how real is ahmadinejad's latest offer. for more, we are joined by geneive abdo from the website insideiran.org. thank you for joining us. >> thank you for having me. >> iran's offer for sending the uranium. >> the september schism is warranted. it's difficult to know if president ahmadinejad is serious this time t. reason for the skepticism is what's happening now in the context of his offer. not only is iran fags facing tougher sanctions. we have heard a lot from the united states, tough talk from secretary of state hillary clinton. also, there's going to be big demonstrations in iran next week. it's likely the government feels weak right now. >> what about the united states? is it certain about what to do about iran at this point? >> no, there's really a lot of confusion here in washington. i think that people are pursuing in the administration are advancing this idea of sanctions because there don't seem to be other alternatives. but, i think there's great skepticism within the administration that there will ever be a n

they were kept away from president mahmoud ahmadinejad's speech. he defiantly declared iran is now a nuclear state and has begun enriching uranium at 20% purity, a significantly higher level than before. >> ( translated ): in natanz, we are producing and stockpiling several kilos of this everyday and god willing, in the near future daily production will be tripled. >> warner: just two days ago, technicians at the natanz nuclear facility switched on new centrifuges. to provide the capacity for 20% enrichment. that's well short of the 90% mark required for modern warheads, but it still defied international calls to halt the nuclear program. at today's rally, president ahmadinejad again declared iran could, but does not plan to build a bomb. >> ( translated ): the iranian nation is brave enough that if one day we wanted to build nuclear bombs, we would announce it publicly without being afraid of you, the west. >> warner: those claims conflicted with a "washington post" report today that two scientific groups believe iran is "experiencing surprising s

ahmadinejad called at it big event. the scientific arena is where we defeat the west's domination, he added. the west is taking this shot seriously. the fear is dual use, that it could also carry nuclear payload. one reason for the recent deployment of the anti-missile defenses in the gulf region. >> launch like that is a provocative act. the president believes it's not too late for iran to do the best thing. come to the table with the international community. live up to the obligation. >> iranian president is ahmadinejad is sounding conciliatory notes and said they would accept an offer to send uranium abroad to monitor the iran suspect nuclear program. russian foreign minister labrov said he would welcome an agreement. a source tells fox news the iaea is waiting for a formal response. u.s. officials and others say the iranians need to be specific. >> put it in writing. tell the iaea. iran said so many things in the last few months. >> this comes when the u.s. is looking to racket up sanks against the iran regime. hill

this is tyranny by dictator ahmadinejad.ain silent about the oppression of the iranian people. the next great hope for the world and world peace is that the people of iran remove their illegitimate regime that is duly and legally authorized by the people the united states should stand with the iranian people in their request for freedom and let them know we support their voice for freedom over tyranny, liberty over oppression, and twhile dictator may kill the body of those freedom fighters, he will not succeed in killing the spirit of freedom that they have proclaimed when they lived. . ahmadinejad is trying to intimidate his people and the world. he is threatening the world again saying iran will deliver a telling blow to global powers on february 11. could this be a threat? another advance in iran's quest for nuclear weapons? our quarrel is not with the people of iran. the world's quarrel is with the government of iran. the illegitimate government of iran is the world threat to peace. ahmadinejad is waging internal war and

martha: ahmadinejad is in a tough position, they have serious economic problems going on there, he's struggling, you can almost feel this man's struggle to maintain power where he is. sanctions are sort of looming against him, new sanctions, whether or not they're going to peak, we don't know but they fear them to some extent and themism shield in some of the neighboring countries, and he says we have a great relationship with kuwait and the uae and all the countries, so why are you building a missile shield? >> iran, even though, are working with the arab states and the gulf regions to try and convince them that the obama administration and the united states don't have the resolve to stop iran from getting nuclear weapons, and the gulf states are very worried about possible retaliation from iran or indemnity by iran if they get nuclear weapons. we're in a very difficult situation, i don't think anybody is persuaded by the threat of more sanctions. martha: when you hear about the missile shield the administration wants to put in this area because they're concerned and it's obviously

then over the weekend, ahmadinejad said iran will deliver a blow to the global arrogance on february 11th. he is always threatening things but he is not a clown. he is actually a guy that is spooky. not everyone in iran believes this but this guy does, they are so dangerous that the ayatollah banned 12ers during the revolution 30 years ago. if you look up their theory of twelvers, compared to jesus coming back, it is opposite sides. spooky. are we ready to handle it in the bush administration let this one go. what happens if he is not bluffing? is the obama administration ready? we were duped by a guy wearing underpants with a bomb this his underpants and the president thinks he has something that will overwhelm dick -- dictators like president ahmadinejad but i am not brimming with confidence and if the middle east thinks, we are this deep trouble. watch this picture. here is the president of the united states now bowing to a mayor. this is a mayor from tampa bay, florida. i'm not real confident. can we stop with the bowing to everyone. everything in this country is up in the air. o

a speech yesterday -- president ahmadinejad spoke frequently about iran boss in nuclear ambitions.ing with its nuclear ambitions. >> when we say we do not manufacture a bomb, we need it. we do not manufacture a bomb. we do not believe in it. we did not believe in manufacturing a bomb. we have the coverage to announce it. if you think a nuclear bomb can save you, you can keep it. if you think a nuclear bomb can't save it, you can keep it for yourself you should know you are mistaken. you are making a mistake. we are openly announcing that through your management method -- we oppose your management method in the world, we oppose your bullying policy. we oppose your policy of imposing your views. we oppose your blundering policies. we oppose your method of administering the morals that is filled with discrimination, in a humane --ç inhumane. we have the courage to announce it and you should have the courage to say that you want to dominate the region and the iranian nation does not permit you to do so. host: that is obviously the voice of the translator over the address from presiden

megyn: alex, we have heard rhetoric along these lines from ahmadinejad before. well, they may have been spies. we are conducting an investigation before we that these guys loose. that in the context of him saying, we are willing to swap them for 11 iranian prisoners being held in the united states leads many to say these guys are, your brother and the others are just political pawns. do you feel that way? >> well, this is not a political issue. it is a humanitarian issue. that is what we have been saying. they don't have anything to do with the u.s. government, and that is abundantly clear. on the day that president ahmadinejad's statement hit the wires and the news that same day earlier in the day a nobel laureate released a statement in which he said, and i quote, "it is difficult to escape the conclusion that these three young people are being held because they are americans and not for any legal reason." and it certainly feels that way. it feels like they are being held totally unnecessarily. we need them home. these are not, you know, baseball cards or piec

president ahmadinejad is a former revolutionary guard.ange laws on family that has to do with divorce and alimony and custody issues. but by and large the women's movement remains in iran and defiant against the repression. host: we have daryl calling. caller: good morning, c-span and robin. my question is if you were to do a public poll to the iranian people on obama in iran. how do the iranian people feel about obama? guest: i think there is some division, there have been some public polls, but the question is how reliable they are. they have had to be taken by telephone and some iranians are reluctant. in the take-over of ovzthe u.s. embassy, instead of death to israel, they are saying death to no one. and there was another cry, saying obama you are with us, or you are with them. and ?;okthem being the governm. the obama g#administration has tried over the past year to engage ñrthe iranians because o its nuclear program. to get them to the table and w3 talk of the çissues qthat cnna dispute for many years. and that çeffort has been

so you just heard the iranian president, mahmoud ahmadinejad, basically blaming everything on you, on israel. but let me ask you this, the u.s. national security adviser, jim jones, has said that the increased pressure on iran is likely to lead to an attack on israel. do you agree with that -- not necessarily by iran. >> i understand the idea. i don't think that we are yet there. yeah, he probably intended probably hezbollah or someone else will attack us. in fact, ahmadinejad, this guy, he was two days ago in damascus, probably negotiating what should follow. he talked about a new middle east with no zionist and no -- israel and new israel. and this guy, you know, happened to develop not a new avatar-like long bows, but a nuclear weapon. so we have to take this situation seriously. i'm not sure whether we are going to face a preemptive attack by the hezbollah, but anyhow, we are not interested in conflict in the north or in the east. but if it is imposed upon us, we know how to respond. >> well, you say that, but then, of course, there's the gallstone effect. in other words, would yo

so ahmadinejad's enemies on both sides, the reformists and the anti-ahmadinejad hardliners because there are divisions came out and attacked him, and the deal fell apart. what that tells me is that it is going to be difficult to negotiate with iran right now because of there their internal divisions. that is, you know, i don't like hearing that message, but that is what is inside. every four years we have an election in this country. every time that happens everyone says, don't expect anything to get done. it is the president's election year. well, they just had a political meltdown six or seven months ago. this regime is deeply fearful that it may lose control or that things will turn against it. this is not the environment that is generally ripe for negotiation and big leaps of faith, a big risk taking on the parts of government. in fact, if anything, what governments tend to do under these circumstances is withdraw. we are facing a situation where they are likely to respond to our request for negotiation. the question is what do you do about it? the answer so far has been sanctions. w

iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad says that he's willing to consider releasing the three u.s.n iran in exchange for iranians imprisoned in the united states. ahmadinejad said in a television interview today that talks are under way for a possible exchange. the families of the three americans who could be facing espionage charges say they accidentally crossed the border during a hike back in july. >>> hundreds of iraqis are mourning the loss of more than 50 people killed in yesterday's suicide bombing near baghdad. yesterday's blast came in the midst of a shiite pilgrimage this week toward the city of karbala to mark the death of a renowned shiite figure. despite promising heightened security for the pilgrims, iraqi security forces were unable to prevent yesterday's attack. >>> and the medical journal the lancet is retracting a controversial 1998 study linking certain vaccines to autism. the lead author of the study was dead ceted by the it general council in britain calling it biased and his conduct dishonest. wakefield in the statement called the allegations unfounded and unj

one of them is ahmadinejad, who is the president of iran.and he said in his state of the union address, this is an interesting thing to come from the president. this is speaking almost directly to ahmadinejad and iran, standing back where your mr. speaker, to those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of defense, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist. that was the state of the union address and no doubt he is speaking to ahmadinejad, someone who has sworn to be the enemy of the united states and he defines ahmadinejad as one is to clinging to corruption. sounds a lot like what we are going through in this congress and the dissent that is taking place in this congress, no amendments allowed, shut down of the open rules process and debates process and a driving through of legislation in a partisan way. i'm going to suggest this, mr. speaker. i would appreciate it if the president today would offer the republicans the same thing that

mahmoud ahmadinejad's enemies on both sides, the reformists and the anti-ahmadinejad hardliners camettacked it. what this tells me is it is going to be difficult to negotiate are iran now because of their internal division. i don't like carrying that message but as a political scientist that's what it seems to me. every four years we have a presidential election. everyone says don't expect anything to get done if it is a presidential election. they just had a political meltdown six or seven months ago and this regime is fearful it may lose control or that things will turn against it. this is not the environment that is generally ripe for negotiation and big leaps of faith, big risk-taking on the parts of government. in fact, if anything what the government is expected to do under these circumstances is to withdraw. they are unlikely to respond to our hope for negotiation and the question is what do you do about it? the last 15 seconds, the interest has always been sanctions. we'll continue with our policy and sanction them as if the election never happened. when we talk to people pri

what was mahmoud ahmadinejad ranting about today? threatened israel once again saying that he has spoken to the heads of states of israel's neighbors saying if the israelis make a mistake and attack iran that the nations in the region will attack israel and, as he said, destroy them and uproot them, shep. >> shepard: you know, china's key for sanctions here. they have been trying to get china on board with the idea. how's that going. >> yesterday robert gibbs made it sound like china may be on board but then today a chinese official said, well, we need to give it more time for more diplomacy to kick in. so clearly the u.s. is feeling some frustration. that may be a source of frustration. it is not clear at this point that the u.s. will be able to get the chinese on board with more sanctions, shep. >> shepard: mike emanuel at the pentagon. thanks. fox news has learned the department of homeland security will install the first of 150 full body scanners the u.s. airports beginning just next week. according to the department, three of th

president ahmadinejad is a former revolutionary guard. public poll to the iranian people on obama in america and in iran, how do the iranians feel about obama? guest: there has been division. there have been public polls. the question is how reliable are they? many iranians are nervous about telling the truth on the telephone. one of the interesting things to happen on november 4 which was one of the major protests on the anniversary of the takeover of the u.s. embassy was that, instead of shouting "death to america and death to israel" the protesters were saying death to no one, peace to all nations. there were saying you are either with us or you are with them. them being the government. the obama administration has tried over the past year to engage the iranians because of its nuclear program to figure out a way to get them to the table, to talk about the issues that have been a dispute now for many years. that effort has so far been unsuccessful. the appeal was in part to recognize that what is happening in iran is important not becau

today, president ahmadinejad dismissed the criticism. he said, "we don't take her comments seriously." new optimism about the economic recovery washed over wall street today. stocks surged on good earnings reports and other upbeat data. the dow jones industrial average gained more than 169 points to close above 10,268. the nasdaq rose more than 30 points to close at 2,214. the u.s. department of transportation demanded today that toyota hand over internal documents on its sweeping recalls. it's part of a federal investigation of problems with gas pedals and brakes in millions of toyota vehicles. also today, the japanese auto maker announced it will shut down two plants in kentucky and texas for now. it said the recalls may be creating a backlog of unsold cars and trucks. for the record, toyota is a newshour underwriter. president obama has announced $8 billion in loan guarantees for america's first nuclear power plant in nearly three decades. the money would go to a project in georgia. the president spoke today in lanham, maryland. he sa

ahmadinejad has proposed a swap of three americans in exchange for the i iranian serving in u.s. prisons. before the exchange, at official said americans would be tried for espionage. the members have said the men were hiding in iraq's when the accidentally crossed over the border. >> more than 70 stars of doing their part to help the survivors of the haitian earthquake. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> they are lending their voices to remake "we are the world." 25 years ago, the song grace at least $30 million for african humanitarian programs. the new version will make the world premiere during nbc's coverage of the olympics. local doctors say it during their trip to haiti had to care for more injuries than anticipated. this doctor led a group of seven doctors called "physicians for humanity." they treated hundreds of patients. they say there were so many patients they were too full. a lot of people are still going to die. they do have the right antibodies. they do not have the right positions. do not think that by giving $10 now -- there will be great need for months to come. continue doing that. con

they have called for widespread protests, and iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad with another oneges, saying on february 11th, iran will deliver a harsh blow to the global arrogance. now, the global arrogance is a reference to the u.s., but it's not clear what the harsh blow is. oftentimes, iran has used this anniversary to talk about its nuclear advancements. not sure if that will happen again, but you can be sure president obama will be watching closely on february 11th. >> reza, thank you so much. tomorrow's memo to the president focusing on the fight against terror. to stopping places like yemen and somalia from becoming the next afghanistan, our report from bar bra starr. >>> ten americans charged with child trafficking in haiti are expected to get a hearing this morning. the haitian government says they were trying to ferry 33 children out of the government. >>> toyota denying any underlying electronic problems with the millions of cars recalled, claiming an investigation revealed no issues. the fix may arrive as early as today. toyota shipping a metal shim the size of a pos

and unfortunately, the sanction play into the hands of the ahmadinejad government, because he can go to the iranian public and undercut the reformers by saying look here, united states is trying to prevent us from having what we deserve, which is nuclear technology. >> professor, thank you very much for joining us. >> thank you for having me. >>> as you just heard, women are deeply involved in the reform movement in iran. but that doesn't begin to capture the complexities of life for iranian women. in tonight's signature story, we look at what has been called the persian paradox. women moving forward in their own way in aociety dominated by men. our report comes from bijan saliani, an iranian-american who grew up in iran and has reported extensively from there.>> repor views iranian women as being silently oppressed. oppress they may be. silent they are not. how women look and act is an unavoidable national issue, and many women here find themselves in conflict with their authorities every day. to see how that works, look at the scene we found in iran recently. two young women being

that is referring to iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad's statement that appears to be a direct --d at the u.s., who else, right? jim walsh is an expert on iran, out of mit in boston, my guest now from the commonwealth of massachusetts. jim, this is are area of expertise. what do we expect on -- 2/11? february 11th. >> ashley: i couple of things will happen. february 11th is important to iran, because that is the anniversary of their revolution. when khomeni took over in 1979 and they'll have big celebrations, that day but that will also be the day that protesters, reformers who oppose the government will turn out in large numbers, so a lot of people are very nervous about what will happen, and will there be violence? the government is already starting to arrest people, they suspect are reformers, and started that on tuesday. and so everyone is focused on february 11th, in terms of mahmoud ahmadinejad's remarks, who knows what that was about. he's known for over the top rhetoric and there was no coverage in the iranian press following that and i think it might be another one of his

opposition leaders who claim president mahmoud ahmadinejad stole elections last june called on theirto attend the celebrations, as ll, but to wear green, the color of the protest movement. u.s. intelligence and iranian analysts suspect clashes are likely. >> the regime is intent and bent on punishing those that oppose it. and the people are intent and bent on making themselves heard. >> reporter: during the last big opposition rallies in december, at least ten demonstrators were killed. nbc news' tehran bureau chief ali arouzi is working for western news agencies still in iran. >> iran's police chief warned there will be severe consequences for anyone who uses tomorrow's rally to protest against the government. for the last several days security has been dramatically stepped up, with road blocks and check points scattered throughout the city. communications have ground to a halt, with text messaging and internet cut off. >> reporter: further cutting communications, iran said today it will permanently block google's gmail service, but similar attempts to cut off iran have been unsucce

what ahmadinejad said, he says many things that appear to be not true.serious about the peaceful useçó of their nuclear program, what they should have done was taken more seriously the offer on the reactor, understanding increase of 3.5 to nearly 20% was what the united states offered some medical patients could haveçó access to theseñr medical isotopes. iran cannot replace and continue to operate at its current pace, not taking the partners of on a common-sense offer leaves the world to believe iran has other ideas. ñrthat is why the actions of around have led the world to be more unified than at virtually any other point in the past many years. our partners are now moving in a court forward to taking the next steps. -- in accord forward to take the next steps for regan -- next steps. there will be more phases to this, including the united nations. çóÑiñr>> the deadline is at thed of 2009. why should they consider any consequences of obeying with theÑi u.s. wants -- >> as you said, the president is working through and with our partners on making that ha

what ahmadinejad osaid, he says many things that appear to be not true. i would also say if they are serious about the peaceful use of their nuclear program, what they should have done was taken more seriously the offer on the reactor, understanding increase of 3.5 to nearly 20% was what the united states offered some medical patients could have access to these medical isotopes. iran cannot replace and continue to operate at its current pace, not taking the partners of on a common-sense offer leaves the world to believe iran has other ideas. that is why the actions of around have led the world to be more unified than at virtually any other point in the past many years. our partners are now moving in a court forward to taking the next steps. -- in accord forward to take the next steps for regan -- next steps. there will be more phases to this, including the united nations. >> the deadline is at the end of 2009. why should they consider any consequences of obeying with the u.s. wants -- >> as you said, the president is working through and with our partners

after releasing footage of the 10 foot long rocket launch made from tin foil, ahmadinejad reacted with his usual sober humility. said the jew in the weird beard, the scientific arena is where we can beat the west domination. the launch is a very biggy vent. this is the first presence of animals in space launched by iran. it is the start of bigger achievements. like maybe building a fort out of sofa cushions. let's look at the footage of one animal that sadly didn't make the cut. >> what cat has its own bed? that cat is awesome jiecht that bed is better than. >>> futon. i am angry, greg. >> congressman, on a scale of -- and omg. how concerned should america be about this development? >> well, i think we have to be very concerned. there is different types of missiles, and it would be for destructive purposes. we have recently seen not just this regime, but we have seen them execute martyrs for freedom. the engagement strategy with this regime will not work. the regime uses it to its advantage and has time to develop weapons or dual use technology that has an immediate and strategic threa

frankly, this is something that ahmadinejad has said on many different occasions.ink that is what we should be looking for. host: next phone call. shreveport, louisiana. caller: i have a problem with the new spin on all the evils that always take place in the media. when you look at the origins of the conflict between the u.s. and iran, you are going back to 1963, a cia coup, a public dictator who was never mentioned as a terrorist. it is never mentioned about who you say is a terrorist. it is as if some people are above it. israel has had nuclear weapons for a long time. there is someone there being imprisoned, mordaci inunu. why is it so hard to turn away from evils? world war ii was the last non- exclusive corporate war. host: danielle pletka? guest: a new spin on old evils. i think you are partly correct in that. it is true that a lot of the iranian propaganda and used to center around a question of the overthrow. the cia did sponsor that overthrow and the installation of the show -- shia. i think terrorist is probably the wrong word, how clever. on the other h

iran's president ahmadinejad said that it showed his country could defeat the west when it comes to technology. >>> this morning, appeals judges in the netherlands ruled that the international criminal court should reconsider its decision not to indict sudan's president on charges of genocide in darfur. they said the court had made an error of law. president omar al bashir is already facing charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in darfur. >>> overseas markets are higher this morning. as for wall street, cnbc's melissa lee is at the new york stock exchange. and melissa, aig's again under scrutiny. >> that's right, ann. today is big pay day for some aig employees. aig is paying out $100 million in retention bonuses to the financial products unit. that's essentially the group that traded the derivatives that led to the company's collapse. now, the total may sound like a lot. it's actually $20 million less than promised to these employees who contract signed long before the crisis. aig has told them if they don't take the cut bonuses, they won't get any bonuses at all. we should note t

ahmadinejad called for israel's annihilation and israel without israel in it, and you had the leadersist organizations and leaders of the terrorist states to call for the annihilation, and genocidal massacre of an entire people. that was an article missed. >> see him on our saturday show which airs tomorrow in "the situation room," 6:00 p.m. eastern, and we will have a lot more of what is going on here and other subjects that we talked to with the ambassador. tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. >>> meanwhile, an earthquake off of the coast of japan near okinawa of 7.0. there are about 20,000 u.s. military personnel there stationed at okinawa, and there are no reports or casualties or major damage, but our folks in japan are watching this very, very closely. jack cafferty is coming up with the cafferty file. >>> also, washington announces funding for the first new nuclear reactors in decades, but it does not know what to do with the waste from the previous reactors. i will look at that report. >>> and he was one of the most controversial figures in the obama administration until he stepped down in a

during a television interview, ahmadinejad suggested a prison exchange of iranians in american for the jailed u.s. hikers. they doctor capt -- they were captured from iran after crossing over and would be tried for espionage. and the west believes iran's nuclear program is geared toward acquiring ato thetic weapons and they deny that claim. >>> a fate for possible child trafficking for those behind bars in haiti. the men will be questioned today. the women were questioned yesterday. police arrested all ten on friday for trying to take a bus load of children across the haitian border. they haven't been charged with anything yet and maintain they were only trying to help. >>> we're just talking here becau when you have the eldest grandson of franklin and eleanor roosevelt in the studio you want to have as much talk time as you k. he's the most powerful man in the world. he's fighting an economy, economic downturn and contain bitter wars being fought on several fronts and two little kids living with him and soang up the history of a turbulent time and we're not talking about the obamas, w

certainly israel is watching with enormous interest because of what ahmadinejad has said about wiping israel off the map, what is the timetable? >> i think they are close to getting a nuclear weapon. there's much that we don't know that shouldn't make us feel better. what we don't know probably takes them closer to that capability. one reason that prime minister netanyahu of israel was in moscow this week was to try and persuade the russians of the seriousness of the situation to have the russians continue to withhold delivery of sophisticated new air defenses that the iranians need. >> secretary of state clinton uses tough words seems to be hawkish on this. president obama, how do you characterize his approach to this? >> i think he still wants to try to negotiate with iran. i had higher hopes for secretary clinton earlier in the week. i see in the past days she has apparently taken off the table the possibility of u.s. military action. which is something that at least rhetorical the administration kept on before. i do think given the proclivities of the obama administration the poss

secretary of state hillary clinton dismissed iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad suggestion for a swap and added there is no basis for the americans' continued detention. massachusetts will have a new senator a week earlier than expected. republican scott brown will be sworn in the senate tomorrow upon request to take part in several upcoming votes. today, ben bernanke began his second term as chair of the u.s. federal reserve. ceremonial swearing in was held earlier in washington. glen b glenn beck returns in a moment but first, bret baier previewing "special report". >> bret: what really came out of the white house briefing over how the christmas day bomber was handled? and what is the national intelligence director saying about the process now? join me in 27 minutes for special report. now back to glenn beck. >> glenn: you know, i'm so tired of the so-called experts, because they haven't gotten on all of this. they're scoffing now at the idea that china is the next superpower. i think it's already happened. we better wake up. i trust the regular americans more than the so-called exp

mahmoud ahmadinejad proposed that trade. the americans have been held since july and are accused of espionage. they claim they crossed into iran by misskak. >>> a magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit off the coast of northern california today. the u.s. geological survey says the noontime quake struck 35 miles from the town of petrolia, extreme northern california. there are no reports of major damages or injuries. >>> finally this. video, freak you out a little bit. it's a swarm of brazilian three-tailed bats, they've taken over a foreclosed vacant house in port st. lucie, florida. the bats are common in the area, help control the mosquito population. all the neighbors are trying to seal off their homes. the worst part, it's the smell, it's nasty, the rabies. and dusk every night, out they come. >> oh my god. this is creeping me out. >> it is, isn't it? >> i can't even watch it. okay. get that video off the screen. yuck. thanks for sharing, mike. come on, what happened to, like, cute babies? >> we got to get back to that. >> mike ga

and where his strong voice of support for the iranians who are risking all in their opposition to ahmadinejad? just that short list. that short list and you know it is no wonder that our president only spent 9% of his state of the union address discusses national security because there aren't a lot of victories he could talk about that night that is a short list. there are so many challenges in front of us and it can seem overwhelming, but despite these challenges we have hope that we can move things in the right direction but it is going to require the administration to change course. we need a foreign policy that distinguishes america's friends from her enemies and recognizes the true nature of the threats we face. we need a strong national defense. i think you would agree with me. as reagan used to talk about that peace through strength. in that respect, i applaud the president for following at least a part of the recommendations made by our commanders on the ground to send more reinforcements to afghanistan. now, though, he, we, must spend less time hoarding our adversaries and working wi

that's why i think people like ahmadinejad would be happy if they're attacked by israel. view, their goal in having the nuclear program has been all along the goal for going -- for a nuclear bomb has been all along, in my view, to consolidate their own hold on power. i think they are trying to stay, as they have shown now, in power with any price, and it's becoming increasingly clear that they cannot. but if israel attacks, not only will there be widespread, i think, instability throughout the region, but i think this regime will be saved and i don't think that saving this regime is in the long-term interests of israel. >> rose: but -- i want you to continue, please. but are you saying that if, in fact, there is no attack from israel and there is nothing hostile, other than sanctions, that this regime will fall of its own weight because of its internal conflicts? >> that is very much my guess, absolutely. if there are increased targets sanctions against the regime, if there are increasingly isolated on the international arena, if it is made clear by the international comm

look at this photo of president ahmadinejad in iran's nuclear facility in natanz.nd right behind him is an american transducer looking exactly like this thing. >> settles: yes. the iranians were trying to acquire these transducers. >> stahl: one reason it's so hard to enforce the sanctions is that many items iran wants are sold for non-military uses, like this little widget, a triggered spark gap. >> settles: the triggered spark gap can be utilized in a lithotripter, which is a machine... a medical device that breaks up kidney stones. and it's also used to detonate a nuclear weapon. >> stahl: so, this is the typical dual-use item? >> settles: a very scary dual- use item. >> stahl: now, after you catch someone, have you been able to flip them? >> settles: absolutely. >> stahl: and have you been able, in this way, to sabotage some of the things you send over? in other words, send over faulty stuff that'll break down? >> settles: i can't comment on anything like that. ( laughs ) >> stahl: the justice department has indicted over 100 alleged smugglers working for iran

and, at the same time, the iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad said he is willing to swap the threemerican hikers detained in iran for iranians currently serving time in american prisons. what's the reaction to all of this, this trade proposal? >> well, secretary of state hillary clinton is calling on the iranians to release those three american hikers but no trade. >> there are no negotiations taking place between the united states and iran. we believe they should unilaterally release our detained citizens. >> and the secretary of state says if tehran has questions about iranian citizens, they know the proper channels to go through. so, no dealing with the u.s. they just want the american citizens released, shep. >> shepard: mike emanuel working the pentagon tonight. thanks. in times of war it's rare for the military to announce where it will strike next but the united states and allies in afghanistan announced, indeed, the target of their first big offensive since president obama ordered more troops into the war zone. coalition forces now say they will focus on the town of marjah

but iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad remained defiant today of western pressure. >> ( translated: in their view, economic, scientific and technological progress must only be monopolized by a few and others do not have the right to enter the arena of science and modern technology. >> sreenivasan: amid the nuclear standoff, iran will mark the anniversary of the islamic revolution tomorrow. the government of iraq has ordered about 250 current and former employees of the company formerly known as blackwater security to leave the country. they were told today to get out within seven days or have their visas revoked. the order came after an american judge dismissed criminal charges against five blackwater guards. those men were accused in the shooting deaths of 17 iraqis in 2007. a rare earthquake struck northern illinois today. the pre-dawn tremor was centered 45 miles northwest of chicago, but was felt as far away as iowa, wisconsin and michigan. the u.s geological survey reported it had a magnitude 3.8. there was no word of damage or injuries, but the shaking tossed people out of be

. >> reporter: but iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad warned tuesday that those who try to impose sanctions will live to regret it. and gregory schulte-- the former diplomat-- says arab leaders have told him privately diplomacy is useless against tehran. you're saying that senior arab officials have mentioned in meetings that they would be prepared to see an american strike against iranian nuclear targets? >> let's just say that i have been in meetings with senior officials in the region. i started talking about our diplomatic approach and this was the last administration, you "we don't think diplomacy is going to be successful and oh, by the way, here are the targets that you might be interested in." >> reporter: others, like cliff kupchan, doubt the u.s. is seriously contemplating military action against iran. but he says the american approach is shifting. >> this is a qualitative change in u.s. policy, not an outstretched hand, more of a clenched fist, make no doubt about that. we're are talking about sanctions, regime change. we're into a different obama policy. it's a tough o

iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad had suggested trading three american hikers held in iran for 11 iranians held by the u.s. clinton said the hikers and other americans detained in iran are being held unjustly, and should be freed immediately there was new trouble for toyota today-- this time, involving complaints over brake issues. the company also drew a new warning from transportation secretary ray lahood. >> my advice is, if anybody owns one of these vehicles-- stop driving it, take it to a toyota dealer. >> sreenivasan: the secretary delivered that stark advice to a house committee hearing this morning. later, after reporters asked about his statement, his tone softened slightly. >> what i meant to say... what i thought i said was, if you own one of these cars and are in doubt, take it to the dealer and they're going to fix it! >> sreenivasan: lahood's words were meant for the drivers of 2.3 million cars and trucks across the u.s. that may have problems with gas pedals that stick. last month, toyota recalled and stopped u.s. sales of eight models. on monday, the company announ

mahmoud ahmadinejad said iran has no problem meeting the u.n. demand. he also said iran may be willing to trade three jailed american hikers for 11 iranians held in u.s. prisons. relatives of the americans-- shane bauer, sarah shourd and josh fattal-- have said they were hiking last july when they strayed across the border from iraq. iranian officials have indicated they might be charged with spying. those are some of the day's main stories. i'll be back at the end of the program with a preview of what you'll find tonight on the newshour's web site. but for now, back to jim. >> lehrer: and still to come on the newshour: haitian orphans find a home in colorado; and a big banker talks about big banks. >> ifill: that follows our look at the obama administration's decision to change nasa's priorities and the potential consequences. we begin with some background. >> it's one small step for man, one git leap for mankind. >> ifill: more than 40 years after astronauts first landed on the moon, those initial steps still represent a crowning achievement for ameri