it is important for the syrian opposition to develop their ideas, syrian ideas, about how the space transition in syria, which we think is under way, as i sit in my opening statement, the protests are growing. the space transition is under way. the syrian opposition needs to identify how that transition should proceed. that should not be an american responsibility. this is a syrian issue they should decide. how about if i hold there, senator? >> thank you very much. and i know that americans are outraged by this violence, but i am afraid that when you open up the newspaper day after day and it is in the context of instability and a lot of places a lot of change in the middle east it might be the level of outrage might be more muted because it is in the context of so much other news and change in the region. it's always a region of a lot of volatility as you know better than on, but lately it has been that much more difficult. so i think it is difficult sometimes for many americans to sustain their focus, but it is my opinion that not only should mr. assad stepped down, but he should stop tryin

this is a syrian issue that syrians should decide. how about if i hold there, senator? >> thank you very much. i know americans are outraged by this violence. but i'm afraid when you open up the newspaper day after day and it's in the context of instability in a lot of places and a lot of change in the middle east, that it might be -- that the level of outrage might be more muted because it's in the context of so much other news and so much other change in the region. it's always a region of a lot of volatility. but lately, it's been that much more difficult. i think it's difficult sometimes for many americans to sustain their focus. but it's my opinion that not only should mr. assad step down, but he should stop trying to deliberately mislead the world where he -- his forces engage in an act of violence and it seems it's always followed by some fraudulent promise that they are going to reform and then that cycle gets repeated as well. and i know part of the impediment here is developing a broad enough coalition of nations, governments to support us. and i know we are t

but syrians, syrians must resolve the crisis. the manner in which the crisis is resolved has to be a syrian one. my job is to help establish the space for syrian activists and syrian thinkers, for syrian business people and for the syrian people generally to develop and organize the political transition that must occur if syria is to be stable again. syria's 23 million people are already thinking about what happens when assad is no longer president of syria. i believe we and the syrian people share a vision of what syria could be, an open and democratic country where governance is based on consent of the governed. a unified and tolerant country where arabs and kurds, sunnis, christians and jews see themselves as syrians first and celebrate syria's rich cultural diversity. a strong country, at peace with its neighbors, and exercising a stabilizing influence in the region. a strong country that plays a responsible role in the broader international community and a country that does not support iranian efforts to destabilize the regi

and i think syrians germly understand that iran and hezbollah are supporting syrian government repression against them. >> and i know when you were getting out of damascus and i think with a lot of valor and a lot of commitment to bear witness to the truth when you made that journey, i know it had to be in some ways harrowing, but what did you draw from it mostly? i know you saw a lot and have a better sense of what was happening on the ground, but did you draw from other than, i guess, what has to be remarkable inspiration when you draw upon that -- the inspiration provided by these brave people? what else can you tell us about that journey you took? >> fascinating experience and i have had a lot of interesting trips in the peace corps and foreign service, but that one would come up at the top. i shared a couple of conclusions with the department of state and the media. the protestors are peaceful. the one weapon i saw was a sling shot. these are not gunmen. when we came up to the first check point, very frankly the locals' check point, we weren't sure if they were going to be armed. but

they have much respect to their contribution to the syrian culture, to syrian society. this is why we do not see them as only security. this is the huge difference. when i mentioned some names -- this is why i do not believe that they are stuck with iran at the end. they have different point of abuse. -- they have different point of view as. he said exactly that he had to leave. the last question about the opposition. the opposition, it is clear that they are fragmented. we have to understand that both regimes could last without having a united a position. it is not easy to bring all of the figures united in a few months. libya is a different case. they appointed themselves and it goes from there. they know exactly what they want. they know exactly what they want from the regime. this is why the regime and i did some opposition figures -- none of the opposition attended. they said it is an important strategy. there are certain conditions that should bring the army back to its place. before that, none of us would accept. >> i want to answer the question on iran's involve

by the syrian people themselves. under the president's recess appointment i have been working in syria since late january. it has not been an easy job but the strategic stakes and strategic opportunities we have in syria are quite dramatic. there is the hugely important story about the struggle for human dignity underway in syria. i arrived in syria at a month before the protests started. in the past five months those protests have grown slowly in size and they now extend across all of syria. the protesters demanded respect for their basic rights, freedom of speech, freedom to march peacefully and an end to corruption and above all they demand that their government treat them with dignity. i want to emphasize we talk about the arabs bring in washington. the key word is dignity, treating people with dignity. the government's response has been brought will. it has been outrageous. nearly 2,000 people have been killed by the syrian security forces and thousands more arrested and held in barbaric conditions. one cannot h

i do all the syrian assets under u.s. jurisdiction will be frozen so clearly this is some more mounting pressure coming from the u.s. government in terms of financially trying to corner of syria shortly after president obama issued his statement and his executive order we did see germany france britain and the european union all are rapidly issuing statements calling for the syrian president to step down and this all coming just a day after president assad did speak with the un secretary-general ban ki moon are shoring him that all military and police operations in his country have halted but clearly this is not stopped by the u.s. and its western allies from putting more pressure on the syrian government and the new wave of action told getting the syrian regime as you've been saying the marina was on the call of the security council meeting. it's coming from all ends al as the security council the un security council is meeting today to respond discuss findings of a report that was released by the un human rights panel t

i think that is an important message to convey to syrians. what i learned from the council is that they would prefer a diplomatic solution. the pressure may come differently from different governments such as president obama's call for resignation. what kinds of actions are called for by the government do not fall under my mandate. mine is that there has to be accountability and justice and perpetrators must be brought to justice. and that the call for reform and yet a continuation of the violence. in fact i told the security council there has been an escalation of the violence during the last two weeks. 200 people were killed. >> thanks very much for joining us. there is a lot of talk about the chinese economic juggernaut, especially as america's biggest foreign creditor. joe biden saw -- but is china really an unstoppable economic force? >> like the giant ships that fill its ports, china seems to be steaming ever onwards, churning out its exports, selling to the world has swelled china's economy into a giant but also let it vulnerable to wh

putting more pressure on the syrian government and the new wave of action using the syrian regime as you've been saying the merino walsall the call of the security council meeting. it's coming from all ends al as the security council the un security council is meeting today to respond discuss findings of a report that was released by the un human rights panel this twenty two page report accuses the syrian government of carrying out of human rights violations since mid march when the anti government protesters began taking to the street according to this u.n. report a fresh one of the syrian government has taken part in numerous summary executions carried them out there's been kidnapping and torture according to the findings of this u.n. report to un investigators say that the syrian government may have committed crimes against humanity and according to u.n. investigators they say that they have evidence against at least fifty eight suspects so what the u.n. human rights panel is now recommending is for the security council to refer syria to the international criminal court for these

people and second it urges the syrian opposition to engage in political dialogue with the syrian authorities about what reforms to carry out in the country the syrian opposition definitely could be more forthcoming in that direction so a very important difference there the washer and draft resolution does not put pressure on just one side it costs the dialogue it calls for restraint on both sides and here is more on that from russia's and point to the united nations who spoke with us earlier if there are some constructive ideas from our colleagues were prepared to absorb them but of course simply you know marrying the two would go to different species from two different planets so what we have seen from. colleagues u.k. and others it's completely biased and leaning exclusively on the syrian government it doesn't have anything of the need for dialogue doesn't encourage your position for dialogue in fact our concern is that it's going to be the more extreme the more destructive elements of the syrian opposition towards. even stronger efforts in order to topple the syrian government so that's w

people and second it urges the syrian opposition to engage in political dialogue with the syrian authorities about what reforms to carry out in the country very important difference there the russian draft resolution does not put pressure on just one side it calls for dialogue it cost for restraint on both sides and here is more on that from russia's and void to the united nations what we have seen from. colleagues and others from the security grounds completely different. it is not in line it's completely by. leaning exclusively on the syrian government that doesn't have anything. for dialogue doesn't that god is your position for dialogue in fact our concern is that it's going to be the more extreme the more destructive elements of the syrian opposition towards strong efforts in order to topple the syrian government so that's why. we don't like at all what our worst of chords are trying to achieve by about the resolution of the proposal to to keep the security council involved but the have it devolved into positively for months russia has been pointing at the problem with the attitude the

then, the syrian army move right up to the border. now, the opposition activists and the regular army i each other across the fence. two months later, -- returns for another visit and spend four days with the opposition members here. >> i think that the syrian army, they don't want people -- they know that they are living in the border. every time you will hear shooting, explosions. >> the few who is still camped out near the border are mainly visitors from the syrian army. they want to fight the regime. this marks a new departure for the opposition,. now they refrain from military means. the regime would have no pretext to attack. it began with a video message a few weeks ago. the former colonel called on government soldiers to desert and join him in his entourage with a young officer we met in june. the commander gave us an exclusive interview. >> the regime has become so arrogant that there is no other choice, they have to be removed by force. that is what we believe and we shall carry on until we have achieved our goals in the int

people say, and what the syrian people do. >> it seems obvious what the syrian people want. they want democratic transition and want the fall of this regime. the president of the united states, barack obama, called on a longtime u.s. ally, hosni mubarak to leave. he's not doing that t not such an ally and somebody committing much for violence. should the president of the united states say it's time for bashar al assad to step down? >> you're absolutely right that bashar al assad is using a great deal more violence than used in egypt. we've said, and we have been very clear on this. we do not view bashar al assad as indispensnsle. we do not view his continuation in power as important to american interests. we view him and his government as a source of instability and source of violence in syria. i think our views are very clear. the president has said, his government will be left in the past. the meaning is clear, christiane. >> many americans watching this unfolding, say, well, look, the united states joined a coalition of a no-fly zone, military intervention in libya, for i

the syrian government promised us right here, the syrian ambassador said the u.n. can travel anywhere they want in syria. >>> and later, crime and punishments. the missing woman robyn gardner. how her traveling companion looked and acted the day she disappeared. >>> we have new information about the self-proclaimed polygamist prophet warren jeffs seen looking shockingly thin. is he in a coma? what is the doctor saying about his recovery? >>> 2,200 men, women and met an old man at the top asked him if he had a secret and the old man stopped and thought and said: free 'cause that's how it ought to be my brother credit 'cause you'll need a loan for one thing or another score 'cause they break it down to one simple number that you can use dot to take a break because the name is kinda long com in honor of the internet that it's on put it all together at the end of the song it gives you freecreditscore-dot-com, and i'm gone... offer applies with enrollment in freecreditscore.com but my data is doubling. and my servers are maxed out. [ male announcer ] with efficient i.t.

after syrian-americans, syrians who are in the united states and pressuring them. what's going on? >> syrian-americans are an affluent, influential and important group here in the u.s. for the syrian regime strategically. and the syrians are threatening, syrian-americans, saying we'll go after your families. and they've been doing it. they arrest their families back home, they torture them, and in some cases they kill them. they're doing the same thing with syrians in latin america as well as europe. rick: and so what can we do about stopping that? >> well, the u.s. has already put a restriction on syrian diplomats leaving beyond washington. the syrian ambassador has left, probably because he feels the heat coming up, and the fbi is investigating the alleged intimidation and frightening of the syrians here in the u.s. rick: joseph's new book is called "the honored dead," he's a former counterterrorism advisor to the fbi. thank you very much, joseph. >> thank you, rick. jamie: seems everywhere you look the economy is in chaos. europe slipping, america sliding, there

what's the balance of power between the syrian government and military and the syrian people who are protesting? >> ali, this is a very important point. you're asking really several questions in one. the first question is that there is no daylight between the security authorities in syria and the political leadership. the security apparatus, the bulk of the security forces will fight to the end to protect the regime because there is no divide between the two. point one. point two, ali, and for your viewers, more than 50% of the syrian population lives in two cities, alapo and damascus. neither has fully joined the protesters. what i'm trying to say is that there is a silent majority out there and when and if the silent majority joins the protesters, this would mean the end of the syrian government. finally, i think the economic situation is deteriorating very sharply. the next few weeks are very, very critical. if the economic situation deteriorates further, then the silent majority will throw its luck with the protesters and that's why now it's all-out war. the next few weeks in par

the syrian government and president are stopped which affectively it sends the wrong message to the syrian opposition prompting them to believe that if they remain insistent on the situation keeps getting critical the west will come to help them you know the way it happened in libya the russian resolution calls on the syrian authorities to allow unhindered access to international humanitarian agencies and to fully cooperate with the un commissioner for human rights now as for how the resolution how far the resolution can go both russia and the u.s. have veto power as we know along with china the u.k. and france and that means whatever resolution comes out at the end of the day it has to be acceptable for at least all of the five permanent members of the u.n. security council if they don't agree there is going to be no resolution. now a british man who challenge the judiciary system in the u.k. to expose corruption within the courts is losing his battle roman scarth an outspoken world war two veteran has lost an appeal against a six month jail sentence for recording a court hearing without

this is a syrian issue that syrians should decide. how about i hold there, senator? >> thank you very much. americans are outraged by this and violence, but i am afraid when you open up the newspaper, day after day, and it is in the context of instability in a lot of places and a lot of change in the middle east, it might be -- the level of outrage might be more muted because it is in the context of it so much other change in the region. it is always a region with a lot of volatility. you know better than i.. lately, it has been more difficult. i think it is difficult for many americans to sustain their focus. it is my opinion that not only should mr. assad should step down, but he should stop trying to deliberately mislead the world bank and his forces engaged in acts of violence and then -- deliberately mislead the world bank and his forces engaged in acts of violence. i know part of the impediment is developing a broad enough coalition of nations to support us. we are trying to get an even broader coalition. one of the challenges we have is engaging russia and chi

should the syrian opposition, should the syrian opposition invite foreign intervention?s not they could dial a number and people would come. it sounds like nato is ready for another engagement. but the success of the libyan opposition now has raised the question for the syrians. why not enlist foreign intervention? thus far they've been too proud. they thought they could do it on their own. but the question is going to arise before very long. >> and the other question then is would anybody respond internationally? >> that's exact actually it. >>> a couple new developments out of libya tonight to tell you about. opposition forces say that upwards of 50,000 combatants and civilians have been killed in the uprising so far. the casualties could grow if gadhafi loyalists do not give up by saturday. that's the new deadline for areas still under loyalist control to surrender or face attack. those numbers we can't verify. in algeria, sources say gadhafi's daughter has given birth. the baby's gender so far undisclosed. >>> coming up tonight, crime and punishment, the latest in th

these should target the syrian energy sector. we expect the eu's political and security committee to hold an emergency session in the next few days. >> westerwelle said if the syrian leader does not introduce democratic reforms, he should go. >> there are protests across india in support of an antique ruction campaigner in jail. the government has been unable to end the standoff, it dismissed the fast by anna hazare as misconceived. hazare says india's economic boom has benefited the rich and powerful, and his fast will continue until the government take action against corruption. >> they are taking to the streets in the thousands in support. protesters are calling for the activist's relief. -- release. in some areas, they are stopping trains. they say hazare's campaign against corruption is being blocked by a corrupt government. he has been dubbed the new gondi, named for a political leader who used piece de resistance for political ends. -- who used a peaceful resistance for political ends. >> people have elected them. what the

we believe that the syrian should address their problems as part of their domestic. and this is an internal civil conflict and it should not be internationalized as for the situation in libya of course every country is unique in terms of its particular situation the background of its conflict the form and the scale of public protest cetera on the other hand we should learn our lessons this tree first the un resolution on libya you've mentioned we are all witness to it and we still see it neither the number of international players tend to digress from the strict observation of both the instructions and the spirit of these resolutions therefore we are not really concerned the such loose interpretations could only result in making some of the opposition circles tighten their position and opt for a tougher approach which is by no means opposed of achievement in terms of finding a mutually acceptable solution. as far as the opposition is concerned international observers point out that the demands of the syrian opposition are quite in sync with the demands put forward by