president obama talked about why the decision was made right now. >> the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough. reflective and representative enough of the syrian population, that we consider them the legitimate representative of the syrian people in the asass regime. >>> hugo chavez, recovering from six hours of surgery in cuba this morning. the fourth cancer-related operation for the venezuelan president since the summer of 2011. his vice president tells the people of venezuela the procedure on chavez was complex and completed correctly and successfully. >>> so michigan, the cradle of the organized labor movement is

been so helpful in the fight against al saud but the decision to formally recognize the syrian opposition coalition will pave the way for more support for these rebels and they're asking for weapons for a lot of weapons including heavy artillery but washington is accusing the massacres of using weapons bound for use in populated areas and its fight against rebels who serves to further allegations that scud missiles have been fired and warnings that the chemical arms could be the next step jacob holmberg founder and president of the future of freedom foundation so the u.s. is deliberately demonizing the syrian government. we've heard this stuff before about you know saddam hussein's debbi m.d.s. and he was going to unleash them on the us and mushroom clouds over american cities and it was entirely bogus it was that it was a way to get the american people to support the invasion and occupation of the country and that's what all of this interventionism is all about to install their dictators into power look like how the us empire is not complaining about the dictatorship in bahrain i mean there you've

been so helpful in the fight against al saud but the decision to formally recognize the syrian opposition coalition will pave the way for more support for these rebels and they're asking for weapons for a lot of weapons during heavy artillery and the latest from damascus is that this wednesday the explosion targeted the syrian ministry you know we don't know whether it was the all new sort of front or another rebel organization here and what we do know that it was a massive explosion rather three explosions rather there has been many blast like that in the past mostly suicide bombings. washington is accusing damascus of using weapons and banned for use in populated areas in its fight against the rebels this says for the allegations that scud missiles have been fired and warnings that chemical arms will be the next step jake of pawnbroker founder and president all the future of freedom foundation says the u.s. is deliberately demonizing the syrian government. we've heard this stuff before about you know saddam hussein's debbie in the news going to unleash him on the us and mushroom clouds over ameri

or another rebel who are responsible for that in fact the leader of the very syrian opposition coalition which the u.s. has just formally recognized and is supported by came out and asked the u.s. to weak the siddur their decision on almost right because they've been so helpful helpful in the fight against here's what he said. the decision of considering one of the factions fighting the regime is a terrorist organization should be reconsidered and we all madly love our country might differ with some groups and ideology and political views we confirm that all the rifles of all the rebels are united and we aim at toppling the criminal tyrant regime. and then this opposition leader went on to talk about how important religion is in their fight he says and i quote martyrdom for the sake of allah has always been a main motive for people's freedom end of quote so that's the idea of freedom but the leader of the syrian rebels pass in short the u.s. supports the syrian rebels and their aspirations for freedom while the rebels they are are thinking terrorists but the decision to formally recogniz

the president recognizes the syrian opposition for the first time. >> the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough and reflective and representative enough of the syrian population. >> the "new york times" said the announcement draws a sharper line between the elements of the opposition and the u.s. supports and rejects. i will talk to bobby gauche. a "wall street journal" poll being released tonight, the question, do you think leaders in congress should compromise or stick to their positions when it comes to the budget deficit? that is the question. how would you answer? we will show you the results of our poll. i will show you the conversations on twitter. it's on tamronhall. the holidays are here and we're here with cyreeta talking about the walmart low price guarantee. that's your receipt from another store? it is! let's put it to the test. alright! that's walmart's everyday low price. get out! ok, but i'm taking these! ready? yes. there you have it! that much? that's the walmart low price guarantee. see for yourself. bring in your last receipt and see how much you can

. >>> the united states officially recognizes the syrian opposition coalition. he was asked in an interview with barbara walters. >> do you plan to recognize the opposition and give them some legitimacy? >> we made a decision that the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the syrian people in opposition to the assad regime. >> the obama administration also said today it is formally designated the al nusra rebel group. a major gas line exploded in west virginia. there are reports of multiple fires. a portion of interstate 77 had to be shut down. no word on any injuries or the cause of the blast. >>> anderson, it's a good week if meteors are your thing. this one fell over edmondton alberta in 2008. the comet could produce a meteor shower anytime between now and friday. this is the first year the earth's orbit will pass the comet's debris field. you can get a glimpse of the meteor shower expected to peak on thursday night. that's my

. >> russia's foreign minister says moscow has invited the main syrian opposition coalition to talks. >> meeting with his egyptian counterpart, the russian foreign minister called on the syrian opposition to meet with the syrian president's government to end the 20-month civil war. the opposition says it will not negotiate with the assad government. this comes one day before the united nations special envoy is expected in moscow. >> the condition of an indian medical student whose gang rape triggered mass protests has deteriorated. doctors treating her in singapore say there are signs now of organ failure. >> most rates and other sex crimes in india go unreported and offenders are rarely punished, but the brutality of this assault has triggered public outrage and demands for both better policing and harsher punishment for rapists. >> now, another new rate case that led to suicide has underscored further the need for action -- another new rape case. >> this woman is mourning the loss of her daughter. six weeks after being gang raped in her village in india, the 17-year-old girl succumb

president obama telling barbara walters why that decision was made now. >> the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the syrian people in opposition to the assad regime. >> the u.s. joins britain, france and turkey in recognizing the syrian opposition. >>> hu go chavez is recovering from cancer surgery in cuba this morning. the operation lasted more than six hours and was completed correctly and successfully. this is the fourth cancer related surgery since summer of 2011. >>> at least four homes destroyed by a gas line explosion. this is just north of charleston, west virginia. a local station reporting five other homes were damaged, as well. that fire so intense it damaged apinterstate. several people were treated for smoke inhalation. west virginia's governor says no deaths have been reported. >>> so did you feel it? turns out we got a cosmic close shave. two asteroids buzzed earth, one passing inside the monday's orbit. in nasa says it came within 145,00

camp in the syrian capital has been under attack by warplanes leaving at least eight dead this week the opposition got another financial and political boost within us recognizing the coalition washington says it's meant to isolate extremist groups while allowing the rebels to up their struggle against the syrian government. takes a look at who's fighting in the n.t. assad kept. they call themselves martyrs. all those you see around you the fighters you see are living martyrs and the living martyr has already sacrificed a soul for this country but syrian rebels say they will stop at nothing to defeat us out. some of them are so proud of their deeds that they post them on the web including the execution of prisoners. or having a child behead a man who was presumably an assault supporter atrocities are committed on all fronts during syria's bloody civil war according to many accounts on the ground it's islamist groups that do most of the fighting on behalf of the rebels dr towie come meet was a member of a jihadi spoken ization twenty five years ago he later became a vocal opponent of radical islam that you have this have no problem to behead people alive you deal with people

news just hours before a meeting of syrian opposition leaders and their international allies in morocco. >> we've made a decision that the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the syrian people in opposition to the assad regime, and so we will provide them recognition. and obviously, with that recognition comes responsibilities on the part of that coalition -- >> that's a big step. >> it is a big step. there is a small element of those who oppose the assad regime that are, in fact, affiliated with al qaeda in iraq, and we have designated them as a terrorist organization, and we are going to make clear to distinguish between those elements of the opposition. >> well, despite recognizing the rebel movement, the white house press secretary, jay carney, confirmed earlier in the day that the u.s. doesn't plan to provide arms to the rebels. last week, u.s. officials said there was evidence that the syrian government was preparing for potential chemical weapons, but yesterday, defense secretary leon panetta said new intel

and friends many morocco to throw their weight behind the newly formed syrian opposition coalition two thirds of the islamic dominated entire south coalition has the highest of the muslim brotherhood and salafist and their idea of freedom for syria what. a positive sign for us that our military struggle is characterized by being mostly islamic because martyrdom for the sake of anna has always been the main motive of people who are. in what's seen as a symbolic attempts to distance themselves from terrorists in syria washington has designated one of the rebel groups all nusra a terrorist organization but the same syrian opposition that the u.s. supports welcomes the efforts of groups like al nusra the decision of considering one of the. factions fighting the regime is a terrorist organization should be reconsidered. this is a demonstration of support for almost in syria people heard chanting we are students of osama. people here in washington don't seem to understand that if you don't like the government in cairo or if you do like the government in cairo i guess i should say then you wi

. >> the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the syrian people. >> the president also told abc's barbara walters that with that recognition comes responsibility. clarissa ward has more on the opposition now from london. >> reporter: this is the man chosen to lead a newly formed coalition of syria's opposition groups. >> what does it mean to be recognized by the u.s.? the u.s. administration has big influence globally he told us. a step like that would pull the rug from under the regime on all levels, politically, economically, and militarily. the damascus foreign cleric has long been opposed to the government. he's been jailed numerous times. in july he finally fled to cairo. now he travels the world asking for international support for syria's opposition. do you feel that the international community has done enough to help syria? >> no. the international community fell short in its support to the syrian people, he said, but it is starting to wake up

>> we've made a decision that the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the syrian population, that we consider them the legitimate representative of the syrian people, in opposition to the assad regime, and so we will provide them recognition and obviously with that recognition comes the responsibilities on the part of that coalition. >> reporter: that's a big step. >> it is a big step. there is a small element of those who oppose the assad regime that are, in fact, affiliated with al qaeda in iraq. and we have designated them, al nusra, as a terrorist organization. and we are going to make clear to distinguish between those elements of the opposition. >> reporter: for the president, recognizing the syrian opposition as the legitimate authority in that country, many are asking what this may mean in terms of u.s. involvement. but today, a senior administration official said that there is still no plan to arm this group. yet, the government hasn't ruled it out. meanwhile, the other issue on the forefront of the president's mind

syria welcome the efforts of those designated terrorists in fact the leader of the very syrian opposition coalition which the us is just formally recognized that is supportive off came out and asked the u.s. to reconsider their decision on almost right because they've been so helpful in the fight against assad. maus he said quote there is nothing wrong with fighting in the name of islam then i think that this coalition another coalition spokesman yasser have borrowed said that we will work with everybody on the ground who has an agenda which includes ending the suffering of the syrian people if it is on the same page they will be dealt with using dialogue and containment end of quote the fact that radical groups are on the ground on the same page with the rebels in syria is no secret to anyone by now and if their acts include suicide bombings and all kinds of for all kinds of things that they seem to be ok with that in this war for them taking a closer look at the rebels in syria. they call themselves martyrs. you see around you of the fighters you see are living martyrs and the living martyr has a

. >> we have made a decision the syrian opposition coalition is representative enough of the syrian population but consider them representatives of assyrian people in opposition to the regime. >> the u.s. providing weapons to the rebels there. 40,000 people in the country have been killed. >> albert king rushed donna summer public enemy hart and randy new man all next year answer inductees into throll ha. >> it goes to show you just when you think you know the hap of rock and roll it changes shape on you. this is really more than thrilling and something we never expected. >> for the first time in history the public was able to vote for their favorite. the induction ceremony will be held in april in los angeles. that's your 5@5:00. >> let's talk about what went on in michigan yesterday. governor rick snyder signing right to work laws that will significantly diminish the power of unions. they are not happy about it. peter doocy is live with us. >> workers in michigan can no longer be force to do pay union dues if they don't want to because michigan's legislature passed two bills and the governor

efforts that include suicide bombings and killing a person in fact the leader of the very syrian opposition coalition which the u.s. has just formally recognized and is supported by came out and asked the u.s. we consider their decision on almost right because they've been so helpful in the fight against take a listen here on. the decision of considering one of the factions fighting the regime is a terrorist organization should be reconsidered and we all manly love our country might differ with some groups in ideology and political views but we confirm that all the rifles of all the rebels are united and we aim at toppling a criminal regime. then the syrian opposition leader went on to talk about how or when there is in their fight he says quote martyrdom for the sake of all law has always been the main motive for people's freedom and approach so that's the idea of freedom that the leader of the syrian rebels has ensured the u.s. is supporting the syrian rebels and their aspirations for freedom while the rebels there are thinking and the latest from damascus is that this wednesday an explosion target

>> we made a decision that the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective andresentative enough of the syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the syrian people in opposition to the assad regime and so we will provide them recognition and obviously with that recognition comes responsibilities on the part of that coalition. >> that's a big step. >> it is a big step. there is a small element of the -- of those who oppose the assad regime that are, in fact, affiliated with al qaeda in iraq. and we have designated them as a terrorist organization. and we are going to make clear to distinguish between those elements of the opposition. >> with the president recognizing the syrian opposition as the legitimate authority this that country, many are asking what this may mean in terms of u.s. involvement. but senior administration officials said there's still no plans to arm this group. yet the government hasn't ruled it out. the other issue on the forefront on the president's mind, the u.s. economy and that pending fiscal cliff. are we go

backing. >> we have made a decision that the syrian opposition coalition is inclusive enough, is reflectiveresentative enough of the syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the syrian people in opposition to the assad regime. >> less than 24 hours after the president's statement, u.s. officials confirmed the intelligence showed the conflict is escalating. >> we are seeing use of another egregious weapon, barrel bomb. an incendiary bomb containing flammable materials. it's indris crimnant in terms of civilian. >> the move to recognize element of the opposition, some brought in exile brought rebuke from the foreign minister, whose government backed negotiation between bashar assad and the opposition. given u.s. involve in the libya and iraq to bring down their dictators, analysts predict the deepening division between the white house and the russian president. >> he has seen american match nations bring down gaddafi, saddam. they are determined to preserve their ties. >> the administration downplays the leadership role and presence of islamists and al-qaeda, t

. >> we made a decision that the syrian opposition coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective andresentative enough of the syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative to the syrian people in opposition to the assad regime so we will provide them recognition and obviously with that recognition comes responsibility on the part of that coalition. >>shepard: the civil war has killed more than 40,000 people in the last 20 months and it is still going on. syrian state television say a huge explosion hit the capital of damascus and the military is now firing scud mills at the rebels. jonathan hunt is at the united nations. this firing of scud missiles is new. >>jonathan: it is. u.s. defense officials believe that some half dozen or so of the scud missiles have been fired at targets north of damascus by the syrian security forces aiming at the rebels in the last few days. they do not have any reports any casualties. you will wreck that scud missiles were widely launched by saddam hussein during the 1991 gulf war. they were largely inaccurate then and it appear th