u.s. support israel has been able to join the boards of unicef and undp for the first time. with u.s. support israel is playing a much more prominent role throughout the united nations system. and it has been very generous in crediting u.s. assistance and support in helping it get to that place. i will not take a seat -- a back seat to anybody on u.s. support for and defense of israel in the united nations. and when it comes to unesco, look only at what israel is doing in its own interests. it is still voluntarily funding programs that it thinks are important. while we are not. >> ambassador, i have one question. we'll make another round, but you'll need to be concise in this to get to everyone. we're hearing reports that iraq may be facilitating arms shipments to syria to support the opposition, and so it's very disheartening. i would say what is the u.n. doing to investigate those allegations? and if they're found to be true and iraq really is in violation of its international obligations, what steps can we expect the u.n. to take? >> thank you, madam chairwoman. we have also heard s

if it's the u.s. israel and iran, if israel gets dragged in, this is a completely different ball game. let me give you an example. first, beverly, i think that if we did it, we would try to make sure the israelis didn't go along with us. it would be like the 1991 gulf war where we said stay out of it because we'd try to have as large as coalition as possible to include arab states and having israel participate gums that up. the israelis have an amazing military but don't add capabilities that we don't already have. if the united states went alone, however, i do think israel would still get dragged into it in large part because the iranians won't draw any distinctions between the americans and israel. they don't draw any distinctions now when things blow up in iran, they draw no distinction. they think the great satan and little satan with basically the same enteight and don't believe one would do something without the other. they may not be able to tell who hit them and will have an incentive to drag israel

was concerned about israel's move. she said the u.s. does not consider the decision helpful to the peace process. nuland said her country has raised the issue with israel. >>> u.s. special envoy for middle east peace david hale is in the region trying to revive the peace process. >>> people in japan's northeast are focused on overcoming the challenging of the 2011 disaster, but it won't be easy. they have to rebuild homes, businesses, entire communities. we'll show you their struggles and their successes on "the road ahead" every wednesday at 1:00 p.m. japan time here on "newsline." >>> experts warn a nuclear plant in central japan may be sitting on an active fault line. authorities have ordered a new round ofionis at the tsuruga power plant. the reactor is already offline for regular safety checks. the nuclear and industrial safety agency issued this inspection order. japan atomic power company operates the plant. the team of experts surveyed three faults under the plant compound. one is 150 meters from the number two reactor may be act

minutes from now in the meantime israel is its war rhetoric against iran despite no definite proof that iran is building a nuclear weapon so coming up next we'll ask a former u.s. . both israel and america could go when it comes to dealing with iran. we're sitting down with douglas macgregor have retired army colonel who fought in the gulf war and was referred to by some officials as the best fighter the us army has got mr mccracken thank you very much for joining me good to be here president obama has put forward an ultimatum for iran either make progress with negotiators or face consequences consequences meaning war some say a strike may happen within the next few months in your opinion how realistic is that should we expect the war in summer tropical question right now in washington d.c. i think the answer provided to all that is no president obama is not remotely interested in waging war against iran so let's be clear about that no one at the top of the united states military establishment is interested in waging war against iran and the intelligence community has made it abundantly clear that iran is nowhere near the development of a nuclear warhead or th

u.s. policy toward israel play a role in this? >> major role. i think the u.s. policy towards israel is creating enemies for us throughout the muslim world. because what we are sanctioning israel against most of our values as americans. we talk about freedom, christians and muslims do. is real doesn't have freedom. for example, there are 45 laws on the books in israel that discriminate against christians and muslims. precisely because they're christian and muslim, because the state as a jewish state, religious israeli citizens who are jewish. and so they can't buy houses someplace. i once had a discussion with a rabbi, and i asked him, you know, they ran for office and they had one israeli arab who is serving, but the question i asked him, which he didn't like at all is, with the jewish community in the united states like the same laws that they have an issue imposed on them in the united states, do we declare the united states as a christian country, with a like the same laws? and he got very mad at me. of course, they wouldn't like him. they can buy houses wher

u.s. and israel in this respect. u.s. has much more power to do with. and this is not also anymore a surgical strike like was in iraq. or this place in syria. because they were isolated buildings. you knew exactly where you go and what you need to get. but here you have perhaps ten places which you need to eliminate in order to make sure that this doesn't take place. then surgical strike is a surgical strike. it's not a sledgehammer. but if you really want to stop the program, you should use sledgehammer. elimination of a couple of places. you only buy time. but actually, israel's community use the sledgehammer. what happened in 1991, and gulf war actually stopped nuclear program, and you now see the history books. he actually also -- why he kept some ambiguity there was in two ways for his own caharisma in iraq and his arc, iran. so he wanted to show i have these capabilities, if needed. so that answers that. and then if you see that someone is working with the experiments which are related to nuclear weapons, you should be worried. you should be worri

israel fears most. if iranians can be sensitive enough to u.s. politics, which is a big leap -- but if they can be, and if they can simply restrain themselves so that the next iaea report is not so alarming, i think we'll buy enough time with talks so at least to get through our electrics. if obama is re-elected, i would hope that he would be able to be much more proactive on this. >> i have a couple of quick thoughts on romney. an article in foreign policy in the last issue date by karl rove and gillespie saying don't believe all this about the voters not caring. the republican candidate should really go all in on the foreign policy critique of obama. i would be very wary about taking political advice from karl rove about how to use foreign policy. it looked pretty good in 2004, didn't look so good after that. so, there was a lot of discussion about this article. appears to be taking advice to get a foreign policy critique going. what's interesting is that obama has tried to pair it back saying all these people on the campaign are complaining ab

u.s. and israel conducted military strike? i think these are the things they are thinking about. it is unlikely they are saying, does the u.s. at 2200 nuclear- weapons or 1500? if they have 1500, we will stop. if they have more, we go ahead. there is this link and international treaty obligations. i do not think it is something playing on the iranians minds right now. >> is, sir. -- yes, sir. >> i have been working on these issues for 20 years. i would like to raise the question of north korea's. it is hard to argue that north korea or that iran is more irresponsible than north korea. the bush administration is willing to accept north korea getting nuclear weapons. where were the warmongers when this was going on? why were willing to accept north korea getting nuclear weapons and not to yvonne? obviously, one of the elements is israel. i think they are putting president obama in an extremely difficult position. it is an election year. nobody's mentioned this. the idea that, if we attack, everybody does gas prices will skyrocket. it is one of the issues that is costing the election

u.s. policy toward israel.uch of hatred among radical islam toward america grows out of our support for israel. i think that's true, but i don't think that's a good reason not to do it. if you believe in the cause you should support it and let the chips fall where they make. there is -- if you don't question, the state of israel is believed by many islamic leaders and believers to be an enormous insult to islam because it's in the middle of the islamic part of the world. and, of course, israel is oppressing palestinians, treating them unfairly, denying wright's comex appropriating there land and is responsible , largely responsible for creating millions of refugees. i understand that they don't like israel and hate our support for it, but obviously i don't think that terrorism is the right response. i think that the united states and israel to take the solution to this problem more seriously so that the threat to the united states and israel and the entire west. >> back to earlier point in history which you tal

longer-range missile defense systems like arrow and david's sling and tying, tying israel into our early warning radar system. the u.s. and israel's top political defense and security intelligence officers are engaged in the most consistent, comprehensive consultations ever. you know this better than anybody, general. together, we're conducting the largest joint military operations in the history of the relationship. and president obama has stood up to what i think is the gravest threat to israel -- the effort of the rest of the world to delegitimize it as a state. and i might add often stood up alone, alone, in fighting the effort to delegitimize them at

u.s. support against israel but can count on u.s. support against iran. so they did not nuclearize against the state that's far more threatening for them than iran, why would they now? i'll leave it at that. >> all right. we'll throw it open to questions. same rules applies. please identify yourself. please wait for the microphone, first of all, and please ask your shortest, smartest question among the many that you no doubt have. i think the gentleman on the aisle there was first with his hand up. yes, that's you. >> dave, cato adjunct scholar. fundamental to any formulation of strategy is a connection between ends and means. your advocacy of a military strike is a means is pretty clear, but your end seems undefined. you seem to put it as creating space in the future for something to happen which doesn't seem a very concreed goal. are you going to go to war for that it should be something. what's your response to that? >> it's a good question. i think actually that the connection between ends and means is pretty clear. there are four nuclear facilities i

israel fears the worst. the u.s. believes, hear people flooding the square yelling for democracy and economic empowerment, how can we not be for it? israel's fear is, a muslim brotherhood government will say whatever it takes to get into power but ultimately it is certainly not committed to the treaty given all the statements over the last decade. the united states is counting on egypt's economic peril to say, well, egypt can't afford to renounce the treaty. very have virtually no foreign currency reserves. they were 35 billion. under 15 billion. apple computer is 100 billion. saudi arabia is 400 billion. that is the only thing they have is the economics. so the u.s. is hopeful. if the israelies are more nervous. mubarak was the lynch pin their regional strategy for 30 years that has given israel's peace. israel's peace dividend, i keep focusing on economics. i think it is key. if you remember how much israel spent on military spending servicing the debt, that is 40% of the its gnp. today it is nine. if you book back

u.s. national interest. israel factors into that. protecting israel is part of our national interests in that part of the world. it's not wrong. it's just the way it is. >> yes, ma'am. >> hi, my name is deana. i'm here more as a person who has a lot of iranian friend who is fled the country because of elections in '09 and they're very active here in the united states. most of them are at school. it seems to me that the biggest enemy for iran in iranian regime are iranian people themselves. and considering the fact that now the elections are coming up and considering the united states does have enough time on their hands to go to the diplomatic solution of this probl problem, where do you see the iranian people there waiting and it's a huge iranian meeting here in los angeles. where do you see iranian people in this region of inviting them to be in the coalition, as you said, that are against iranian government. >> we didn't talk very much about the internal politics in iran. >> i think this administration has been pretty clear about

u.s. war between israel. it will have a devastating effect on regional stability and for the economy of the united states. we are already paying 25 cents extra a gallon has a result of the sanction. the president doesn't need hall to be that high if he wants to win the election. iranians have the interest to see what kind of compromise the u.s. will do and to avoid a continuation of the difference sanctions being imposed. >> in no particular order, the president has been very clear that he thinks we can survive without iran's oil. why should we leave that he is concerned about those gas prices if people the states that we can go in alone without any input? >> nevertheless, there is the belief that the market can handle that. the reason is not necessarily because of a reduction of the supply. as a result of the very high tensions and the rest of military confrontation. the present will be quite clear that he has found some of these varicose statements as well as the iranians and the israelis could be problemat

of touched on before -- but what are the chances that israel would really go this alone and really kind gf at an iranian strike in the face of the u.s. saying they're not absolutely in line with supporting them? >> so where is iran today? how far away is iran today? and will israel go, do you think? >> well, according to the last iaea quarterly report which is very interesting in a lot of ways, iran has on the order of 109 kilograms of uranium hexofluoride which has been enriched. if you took another step at enriching that up to 90%, which is how we judge weapons grade, you are looking at the lower bound of one bomb. about 15 kilograms. so if they took that step, it's probably somewhere between six months and a year. now i should -- to get that one weapon. the number four comes from, iran has a much larger amount of lower enriched uranium which they would have to subsequently go up to 20% and then go up to 90% and then you could do some math and see how they get four weapons out of that large stockpile. but that would be tough to do. the other point about weaponization is if iran wanted to break out quickly, it's not simply a matter

u.s. national interests. israel factors into that because israel -- protecting israel's security is part of our traditional national interests in that part of the world. but it's not wrong. it's just the way it is. >> yes, ma'am. >> hi. my name is dina, and i'm here more as a person who has a lot of iranian friends who fled the country because of elections in '09 and they're very active here in the united states. most of them are at school. so it seems to me that the biggest enemy for iran and the iranian regime are iranian people themselves. and considering the fact that now elections are coming up and considering that the united states does have enough time on their hands to go to the diplomatic solution of this problem, where do you see these iranian people over there who are probably waiting and also the huge iranian community here in los angeles -- where do you see iranian people actually fit in in this of inviting them to be in the coalition as you said against the iranian government? >> we didn't talk very mu

u.s. and israel conduct a military strike? these are the things they're thinking about. saying,likely they're whether the u.s. has 22 nuclear weapons or 1500 -- i mean, there is this link in international treaty obligations. i don't think it is something that is playing on the iranian's minds right now. >> yes, sir? >> they just raised this question of north korea. it is hard to argue that iran is more irresponsible than north korea. yet, the bush administration is willing to accept and north korea having nuclear weapons. why are we now -- where were the warmongers when this was going on? why were we willing to accept north korea getting nuclear- weapons and not iran? obviously, one of the elements here, the key element, is israel. i think they are putting president obama in an extremely difficult position. it is an election year. nobody has mentioned this. the idea that -- everybody knows gas prices are going to skyrocket. it is one of the issues the cost them the election. you're putting him in an extremely difficult position. >> some people think that we are worried ab

u.s. so conflict with. israel is going to come. egypt is changing dramatically washington policies are not for the last thirty years the u.s. has sent an annual eight parent cash to the egyptian military this year it's one point three billion dollars it is absolutely essential that we do what we can to preserve a close strategic relationship with egypt because egypt is being major player in the region the egyptian military has been widely accused of cracking down on peaceful protesters and egyptians want to put an end to the overreaching power of their military but that seems to have had no in fact on washington's decision to keep going with business as usual with the injured business as usual ceased to be a reality almost a decade ago unfortunately our leadership in the white house and in the state department have not caught up with that reality the new reality is it is not business as usual we are not buying loyalty but not even the egyptian military's loyalty may be enough to secure business as usual between washington and cairo

u.s. on behalf the israel because they're well-organized and disciplined and in this case israel i love with all my heart and unions, too, and in certain states-- >> unions are much more powerful in certain states. public sector unions in new york state elected the governor. >> i agree with all of the above that the unions are not what they were and they are weakened over time just by attrition to charles' point and they're losing that, but they are leaving behind legacy costs that are staggering, pension costs staggering and growing. unless we get that under control, and try to rein is in, it doesn't matter whether this are three union guys left or union guys like charlie, i goes, who feel it in their hearts. the bottom line it's going to be a financial debacle. >> it's burdensome to business and job creation, and to my point, just because union are in decline doesn't mean with democratic power behind them and vice versa that this he would continue to move in that way. >> a powerful friend and-- >> you know why? because they control certain things, why is california in such deep, you know w

u.s. and israel don't see eye to eye on how much time is left. >> we will continue to follow the talks.r to ensure that iran doesn't use talks just to gain time. or even worse to gain time -- [ inaudible ] >> they say the bite of the sanctions on iran an the pressure of election year politics on obama means both have incentive to find a compromise over the nuclear issue. the tough part is satisfying israelis. >> bret: thank you. we have are less than 24 hours of the scheduled beginning of the end of the hostilities in syria. scheduled. no one believes u.s. brokered cease-fire will happen. the conflict spilled to turkey today with clashes near the border and at least five people and refugee camp wounded by gunfire. u.s. and afghanistan signed a deal to give them authority over most raids. the night time raids issue is a sore spot to reach long-term strategic agreement ahead of drawdown. all special operations will have to be approved by committee of afghan officials under this deal. at home, we are a little more than two weeks away from the next round of presidential primaries but many p

u.s. some say israel is going to use their leverage over president obama and it's going to be very hard for him to say you know what do you think about that window of opportunity if as well well if you were to launch a strike in the summer this would cause a dramatic downturn in the economy just consider that we had a rumor that supposedly iranian commandos had destroyed a pipeline in saudi arabia other fanciful nonsense and eventually denied by. in that short period of time or oil skyrocketed on the market up beyond a hundred fifteen dollars an. action. we reported destroyed but i don't think. this is. a ploy it's not assume that everyone in israel is anxious to see iran destroyed i think that's a. big. gain. and put. that. i want to put it. in a big. something but. this involves a test. because you could if you're sitting in the white house right now and you're sitting at the cia and. and say in the pentagon you can always say what we said capability we don't see it yet so is the purpose of that to to keep the swale ethan this in vagueness well president obama is preeminent concern is to

u.s. and allies. iran promising to bring new initiatives to the table. we'll get reaction from israel's. in a moment. first, senior foreign affairs correspondent amy kellogg has the latest. >> winter of war talk. will there or won't there be a strike on the nuclear facilitys? israel says it wants to stop iran before it gets in the so-called zone of immunity. some experts say iran already has nuclear capability. >> nuclear weapons facility in 2009. it's just hesitating, because they know that if they do cross the line and actually build a bomb, they are very weak now in getting to that goal, before they suffer immense international and military consequences. >> still, despite the fact sanctions are biting, iran continues the nuclear program of hate. >> iran is not as good as other countries, most of the other countries that got to the stage of producing nuclear weapons. they have beened a it for 26 years since they first got centrifuge technology from the nuclear black market. compare that to pakistan that did it in 11 years. >> also said that iran would probably not be able to break out

u.s. some say israel is going to use their leverage over president obama and it's going to be very hard for him to say you know what do you think about that window of opportunity for israel well if you were to launch a strike in the summer this would cause a dramatic downturn in your county just consider that we had a rumor that supposedly iranian commandos had destroyed a pipeline in saudi arabia other fanciful nonsense and eventually it was denied by remco the saudi arabian oil corporations. but in that short period of time or oil skyrocketed on the market up beyond one hundred fifteen dollars a barrel but the point is just the rumor of action was enough to send the oil through the roof so we had a foretaste there of the dramatic economic consequences for the world if we move ahead and support israel in its desire to strike iran that's why i don't think president obama is remotely interested so they you don't think that the israeli leadership sees this summer as a window of opportunity the they may but look don't count out the israeli population let's not assume that everyone in israel is

the backdrop of how the issue of israel plays out in the american election with these pivotal decisions ahead of us before the presidential. >> and fran, how does the u.se a decision on what to do here? i mean, if israel goes ahead -- and i know i saw the conversation, not days, not years plural. the prime minister seems to be very adamant about that. and of course that puts you in a time frame of before next spring. i'm just curious what happens here as i asked him. you have a moment where you speak so much about these deadlines and then if you hit them and you you don't do something you kind of lose all your credibility. >> erin, i think it's a very good point. and in fact, what's going on now behind the scenes, the u.s. military is very actively engaged with their israeli counterparts. one, trying to show them the sort of planning effort that goes on out of public view, frankly. for the u.s., what would we have to do if we had to respond to an israeli action? what would we have to do if we had to actually take action affirmatively on our own? what planning is there? how prepared are we to do that? and so that's in essence to give the israelis a sens

u.s. and israel. that is next as we check more headlines. >> this one really raising some eyebrows. she won a million dollar lottery. there she is holding the big check but she kept collecting thousands of dollars in food stamp benefits. we'll get an update on this story as we continue. [ male announcer ] for some reason those five food groups sound a whole lot better when you put them in a taco shell instead of a pyramid. old el paso. when you gotta have mexican. this reduced sodium soup says it may help lower cholesterol, how does it work? you just have to eat it as part of your heart healthy diet. step 1. eat the soup. all those veggies and beans, that's what may help lower your cholesterol and -- well that's easy [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. >>> tensions with israel on the rise. israel's top military official says that the jewish state will chart its own course against iran. the israeli defense minister say his government has not promised to hold off on military action as the u.n. waits for the next round of their long-running talks. >>> the head of t

u.s. and israel over israel's tensions with iran. washington correspondent james rose season here to tell us what is happening. good evening. >> good evening. israel top military official pointedly reminded the obama administration today that the jewish state will chart its own course where possible airstrikes against iran's nuclear facilities are concerned. defense min stray made comments ahead of thursday's planned meeting in washington with the u.s. defense secretary. he told the israeli army radio his government has not promised to hold off on the action while they await the next round of the long running talk with iran set for may 23 in baghdad. "we are not committing to anything barrack, the former president said. adding "there is not, has not been, should not be and cannot be such a promise." >> i think from their point of view, maintaining tactical surprise is very important to the chances of success in the military operation. so it's in their interest to leave everybody guessing. just as it's in their interest to ramp down a

u.s. to fund israel's iron dome that is the cost stretched to form a line for the details and. get out of this world explorer and multiple academy award winner james cameron is planning to contribute to the world's g.d.p. by backing a project to harvest natural resources from space produce heels on them bushes project on iraq. and right now let's get a little of russia close up an hour later is adventurous or far flung parts of the nation. and today we're exploring russia's extreme north the your mother and then its region is bigger than france around half of its territory lies beyond the arctic circle the winter the last eight months a year which means only a few species can survive in the harsh conditions reindeer and fish mean everything for the indigenous people populating this and welcoming lions bottom discover it. an icon of the north and yet some of the native northern peoples follow grazing reindeer wherever they go their routines revolving around the animals the life of the reindeer herder is usually hot in isolated but occasionally they gather to share their world an

u.s. and israel the u.s. has much more power. this is not like the reactor in iraq -- >> we will leave this discussion at this time and you can see it in its entirety on c-span.org. we're going to the aspen institute symposium on the state of race in america. a continuation of next on race and politics with a look at the latino vote in the 2012 presidential election. >> dr. jackson on the demographics of race and then a panel to start us off on the place of race in our upcoming election. this panel will be on the latino votes. just waiting for one more panelist. h[captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2012] >> i think we are waiting for that last panelist. in this discussion on the state of race, looking specifically to the latino vote, we are happy to welcome our moderator, who is the news anger for telemundo as well as the network's national director of public affairs. he is a former washington bureau chief for telemundo as well as european bureau chief. he was