree of satisfaction. they like it. the money mostly comes from the planet -- from the federal government for medicare with a wide range of choice with which private insurers that want to go with. extra benefits, they get to cut those back if you cut $125 million out. bill: there are two issues on here. one is political. now that cbo saying that up to 1.7 million enrollees may drop the plan? >that, in itself, is a backtrack on the promise we have heard time and again? >> yes. bill: there is a financial issue. could you go into medicare advantage, using a scalpel, trying to get the waste out? >> if you can, why had he not

done it already? if you could squeeze half of a trillion dollars out of medicare over the next two years, which is the proposal, if you could do that without reducing benefits, why not do it now? we could use those savings in the budget deficit. that is the question. i do not know of any major government program that has ever had the waste and fraud cut out completely with vast savings. that is what the president proposes to do with medicare. the congressional budget office is saying that you cannot cut that money without cutting benefits. bill: you make a great point. many people are thinking what are we waiting for? tommy thompson, he is one to share his thoughts on this in about 10 minutes. megyn: this battle to come up with a final plan in the senate is getting rough to say the least. yesterday's session on the

finance committee bill started at 9:00 a.m. and lasted 13 hours. the committee barely got through barely a few of the 500 amendments. at one. max baucus reportedly started hammering the cbo, who said that it would take up a couple of weeks to get the new cost estimates based on changes made to the plan. max baucus ask the cbo move faster, while republicans asked -- why the rush? >> despite your dedication and commitment to this important endeavor, i have the feeling that the white house and leadership on your side, through impatient and artificial deadlines, forced us to where we are today. it seems to me that some people in the senate would rather have it done right now instead of being done right. megyn: senator baucuss defending his bill, saying that it would reduce costs and help every american. carl cameron will have more

later in the show. bill: when the final health care reform plan hits the floor and looked like democrats might have the 60 seats they are voting -- looking for. the massachusetts state senate has approved the governor to announce an interim replacement until the january special election. the house approved that bill one week ago. today both state chamber's take a final vote on that matter. talk about a flip-flop, republicans are criticizing democrats who voted to alter state laws in 2004 to block mitt romney from naming a temporary replacement if john kerry, the senator from massachusetts, became president. we will watch today. megyn: in about 50 minutes the president is going to address the u.n. general assembly for the first time. "america's newsroom" will bring you the remarks live when they have been as the world waits to

see the president's address on a range of issues, including the spread of nuclear weapons. will he point the finger at iran? back in july at the g-8 summit in italy the president made this promise about iran and its nuclear ambitions. >> on a path toward assuming its rightful place, but with that right comes responsibilities. we hope that iran will make a choice to fulfil them and we will take stock of their progress when we see them at the g-20. megyn: is september, -- it is september, what will president obama do now? major garrett is at the un. here we are. it is september. he is at the united nations. what has the like -- what has the white house learned leading up to these meetings as they take stock of this nuclear issue? >> that a presidential election

changing from what someone regarded as a unilateral president to a multilateral president has not increase the appetite or even low-level inclination of european nations, russia, or china to dramatically confront iran in its pursuit of nuclear weapons through the vehicle of enforceable, practical economic stations. the administration is not giving up but they hope that by this date, as the president indicated, that they would be a lot farther down the road to giving iran a fundamental choice about its future, economically and diplomatically, as they pursue nuclear weapons. so, they have to go back to the drawing board. megyn: if that is the case what is next for this administration? >> next is the p-5 plus one talks, talking about what their choices are. susan rice, the ambassador at

the united nations, talk about that story on "fox & friends" this morning. let's listen. >> iran can continue its nuclear weapons programs and face increasing sanctions from the united states in the international community, or they can abandon that program, a poll obligations, pursue peaceful nuclear energy, and face a very different future, one that is more responsible to the international community. a stark choice that they will face. >> stark choice. it would be starker if there were more meat on the bones then there are currently. the president's speech to the international community was a pledge not to use multinational -- was a pledge to use multinational abilities. megyn: thank you.

bill: in a moment one person knows the ins and outs of the u.s. health-care system, the former health secretary tommy thompson. he is live with the one answer that will change health care in america forever. megyn: brought home to his town in south carolina, flags waving for blocks and blocks. except for one small patch of ground in front of bank of america. we brought to the controversy yesterday. today the bank joins us live to respond. bill: a fox news alert. seventeen people set themselves on fire in a field over the weekend. look at that. ind yotav totor ga rnu t

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megyn: the death toll in georgia has now reached at least nine people. devastating storms bringing 20 inches of rain to the area in just a few days. the latest victim is a woman swept from her car just west of atlanta. metro atlanta is getting a break from the rain today as the water recedes, giving folks the chance to see the extent of the damage done to their homes. schools in four counties remain closed. the damage is now estimated at more than $250 million. according to the georgia insurance commissioner, most of that is not covered by a policy. people will be paying for those repairs out of their own pockets. still bad news, more rain is in the forecast for tomorrow and this weekend.

bill: sharp elbows being thrown around for the senate health care overhaul. the republicans, no. 2 in the senate. jon kyle is missing no words, especially on the requirement that all americans must buy health insurance. here he is. >> a stunning assault on liberty mandating that every one purchasing it particular type of insurance, fined by washington d.c., the senator is right. solutions are preferable to a virtual total control taken by the government. bill: someone with more than a passing knowledge of the health- care system, the for health and human services secretary, tommy thompson. -- former health and human services secretary, tommy thompson. thank you for coming on. senator grassley said, about this artificial deadline, that it is completely and utterly

appalling. what are we to think? >> there are a lot of decisions that have to be made and a lot of dissension that has been created. when you dissect the bill you are able to come together and find a solution to this problem. we know that health care is broken but there are four things that unite the party is and i cannot understand what we cannot pass it around these principles. one, do something about chronic illnesses. make people take stack of their personal health. number two, let's have electronic medical records and do e prescribe-bank, holding down -- e-prescribing. one, your doctor needs to be the quarterback, everyone else is working together as a team. no. 4, putting a cap on

discrimination against individuals. you do those things you have got democrats and republicans supporting 90% of the health- care transformation taking care of on a bipartisan basis. bill: that sounds very practical. doctors are not caught, not police officers. they can tell you what to do, but it is up to you, the individual, to eat right and exercise. one thing you did not mention is your pet peeve, prevention. do you think the current health care bill does enough to address prevention? >> it really does. it goes in the right direction. this is a unifying item. we have prevention, wellness, and disease management, 75% of the cost of health care. we in america are not that healthy. we have to become much healthier to reduce costs.

we can do that through the bill that has incentives in it. i think that max baucus should be congratulated for the majority of his proposal. bill: there are some that suggest that this is like big brother reaching into your life. this is what i hear from doctors. that there is not enough incentive for them to spend more time with their patients. get things done, get it all done, see you in two weeks. if they had more incentive to ask questions of their patients, spend more than 15 minutes with them, they could further understand health history and they might be able to address the problems from today as opposed to a recurring problem in six months or year. to me that makes sense. >> you are absolutely correct, but that is the way that the system is today. that is why it has to be repaired and fixed. right now a doctor gets paid for

doing procedures, not physical. the only thing that you said that i disagree with, the doctor does not spend 15 minutes with you. the average is nine minutes. doctors have to get back doing what they want to do, becoming advisers, doing the interviews and physical examinations. the proposals that received democratic and republican support, both political parties supported this, well listen and prevention. this can be done and the doctors can be paid for it. this is what needs to be done to fix the system. bill: if my doctor gives me nine minutes i will find a new doctor. you are an important voice on this issue. tommy thompson, thank you. megyn: my big brother never helped me, right? my brother, five years older on my first day of school, my mother said to for my own cereal, he told me to pour the milk before the cereal. that is not right. one little layer of lucky charms.

well, he gave a hero's welcome to a terrorist, now he is getting a cold shoulder. libya's leader may finally have found a spot to pitch a tent. who is trying to take it down? megyn: -- bill: answer me this -- why are people in ohio trying to set themselves on fire? we cannot make it out. ree r thevla

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>> ♪ respect, just a little bit ♪ bill: cannot get no respect on capitol hill. [laughter] according to a new poll, members

of congress are number one on the list of least respected jobs. they have replaced the beloved corporate ceo. one in four americans have a favorable opinion. 72% rated them on favorable. some of the other professions on the list? stockbrokers, lawyers, and bankers. i do not see journalist out there. they usually like to hate us. megyn: lawyers get a bad rap until you need one. then you love them. the last controversial president is back in -- the iranian president, controversial, is back in new york city. thousands of protesters planned a rally against mahmoud ahmadinejad. look at him waving at the crowd. many are pro-democracy demonstrators outraged at the

alleged fraud in the last election, along with the brutal crackdown of protests back home. eric shawn as live at the united nations. what do we expect from him today? eric: one block away the protests have started. as you see him arriving here moments ago, waving, he will speak this evening in about nine hours on an intervi. last night he took a softer tone about his holocaust the niles. he is expected to discuss leap -- nuclear disarmament. he will discuss his own country's nuclear plants. he is basically urging nations to give up nuclear technology and facilities for weapons and this sort of thing. he also says that there is an effort for iran to have an opportunity to look forward to a

free and open discussion about nuclear technology. megyn: wow. in the meantime we are getting reports that certain delegations plan on walking out when he speaks. some are planning to do it no matter what, others are planning to do it depending on what he says? >> benjamin netanyahu will not be attending the session. he will boycott that. in diplomatic speak they do not actually say boycott. the u.s. keeps a low level note taker to take notes, but that is the ultimate diplomatic snub. megyn: we have heard that canada is planning on walking out. germany is urging other allies to plan to walk out if he goes to the holocaust is a hoax rhetoric. we will have some drama unfolding this afternoon. we had a little bit of drama unfolding in "america's

newsroom" with obama speaking to the u.n., khaddafi speaking right afterwards. this is the guy from libya that gave a hero's welcome to the lockerbie bomber. bill: walking down the street yesterday, street after street was blocked off. hundreds of people. megyn: i thought that you are going to say that you saw khaddafi. bill:. you live in york city? stay home, traffic is horrendous. megyn: delicious, you should swim by. you should. so good. bill: in new york city we are under a heightened alert. security is beat up at numerous potential targets -- beefed up at numerous potential targets. terrorists possibly tied to a terror plot in new york city, in three minutes we will bring you

to where the investigation is now? megyn: fallout based on a story that you heard here yesterday. the bank of america branch in south carolina that banned the american flag from its property even though they were placed there to honor a fallen marine. tempers are boiling over in that town and across the country. next, a bankamerica spokesman explains what they were thinking. -- bank of america spokesman explains what they were thinking. one breakfast a week saves a family of four over $800 a year. save money. live better. walmart.

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bill: welcome back, everyone. president obama's speech in about 30 minutes. leaders meeting in new york, the terror investigation continues in the heart of new york city. that is times square right now. freemen have been arrested. investigators say that there are more potential suspects out there. david lee miller is on the sidewalks of manhattan. good morning. can we say whether or not investigators are making progress? are they moving forward day-by- day? >> they are not disclosing how this investigation is proceeding. the fbi did tell us this morning that no new search warrant has been released since those raids last week, the ones caught on videotape. we do not know if any additional arrests or individuals have been

detained, but there are reports now that as many as 24 people, two dozen individuals, have been sought by authorities for questioning, information, or as potential suspects. lastly, about the search of those storage lockers, as best we know nothing has been found in terms of a chemical component. bill: in the end you hope that they do not exist but if they do, we should find them. there are reports that things could have been compromised by police. what can you report? >> complicated, let me lay it out for you. earlier the intelligence division contacted a man that they used as an informant. they contacted this o,a,. -- imam, he reached out to try to contact the central figure in this investigation. on the telephone this imam had

zazi on the telephone, and he told zazi that the phone call was being recorded. at the same time the imam had been under surveillance. now there is friction between the fbi and the intelligence division of the nypd. they are saying that the intelligence division jumped the gun by contacting this imam, who may have tipped off zazi. bill: whatever the truth, let's hope that we get to the bottom of it very soon. thank you, david lee miller. megyn: when we first brought you this story yesterday, you really responded. hundreds of people lined up for blocks in gaffney, south carolina, to honor a fallen marine that was killed in afghanistan. he was killed by an ied. one woman walked along the streets, placing flags along the

route that the casket would follow. until a bank of america branch manager remove the flags from the bank's property, citing " corporate policy." many have now cancelled their accounts at the bank, they are so angry. costing the bank hundreds of thousands of dollars, reportedly. the bank joins us to respond. larry is a spokesperson -for bank of america. >> thank you for having me. megyn: yesterday we had a very sweet, credible woman that devoted her day to trying to honor this fall and marine when she got a very rude response from your branch manager. a woman named randy tate, not only telling her that corporate policy prohibited the flags of but that some of the customers might find them offensive. -- prohibited the flags, but

that some of the customers might find them offensive. >> this is a reminder that there are a lot of men and women out there defending us, which we honor, bank of america. in the case that occurred here, it was a mistake that occurred prior to the procession that followed. when the procession went by bank of america, there were flags and we were proud of their work. a mistake that occurred the day prior, and be rectified it quickly. ichter that have happened and we obviously apologize to the people involved -- it should not have happened and we obviously apologize to the people involved. megyn: i asked brenda about your apology and whether it was sufficient. this is what she said. >> to me the apology should not come to me, it should go to the community and this young soldier, who gave his life for

us. that is who we need to apologize to. megyn: have you reached out to this marine or his family in any way? >> we are going to respect the family's privacy and i will not discuss that. our condolences are to the community. we are proud of the military around the country. we are enacted employer of military veterans, having supported many of the military causes that are important. megyn: have a brandy not get that many of -- how did brandy not get that memo? >> people make mistakes. i do not know the tone of the conversation. obviously it was not appropriate and we apologize for that. people make mistakes. this was a mistake. it does not reflect any policy of the bank of america. megyn: what policy could she

have been confusing it with? this was not some low-level employee, a teller that might not know corporate policy, this was the branch manager who said that corporate policy prevented not just the american flag. >> it is not accurate. the fact is that our policy is that we encourage branches to fly the american flag. we have 6000 branches around the country. many of them do. they follow flag guidelines when they do it. there was no reflection of corporate policy when it occurred. it was a mistake. we replace the flags that same day after better judgment was applied to the matter. clearly it was a mistake. i know that you feel that this is important, the real fault -- the real focus should be on the corporal's sacrifice. that is where our thoughts are. we are sorry that this occurred, it should not have occurred.

we rectified it. when the recession went by, there were flags. megyn: what is being done with respect to the branch manager? what is being done to discipline or educate others like her so that this never happens again. >> thank you for asking. we have reiterated to all of our branches what the policy is that we have described. ranches have their own decisions to make, as some of them are in the lobbies of buildings and things. but we do honor the flag. megyn: were they told to not take them down if they are out there for someone that gave their life to honor this country? are they clear that this is not acceptable? >> people do make mistakes. i know that the individual feels badly for the misunderstanding. there is no corporate policy involved.

our thoughts are to the family. megyn: in the stand. they might feel bad, but people like brenda feel bad as well. this is a sample. we have hundreds of these e- mails. this is from a disabled veteran in kentucky. she said that she is outraged, that you should be concerned about offending the american citizen, especially those that put their lives on the line to keep the flag flying. >> i think that she is right. megyn: every veteran should close their accounts at the bank. they are a disgrace. i am disgusted at this slap in the face. i know that you have already lost a lot of money. >> i appreciate this soldiers angered. if the policy was at it was characterized, she would be right to be angry. but the fact is we have no such policy. in this case one person made a

mistake that was quickly rectified. i hope that this soldier whose letter that you just read and understand that we do not have a policy and we are very proud, our policy is to reach out to military veterans, hire them when we can. we are very proud to say that many of them work for us. this was a terrible mistake that has been rectified, we are hoping to move on. megyn: understood. you are a stand-up guy to come on here and talk about it. >> thank you. bill: 19 minutes before the hour. did you see this? surveillance video of a little girl coming out of a store right before this happened. screen left, in a moment, you are going to see the girl, and you are going to see a way world -- way word automobile go right for her. she is ok, but not after she got the scare of her life. think about what the parents

felt. we will show it to you. megyn: goodness, gracious, great balls of fire. they call it immolation. the stunt man behind this record-breaking stun explain why they would be doing this. do not try this at home. wunabri rehiep alm e c l smo br.rma rehiep or annuity over 10 or even 20 years? call imperial structured settlements. the experts at imperial can convert your long-term payout into a lump sum of cash today.

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>> ♪ i fell into a burning ring of fire ♪ megyn: [laughter] bill: we had been waiting all week for this story. did you see that videotape? 17 daredevil's trying to set a world record. for what? the most people set on fire at

the same time. you had to stay on -- stay ablaze for a specific period of time in order to break the world record. ted, i am a buckeye, we have a word for people like you back home. we call them crazy. >> no one was crazy in our group, i will tell you that. bill: you are right, actually. you were very meticulous. one year ago you had your first meeting in a bar, appropriately enough, and many people showed up. including a computer analyst, funeral director, and a priest. why did they come to you and say that getting set on fire was a good idea? >> people like cory park, they approached me saying -- and we join you in trying to break his

record? that is how it began. all of a sudden my sister-in- law and everyone wanted to be on fire. bill: even family members? [laughter] you had a football coach, pumping up the players, telling them how to get ready for game night -- which is what we are watching. but you say that it is not about setting yourself on fire, it is about facing your fears? >> a couple of members of the group are cancer survivors. they needed a challenge, they said. so, they joined the group. i led them in a safe manner to get this world record. it is the story of achieving a goal as a group. no one individual was greater than the whole group. bill: no one was hurt on saturday, but you had injuries along the way? some people got burned?

>> a couple of first degree burns and blisters. this was actually good, it told the whole group that this was not something to take lightly. you are going to get burned if you do not act properly. bill: this is not. [laughter] sorry, man, look at these pictures. i am thinking crazy. two minutes, 38 seconds? >> that is my world record for longest period of time on fire. bill: how long was this? >> 43 seconds. bill: and you urge them to stay calm. >> the entire thing about the stunt was to remain calm. walk calmly, do not think you are on fire. count your steps and you will be ok. bill: you hold the world record for longest time on fire without

oxygen, 2 minute 38 seconds. congratulations on that. as a high-school student in 1976, in chagrin falls, ohio, you said yourself on fire for the first time, diving off of a bridge, using the money that you got from it to go to the prom. >> i had already gotten caught up in a bed. may 20, up from was the next weekend and i needed the money. bill: what is next? >> one of my goals is to be on fire in every state. that might be coming up next. bill: get moving. thank you, ted. >> thank you. bill: ted from cleveland, ohio, who has some crazy ideas.

megyn: did we mention not to try this at home? just so you know, that takes a lot of professionals on hand. do not let your team become the next stupid story. it has become one big circus. this controversial leader is providing the big test. in three minutes we are taking you live to the town where the leader of libya has set up his temporary home. bill: a powerful and heart wrenching case, a driver kills a baby in a carriage. what charges should the people behind the wheel face? we will talk about that in "america's newsroom -- in "kelly's court."

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banco fox news alert, take a look at this live video -- megyn: fox news alert, take a look at this video of gaddafi on arriving at the un. just like ahmadinejad, there he is, waving at the crowds. a peace sign, no less. interesting. looks like he is well rested. i wonder why, no one wanted to host him. he planned to pitch a tent in new jersey. no kidding. those plans were squashed. then he tried to get a room in a ritzy hotel, and they said no thanks. now the man that gave a hero's welcome to the lockerbie bomber, a terrorist that killed 189 americans, is trying to set up shop in bedford, new york, on an estate owned by donald trump.

we have got video of the tent. the town could scuttle the deal. i do not know, bill? bill: he travels with a tent? megyn: i know. bill: who makes sense of that? and who is buying that peace sign? megyn: nobody. jonathan, what about this tent? >> they are not happy at the prospect of low market got the -- khaddafi bedding down here with that and that he has pitched on the property. officials have issued a stop work order to stop any further construction on this very large structure. they say that they are going to return to the space today to make sure that it is not being built but is being taken down. if not, they say that they will take further action. everyone is very angry. people here have described him

as a mass murderer. residents say that he should be arrested if he tries to come here. people have clearly not forgiven or forgotten pam-am 103. megyn: he was not in the tent last night, so where is he saying? >> we understand that he is staying in plans to stay overnight at the libyan mission in new york city, just a few hundred yards from the front door of the united nations. this tent in bedford, 30 miles from manhattan, is supposed to be for entertaining purposes. something that's quaddafi has done -- something that quaddafi has done many times before. this time it was just for

entertaining. megyn: wow. a little bit of drama as we await his remarks at the un. bill: waiting for president obama in a matter of minutes, immediately following him is the libyan leader, quaddafi. what will he say? reaction from john bolton, still to come. what i need

to control my diabetes, to

[captioning made possible by fox news channel] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- megyn: fox news alert, the leader of the free world, set to speak at the united nations. this is videotape we are looking at right now. he will speak momentarily in his first address to the assembly. the war in afghanistan is expected to be a part of his agenda during the remarks. that as we begin in this brand new hour of "america's newsroom ." bill: with regards to

afghanistan, we expect a line or two on what is happening in afghanistan. meanwhile, the top u.s. commander in afghanistan says that without more troops, defeat is likely. megyn: which mcconnell is calling out the white house. -- miche mcconnell is calling out the white house. >> we read it in "to the washington post." we do not understand the delay in acting on the recommendation. most of us would like the general to come to congress and explain what they would like to do. general petraeus did that in connection with the surge in iraq. it is time to act on the recommendations. megyn: major garrett is live at the u.n., he will be watching live. how important will afghanistan be in these remarks that we expect from president obama?

how much of a role will afghanistan play? >> and not a prominent role. it will not be the lead item or the headline from the speech. the president will give a much tougher speech about the need for the international community to help united states on more pressing issues, like iran. the president is trying to work with them, but he is going to say did you have got to work with me. interests are often connected to your own best interests. in afghanistan, i spoke to a senior administration official this morning. they said that there is no delay. the white house is not trying to shove off the request from general mcchrystal for additional combat forces. what is happening is they are giving a central -- a second look at the strategy. they are looking to provide more security for the election, hoping to create a clean victory for huddy karzai, there would

not be a dispute or a tainted election. they are now more concerned about how much good governance can occur in afghanistan. with that, how much can go to nato and other nations, saying help us on the development side of the equation. they feel that that is a weaker argument and that it has become a must come -- much more muscular mission dealing with the taliban and al qaeda, trying to figure out how to best move forward. on the softer side of the equation that have more problems than they anticipated. megyn: this will be a dustup, calling for tens of thousands of more troops. there are questions about why it would take two weeks and what the fallout will be if it is out there. the criticism has come out. since the report on august 30, he has only had one meeting of

the national security council. it looks to the outside world that he has not done a lot in response. >> the white house said that there were some meetings on sepmber 13, those were the most significant, taking a long assessment on what to do next. the administration portrays this not as a rift, but as an honest and constant reassessment asking tough questions. republicans say let's bring the generals up. we are operating on a basis of leadership in this country, and if congress has questions on the military implementation, you call the general out. let's not put this before the horse. the white house says that it will take time, maybe a couple of weeks or more before there is a decision on troop deployments. there is a sense that the white house would like more breathing

room, but the longer they wait the more that this atmosphere of drift or in decision becomes a political problem with the white house. they say that this is not about politics, they will spend time trying to get the strategy correct. megyn: as well as the other issues that the president needs to address this morning, major garrett is live, standing by as it will get underway any moment. bill: we mentioned this in the last hour, quaddafi is going to address the assembly as well. he is going to follow president barack obama. there is the president of brazil, right now at the u.n. there have been angry protests outside of the u.n. that the presence of quaddafi, here just one month after he gave a hero's welcome to the man who is known as the lockerbie bomber.

if you want to watch his address as it is happening, we will be streaming it live on foxnews.com. back to major garrett, what has the white house said about quaddafi? do we anticipate a moment like the one months ago when the hugo chavez gave the president a book? >> not likely. the white house is not interested in a chance encounter with quaddafi. the white house is extremely upset, they are not looking to give him any kind of welcome the white house believes that the libyans did this with the express consent above quaddafi. the president -- consent of quaddafi. i am sure that white house advisers will do everything that

they can, even down to a level of nfl-type blocking to make sure that the president will not see quaddafi. bill: how could he follow the u.s. president on a day of significance by this? >> i am not an expert on the ways of the united nations. i am happy about that. it is either a coincidence or by some sort of design. one thing that i find interesting about the scheduling today is that the raleigh and president is not going to make an address until after 6:00 tonight. not exactly prime time. in the u.s. in structuring of speeches he has been given less than second billing, and i find that more interesting than the speeches given to gather.

rougher all of the scheduling questions to eric shawn -- refer all of this scheduling questions to eric shawn. bill: [laughter] some of these issues that we have followed for years with george bush, they are still out there today. china, trying to stop the nuclear program on behalf of the iranians, they are still out there. first, i think that's megyn has a question. megyn: in connection with his speech the president is going to get up there and to deliver what they are calling a stern speech, challenging nations to live up to their responsibilities. "even as he acknowledges that the united states has fallen short on many fronts. do we have word that that is what the president intends to do?

so many have criticized president obama for what his critics have called an apology tour for speaking to other nations? >> i would be careful in that characterization. clearly it has been made evident to me by white house officials that the president is going to say that if you thought we were unilateralist before, i am a multi-lateral list now. that means that it has to be a two way street. what is becoming a collective frustration at the white house, with the election of this new president, without reach, with activity on a diplomatic from, the implication from the obama campaign is that things that george bush was not working on, they are now working on, doing the kinds of things that europeans wanted them to,

diplomatically, not bearing any fruit yet. you will see some of that in today's speech. megyn: thank you so much, major garrett. we are waiting for the president. in the past hour we have seen video of quaddafi, ahmadinejad, both of them waving to the crowds. here is some tape. libya, the man that killed -- libya, the leader of that country, who gave a hero's welcome to a terrorist, there he is. bill: moving towards the main podium, as we get under way look for the following language. that includes those that chastise america for acting

alone cannot wait for america to solve the world's problems alone. >> fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to address you as the 44th president of the united states for the first time. [applause] i come before you humbled by the responsibilities that the american people have placed upon me. mindful of the enormous challenges of this moment in history, determined to act boldly and collectively on behalf of justice and prosperity, at home and abroad. i have been in office for just nine months, although some days it seems longer. i am well aware that the expectations that a company of

my presidency are felt from the world. these expectations are not about me. rather they are rooted, i believe, in a discontent with the status quo that has allowed us to be increasingly defined by our differences, outpaced by our problems. they are also rooted in hope. the hope that real change is possible. the hope that america will be a leader in bringing about such change. i took office at a time when many around the world had come to view america with skepticism and distrust. part of this was due to misperception and misinformation about my country. part of it was due to opposition against specific policies and a belief that on critical issues, america had acted unilaterally without regards to the interests of others.

and almost reflexively anti- americanism, which too often was observed as an excuse for collective action. like all of you, my responsibility is to act in the interests of my nation and my people. i will never apologize for defending those interests. but it is my deeply held belief that in the year 2009, more than at any point in human history, the interest of nations and peoples are shared. religious convictions that we hold in our hearts can afford new bonds among people, or they can tear apart. -- can forge new bonds among people or they can tear apart. the energy of the use can sustain our planet or destroy it.

what happens is the hope of a single child anywhere can enrich our world or impoverished it. we come from many places. we share a common future. no longer do we have the luxury of indulging our differences to the exclusion of the work we must do together. i have carried this message from london to hong kong, from moscow to cairo, and it is what i will speak about today. because the time has come for the world to move in a new direction. we must embrace a new era of engagement based on mutual interests and mutual respect. our work must begin now. we know that the future will be

forged by deeds and not simply words. it will take persistent action. approved for those at question the character of my nation -- for those that question the character of my nation, but that the actions we have taken in the first nine months. my first day in office i prohibited the use of torture by the united states of america. i ordered the prison at guantanamo bay closed. we are doing the hard work to combat extremism within the rule of law. every nation must know that america will live its values. we will live by them. we will lead by them. we have set clear and focused goals to disrupt, dismantle, and

to defeat al qaeda and its allies. a network that has killed thousands of people. they have plotted to blow up this very building. in afghanistan and pakistan, we are helping these governments develop the capacity to take heed while working to advance opportunities for their people. in iraq we are responsibly ending the war. we have removed american combat brigades from cities and set a deadline set -- a deadline of next august to remove brigades from iraqi territory. i have made it clear that we will help them transition to full responsibility for their future, keeping the commitment to remove all american troops by the end of 2011. i have outlined a comprehensive agenda to seek a world without nuclear weapons.

we announced a pursuit of substantial reductions in strategic warhead launches. in the conference on disarmament we agreed on plans to negotiate an end to fissile materials for nuclear weapons. this week we will become the first representatives at the comprehensive test ban treaty. upon taking office i appointed a special envoy for middle east peace. america has worked aggressively to extend the cause of peace between israel and palestine, where the rights of both will be respected. confronting climate change we have invested $80 billion in clean energy. we have substantially increased fuel efficiency standards. we have provided new incentives for conservation. launching partnerships across the americas.

moving from a bystander to a leader in international climate negotiations. an economic crisis that touches every corner of the world, we have worked with nations to form a response, over $2 trillion in stimulus to bring the goat -- global economy back from the brink. we have mobilized resources to help to prevent the crisis from spreading further. we have joined with others to launch a food security initiative to lend a hand to those that need help. we have greengage to the united nations. we have paid our bills. we have joined the human rights council. we have signed the rights of persons with disabilities. we have fully embraced the millennium development goals. we address our priorities here

in this institution. for instance, through the security council meeting that i will chair tomorrow on disarmament, through the issues that i will discuss today. this is what we have already done, but it is just the beginning. some actions have yielded progress. some have laid the groundwork for progress in the future. make no mistake, this cannot solely be america's endeavor. those that used to chastise america for acting alone in the world cannot stand by and wait for america to solve the world's problems alone. we have sought, in word and deed, a new era of engagement with that the world. now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges.

if we are honest with ourselves, we need to admit that we are not living up to that responsibility. consider the course that we are on if we fail to confront the status quo. extremists sowing terror in pockets of the world, protracted conflicts that grind on and on, genocide, mass atrocities, more ations with nuclear weapons, melting ice caps, ravaged populations, persistent poverty, pandemic disease -- i say this not to sow fear but to state a fact. the magnitude of our challenges has yet to be met by the measure of our actions. this body was found on the belief that the nations of the world could solve their problems together. franklin roosevelt, who died before he could see the vision for this institution become a

reality, put it this way. "destruction -- the structure of world peace cannot be the vision of one man or one nation. it cannot be of large nations or small nations. it must be a piece that rests on the cooperative effort of the whole world. p peace the address -- peace that rests on a cooperative effort of the whole world." it rings true today. yet we also know that this body is made up of sovereign states. sadly, but not surprisingly, this body has become a forum for sowing discord instead of selling common ground. for playing politics rather than solving problems. after all, it is easy to walk up to this podium and point

fingers in stoke divisions. -- and to stoke divisions. nothing is easier than blaming others for our problems. anyone can do that. responsibility and leadership in the 21st century demands more. power is no longer a zero sum game. no world order over one group or nation or another can succeed. no balance among nations will hold. the traditional divisions between nations of the south and the north make no sense in an interconnected world. nor do the grievances of a long gone cold war. the time has come to realize

that old habits, old arguments, are irrelevant to the challenges faced by our people. nation's acting in opposition to the goals that they claim to pursue. acting against the interests of their own people. they build walls between us and the people in the future. the time has come for those walls to come down. together we must build new coalitions. coalitions of different faiths and creeds. north and south, east, west, black, white, brown. the choice is ours. we can be remembered as the generation that chose to drag the arguments of the 20th- century into the 21st century, failing to keep pace because we define ourselves by what we were against rather than what we were for. or we can be a generation that

chooses to realize that we have moved beyond the rough waters, policies imbedded in the name given to this institution, the united nations. that is the future that america wants. a future of peace and prosperity that we can only reach if we recognize that all nations have rights, but all nations have responsibilities as well. that is the bargain that makes this work. that must be the guiding principle of international cooperation. today let me put forward four pillars that i believed our fundamental to the future we want for our children. -- are fundamental to the future we want for our children. the preservation of our planet.

the future of peace and security. a global economy that advances opportunity for all people. first, we must stop the spread of nuclear weapons. seeking the goal of a world without them. this institution was founded at the dawn of the atomic age in part because man's capacity kill had to be contained. for decades we have averted disaster, even under the shadow of a superpower standoff. today the threat of proliferation is growing in scope and complexity. if we fail to act we will invite nuclear arms races in every region. the prospect of war an act of terror on a scale we can hardly imagine. a fragile consensus stands in the way of this outcome. the basic bargain that shapes the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

it says that all nations have the rights to peaceful nuclear energy. mason's with the weapons have a responsibility to move towards disarmament. the next 12 months could be pivotal in determining whether this compaq will be strengthened or slowly dissolve. america intends to keep our end of the bargain. we will pursue a new agreement with russia to substantially reduce our strategic warheads. we will move forward with ratification of the test ban treaty, working with others to bring the treaty into force so that nuclear testing is permanently prohibited. we will replace the nuclear review that opens the door to steeper cuts, reducing the war -- the role of nuclear weapons. we will begin negotiations in

january to end the production of fissile materials. next april the summit will reaffirm each nation's responsibility to secure nuclear material on its territory, helping those that can, because we must never allow a single nuclear device to fall into the hands of violence. we will work to strengthen the institutions that combat nuclear struggle. all of this must support efforts to strengthen the mpt, those nations that refused to live up must faced consequences -- face consequences. it is about standing up for the rights of the nations that live up to responsibilities. the world in which inspections are avoided and the united nations' demands are ignored

will leave all people less safe, all nations less secure. in their actions to date, the governments of north korea and iran have tried to take us down this dangerous road. we respect their rights as members of the community of nations. i have said before, i will repeat, we must open a path to greater prosperity and more secure peace for both nations -- if they live up to their obligations. if the governments of iran and north korea choose to ignore international standards, putting the pursuit of nuclear weapons ahead of the security of their own people, if they are oblivious to the dangers of escalating nuclear arms races, they must be held accountable. the world must stand together to demonstrate that international law is not an empty promise. trees will be enforced.

we must insist -- treaties will be enforced. we must insist that the future does not belong to appear. the second pillar is the pursuit of peace. the united nations is born of the belief that the people of the world can live their lives, raise their families, and resolve their differences peacefully. yet we know that in too many parts of the world this idea remains an abstraction. a distant dream. we can either accept that out, as inevitable and tolerate crippling conflict, or we can recognize that the urge for peace is universal, reasserting the resolved and in conflict around the world the. that effort must begin with an unshakable determination that the murder of innocent men, women, and children will never be tolerated. on this there can be no dispute. violent extremists that promote

conflict by distorting faith discredit it and isolate themselves. they offer nothing but hatred and destruction. in confronting them we will offer lasting partnerships to target terrorists, permitting no safe haven for al qaeda to launch attacks from afghanistan or any other nation. we will stand by our friends on the front lines as we and many nations will do in pledging support to the pakistani people. we will pursue positive engagement bridging faiths and partnerships for opportunity. our efforts to promote peace cannot be limited to defeating violent extremists. the most powerful weapon in our arsenal is the hope of human beings, the belief that the future belongs to those that will build and not destroyed. that conflict can end and a new day can begin.

that is why we will strengthen our support for effective peacekeeping before conflicts take hold. we will pursue a lasting peace in sudan for the people sudandarfof darfur. securing the peace that those people deserve. [applause] in countries ravaged by violence, from haiti to the congo, we will work with the u.n. and other partners to support peace. i will also continue to seek a just and lasting peace between israel, palestine, and arab world. [applause] we will continue to work on that issue. yesterday i had a constructive meeting with benjamin netanyahu

and president of losabbas. we have made some progress. israelis have facilitated greater freedom of movement for the palestinians. as a result of efforts on the both sides, the economy in the west bank has begun to grow. more progress is needed. we continue to call on palestinians. we continue to emphasize that america does not accept the legitimacy of continued israeli settlements. [applause] the time has come to relaunch negotiations without preconditions, addressing the permanent status issues. security for israelis and palestinians. the goal is clear.

two states living side-by-side in peace and security. a jewish state of israel with true security and a viable independent palestinian state with continuous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, realizing the potential of the palestinian people. [applause] as we pursue this goal we will also pursue peace between israel and lebanon, israel and syria, and a broader peace between israel and its many neighbors. in pursuit of that goal we will develop multinational participation alongside bilateral negotiations. i am not naive. i know that this would be difficult. all of us must decide whether we are serious about peace or

whether we will only land it that service. to break the old patterns and cycle of insecurity and despair , all of us must say publicly what we have a knowledge in private. the united states does israel no favors when we fail to couple an unwavering commitment to security with an insistence that israel respect of the legitimate claims and rights of the palestinians. -- respect the legitimate claims and rights of the palestinians. nations with in this body do the palestinians and no favors when they choose support of an attack against israel over constructive -- over a constructive willingness to recognize israel's right to exist in peace and security. [applause] we must remember that the greatest price of this conflict is not paid by us, not paid by

politicians. it is paid by the israeli girl that closes her eyes in fear that a rocket will take her life in the middle of the night. paid for by the palestinian boy that has no country to call his own. these are all god's children. after all of the politics and posturing, this is about the right of every human being to live with dignity and security. that is a lesson imbedded within the three great faiths that call one small slice of earth the holy land. even though there will be set back, false starts, and tough days, i will not waver in my pursuit of peace. [applause] third, we must recognize that

there will be no peace unless we take responsibility for the preservation of our planet. i think the secretary-general for hosting the subject of climate change. -- thank secretary-general for hosting the subject of climate change. our responsibility to meet it cannot be deferred. if we continue down our current course every member of this assembly will see irreversible changes within their borders. our efforts to end conflict will be eclipsed by war's over resources and refugees. development will be stymied by drought and famine. future generations will look back and wonder why we refused to act. why we failed to pass on an environment that was worthy of

inheritance. that is why the days that america dragged its feet on this issue are over. we will move forward with investments to transform the energy economy while providing incentives to make a clean energy. we will press ahead with deep cuts in emissions to reach the goals set for 2020 and eventually 2050. we will continue to promote and share technology with countries around the world. we will seize every opportunity for progress to address this threat in a cooperative effort with the entire world. those nations that did so much damage to the environment in the 20th-century must accept our obligation to lead. but responsibility does not end there. we must acknowledge the need for differentiated responses.

any effort to curb carbon emissions must include fast- growing carbon emitter's that can reduce without prohibiting cost. any effort that fails to help the poorest nations, they have been helped to travel a path of clean development, without that it will not work. it is hard to change something as fundamental as how we use energy. even harder to do so in the middle of a global recession. it will be certainly tempting to sit back and wait for others to move first. we cannot make this journey unless we move forward together. as we had to copenhagen we should resolve to focus on what each of us can do for the sake of our country. this leads me to the final pillar that must be supported for the future. a global economy that advances

opportunity for all people. the world is still recovering from the worst economic crisis since the great depression. in america we see the growth beginning to return. yet many still struggle to find a job or pay bills. across the globe we find promising signs but no certainty about what lies ahead. far too many people in far too many places live to the daily crisis that challenges our humanity. the despair of an empty stomach. the thirst brought on by dwindling water supplies. the injustice of a child dying from a treatable disease or a mother losing her life as she gives birth. in pittsburg we will work with the world's largest economies to chart a course for a world that is balanced. vigilance, to make sure that we do not let up until our people

are back, taking steps to rekindle demand so that global recovery can be sustained. setting new rules of the road, strengthening the regulation for all financial attempts to put an end to greed that leads to a crisis like this. preventing a crisis like this from happening again. we have moral and pragmatic interests in broader questions of development. the questions that existed before the crisis happen. so, america will continue its is -- its historic efforts. we have set aside $63 billion to lead the fight against hiv aids, eradicate polio, strengthening public health systems. we are joining with other countries to contribute h1n1

vaccine to the world health organization. we will integrate more economies into a system of global trade. we will support the millennium development goals with a plan to make them a reality. we will set our sights on the eradication of extreme poverty in our society. now is the time for all of us to do our part. growth will not be sustained or shared unless all nations embrace the responsibilities. meaning that wealthy nations must open their markets to goods, extending a hand to those with less while giving more nations a greater voice. to developing nations, they must root out the corruption that is an obstacle to progress. opportunity cannot thrive where individuals are oppressed and individuals -- businesses have to pay bribes. that is why we support honest

police, a vibrant civil society. our goal is simple, a world economy where growth is sustained and opportunity is available to all. now, the changes i have spoken about today will not be easy to make. they will not be realized simply by leaders like us coming together in forums like this, as useful as that may be. as in any assembly of members, real change can only come through the people that we represent. that is why we have to do the hard work in our own countries. we must build a consensus to end conflicts, changing the way that we use energy, promoting growth that can be sustained and shared. i believe that the people of the world what this future for their children. that is why we must champion

those principles that insure the government reflects the will of the people. these principles cannot be afterthought. democracy and human rights are essential to achieving each of the goals discussed today. governments of the people and by the people are more likely to act in the broader interests of their own people rather than the narrow interest of those in power. the test of our leadership will not be the big -- will not be the degree to which we have suppressed the fears and hatreds of the past. the people of the world want change. they will not long tolerate those on the wrong side of history. this assemblies charter commits each of us "to reaffirm faith

and fundamental human rights in the dignity and purpose of the equal rights of men and women." among them are the freedom to speak your mind and worship as you please. equality of races. the opportunity for women and girls to pursue their own potential. the ability for citizens to have a say in how they are governed. to have confidence in the administration of justice. as no nation should be forced to except the tyranny of another nation, no individual should be forced to accept the tyranny of their own people. [applause] as an african-american i will never forget that i would not be here today without the steady pursuit of a more perfect union in my country. that guides my belief that no matter how dark the day may

seem, transformative change can be forged by those who choose the side of justice. i pledged that america will always stand with those who stand up for her dignity and rights. for the student that seeks to learn. the voter that demands to be heard. the innocent that longs to be freed. the oppressed that guaranteed equal. democracy cannot be imposed on any nation from the outside. each society must search for its own path. no path is perfect. each country will pursue a path rooted in the culture of its people and past traditions. i admit, america has too often been selective in its promotion of democracy. that does not weaken our commitment. it only reinforces it. there are basic principles that are universal. certain truths are self-evident.

the united states of america will never waver in her efforts to stand up for the rights of the people everywhere to determine their own destiny. [applause] 65 years ago a weary franklin roosevelt spoke to the american people in his fourth and final inaugural address. after years of war he sought to sum up the lessons that could be drawn from the terrible conflict. the enormous sacrifice that had taken place. he had learned, he said, to be citizens of the world. members of the human community. the united nations was built by men and women like roosevelt, from every corner of the world. from africa, asia, europe to the americas. these architects of

international cooperation had an idealism that was anything but my eve. it was rooted in the hard earned lessons of war. rooted in the wisdom that nations could advance their interests by acting together instead of splitting apart. now it falls to us. this institution will be what we make of it. the united nations does extraordinary good around the world. feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, mending places that have been broken. it also struggles to enforce its will and live out the ideals of its founding. i believe that those imperfections are not a reason to walk away from this institution, they are a calling to redouble our efforts. the united nations can be a place where we bicker about outdated grievances or forge

common ground. a place where we focus on what drives us apart or what brings us together. at place where we indulge tyranny or a source of moral authority. in short, the united nations can be an institution that disconnects itself from what matters in the lives of our citizens for a can be an indispensable factor in advancing the interests of the people that we serve. we have reached a pivotal moment. the united states stands ready to begin a new chapter of international cooperation. one that recognizes the rights and responsibilities of all nations. with confidence in our cause and commitment to our values, we call on all nations to join us in building the future that the people so rich they deserve. thank you very much. [applause] bill: 38 minutes on the clock,

president obama's first speech before the general assembly. the white house said that it would be blunt, and blunt it was. three different aspects to the speech we have been watching. the theme at the beginning -- look at the new united states. president obama, announcing an end to torture, as well as the clothing -- closing at guantanamo bay, which has proven more difficult in reality. the theme in the middle, the u.s. cannot do with the amount and needs the help of the world to join in. four pillars, including the halting of the spread of nuclear weapons. to that end calling out north korea and iran by name, saying that they must be held accountable. for more on that, here is megyn kelly. megyn: we have john bolton, former ambassador to the united nations, standing by.

your impressions of the president's remarks? >> first, he has put israel on the chopping block. there has never been a speech by an american president that was so critical of israel. second, reinforcing what bill said, he did everything but say i am not george bush. most people realize that. finally the naivete, he did everything but say can we all not just get along? it was a remarkable speech, a real window into his mentality. one that was warmly received by members of the u.n. megyn: one of the times that they burst into applause in the middle of his remarks is when he said "american does not accept the legitimacy of continued israeli settlements." a point that went over well with those in attendance. i want to put your focus on

iran. the president did mention iran by name, saying that day and north korea must be held accountable. then he said the following. >> the world must stand together to demonstrate that international law is not an empty promise. treaties will be enforced. we must insist that the future does not belong to fear. megyn: does that advance the ball? >> that is exactly the problem that the security council of the united nations has not been able to address. that was a real example, citing international law, of all things, of how the u.n. has failed in the past. what the president is hoping for is that because he is barack obama, he has asked explicitly

for other nations to join with him. i do not think that will change anything but it reflects the basic view that his ascension to the presidency changes america's perception in the world and should change other policies. megyn: we heard a lot of that. one of the interesting parts of the speech was the beginning, where it said he had only been in office for nine months and that he was well aware of the expectations that were rooted in a discontent with the status quo. that he took office, many had come to you america with skepticism and distrust. part of it was due to opposition of spefic policies, that america had acted unilaterally. resulting in an almost reflective anti-americanism.

he went on from there. how did that strike you? >> i have never seen an american president give a speech at the united nations and spending so much time contrasting his administration with the previous. obviously a president talks about his own policies and how he sees america in the world, but this was a speech designed almost more for an american audience, hoping to play on that aspect that he is not george bush. i am struck by how personal it was and how on-presidential. megyn: that is how he opened the speech. right before he ended he went back to the point, appearing to be a reference to the prior administration, saying that democracy cannot be imposed on any nation from the outside, that each society should search for its own path and none is perfect. that america has too often been

selective in its promotion of democracy. it seems to be a clear reference to the prior administration. is that your experience? i do not know whether president bush made such references or not. >> not to prior administrations, obviously the president will advocate his own policy. he has repeated in this speech, phrases that are implicit, "i am not george bush. -- george bush." carrying an american political debate into the international arena, i find that international -- incredibly un-presidential. bill: we have been hearing from our longtime producer that heads of state inside of this room, an enormous theater irina, there is

a protest on the floor. what we are hearing is that they are refusing to come to order for the next speaker to take the podium. the next speaker is quaddafi. for all of the criticism, the speakers come on, they are polite, and then they leave. at the moment -- moment, wal- mart khaddafi -- quaddafi will not have that opportunity. we are reaching out to find out what is happening inside that building. if you watch this, year to year, there are cutaway shots where we can see the people gathered in the audience. so far today there has been none of that. why? we cannot say. leaders from around the world,

we can identify them. nothing in terms of a reverse shot, nothing where we could see the leaders. we could pick and choose what we call cutaway shots to figure out how they are reacting to what the speakers are saying. we did not see anything but a solo shot of the president about that speech. quaddafi, on the schedule, should be in front of that microphone in a moment. apparently there is a protest of some sort happening in the general assembly. megyn: a bit of color for our audience and those that watch the events, before this dustup, gaddafi and ahmadinejad sat and listened to the president's entire -- quaddafi and ahmadinejad listened to the president's entire speech.

they were scribbling notes. apparently the iranian president did not take notes, he did not clap, even when president obama finished. he did applaud when the speech was over. we will find out the reaction of this audience. bill: so far they have not been successful. bring up the microphone so we can get some audio. 2009, remember? is this another one of those moments like nikita khrushchev? president bush, talking about the devil -- president bush, you

but chavez talked about the devil. eric, what you know? >> highly unusual, a wealth that it and choreograph the moment, muammar quaddafi remained in his seat, which was highly unusual. he would be the next speaker after obama. they would bring him to a holding room, normally, behind the podium. it was perhaps designed not to have that happen. there were efforts to prevent the president from eating quaddafi or ahmadinejad. you would think that the colonel, scheduled to be the next speaker, would have already been prepared behind the podium

era at some of the door of vari -- quaddafi gaddafi is following the general assembly. by coincidence, this year that happened to be libya, which is why quaddafi is the next speaker after the president of the united states. at the luncheon that is being given by the secretary general, 12:15 to 12:30, frank a. there will be nothing stopping quaddafi or ahmadinejad from getting next to president obama