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CNN Sunday Morning
Rebels Gaining Ground; Jockeying for 2012 Spot
Aired March 27, 2011 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.
Libyan rebel forces say they seized the key oil port of Brega. This as the opposition advances. They're crediting the coalition airstrikes with helping their cause.
Also, in Japan, water in a reactor pool tests 10 million times normal for radiation levels. Work has stopped at that building. But can the power company and their officials there now bring things under control?
Hello there, everybody. Good morning to you all. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is your CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Thank you for spending just some of your weekend with us. I'm T.J. Holmes.
We do need to start. We have important gains to tell you about the rebel forces in Libya. Those forces you can see here are pushing westward. They have their eyes on Tripoli. Right now, opposition troops say they have taken one city this weekend, Brega -- we just got that word -- that's a key port city. We got word yesterday of another city they have taken.
Government troops have pulled out meanwhile of Brega. Rebel fighters say they're on the outskirts now of Ras Lanouf. That is another key strategic city, important for the proximity to the oil fields.
Also, NATO is putting the final touches on their plan to enforce the no-fly zone over Libya. NATO is taking over command this weekend, we're told, from coalition forces that include the U.S., France, and Britain. All three are part of NATO.
Our Arwa Damon has been following the rebels as they move from conquest to conquest. She joins us once again live.
Arwa, tell us what happened in Brega and where you're headed now.
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., we actually left Brega and we're in a small, small town called Agaila. We stopped here because the opposition fighters initially told us that there were some clashes happening in Ras Lanouf. We then report that that was, in fact, not the case. That it appears as if Gadhafi's forces have simply pulled back quite a ways from that critical town.
But the opposition fighters here were telling us is that yesterday, there were clashes that lasted for around half an hour around 10 miles down the road from here. They say that Gadhafi's military sent in another battalion to reinforce those that were already fighting against the opposition fighters here. But they say that they then retreated fairly easily, fairly quickly.
We're now hearing that the opposition is in full control there, telling us. We have not seen it yet for ourselves. But they are telling us that they are in full control of Ras Lanouf. These are most definitely significant developments for these fighters. Bearing in mind that Ras Lanouf was the last point that they got to before Gadhafi's drove them back all the way to Brega.
So, if they do, in fact, have that strategic town, they would have gained back all of the land that they lost to Gadhafi's forces, T.J.
HOLMES: And, Arwa, is the idea to make their way all the way over to the capital of Tripoli at some point? And also talk a little bit more about how many -- much of this might not be possible without or maybe even impossible with those coalition air strikes?
DAMON: Oh, absolutely, T.J. I mean, when the opposition fighters tell you about how they won back the territory, the first thing that they'll do is thank this coalition for those airstrikes because without them, they would not have been stable to come this far.
In fact, the highway leading from Benghazi all the way to this point, at various stages, you see the impact that those airstrikes had -- massive craters next to overturned tanks. The opposition quite simply does not have the equipment or the weaponry to be able to have defeated those tanks and the artillery that was literally raining down on them.
Now, if you we move and think about what is taking place further westward, next major city is the city of Sirte. This is Gadhafi's hometown. And we were just speaking with one opposition fighter who was, in fact, a colonel in Gadhafi's army who defected once this uprising began. And he was telling us that they do expect Sirte to be a very tough and bloody battle, still quite a ways from Tripoli, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Our Arwa Damon, reporting for us today from Libya. Arwa, we appreciate you as always.
And many people have been calling on President Obama to about the American involvement in Libya and to spill it out to the U.S. voters, to the U.S. citizens more clearly. He's expected to do that tomorrow night during a speech at the National Defense University in Washington, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. CNN, of course, will cover that for you live.
And to give you an update about what's happening in Yemen as well, where the president there is now calling his own country a, quote, "ticking time bomb." He also says he's ready to step down and would be able to do it in just a matter of hours if need be.
Anti-government protesters have been demonstrating there for weeks calling his resignation. President Saleh has given into some demands but says he won't hand over the government to gangs, drug dealers or the rebels currently fighting the government.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
HOLMES: Also, take a look and listen to what we've been watching in Syria. Hundreds demonstrated peacefully in a southern city of Daraa without security forces yesterday. Earlier in the week, though, dozens of people were killed in violent anti-government protests there.
Also there, in one of the key coastal cities, several people were wounded during an anti-government protest. Witnesses say security forces fired on them. But state media says an unidentified group of gunmen were the ones who actually did that shooting.
And there were even some protests at the White House, both in support of and against the wave of civil unrest that's been sweeping through the Middle East.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This war isn't for democracy and freedom. This is a war for exploitation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, some of the demonstrators and demonstrations we saw were apparently organized by a number of separate groups.
Also new this morning, as we turn to Japan, the troubled Fukushima power plant. Officials say the radiation level in contaminated water at the number two reactor is now 10 million times higher than normal. Workers evacuated that building. Some work at two damaged reactors now has to be put on hold.
Officials are still trying to determine the relationship between contaminated water inside the plant and in seawater just off shore. The official death toll, meanwhile, from that quake and tsunami almost 10,500 now, still some 16,000 people are missing.
Now, many of you have been trying to find a way to help out the victims there in Japan. And there's a way for you to do so. You can log on to our Web site, CNN.com/Impact. You'll find there a list of ways that you, too, can make a difference.
Turn to some politics in this country now. Possible Republican presidential hopefuls had a lot to say at a conservative principles conference in Iowa. Iowa, as you know, critical because of its place as the first caucus state in the 2012 campaign.
First, take a listen to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. HALEY BARBOUR (R), MISSISSIPPI: This administration too often thinks that we're too stupid to take care of ourselves. That we need somebody in Washington to tell us what kind of health insurance policy that we have, to tell us how to do everything that we do when the facts of our history show that turned loose American ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit and there is no limit to what our children and grandchildren can have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Of course, he was just one of a number who were in attendance. Other potential presidential candidates looking to get a leg up, including Newt Gingrich -- as well as Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who made it more of a pep rally, if you will. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: America has decided, they're in for 2012. And so, that's my question for you to day here in Iowa: Are you in? Are you in for 2012? Are you in? Are you going to make it happen?
Are we going to take our country back? I agree with you. I say we do. I'm in! You're in! We will take this back in 2012!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes. She's certainly teasing folks again with that language, saying she's in for 2012. Of course, many people speculating about whether or not she will, in fact, run for president. Some words leaked out the end of last week that she could possibly be exploring or establishing exploratory committee by sometime early in the summertime -- so just teasing the media and some of her supporters there.
That conference was hosted by Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King -- included a panel, a discussion on the number of things, including family values and health care repel.
Well, Geraldine Ferraro, being remembered this weekend as a political trailblazer and pioneer for human and women's rights. She died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. She served in the House of Representatives and was even a host of CNN's "Crossfire" at one point.
But it was in 1984 where she really made a name for herself by becoming the first woman from a major party to run for national political office when Democrat Walter Mondale chose her as his vice- presidential running mate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER MONDALE (D), FMR. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (via telephone): She was a very close friend and we went through all of that history together. And we've been friends ever since, and she had a tough, tough fight with that cancer, and, you know, we're going to miss her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Geraldine Ferraro, dead at 75.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 11 minutes past the hour now.
This springtime weather is just causing fits for a lot of people. Take a look at one spot. This is out in the San Francisco Bay Area where some folks literally see their homes sinking as an ongoing mudslide out there that's taking its toll. This is part of the San Pablo neighborhood. This all started on Thursday when rain washed away a foot or more of property.
We're going to check in with Reynolds here in a second. They might be getting some more rain out there actually.
Also severe weather not just in California, rough night for many parts of the South last night -- thunderstorms, lightning, tornado watches, even some hail. Yes, that's hail you are seeing there. And that hail came with some pretty strong winds, strong enough to knock down a few trees and power lines in the Atlanta area.
Reynolds Wolf is here with the forecast for today -- which hopefully is not as nasty as the forecast for yesterday and last night, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'll tell you what? Things are getting a little better in parts of the east. That storm system that gave us the rough storms in parts of the Southeast will move off the Eastern Seaboard in a matter of hours. However, things are going to really start being revved up towards the West. California, another round of rain, sleet, snow, actually heavy snow falling in the mountains.
Let's go out to the west and here's what we have for you. Most of the action for the time being is along the coast. See the blue? Well, that indicates your rainfall.
Well, you have the pink and white, that's your frozen precipitation. And more of that will really begin to pile up in parts of, say, the Central Rockies where you could see close to a foot of snowfall. The Sierra Nevada is, by this afternoon, possibly one to two feet from 7,000 feet and up. So, that's going to be a freezing level.
In parts of the Eastern Seaboard, we do have some snowfall in store for the nation's capital, anywhere from one to two inches of snowfall possible. But further south, this mainly is going to be a rain event for you. And in terms of your delays, we've got plenty of those that are expected to stack up into the midday hours of the afternoon.
In Newark, you might have a wait on the runway due to the strong winds. Over an hour at times, D.C. metros, anywhere from half an hour to a full hour. Atlanta and Charlotte, the rain, the low clouds, and those thunder boomers may keep you grounded for about an hour. And also, wait for you in San Francisco, no surprise with the rough weather that we've seen out west.
Very quickly, here's what we have again. The snow out in the west, the rain in the east. Also, a little touch of snowfall in parts of the Central Plains, Southern Plains in Texas, pretty nice for you if you don't mind a few scattered showers. Certainly not as intense as what we saw in parts of the Southeast last night.
And as we wrap things up, your high temperatures for the day, 33 in Minneapolis, 36 in Chicago, 44 in New York, 63 Atlanta -- one degree, actually two degree shy of 90 in Miami. Let's see, El Paso, 79, and San Francisco with 57 degrees.
All right. That's a quick shot at your forecast. Let's send you over to Ray and T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Do appreciate you there, Reynolds. And the aforementioned Ray, Ray D'Alessio from HLN Sports joining me here now.
It's amazing how we get to this point during the year. Sixty- eight teams start at it tournament. By the end of today, we'll be down to four.
Would you say the story of the tournament so far -- or maybe the past two years, Butler?
RAY D'ALESSIO, HLN SPORTS: You know, T.J., there is a time where we consider these guys the underdogs.
HOLMES: Yes.
D'ALESSIO: I don't think you consider them underdogs anymore. I will say this -- having worked in Indianapolis for five years before working on CNN, I know firsthand they used to be an afterthought behind the likes of Indiana, behind the likes of Purdue and Notre Dame. Now, they're the top dog in the state. And now, they're doing something that no other school from Indiana has ever done and that's go back to back Final Fours.
HOLMES: Wow.
D'ALESSIO: And you look at the run that they have made in this tournament, first off by taking -- of course, they got past old dominion, they took out top seed Pittsburgh, beat Wisconsin. Yesterday, they get past Florida in thrilling fashion.
So -- I mean, these guys are for real. And, again, I don't really think you can call them the underdog anymore. They are a solidified program. They are tournament-tested. And every year, they put up a great battle.
HOLMES: Last year, a lot of people will remember the run they made. And they came within, what, a half court shot of beating Duke for the national championship. And that Final Four taking place in Indianapolis. So, the story was all there, was all there. We'll see how they make out this time.
D'ALESSIO: It's going to be cool, too, because the first two tournament sites they were not allowed to bring their mascot the bulldog because of room. Well, now, they can bring the bulldog down to Reliant Stadium in Houston. So, that's going to give them some extra incentive, the bulldog down there. And you have to have your mascot around.
HOLMES: All right. And the game of the day yesterday, or at least the one, maybe the game of the tournament that so many people were looking forward to, because it had two guys who could probably, easily, go number one in the NBA draft next year.
But this UConn-Arizona game -- a lot of people thought Duke would be somewhere in this game, but was not to be. But this was a matchup of titans yesterday.
D'ALESSIO: And UConn has a great story, of course, but that program has been through this season. You know, of course, there was the recruiting violation scandal regarding head coach Jim Calhoun. He, in fact, is suspended for a few games beginning next season. He's going to have to serve that punishment.
But, you know, yesterday, great finish -- 65-63 victory over Arizona. You mentioned Kemba Walker, UConn's star player, you know, definitely an NBA lottery pick. And, you know, the fact that these guys before the season, I mean, they were -- they were picked to finish tenth in the Big East. They wound up finishing ninth.
Then they go out in the tournament between the Big East tournament and the NCAA tournament, they win nine games in 19 days.
HOLMES: Unbelievable.
D'ALESSIO: That's incredible.
HOLMES: All right. Well, we're going to end it there on basketball. But, of course, so many people put together -- even if you're not a basketball fan, a lot of people fill out those brackets.
It happened here as well. No money was involved. I mean, just make sure that is said. But Reynolds was involved in this. I don't fill these brackets out.
How are you doing?
WOLF: My bracket is kind of -- reality hit my bracket the same way that the Titanic hit an iceberg. It's in bad shape, it really is. I mean, you take a look at that. I basically picked Duke to win it. It didn't happen.
And there's -- it looks like, let's see, a few of our workmates are doing pretty well. Eddie Williams, one of our producers, a Kansas guy, (INAUDIBLE) of the planet. And it's going to be interesting to see how. Kansas plays VCU today?
HOLMES: Yes. That would be huge. That would be the new story of the tournament.
(CROSSTALK)
D'ALESSIO: We both like Shaka Smart, VCU's head coach. I love VCU's story. But Kansas is just -- they are solid from top to bottom. They're going to be extremely tough to beat.
I had -- I told you yesterday, I had Louisville and Kentucky playing in the championship game. I really like Louisville's chance this is year. Of course, they got beat in the first part of the tournament. But at least Kentucky is still in there.
HOLMES: All right. Fellows, I appreciate you.
Quick break here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Nineteen minutes past the hour here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Are you counting the days down? I am -- 34 days now until the social event of the year, the royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton.
But as CNN's Max Foster now reports, the couple is kind of breaking from a tradition in one way. And in doing so, they are borrowing from an American Southern tradition. It all has to do with cake.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fiona Cairns is famous for her fruitcakes and has a famous client list to match -- Bruno and Paul McCartney amongst them.
But what was it like to get a call from the palace?
FIONA CAIRNS, ROYAL WEDDING CAKE MAKER: It was terribly exciting. I was overwhelmed. I felt privileged, excited, and daunted all at the same time.
FOSTER: Kate, it seems, knew exactly what she wanted.
CAIRNS: She chooses her mood board. She has quite a few ideas and has led us as to how she would like her wedding cake to be. So, quite traditional but a bit of modern twist.
FOSTER: The main royal wedding cake will be a classic design. No color, just cream and white, with carefully considered floral decorations, each with a meaning.
CAIRNS: I've been learning very much from her. But she has selected these flowers. For example, the bridal rose symbolizes happiness. The oak and acorn symbolizes strength and endurance. And we have a long list. A lot of these are actually within the architecture of Buckingham Palace. And Sweet William, oh, we haven't met Sweet William yet. But we will be.
FOSTER (on camera): But William, he's actually been working on his own cake as well. In a break from tradition here at Buckingham Palace, he's actually going to have a groom's cake. Guess what? It's made of chocolate cookies.
(voice-over): McVitie's "Rich Tea" mixed with chocolate into a cake mix that William has grown up with.
PAUL COURTNEY, CAKE HEAD CHEF, MCVITIE'S: It's once-in-a- lifetime opportunity. Absolutely delighted.
We were asked by the palace if we would make a cake that was one of Prince William's favorite cakes. It is the palace's recipe and they swore me to secrecy. It's going to be literally covered in chocolate decorations. It's going to look absolutely beautiful.
FOSTER: Both wedding cakes will have multiple tiers, and they'll be big enough for the 600 guests to have a slice of each.
As to what they'll look like --
CAIRNS: Well, that's a surprise really.
FOSTER: Max Foster, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, coming up, a special treatment gone to far? That's what students and parents at one Florida school are saying. Find out why a classmate's peanut allergy has caused such a big stir.
It's 22 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, Carl Azuz has run a controversial subject in our "Extra Credit" segment this morning.
Good to see you. It's been a while.
CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Hey, T.J.
HOLMES: Good to be back with you here. This all has to do with a peanut allergy a kid has in Florida. They're trying to protect the child. The school is. But some are saying they're going too far.
AZUZ: They're basically three rules the schools put in place to protect the child. She has a life-threatening peanut allergy.
Three things that happened are: one, students who bring their lunches to school cannot bring them into the classroom. They have to park them in a different location when they walk in. Two: they have to wash their hands whenever they enter the classroom. And the third rule is at one point students had to rinse their mouths out before going into the classroom. And that, as you can imagine, raised some eyebrows.
There is a district administrator who said that because the girl's allergy is considered a disability, the rules will be enforced.
HOLMES: Now, this applies to just the students and her classroom, or are we talking about school wide? Everyone has to follow these rules?
AZUZ: The report was that students who were entering a classroom had to keep their hands clean, had to make sure their lunches did not enter that classroom as well.
And, you know, CNN's Jason Carroll reported on this. She was at the school. And he actually spoke to some of the parents. There are some parents who were picketing about this.
He heard from people from both sides. You can listen right here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I guess it's not fair for one kid to have a set of standards that the rest of the kids got to abide about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Protecting the safety of the child. Everybody has a the right to an education. So, I don't see what the problem is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: You know, it's amazing how much of this has stirred up. Of course, you want to protect that child. You're talking about a life-threatening peanut allergy here. But some say it went too far.
But I'm curious. Your students are always great to get reaction from. What are they saying?
AZUZ: We took it to our middle and high school students. And we have a quick poll. It's not scientific that it sort of indicates where they're standing on this.
And most of them feel the rules go too far. You see a 56-44 split there.
We have a couple comments for you, one from someone in Nili who is in favor of the rule. She's saying a school that will go to that many measures she thinks is outstanding. The parents that don't like it, think if it was your kid that had a life-threatening allergy, wouldn't you want the rules in place?
But on the other side of that, we had Effie. And Effie is saying that the parents are getting ridiculous. She's saying her sister has the same problem with peanut allergy and was taught at an early age how to handle that. She also brought up EpiPens. So, I think the bottom line here, T.J., is sort of level of inconvenience for the other students. If we're just talking about washing your hands before entering a classroom, a lot of people are saying, sure. You know, it's to protect this girl.
On the other hand, if it becomes washing your mouth out or if those rules are extended or expanded, that's when I think some people start thinking in terms of drawing a line.
HOLMES: All right. Is this done? Will we just see more of the controversy? Is there possible they're going to make some changes in that school?
AZUZ: We'll have to see -- we'll have to see how it plays out, T.J. We know the rules are in place now. And we know that some parents are disagreeing with them as far as whether or not the school will change that or if there's another alternative for this child. We will have to find out.
HOLMES: All right, Carl Azuz with this morning's "Extra Credit" -- good to see you again. Thanks so much.
AZUZ: Thank you, T.J.
HOLMES: Looking forward to having you back on Sunday. I guess you're looking forward to having me back.
AZUZ: Always, T.J. Man, I was missing you, too.
HOLMES: Thank you so much.
Well, we're at 28 minutes past the hour here now. We've been telling you about some key developments happening in Libya this morning. Rebel forces are on the move. Coalition airstrikes are playing a very key role. Let's get you the very latest on the fight there.
Also, as the unrest spreads across the Middle East, what does it all mean for the United States?
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, we're 32 minutes past the hour now.
We are starting now with important gains we are seeing by the rebel forces in Libya. They are pushing further into areas formally controlled by forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi. The latest, Brega, you see it there just west of -- excuse me, Ajdabiya. It's the latest city to fall to rebel forces.
The government forces have pulled out of there that city of Brega. They are also claiming victory in Ras Lanouf; that's another important city when you talk about Libya's oil. CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is joining us from Tripoli, the capital there. Nic, what if anything, are government officials there saying about what appear to be significant gains by the opposition forces?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: But T.J., a government official I talked with just a few moments ago was expressing a lot of surprise. This is not something that people here are seeing on state television. The government is not announcing all its losses at the moment.
Indeed, this official was so concerned that what I was saying might actually be true. He was asking me, did you see it specifically? Have you seen these bases?
He really wanted to check because what the realization is that government officials are now beginning to see is even those that believe the party lying, they're beginning to realize that the other thing they see on their own state television isn't necessarily true; that they're not getting the whole picture from their government.
So there's a lot of surprise here. Last night the official government line was there was a tactical withdrawing from Ajdabiya to the outskirts of Ajdabiya.
Well, clearly, clearly that was not the case. The army seems to be on some kind of significant retreat if not a run. It's not clear the level of communication the government has here with the -- with the army because the communications have been targeted by coalition airstrikes.
So right now, there's a level of surprise amongst -- amongst government officials here that they're actually losing so much ground so quickly -- T.J.
HOLMES: And Nic on one other note, can you give us a follow up on the story you brought us yesterday about the woman who came in to where you are all were, the journalist there. And she was talking about, she had been beaten and raped by Gadhafi forces and then she was taken out? Some journalists beaten; can you give us an update about her?
ROBERTSON: She is still in police custody. She is being held at the main police detention facility here in Tripoli. We're told that she is safe and well. We've asked to go and see her to confirm that for ourselves.
But the reality is we have no way of knowing if what the government is telling us is the truth in this case. So much of what they've told us is proven to be inaccurate, incorrect and false over time. And right now government and state media are portraying her in the most negative of light. They're smearing her character, smearing her reputation.
So if we can judge the reality of what the government is telling us that she's actually pressing charges against those who've accused her with -- of rape, with what they're actually showing on state television and telling their own public, there is a total disconnect.
So the reality that the government is telling us, oh you'll be able to see her soon, the feeling at the moment is that is -- that is false and it's not correct. So right now we don't know the state of -- the state of her and the detention that she is being held in right now -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, Nic Robertson for us in Tripoli, we appreciate you as always.
Well, Libya is just one of the African and Middle Eastern countries where we are seeing unrest. Anti-government protests have been going on in about a half dozen other countries. The question this morning is what does all this unrest mean politically and even militarily for the United States? And we try to answer that question now.
And for help: retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Robert Maginnis an expert on international security, joining us this morning.
Sir good to see you. We, is this just a political distinction when we hear diplomats say that the United States is going to take a backseat, NATO going to take over? Is that really possible for the U.S. to take a backseat militarily in this effort?
LT. COL. ROBERT MAGINNIS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, it is very difficult, T.J., for the U.S. which is a world power to, you know, all of a sudden pull back and allow, you know, less capable nations to take charge. Keep in mind, look at our intelligence assets. Look at our ground forces, our air forces, our naval forces. We just have an overwhelming capability and comparison.
So, of course, that assumes that the coalition, the European-led coalition with France and the UK, Italy involved as well and using some of the infrastructure NATO has that they can do this job perhaps, but with a lot of help on the side.
(CROSS TALK)
HOLMES: You -- you don't sound too confident, sir. You don't sound too confident that -- that they can do the job without a lot of support or most of the support from the United States.
MAGINNIS: Yes, I think de facto --
(CROSS TALK)
HOLMES: Yes.
MAGINNIS: -- we will continue to be in charge behind the scenes, you know, kind of holding their hand as they make the plans. But, you know, that's the reality. Look at what they've spent over the last couple of decades on defense. It's two percent or less. Whereas -- we're spending in excess of five percent, we have a significant technological advantage. And they need to take advantage of it. HOLMES: Sir, we have been watching what's been happening in northern Africa and the Middle East. We can go from what, Egypt to Yemen, to -- to Tunisia. These were described as Democratic uprisings and maybe that's how Libya started as well. But at this point, would you say that the United States and coalition partners are supporting a Democratic uprising in Libya or have the United States and coalition partners taken a side now in a civil war?
MAGINNIS: Well, there's no question we've taken a side. Because we're going after ground forces that are not necessarily engaged in civilians and build up areas and therefore, I would argue that we have become the air force of the rebels. That is I think beyond the mandate certainly of the U.N., but you know, it really depends upon what the end game is here, T.J.
Do we intend to remove the regime of Gadhafi and install an unknown quantity, the rebels at this point, not knowing full well what that will end up being? Keep in mind, some of the people that have joined that rebel coalition have, in fact, fought us in the past in Iraq --
(CROSS TALK)
HOLMES: Yes.
MAGINNIS: -- which is very problematic.
HOLMES: And sir, you just mentioned that end game. It sounds to you like it hasn't been made clear. We are expecting to hear from the President tomorrow night addressing the American people. Maybe there will be more clarity.
But what in your opinion if it's not regime change, what possibly could be the end game of this coalition and U.S.-led coalition effort?
MAGINNIS: Well, you know, you could end up splitting Libya, you know, maybe through the middle there with the oil sharing both sides. Certainly Gadhafi survived 42 years. I don't think he's going to you know, get up and walk his way to The Hague and go to jail right away.
So it really ends up being a split country. And peacekeepers will have to go in there to sort them out. Hopefully it won't degenerate into a full-scale civil war with us providing not only peacekeepers or separators in that context. But also that we would continue to do a no fly zone.
Very, very expensive and I would argue we have other priorities that are very pressing on our national security assets.
HOLMES: I think a lot of people would agree with you there.
Lt. Col. Robert Maginnis, sir, we appreciate as always your time. You enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
MAGINNIS: Thank you T.J. HOLMES: Well, many people, as I've just mentioned, have been calling on President Obama to talk about the American involvement in Libya. And talk directly to the American people; lay out the position clearly. He is expected to do just that tomorrow night during a speech at the National Defense University in Washington, scheduled for 7:30 Eastern Time. You can, of course, see that live right here on CNN.
Now, the death toll in Japan rising once again; also the water in one of those damaged nuclear reactors is showing radiation levels that are ten million times higher than normal. We've got an update for you coming up.
Its 40 minutes past the hour.
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HOLMES: Now it's 41 minutes past the hour. I can once again say that we're coming up on my favorite part of CNN SUNDAY MORNING now. Candy Crowley and "STATE OF THE UNION" coming your way in just about 19 minutes.
Candy, it's good to be back with you on Sunday mornings again. How are you this morning?
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": I am very good. I'm glad to have you back.
HOLMES: Well, thank you so much. You've got a busy morning this morning. You're going to be talking to a lot of intelligence guys and military guys. And we'll get to that in a second if can.
Can we start first: is the President now tomorrow doing what so many people have been calling on him to do? Are they going to get the answers they wanted from the President in this national address?
CROWLEY: Well, we'll -- we'll see. But I -- I -- but the answer to your first question is, yes, that both Republicans and Democrats have said you've got to explain this thing because on Capitol Hill they're uncertain about what the mission is, how it's going to end. Like how do you know? You know that's been ever since the Vietnam War that's been sort of like the military mantra. Don't ever go in unless you know how you're going to get out, unless you know what the mission is.
So certainly we will hear much, I think, you know, you hear the President on Saturday morning radio address talking about the mission is very clear. But he's going to have to make it clear. It isn't just that. The President has been on the phone talking to congressional leaders, explaining this, saying what the U.S. role is going to be.
He's going to -- he gave a Saturday morning radio address. He's going to give the speech. He's putting these advisors out there to kind of blanket the commercial airwaves and say, listen, you know, here is what we're doing. So it's clear that the administration understands that the sales job has lagged behind the actual action there. And they are certainly working on it in a full-court press.
HOLMES: Well, certainly it's maybe some surprise, of course, you expect it from the right. But also some criticism from the left as well about what had been going on in Libya and how he went about it. But your line up of guests this morning maybe trying to get some -- some answers there if you will.
CROWLEY: Yes. We have first of all, Senator Carl Levin who's head of the Arms Services Committee; he's holding hearings this week on this. I have to say, he's a presidential supporter. But Democrats have said -- I mean, a couple of things, first of all there is a territorial thing going on. And that is Congress is saying wait a second before you go to war, you have to come and ask us about it. And there has to -- you know, we have to approve of it, et cetera, et cetera. That's always a problem no matter what President has been.
But -- there-- there's questions about why didn't you do this earlier? Why did you wait around for the U.N.? Because you know, Gadhafi got to sort of you know, reinforce himself? There's questions about what is in it, like, why are we in Libya? What's our strategic interests?
And so these are questions that no doubt Levin who is Chairman of the Arms Services Committee wants to ask. We want to get his take because he's also one of those that talked to the President about what he thinks the mission is and where it will all end.
But we also have a former national security adviser to George Bush as well as a former CIA director, to kind of say ok, is this all doable? What's the danger here? Can we really leave Gadhafi in Libya since everyone says that's not part of the mission to remove Gadhafi?
Well if it's not, does he now pose a threat to the U.S. which has, a, joined in, you know, an assault on Libyan forces.
HOLMES: Yes.
And, b, is thinking about arming the rebels and c, has called for Gadhafi to go. It's kind of hard to see how they can repair that relationship. So what sort of threat is he? That kind of thing we're going to talk about.
HOLMES: You have a, b, c, probably d, e, and f and all kinds of things this morning. You have a full plate; we'll see if you get all those answers in, what, an hour I think you're going to have starting --
CROWLEY: Yes. We'll try.
HOLMES: -- in just about a few minutes.
Candy, so good to see you. Good to be back with you on Sunday mornings. CROWLEY: Thanks. It's good to see you.
HOLMES: But of course, folks, you keep it right here. "STATE OF THE UNION" with Candy Crowley starts in about 15 minutes right here on CNN.
A setback in Japan this morning as emergency crews try to fix the problems at that damaged nuclear power plant. We'll go live to Tokyo for a look at the reactor problems now.
Plus, a tough choice for a wife with political ambitions in Guatemala: staying married or run for office? The law says she can't do both.
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HOLMES: Well, 47 minutes past the hour. And new this morning on the crisis in Japan, a frightening jump in radiation levels at that nuclear plant in Japan. The update as well here, the official death toll from the tsunami and quake has risen to nearly 10,500 and more than 16,000 people still remain missing.
High radiation in the drinking water of a prefecture about 40 miles from Tokyo continues to go down as well. Officials say the water is now safe enough for babies to drink. Also this, officials say the radiation level in contaminated water at the Number Two Reactor is ten million times higher than normal. Workers evacuated the building and the work there has been put on hold.
Again, we're talking about ten million times the normal level. We want to go to Tokyo now live and our Paula Hancocks joining me once again from Tokyo. Paula, does this need perspective or is this what it sound like when you hear ten million times higher than normal?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: T.J., it's really very difficult to say. We're getting these figures from TEPCO, the company in charge. We're not really getting much context. What we're being told is that in this Reactor Two in the turbine building, there is a pool of water. And that water is testing ten million times more positive for radioactive iodine-134 than it should do on any given day.
Now, the significant part is that it is iodine-134. This is only really created during nuclear fission which is making people worry that this has actually come from the reactor core. So we're hearing from the officials now that there's a high possibility that there has been some kind of rupture, that this is spillage from the reactor core itself which is obviously cause for concern.
Now we just had a press conference with Japan's nuclear safety agency. They say that they're looking into these figures. They want TEPCO to have another look at them because obviously, ten million times higher than you'd expect is quite an alarming figure. So we're hoping to get some clarification on that.
And it's not just the reactor. At this point the seawater is testing even more positive for radioactive substances; 1,800 times higher than it would on a normal day. That's just up the coast, just next to the nuclear plant. Officials saying it's not too worrying, though, at this point because they don't believe aquatic life will be affected -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Paula Hancocks for us with the update once again live in Tokyo. Paula, we appreciate you as always.
Also coming up, Guatemala's first lady wants to now be president. The law doesn't allow it, though. So she found a loophole you're not going to believe.
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HOLMES: All right. Fifty-three minutes past the hour now.
This is an interesting story we got out of Guatemala where the first lady of Guatemala wants a divorce from her president husband. But it's not for some reasons you might be thinking.
Our Nadia Bilchik joining me here this morning; and tell our viewers first Nadia, just simply put, why does she want a divorce?
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCERS: She wants a divorce because she wants to be the next president and the first female president of Guatemala. But she can't do that married because now -- well, it says the constitution says no blood relative of the president can run for the presidency. So when she announced the presidency on March 8th, they actually thought there was a loophole because she's not a blood relative. But then the constitution says, no, she is a close enough relative that she cannot run.
So on March 11th, she files for divorce. In Guatemala, if both parties agree, it's uncontested, it goes through. So it will go through. She told Televisa Mexico this week that they are making the ultimate sacrifice which is we are going to have a complete divorce. We're going to have a separation. We are going to divide property and cutlery, and books and records in order that she can run for president.
HOLMES: This sounds like just ambition and a grab for power run amok. Is that how she is being viewed?
BILCHIK: Well, she is being viewed and her critics are saying that it's really damaging to the country because it's such a fragile constitution.
This is a country that has undergone civil war for so many years. So people feel that they finally have a democracy. Why is she challenging one of the most foundational constitutional issues? So she has been severely criticized.
HOLMES: Ok. Before this, how was she viewed by the country as a first lady?
BILCHIK: Mixed. Now, there is a large Mayan population in Guatemala, the indigenous Mayans. Very poor, they live on something like $2 a day. And she has supported them and she has instituted social reform. She's been very active in her husband's government. So she has been viewed by poor people as being someone they would like to see as president but certainly very controversial.
And her husband just as controversial; he hasn't done enough to crack down on crime, huge drug-related crime. It's such an issue that Obama at some point pledged over $200 million to the region to try to curb the drug cartels. There are over 18 people murdered a day in the region. So he hasn't done a lot.
And their presidency has also been plagued by the 2009 scandal when Rodrigo Rosenberg was murdered. And the tape basically said that if I am murdered, it is overall Colom and his wife's responsibility. That was a huge scandal. He was cleared of that.
HOLMES: Ok. She has other issues it sounds like there. So has the divorce -- are we waiting to see if the court allows the divorce to go through or are we waiting for the court to decide if she is allowed --
(CROSSTALK)
BILCHIK: In 30 days we'll know constitutionally whether the former wife of the president can run in Guatemala but amazing, you know, that she is prepared to get divorced to run for president. Would Hillary Clinton have divorced Bill to run for president?
HOLMES: Well, I don't know that's a good example. That's not a good analogy to use here. But this is an interesting question that people chimed in on. What are you willing to do and sacrifice your marriage for? A lot of people say this is just hog wash. There is no way you should do something like this. The bond of husband and wife no matter what cause you think there is.
So this is fascinating story. We'll see in 30 days. We'll talk about it again.
Nadia Bilchik. Thank you so much.
We'll turn to weather here in a bit. Rising water, falling rocks, lots of wild weather out there and Reynolds Wolf is keeping you up to date. Stay with us.
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REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: All right. Welcome back to CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
Let's get right to your forecast. One big trouble spot in the nation, out towards the west. Heavy snow in the Rockies, the Sierra Nevada, could see some flash flooding in parts of California and Pacific Northwest. And the rain continues for much of the southeast. T.J., your turn.
HOLMES: Wow, that was actually really impressive there Reynolds. You did it with time to spare.
WOLF: Yes, it was.
HOLMES: Thank you all for spending some time with Reynolds and I on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Of course, we will be back with you next week but it's time for us now to hand it over to STATE OF THE UNION and Candy Crowley.
You enjoy the rest of your weekend.
