>> you are watching "the journal" here on dw-tv. here are the headlines this hour. the syrian president gives no hint of reforms despite the protests throughout the country. in retreat. gaddafi trimspa take back cities. -- take back some cities, gaddafi troops. and how to stop the radioactive leak at fukushima.

the change that protesters in syria have been calling for is not coming anymore. assad spoke before parliament and did not hint once that he is considering ending the decade- long emergency law. he blamed foreigners for trying to send syria into chaos. >> the president's speech was eagerly anticipated. it was his first public appearance since the wave of unrest broke out in parts of the country two weeks ago. since 1963, his party has been unchallenged in the syrian parliament, and the party faithful are still standing behind him. he blames the recent unrest on the outside conspirators, intent on creating division and chaos in the country.

>> this is an exceptional moment, when it is testing their unity. conspiracies against the country. but thanks to the will of god, we will always succeed in overcoming conspiracies, boosting our unity and strength. >> assad said he favored reform, but he defied calls to lift the 48-year state of emergency. assad did accept the resignation of his cabinet and this we -- little authority anyway. two weeks of unprecedented anti- government.protests have revealed strong discontent. at least 60 people have been killed in the government crackdown. >> in libya, the rebels are in retreat. gaddafi troops took back a few

cities. the rebels are calling on western powers to send weapons, saying they cannot match the buffy -- cannot match the dauphine -- match gaddafi's ground arms. >> this is now a memorial to the fallen. benghazi is a stronghold, and rebels here say there is no going back. rebels tried to assess the situation in using their own photographs and videos. pictures from embattled towns. the latest are alarming. cities near tripoli and benghazi

are now back in gaddafi hands. they want the others to help. >> they have an open area, but they have to do something. >> the rebels know that one area could fall next, a loss that would clear the way for benghazi itself. >> the people of egypt will get a chance to vote for a new president by november. parliamentary elections will be held in september. the supreme council of the armed forces has upheld a new interim constitution that declares egypt as a democratic country that guarantees freedom of religion in an opinion. copper -- there was the ouster of president hosni mubarak last month. the italian prime minister silvio berlusconi has promised to clear thousands of migrants

from a mediterranean island. berlusconi visited the island after an outcry about a growing humanitarian crisis. about 19,000 migrants have arrived there from north africa since the unrest started sweeping the region. locals complain that their island has been transformed into a camp. rome has started transferring thousands of the migrants to other centers around the country. berlusconi has promised to complete the operation within 60 hours. the tokyo electric power company says it will permanently shut down four of the stricken reactor is at the fukushima plant. radiation continues to spread from the site. u.s. engineers and others are explaining their options of containing the leak. >> in the small village 40 kilometers northeast of fukushima, while outside detroit exclusion zone, the people living here thought they were

safe -- northeast of fukushima, well east -- outside of the exclusion zone. >> this has exceeded the data. >> the latest news from fukushima also offers no grounds for optimism. yvette tb's do not know when or even if they will be able to return home -- in evacuees -- the evacuees do not know. >> we do not know when the situation will normalize, and we do not think there will be a future for us in the city. >> operator tepco has decided to decommission four of the reactors. filling them up may be necessary. >> government and experts are considering but these four buildings at the fukushima-dai- ichi plant to stop the spread of

the substances. >> a they will spray it with a synthetic resin to try to prevent radioactive dust from being blown away or being watched to see. in a refugee center outside of tokyo, the emperor and others visited the survivors of the earthquake and tsunami. many of them have been holed up here for three weeks now and have stories to tell. >> happen all right, do these new containment measures hold up the prospect of containing the radiation at fukushima. i put that question earlier to a correspondent who joined us in north east japan. pitt -- " >> well, they are still trying to figure out what to do with contaminated water. the contamination levels exceed 3500 times the legal limit today. the president has been hospitalized in tokyo for

fatigue and dizzy spells, and he was last seen in public the day after the tsunami, so it seems that there is some disorder within the country. also, we have been hearing about the car -- harsh conditions, some sleeping in stairwells and only getting two meals a day of crackers and, and now, they are be putting in a gymnasium about 10 kilometers away from that. it does not look like they will get this thing under control anytime soon. >> but was chris reporting from japan. and there is talk about the safety of exports being sent from japan. these products are sent around the world. it is uncertain how much radiation has leaked from the fukushima facility, and that has led many to ban food imports from the region, but they export much more than food. there are now many unanswered questions about the possible contamination of everything from

consumer electronics to automobiles. airports are already screaming imports. in the coming weeks of weber, the first container ships from japan since the crisis drug will be arriving at european ports. screening of the cargo will be a massive undertaking. -- container ships from japan since the crisis struck will be arriving. >> at the rotterdam container port, screening is routine. there are no written guarantees that the vessels have not been contaminated. >> the e.u. has asked japan to carry a increased radiation checks on anything it sends to europe. we will also be doing our own checks on anything that arrives. >> food crops from japan have been subject to additional checks since last weekend, but

there is confusion over the limits acceptable in the eu, which are higher than those after the chernobyl disaster. some say it is not strict enough. >> we are in an incredible situation, where we could be importing food products from them that could be banned in japan itself. >> europe is words, but much less than 1% of food sold in germany comes from japan. >> so how vulnerable are other economies? despite the situation in japan sending a shock wave, " japan is expected to cope well in the coming months. german gdp is said to have grown 0.9% in the first quarter, twice as fast as the previous quarter. it was helped by the construction sector and growing demand for machinery and other industrial goods, and looking ahead, it is in the midterm

outlook remains strong. on the wednesday's market action, a rally in frankfurt as traders shrugged off the news in north africa. we have this report from the frankfurt stock exchange. >> prices rose, and in some places, they soared. there were the dangers emanating from the catastrophe in japan and from the fight in libya. instead, they concentrated on what they see is for the profit rise is coming from companies in the next few months. a solar company is one of the stars. it is a medium-sized company coming from the ranks of the renewable energy technology companies, and it has more than doubled its profit in the last year and is looking for further growth in the next year. it makes the so-called solar converters.

the power cannot be used by consumers. >> in frankfurt, we stay for a closer look at wednesday's numbers. the dax sought a substantial rally, pushing up to close at 7,057. the euro stoxx 50 also chalking up gains, ending the day at 2,936. about three minutes ago, 12,000,300 points. the euro trading higher against the dollar. irish life has suspended shares from trading in london and dublin after its share price went into free-fall following media reports that banking stress tests carried out this week might force it into a state control. irish life is the only domestic

lender in ireland to avoid a government bailout so far. their insurance business is profitable, and it did not have any exposure to the commercial property market. however, its banking arm did borrow heavily to finance loans, and many are being in trouble. that is business. back over to you. >> what ever happened to -- those mortgages. more violence in ivory coast. forces loyal to the internationally recognized president have entered the capital. it is the latest round to fall in their four-month struggle against the incumbent, who has refused to step down after losing they disputed november election. -- losing the disputed november election. thousands of people continue to leave the city.

a spokesman for the elected leader says the gbagbo needs to leave and that the time for talk and cease-fires is over. the president of kosovo has resigned after just one month in office following a ruling that his election was unconstitutional. he was elected to the largely ceremonial role by parliament. this week, the constitutional board says the vote was marred by irregularities, but it added the party itself had violated no laws. the president's resignation could spark a political prices -- crisis within the government. there will soon be more female executives in a german business role, but we are not sure how that will happen. on wednesday, the 30 blue-chip dax company's net, pledging to recruit and promote more women at the top level, but they could not agree on how to do that.

>> this is one of the few women on a board of a dachshund-listed company. in this case, the energy company e.on. one in 10 directors are women. one director wants to change that, but she believes change should be flexible and introduced voluntarily at first. >> if we do not succeed in tripling the percentage of women in the board rooms, then the legal requirement to committed to the quotas will take effect. >> employment minister -- once clear legislation now. >> what i feel to be missing from the common declaration is a clear statement of the figures, the time frame, the fundamental purpose, and the strategy.

>> but that is more than political pressure. >> we have a structural deficiency of skilled workers. we know that diversity is crucial to business success and that the sword of damocles is hanging over a reputation. dax companies have pledged to draw up targets for women in management by the end of the year. >> well, it is being called cricket diplomacy. the prime ministers of india and pakistan have watched a match between their two teams together. the indian prime minister invited is pakistani -- his pakistani counterpart. it was the first game between the two rivals since the attack in nearby. -- in mumbai.

the winner will face sri lanka in the final. all right, stay with us. a report coming up next, women in business. breaking the glass ceiling.

>> welcome back, everyone. women at the top. that was the topic of a meeting today. chancellor angela merkel is looking to promote women. at the moment, there are no plans to force companies to have more female representation on their board. some in the country have already agreed to voluntary targets. >> the battle of the sexes, the oldest game in the world, but men have always had the upper hand in terms of careers. company executive board members in germany's top tea hundred companies, -- the top two

hundred companies, women have a small percentage. many ordinary germans are against fixed quotas. >> it would be curbing companies' freedom, and i do not think that is a good thing. >> it is nonsense. women are doing well. they just have to stick up for themselves. >> to be in a position of leadership, you have to have leadership qualities. >> but the proportion of women in executive positions rose by just 4% in the last 10 years, despite promises to do better. some believe a better way to help women would be to improve working conditions. >> we need to change things so that women can take on those jobs even when they have a family, and that means providing more child care facilities so that women could tackle childhood and a career of more easily. >> board members and other top

female executives at the 500 biggest companies in germany shows that the idea of motherhood and a top korea are incompatible. of those questioned, 47% named prejudiced against them by male colleagues as a significant cost. none of the women said motherhood is a problem. the main problem is the attitude of men in positions of responsibility. male bosses are simply more likely to promote male employees, and there is no quota system for men. so what needs to be changed? >> the man at the top need to change the way they think about women, but that is not going to happen. >> if that is the case, perhaps it is time for the government to waive the dies >> voluntary quotas have played the role of getting women into leadership positions. the critics charge they have not gone far enough.

in the next report, we need a woman who co-managers a company. she did not get to where she is with the help of quotas, but she does believe it will be a step in the right direction. the company is owned by her husband. >> the woman at the top of this baked goods manufacturer is a university professor and a vocal advocate for quotas for women in top jobs. >> women have got what it takes if they are given the opportunities, responsibility. they can demonstrate they can be leaders and motivators and that they can run a profitable company. >> there is a woman who is mentored by her. they met when she was at university. she was one of her students. now, she works for the company.

>> there is a higher proportion of women here. there are men, too, of course, but more women than usual are given a chance to pursue their careers. i am one of them. and i am very happy about that. >> be baked goods company has been in your husband's family for over 100 years -- the baked goods company. -- baked goods company has been in her husband's family for over 100 years. it now sells its breads in 87 countries. her husband has always valued having an equal partnership with his wife. they share child care duties when their children were young. there have always been strong women in his family, and in the family business.

>> i am more skeptical for " this -- about quotas for women than my wife. we have taken a sensible attitude at our company and have a great team with 40% women. i think other companies could do the same if they have the will. >> but she knows her husband is an exception. she sits on heat advisory board of a major german bank and knows how the old boy network functions. >> the positions on the company boards are often filled on the golf course. regardless of attitude. >> one company has managed to increase women in top jobs without government quotas, but it remains a rare situation in the landscape. norway has gone the furthest in demanding that women share the boardroom with men.

in 2006, a law went into effect that mandates that at least four out of 10 positions be filled with women on corporate advisory boards. if they do not comply, they face heavy fines, even closure. it has transformed the face of business in norway. >> in oslo, this looks very different five years ago. but then, not one woman was on the supervisory board. but after 2007, quota meant two men had to vacate their chairs for women -- the quota meant that. >> at first, we were skeptical. but they bring with them many new points of view that we men have not seen before. that benefits the company and our product line. >> there are special courses to show up-and-coming female board members the ropes, how to display self-confidence and network, and attract investors.

more than 1000 women had profited from the program. this woman develops products for a norwegian company. she is a successful married mother of four children. her case is typical where much has been done for gender equality. >> i am very happy with the life that i have, with the maternity leave, and on the value of fathers staying at home and taking on responsibilities. >> i think a bit of encouragement is needed so women can reach leadership positions. >> a sociologists says the extra push has helped norwegian society. he found that the experience fewer divorces and less domestic violence. -- he found that the family's

experience your divorces and less domestic violence -- the families experienced fewer divorces. >> it is a time to a salary changethat is the go i think the quota is important for a limited time but not forever. >> not everyone agrees with the measure. >> they struggle harder to get directorships. i do not really see it as a major obstacle to any thing. >> one woman welcomes the debate. she says it is representative of leading the way when it comes to equal rights. >> that has been our "in depth"

report. thanks for watching, and thanks for the company, everybody.

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issue one, gaddafi grounded! >> today i authorized the armed forces of the united states to begin a limited military action in libya in support of an international effort to protect libyan civilians. that action has now begun. >> an international effort to protect libyan civilians from the forces of colonel moammar gaddafi. that international effort is a no-fly zone over libyan airspace, intended to protect libyan civilians from bombings by gaddafi's air force. the united nations security council last thursday authorized a no-fly zone in resolution 1973. the resolution emphasis is clear -- save libyan civilian

lives. "grave concern at the heavy civilian casualties, insure the protection of civilians, a complete end to violence against civilians, protect civilians and civilian populated areas, protect civilians." 10 security councilmembers voted yes on the resolution. u.s., u.k., france, bosnia- herzegovina, columbia, garr bon, lebanon, nigeria, portugal, south africa. five members abstained -- russia, china, germany, brazil, india. the 10 votes was just one more than the nine needed for passage. and it did not include input from the 192-member united nations general assembly. but international support for the no-fly zone is now waning. the libyan government is alleging that coalition bombings have killed many civilians. doctors on the ground say over

100 civilians have died. military deaths not included. the 22-member arab league this week accused the u.s. and the coalition of ignoring the u.n. >> as far as we're concerned the arab league, we requested the security council to establish a no-fly zone in order to protect the civilians, in addition to safe areas for the civilians to sit in without attacks on them. >> brazil, russia, india and china, the bric nations, are all calling for an immediate cessation of the no-fly zone. u.s. defense secretary robert gates says it's gaddafi that is stained with civilian blood. >> it's perfectly evident that the vast majority if not nearly all civilian casualties have been inflicted by gaddafi. >> question, if this nato-led no-fly zone does not remove gaddafi, will the u.s. be forced to put boots on the

ground? >> if you talk about marines, no. army perhaps to, no. you may get some special advisors in there, john. but here's what is happening now. the no-fly zone has been established, give's air force does not exist. his airfields don't really exist anymore. what is happened is the europeans will take over the no- fly zone. but the americans are engaged in an area war to help the rebels, and we're now moving to where the american airpower missile power is firing at libyan tanks and libyan troop concentrations. we're firing missiles into the compound of gaddafi, in tripoli. so what is going on is america is conducting its own air war and basically the objective is to destroy, degrade, damage and demoralize the libyan army to the point where it turns around and gets rid of gaddafi. we're not going to put troops on the ground, but if this doesn't work, john, i think president obama has a real problem because his problem is

this -- he didn't get the authorization from congress. he got it from the security council but not from the american congress. and right now a lot of people are bailing on him, john. >> he can't declare war without the -- without the congress. he cannot -- he has no power to declare war. >> libya did not attack us, and it did 249 threaten us. in that case he has no power to go to war until authorized by congress or declared by congress. >> let's hear the law. the war powers act was a revolved by congress that nen 73. 37 years ago. after u.s. involvement ended in vietnam. the ability calls on the president to notify congress when u.s. troops are in combat situations and to withdraw them within 60 days of the notification unless both houses of congress declare war. otherwise, or otherwise appear the use of force. >> that's only the in case that americans are attacked, or the enemy threatened. if there's no threat or attack you've got to go to congress under the constitution.

>> so he is in violation of the constitution? >> the constitution of the united states. >> you think he should be impeach. >> no, i don't think so. >> why? if the president is violating the founding document of our country -- >> because i don't think we ought to do that right now. but what it be impeachable offense? nixon bombed cambodia. >> he had resign to get out and had nothing to do with that. >> how much trouble is -- is obama in any trouble? >> no, the congressional objections are a sideshow. they don't want responsibility for this, they just want the right to complain and that's what they have if it turns out badly, they'll complain. they're not -- he has done plenty enough consulting with congress, he's well within the law. but your original question about ground troops, president could have done a better job explains what he was doing.

i still doesn't understand how basically a movement candidate who built such a phenomenal campaign of public support has failed to build public for for any policies from health care to participating in a humanitarian intervention in libya. and there was an overwhelming case that there was going to be massive slaughter by gaddafi, in benghazi finish the white house didn't act in concert with the other nations. but the quote they leaked is that the president said no american boot will touch a grain of libyan sand. maybe the french will go in with ground troops. it's not this president's job. but there are other tools that are not military, including the $35 billion that he has in one place that will be frozen. there are some financial incentives for him to bail out. >> you think he's violating the constitution. how much trouble is he in? is he in any trouble. >> no, i don't think he's in

any immediate constitutional trouble. the founders afforded the commander in chief enormous discretion to assign military forces to combat zones. you've got 535 members of congress. they cannot act with dispatch. war powers act, every president since nixon has treated as unconstitutional, including this one. he does have enormous leeway. the problem here is that he is committed us to the military operation in libya. libya is essentially a sideshow. there are no american interests involved in libya. now we have humanitarian and geopolitical crises in iran, syria, bahrain and yemen. those places actually are strategically important to the united states, and what will happen here is that the president has sent this precedent but now he will fall back behind the u.n., behind the congress, behind nato and say, gosh, i'd love to intervene in all these important places, but i just can't get the coalition to do

it. >> richard? >> well, look, he's not in trouble now, but he might be. so he needs to get yuck lucky. the big problem is that the u.s.-led mission and the stated goal is not u.s. policy, to get rid of gaddafi. but the no-fly zone is not a problem. that's under nato. but the nato has 28 members, including turkey, and turkey has -- is extremely concerned. this is why the negotiations were held up on the other night, about libyan civilians being killed. so you want to attack the libyan army. but the libyan army ruling in libyan cities. you're going to kill civilians. then the coalition will fall apart. >> then the direct and repeated emphasis of the u.n. was don't take civilian lives. and prevent civilians from being killed. >> john, that's why -- they didn't say you can -- it's okay to kill forces. >> that's why they separated it, john. the no-fly zone is nato.

and they're not going to kill civilians. they're go to protect civilians. and there's another war -- >> civilians on his side, non- military? of course he does! >> here's why -- look, the no- fly zone is nato, but the other part of the war which the americans will run is the attacking and killing of his army. [everyone talking at once] >> americans are going to run. that they're running it for the moment. but they're transferring that power as well. >> the key question is whether we stop attacking. if we do, we lose the war. >> they're a tagging gaddafi's tanks and i think one of the -- tanks, one of u.s. general said if gaddafi's troops are -- if they're taking a tank, they will not take it to tripoli. >> one of really strange, almost fright owning parts is that 25 years ago, we had a replay of the libya conflict with ronald reagan. here's ronald reagan, who faced

exactly the same hostile setting that president will respond. self-defense is not only our right, it's our duty. >> pat, you were there when raking on. >> i wrote the speech. the final -- >> give me thing with and show mow how -- what is going on today. >> it's different for this meaning. we were attacked at the discotheque. >> in berlin. >> berlin. they killed american soldiers and wounded about 50 of them. this was a response for what they did, a single action by oregon in response. this comes under the war powers act, i think. no doubt about it. but this is a different thing obama is doing. he is going after a nation that didn't attack us and didn't threatening us, in a civil war,

and he attacked it! >> he's also killing civilians. >> and he's killing -- >> gates is laying excuses over killing more -- [everyone talking at once] >> no right to kill! >> hold it! >> let him finish! >> you've got no right to kill libya's soldiers. what are they doing, defending their country and putting down an insurgency of a government they're not known firm they have a -- ledge matted right to do that. >> going after the libyan army is part of the u.n. resolution. you may disagree with it but it's within -- >> if they took civilians 92 when you're bombing from above. >> do you -- do you just separate out what was about to happen in benghazi and just sit aside and let that -- let that occur? >> there's no talk that -- that present to gaddafi to split it by some of his own friends. >> you act like. >> and have the east go to

gaddafi, the west to gaddafi. after he gets -- maybe [everyone talking at once] >> you act like this is the first time we've ever had a no- fly zone. we've done if in kosovo, iraq, we caged saddam hussein. there's a possibility -- >> should under what a no-fly zone is. no fly means the enemies cannot -- the case of gaddafi, he cannot fly, but we can fly. that's what no-fly means. it doesn't mean we can't fly. it means the enemy can't fly. that's what obama wants. that's what he has got. >> it's not the first time that the u.s. has done that. we've done that in bosnia, in kosovo, in iraq. >> and hillary clinton said it never worked. [everyone talking at once] >> go ahead. >> by the way, we've done these no-fly zones over the former yugoslavia, iraq. it doesn't necessarily prevent the kind of humanitarian slaughter that we're trying to prevent here. two differences between reagan and obama. number one, american ready.

reagan didn't wait for international stamp of approval to move. and number two, with reagan, there was a clear mission, a clear strategy, and clear american presidential leadership. we've had none of that in this case. >> that was before 9/11. >> it doesn't matter! you can argue -- >> all right, all right. somebody -- let me move in. >> need leadership. >> you don't need leadership! [everyone talking at once] >> quickly. >> you don't need leadership that goes into a muslim country all alone. this was an international coalition, post-9/11, and post- george w. bush era, where we created a war in iraq that was unnecessary and left in utter results. [everyone talking at once] >> okay. one well-known member of congress raised the question of whether or not obama has committed an impeachable offense who was that.

>> dennis kucinich. >> what is his argument about this being a possibility? >> notice how many -- >> hold on. >> line up with dennis kucinich, zero! >> really made his case. >> here's the reasoning. >> he doesn't have a case! >> that's right. >> he's saying the question should be raised. >> here's the case. congress alone has the power to declare war or authorize war in the constitution. >> is this war? >> if you attack a country and kill its soldiers, those are acts -- and gets said these are acts of war. >> what do you think about this? >> do you accept gaddafi says it's americans killing civilians. >> if he's going to be impeached as a newcomer, impreached, it's a low bar. but is it war? you can talk about war or is the -- kennett eck clash of some kind? that's just system attics. obviously, it's war. as pat said, robert gates said it when trying to talk the president out of it.

>> you can -- let's put that to the test. what are the odds zero to 100 that obama will be impeached? >> zero. >> zero. >> over this? zero. issue two, hot rods. >> the bottom line is that there clearly appears to be a challenge keeping that spent fuel filled with sufficient water. >> japan's nuclear reactors at fukashima dai-ichi continue this week to produce dangerous levels of railed agrees. exposed nuclear fuel rods emit radiation unless they are submerged. so workers are trying to contain the radiation by covering the expose ode fuel rods with water. japan's nuclear crisis has renewed a debate in the u.s. over what to do with spent nuclear fuel rods.

currently, 145 million pounds every spent fuel is stored at 77 locations in the u.s., and 44 million pounds of additional spent fuel is added every year. this spent fuel is stored in tanks and most of the tanks are located right next to the nuclear reactors. the regulatory commission says that the system dealing with spent nuclear fuel is okay. >> right now we believe that spent fuel certainly can be stored safely and securely with the existing system. >> many americans want a single repository in a far-away place for the rods to be housed. but three decades the u.s. congress funded research on what to do with the rods. $13.5billion was spent on research. repeat, $13.5 billion on research! one burial site was final chosen, yucca mountain, a former salt mine in southwest

nevada. in 2009, two years ago, after more than two decades of research, president obama decided to cut funding for yucca mountain as a nuclear repository site. reportedly, he made his decision at the urging of nevada's democratic senator and leader, harry reid. question, what was president obama's primary motivation and knicksing the yucca mountain repository? science or politics to boost harry reid a re-election prospects last year which he survived? >> there may be a political component, but yucca mountain is so yesterday. the space there is too small to accommodate all of the accumulated civil and defense department nuclear waste. so it's outdated. it's been overtaken. and i think the bigger problems

facing the nuclear industry and the u.s. is to create and find places to build these pools of water that can hold the spent fuel rods while they cool down to the point where they can be transported and moved into those big caskets. if you keep it right next to the reactors,or you don't have to take it for. >> now would you get them in. >> train, truck. >> by train or truck? what happens -- [everyone talking at once] >> there's a lot of concern that if you transport this kind of nuclear material across state lines over long distances you could have an single nation repository for this kind of stuff. the problem is that in keeping it in the nuclear power plants, in these kind of casks, problem is that these plants weren't made to store the wasted fuel rods. and so what do do you with

them? they can't exist for too much longer and we don't have a national depository. >> has financial times editorialized on this subject? >> they haven't. if the u.s. can't find a place to do it, lots of others countries will. france, for example, which runs a commercial operation doing this -- a number of sites. if the u.s. turns its back on nuclear power, china, japan and south korea won't. so this -- this is -- >> what will we do with the rods. >> what the french do it's a process of breaking it down and glassflying it and storing it. they're taking it from other countries and making money off doing it. >> you know so much about it, did you hear the science that you got from eleanor, namely, that this yucca mountain is not big enough to sustain it? it lacks the size. is that what you said? >> that's right. >> you have any knowledge that? >> we heard -- regulatory

headset. >> lets assume it's true. i think the french have the answer to the problem and the americans won't adopt it. >> what do we do with the $13.5 billion we researched for yucca mountain? >> same politics behind this, john. >> i think we have to do with what -- the french are doing, and the brits, and that is they recycle this fuel so they get more than one use out of it. and so it doesn't have to be destroyed. but the waste -- continuing problem. >> we all agree that president obama is not going to restore yucca mountain to its original status. these rods will stay next to the nuclear plants as issue three, the odd couple. >> we don't always see eye to eye, do we, newt. >> no. but we do agree, our country must take action to address climate change. >> that was former republican house speaker newt gingrich, democratic house speaker nancy pelosi three years ago. they were talking about climate

change. but gingrich is now a likely republican candidate for president. and an unlikely to pledge support for climate changes demand for green energy. that's because of the political power of the tea party, it is said. the tea partied has emerged as the unofficial force of the republican party. sitting to my right, washington bureau chief richard mcgregor point that out on tuesday. "the rise of tea party activists as the king makers and republican primaries has added an extra level of calculation for obama's opponent." g.o.p. hopefuls are already looking for how to get rid of their moderate political baggage. item, former minnesota governor tim pawlenty. he supported cap and trade. item, former house speaker newt gingrich. he supported action to combat

climate change. item, former massachusetts governor mitt romney. he passed a state health insurance reform law that some believe mirrors elements of obama care. tea party patriarchs founder mark meckler is convinced that the g.o.p. 2012 candidate will have to pass the tea party test. >> the american people will identify with that's right party values, it's an acknowledgement they have to connect with the tea party. if they don't, they don't have a chance. >> is that a bum wrap against romney, there's federal funding or something wrong with his massachusetts plan that will inhibits a big turnout for him? you have read romney's book where he explains in detail for about 10 pages what the massachusetts health plan is that he introduced? >> i haven't read the book but i don't think you need to in the political debate because he's been pinged already so such so that hess backing away from it. >> you made trade off the error? >> they doesn't try to explain what his policy was. he says it was different and let's move on.

he doesn't want to own his own policy so i don't see why he wants to explain it. >> why doesn't he just pick up the language and memorize it. >> because republicans hate it. it's a subset of obama care so he doesn't want to more it. >> who looks the cleanest to you, as far as tea party in vulnerability is concerned? >> maybe michelle bachman but she is the least candidate so that's the problem because she -- she is -- the tea party loves her but she's not something the republicans would want as a candidate. force portion to each other. >> she is sarah palin are both tremendously acceptable to the tea party but aren't seen as a president because they haven't gotten there yet. >> why? >> romney is seen as president. >> like donald trump's name is out there? >> it's not celebrity status. it means the threshold -- what ronald reagan had to reach in the debate where people saw him

as a president. >> not serious candidates. >> did you see donald trump screaming on the view? where is the birth certificate of barack obama? that is great appeal tea party folks. >> this is the price of purity. if you want a birther or michelle bachman or sarah palin, tell me the months and date and the year where they will achieve that level, will they be seen as presidential candidates? i don't think that's coming, pat. >> you need the generals to support your candidates. >> yes but if you elect a candidate -- nominate a candidate that the tea party loves, that is someone that cannot win a national election. tea party -- excuse me! excuse me! tea party. >> the people can win certain districts, but and certain states but they cannot win a national election. and. >> what we saw in the democrats -- [everyone talking at once] >> have a chance of taking back the house because they need to

recapture 25 votes and there are at least 25 tea party freshmen who are not ready. >> it's not happening if the government keeps spending like this, that tea party movement will only accelerate. and all of the top tier republican candidates are facing enormous pressure from the tea party, and they're going to have to change their poin libya. now we yes or no, u.s. boots will be on the ground in libya? >> no marines to shores of tripoli this time. >> no? >> no. >> no. >> yes, but hopefully after gaddafi is gone. >> okay. >> after gaddafi is gone? >> yes. >> peace keeping. >> interestin