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Elizabeth Taylor Dead at 79; Seventy Percent of School's Kids Missing in Town in Japan; Opposing Gadhafi

Aired March 23, 2011 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR:We're following four big stories this hour: allies making inroads Libya; Japan reacting to radioactive tap water in Tokyo; the first terrorist bombing in Jerusalem since 2004; and the passing of a legend.

That word is sadly overused, but no one wore it better than Elizabeth Taylor. Her film career made it famous, but it was everything else -- her marriages, her activism, her effortless glamour, that made her Elizabeth Taylor.

Remarking on her death today at 79, Taylor's friend Elton John said, "We've just lost a Hollywood giant. More importantly, we've lost an incredible human being."

Taylor had suffered for years from congestive heart failure and had been hospitalized in Los Angeles for weeks.

A former CNN colleague knew Elizabeth Taylor well and spoke with her many times on the air and off.

Larry King joins us now from Los Angeles to talk about that.

Larry, what will you miss most about this incredible woman?

LARRY KING, FMR. HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Everything. Her vitality, her love of life, her ability to withstand pain. She was always in pain. She had back problems and heart problems. Her incredible talent, as I said, her beauty, her loyalty to friends, and her ability to stand up for a cause.

She was a maxi person. There will never be her likes again. She's the end of an era. We'll never have a film star that big.

And when you think about it, I think she invented paparazzi. They started following her around.

She was everything. She was larger than life, yet she was life. She was -- it's impossible to describe. She's irreplaceable.

KAYE: In all your interviews with her and in all your time with her, what stands out for you in terms of something she might have told you or a special moment?

KING: Well, a couple of special moments. One, she told me once that she did love a few people, but there was no love in her life like Mike Todd, the movie producer who died in a plane crash.

She loved her bold diamonds, which we've shown, that Richard Burton gave her, one that signals ships. She talked a lot about Montgomery Clift, who was one of her first people. She stood up for Michael Jackson through thick and thin. She was always there for her friends. Numerous things.

KAYE: She really didn't seem to care, really, what others thought.

I do want to share something from her Twitter account. She did join Twitter, actually, and one of her last tweets in July reads, "Every breath you take today should be with someone else in mind. I love you."

Does that sound like the heart of Elizabeth Taylor?

KING: Absolutely. That's a great Twitter. That is her.

She also told me that she believed that she would come back after death in reincarnation. I asked, what do you think she would come back as?

KAYE: I don't know. That's a tough one. I'm not going to touch that one.

KING: What would Elizabeth Taylor come back as?

KAYE: A diamond?

KING: I guess. Not in the rough, though. She was in the real.

KAYE: She was really, really special.

KING: She was.

KAYE: All right. Larry King, we really appreciate you talking with us about your friend --

KING: Thanks, Randi.

KAYE: -- and what an actress was.

KING: See you soon.

KAYE: Elizabeth Taylor, dead today at 79.

All right, Larry. See you soon as well.

Be sure to tune in at 9:00 p.m. Eastern for a special edition of "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT," remembering the life and legacy of Elizabeth Taylor. Again, that's 9:00 Eastern, right here on CNN.

We can't say William Mann wrote the book on Elizabeth Taylor, but he wrote a bestseller. "How to be a Movie Star: Elizabeth Tower in Hollywood" was a critical and popular smash when it came out back in 2009, and right now the author joins us live on the phone from Cape Cod.

Mr. Mann, thank you for being with us.

How big a role would say Elizabeth Taylor played in creating this culture of celebrity that we have today?

WILLIAM MANN, AUTHOR: Well, I think it's a huge role. I was just listening to what Larry King had to say. He was right, she created the whole business of fame, the way we know it today. The template that she laid down in the 1950s and 1960s, everyone continues to try to follow with varying degrees of success. But she's the one that invented it.

KAYE: You know, she said in past years that she never took herself seriously as an actress. Was that true? I mean, did she not -- did she not have a serious film career? I mean, she won two Oscars.

MANN: Well, she had a very serious film career. With the right director and right script, she could be a terrific actor.

You look at a film like "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf," or "A Place in the Sun," and it's phenomenal what that little girl from MGM was able to accomplish.

But here's the thing that really sets Elizabeth Taylor apart. She created this culture of celebrity where one's personal life becomes as important as the professional life. So we cared about what was going on off screen for Elizabeth Taylor as much as we cared about the roles that she was playing on screen.

But what she did was she understood, though -- and this is the thing that I think an awful lot of celebrities miss who take after her very well in leading off-screen dramas and personal dramas -- they forget that Elizabeth Taylor was also giving us these amazing movies at the same time we were following her love affair with Richard Burton and all of that. We were getting "Virginia Woolf" and "A Place in the Sun," and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." So she really knew how to create celebrity and to sustain that interest.

KAYE: She gave us a lot, and you mentioned her charities and her activism. She created the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. So let's talk about her off-screen life just a little bit, her marriages and the activism.

I mean, did that come from the heart, or would you say it came from the love of the limelight?

MANN: Oh, no, it was never the love of the limelight for Elizabeth Taylor. She was really one of those rare Hollywood stars who was completely authentic. What we saw on the screen was really what she was.

And what we saw in those magazine -- the endless magazine profiles of her, she never did anything simply for the spotlight. She wasn't interested in fame for fame's sake. She was interested in what the spotlight could do for her, for her career, but also, as you point out in her advocacy with people with AIDS in the 1980s and the 1990s, especially, she used that spotlight to bring about change when no one else had the courage to stand up and speak out. And she knew the spotlight would follow her, and so she did that. It was a very personal cause for her.

KAYE: Yes, she really was an incredible woman.

William Mann, thank you so much for your insight and sharing your thoughts today.

A lot of people really touched by Elizabeth Taylor's life and death now. And we invite you to share your thoughts and memories of Elizabeth Taylor on our blog, CNN.com/Ali. And you can also post on Ali's Facebook and Twitter accounts. And on my Twitter account, as well. That's @RandiKayeCNN.

We'll share your comments later in the show.

Turning to a developing story now in Israel, a bomb exploded near Jerusalem's main bus station today, the first attack of its kind in the city in several years. At least one person was killed, more than 50 wounded, several critically. Police found a medium-sized explosive device attached to a phone booth near the site of the explosion. Jerusalem's mayor condemned the bombing as a cowardly terrorist attack.

The Palestinian prime minister called it disgraceful and detrimental to the Palestinian cause. And President Obama said terrorist attacks can never be justified and urged all parties to prevent further violence and civilian casualties.

A search is under way for at least one suspect. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack coincided with a surge of violence along the Israel/Gaza border between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants. In recent days, Israel has retaliated against Hamas and other armed groups for firing rockets and mortars into Israel.

Nearly two weeks after the quake/tsunami disaster that set off a nuclear crisis, things in Japan are still very touch and go. A reactor building at the Fukushima Daiichi plant started belching black smoke today. The power company said it wasn't clear why. In any event, they hustled workers out of there.

As all that was going on, a warning from the government about Tokyo's tap water. Radiation levels are testing above the safe limit for babies. That's got parents in the capital on edge, of course, but still, their children are alive.

CNN's Kyung Lah reports from a community where dozens and dozens were simply washed away.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KYUNG LAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Keiko Naganuma, coping with loss comes by denying grief. She stays upbeat for her 6-year-old son Ron (ph). Silently, counting the number of her missing family members.

"Seven or eight," she says, from her mother to her other son, 8- year-old Koto (ph). He is presumed dead, his body washed away by the tsunami. He was at school.

"No matter what's happened to him, I just want him back," she says. "My child should come home to me. I need to find him." It's a feeling shared by this community, searching for so many young children and mourning a loss that defies life's natural order.

(on camera): When the earthquake happened, students at Ishinomaki Elementary evacuated out of the school. They had no idea a tsunami was coming. Out of 108 students at the school that day, 77 are either dead or missing. That's 70 percent of the children at the school.

(voice-over): Only a shell stands where children learned. Backpack after backpack sits for parents to retrieve, along with a picture of the school little league team, the bats they used, art bags filled with crayons, all waiting to be identified and brought home. But there are no homes for these Ishinomaki evacuees.

You may notice there are hardly any children in this shelter. Those who survived will struggle emotionally.

Aid organizations Save the Children hopes to ease the onslaught of the trauma giving child tsunami victims something simple, a place to play inside the evacuation centers.

SHANA PEIFFER, SAVE THE CHILDREN: To have a sense of safety, and to actually also work with the parents in how to support them in this process. It's going to be a long recovery process for children.

LAH: For 8-year-old Miku (ph), one of the 30 survivors of the elementary school, it's a relief, a chance to draw something pretty, away from the devastation of the world around her.

The day ends for Keiko Naganuma without any word about her missing son. She will not fall apart, she says. "I'm not OK," she says, "of course I'm not. But I have another son."

"Ron (ph) saw the tsunami. His brother is not coming home. So I think he understands. I can see he's pretending to be happy so we don't worry about him."

So mother joins and pretends for her son and for herself.

Kyung Lah, CNN, Ishinomaki, Japan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAYE: Day five of the allied air and sea campaign to protect civilians in Libya, and there are clear signs of headway on two fronts. No more need for cruise missiles since, in the words of one U.S. official, "We now have air dominance." Coalition forces can fly to their targets in jets, having little to fear from the bombed-out defenses of the regime.

If you're counting, the allies fired 162 Tomahawk missiles since Saturday, the vast majority American. If carried out, 175 sorties since yesterday.

Behind the scenes we may be nearing a breakthrough in the back- and-forth over command and control. The U.S. and Britain want a leading role for NATO. France and Arab nations don't. Now it seems NATO will coordinate the troops and the hardware while political leaders call the shots. They're due to meet Tuesday in London to sort that out.

CNN contributor General Wesley Clark joins me from Little Rock to talk about Libya.

General, rebels are having a very hard time holding on in the town of Misrata. They've actually requested weapons from several nations. And today, fresh bombing of Gadhafi's ground troops there.

How does the coalition do this without hitting the rebel forces and the people that they're actually trying to protect?

GEN. WESLEY CLARK (RET.), CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, presumably, there's some armored equipment and there's some logistics from Gadhafi's forces outside Misrata. Now, those can be seen and struck from the air unless they're extremely well camouflaged. And I would think that the coalition aircraft can simply orbit over Misrata and see the movement and figure out the patterns.

Maybe they're using some overhead imagery that's not exactly on conventional air frames. Don't know. But that would be doable. Once they're inside Misrata, like snipers or equipment hidden in buildings, it's not possible to get that out from the air without having spotters on the ground and without accepting the possibility of some significant collateral damage.

KAYE: So the U.S. again today saying -- once again reiterating that they will hand off the lead role here to another country in the coalition in days. How does this handoff work, do you think? I mean, what does the U.S. do? Do they just hand it over, pull the ships out, and say, see you, you're on your own? I mean, won't the U.S. still have a role?

CLARK: I think they'll probably reflag the operation. That is to say, instead of having it run by General Carter Hamm out of the U.S. Africa command, they may still use the Mt. Whitney, it may be under the NATO hat of commander in chief of the southern region, which is a U.S. Navy four-star admiral. That's his flagship. Maybe they'll use that, and then it will go up through the supreme allied commander in Europe, in Brussels, and report to the NATO military committee and the NATO political activities.

At the same time, there would be a group of foreign ministers off to the side that would be dealing with the more political activities like how to coordinate with the opposition, how to negotiate if that's going to happen with Gadhafi, what the political end state would be. But, meanwhile, NATO and NATO political authorities would run the military aspects of the operation.

KAYE: So let's talk about Gadhafi. He's still coming out to speak, he's still saying that he's going to hold on to the bitter end. Yet, in an interview with ABC News, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says that he may be looking for an out.

So let's listen to that and we'll talk more about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANE SAWYER, ABC NEWS: Are you indicating that there's someone close to him, on hi behalf, reaching out to say, how do we get out, how does he get out?

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is what we hear from so many sources, Diane. It is a constant --

SAWYER: Today?

CLINTON: Today, yesterday, the day before. Some of it, I'll be very -- as my personal opinion -- some of it is theater. A lot of it is just the way he behaves. It's somewhat unpredictable.

But some of it we think is exploring. You know, what are my options? Where could I go? What could I do? And we would encourage that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: General, I listen to that sound bite and I say, who's going to help this guy? Who's going to take him?

CLARK: Well, he's put a lot of money into Africa, and he has got a lot more money in gold reserves in Libya, which presumably he would try to bring out physically with him.

And he would be negotiating something that would give him some kind of sanctuary, relief from International Criminal Court jurisdiction, for example, plus giving him the authority to keep some of that money. And he would probably offer to give a lot of that to whatever poor country is willing to take him in. That's the way something like that would work.

KAYE: And just very quickly, are you at all concerned about the rebel forces? I mean, the U.S. doesn't seem to know who they are really dealing with, nor does the coalition. Are you at all concerned about what kind of regime they might put forward?

CLARK: Well, certainly I'm concerned about the quality of the rebel forces, whether they're actually going to make any headway against Gadhafi or not. I'm concerned about the people in Misrata, and I'd be concerned about the nature of the government that comes after.

All that has to be looked at, and apparently that's all going to be looked at by this group of foreign ministers and their political committee that are supposed to meet on Tuesday. The issue is, then, how does that intersect the military activities that have been authorized by the U.N. Security Council? That's a great unknown.

KAYE: All right. General Wesley Clark, always appreciate you chatting with us, and appreciate your insight.

Now let's go to Reza Sayah. He's joining us from Benghazi.

Reza, the situation there has improved a bit, correct?

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It has. Benghazi, of course, is the rebel capital. And for the past 24 hours it has been peaceful because, for the most part, all the Gadhafi forces and his air defense system in this region have been taken out.

So people here have taken this opportunity to get back to what resembles normalcy. Most businesses, still closed. All schools still closed. Some shops opening up.

There was another rally today in support of the opposition forces. Thousands of people calling on opposition forces to turn the tables on Colonel Gadhafi and topple the regime and move westward.

And we saw that happen, at least in Ajdabiya, which is a strategically very critical city, the front line of this conflict for the past couple of days. Opposition forces had tried to move in to take over Ajdabiya. They've been repelled by Gadhafi forces.

But today, according to a CNN crew on the scene, the opposition forces moved to within a few miles of Ajdabiya, this key city. Nine people killed in the fighting, six people injured.

Also a significant development, the CNN crew telling us that these fighters, most of them civilians who, just a few weeks ago, were in their businesses, in convenience shops, working in farms, getting to learn on the fly, fighting more effectively and doing some significant damage to Gadhafi forces that appear to be on their heels -- Randi.

KAYE: And Reza, we know that Gadhafi spoke last night. What do you think the headline was out of those statements? And how is it being received there?

SAYAH: Well, it doesn't matter when Gadhafi speaks. His words make headlines.

I mean, it was vintage Gadhafi. He ridiculed Operation Odyssey Dawn, he ridiculed the French and U.S. missiles. And he said that his forces are going to fight to the end. Obviously, they made headlines. But if you step back and look at the big picture, if you look at his escalating rhetoric and combine it with the escalating and heated rhetoric coming from the opposition forces, they, too, are saying they're not going to back down.

The stage is set here for a long, drawn-out war, and that brings into question, again, the question we've heard over and over again, where is this headed? And with the possibility of a long, drawn-out conflict, that could possibly add fuel to the criticism that the coalition forces in this operation are seeing, the critics who are saying this could lead to more civilians dying instead of fewer, which was the stated intention of U.N. Resolution 1973 -- Randi.

KAYE: Still such a very, very tense situation there.

Reza Sayah, thank you.

Elizabeth Taylor died earlier today after a battle with congestive heart failure. More about the passing of the Hollywood legend when we come back. We'll take you live to Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Hollywood is mourning the loss of a superstar. Elizabeth Taylor, the legendary actress known for her beauty, her charities, and her many marriages, died today. She was 79. Her publicist says she passed away peacefully at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

CNN's Ted Rowlands has been following this story and joins us live from Cedars-Sinai in L.A.

Ted, tell us what you've learned today about the actress' passing.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Randi, she died peacefully, as you said, according to a family statement, and she died with her four children at her side.

Her family was actually very pleased with her progress as of late. She's been in the hospital -- she was in the hospital here at Cedars for six weeks combating this congestive heart failure, but according to the family, she had stabilized and they were looking forward to her going home. Obviously, she took a turn for the worst and died here yesterday.

Her son released a statement saying, Michael Wilding, and it says in part, "My mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest with great passion, humor and love. Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world."

She, of course, was 79, as you mentioned. She leaves behind, besides millions of fans around the world, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

At this point, the family says they are planning a private funeral for this week. There are also works for a public memorial service. Those have not been released -- Randi.

KAYE: Yes. I'm sure a lot of people would like to pay their respects.

Ted, do we know what will come of her charity, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation?

ROWLANDS: Well, it is obviously still going to be moving on. And this will be a huge legacy that she's left behind.

It was something that she was very passionate about in the later years of her life, since the mid-'80s, all the way when she started this foundation in 1991. But it's a good question, specifically, because she underwrote a lot of the day-to-day costs of the foundation. And then that would allow all of the contributions to go to the charity work that the foundation did towards AIDS.

So it's unclear how it will morph with her passing, but you can be sure that it will pick up steam, especially here in the short term. In fact, the family is asking people in lieu of flowers, to donate to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, and I'm sure that her legacy will live very long through this foundation and the great work that she has done to help people suffering from AIDS.

KAYE: Yes, that foundation was so important to her after her friend Rock Hudson died.

How is Hollywood reacting to this news?

ROWLANDS: Well, as you might imagine, obviously reaction is coming in from all around the world, and specifically Hollywood, from Nancy Reagan, to pretty much everybody in the Twitter universe. Also at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as is traditionally the case with someone like this when they pass.

People are paying their respects at her star. There was a wreath put there a few hours ago, and people are passing by and stopping and paying their respects in Hollywood.

A great loss, obviously, for a true star here in Hollywood. As Larry King said earlier to you, probably a star that will never be matched because of the way things have changed over the years. She was the real deal.

KAYE: Yes, she sure was.

All right. Ted Rowlands at the hospital there for us today.

Thank you, Ted.

And Ted mentioned a statement by Mrs. Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan. And I have that here with me and would like to share it with you.

She wrote, "Elizabeth Taylor was a dear friend. I knew her from our days together at MGM when she was just a teenager, and I watched her grow into one of Hollywood's finest actresses. She was passionate and compassionate about everything in her life, including her family, her friends, and especially the victims of AIDS. She was truly a legend and we will miss her."

So many people will.

And be sure to tune in at 9:00 p.m. Eastern for a special edition of "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT," remembering the life and legacy of Elizabeth Taylor. Once again, that start at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

Just about half past the hour. Updating our top stories now.

In Japan, Tokyo government workers say the tap water now has levels of radioactive material that could be harmful for babies. In fact, they say the water contains twice the limit considered safe. Parents are being advised to not use tap water to make baby formula. And bottled water has now, as a result, become scarce. The U.S. and Hong Kong are banning dairy products and various produce from the region.

In Jerusalem, a bomb exploded near a busy bus station during evening rush hour. A woman was killed and at least 50 people were injured, including two pregnant women. This is the first major bombing to rock the city in several years. No one has claimed responsibility.

In Libya, the coalition intensified their air attacks on key pro- Gadhafi sites around Misrata, Tripoli and Ajdabiya. In eastern Libya, the U.S. naval forces commander says allies have successfully established a no-fly zone over Benghazi. Air strikes have taken out Gadhafi's air forces and its long-range air defense.

Tornado warnings in parts of southern Indiana right now. Meteorologist Chad Myers has the details right after this very quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We told you bright before the break there were tornado warnings in Indiana. Chad Myers here to tell us about that.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Watch and warning. Remember that? Which one --

KAYE: No! Don't test me like this!

MYERS: My mom can't even get this. Watches are big. They last a long time. They mean things can happen. They can happen inside that box. Warnings are bad. They mean that it's happening. Happening. Right.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAYE: There are troubling signs for the economy. A new low for the housing market. We're going to break down the latest numbers, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We remember Elizabeth Taylor for many moments like these.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIZABETH TAYLOR, ACTRESS: You come here then running over with wine and self-pity to conquer Caesar.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: The Oscar-winning actress died this morning from congestive heart failure, surrounded by her children. Her son called Taylor "an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest with great passion, humor and love." By all accounts, her dramatic personal life, filled with romance and heartbreak, matched the drama of her poignant roles on screen.

Some other headlines and stories you may have missed. In Jerusalem, a bomb kills a woman and injures more than 50 people. Investigators say the bomb exploded near a busy bus station during evening rush hour. This is the city's first major bombing in several years. Palestinian prime minister just issued a statement strongly condemning the terrorist acts. The U.S., Britain, and United Nations have condemned the attack as well.

In Libya, allies hit pro-Gadhafi sites with an intense series of air strikes over the western part of the country near Misrata. But coalition forces are now moving to apply pressure to Gadhafi's ground forces. In eastern Libya, the U.S. naval forces commander says the coalition has successfully established a no-fly zone over Benghazi. Air strikes have taken out Gadhafi's Air Force and its long-range air defense. Commanders say the no-fly zone now spans Libya from east to west along its coastline, but Gadhafi is it not backing down.

The U.S. has issued an import alert banning Japanese milk products, vegetables and fruit harvested near the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Products from four prefectures seen here are all affected. Hong Kong is also expanding its ban to include Japanese meat and seafood as well.

In Tokyo, government workers say the tap water now has elements of radioactive material that could be harmful for babies. In fact, they say the water contains twice the limit considered safe. Parents are being advised to not to use tap water to make baby formula, and bottled water has now become scarce.

Sales of new homes plummeted to the lowest level since the government began keeping records. Sales fell nearly 17 percent last month, hitting rock bottom. Economists say the numbers are troubling since new home sales directly stimulate the economy.

All right. We told you about that deadly bomb attack at Jerusalem's main bus station. Our Jerusalem bureau chief joins us with the very latest, right after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: More now on the deadly bomb attack in Jerusalem today. At least one person was killed, 50 wounded, several critically. It happened near the city's main bus station, the first such attack in years. Here with me is CNN International anchor and correspondent Michael Holmes. And joining us on the phone from Jerusalem is CNN's Kevin Flower.

Kevin, let's start with you. When do you expect we'll find out exactly who might have carried out this bombing?

KEVIN FLOWER, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Randi, the police are still investigating the nature of the crime so at this point, there's actually been a gag order placed on the investigation. So, we will not be getting any details from the police as they go about their investigation. Needless to say, the Israeli officials will be putting all of their energies into finding out who is responsible for this bombing, but there have been no claims of responsibility as of yet. So, it is not clear who was behind this, though many Israeli officials are laying the responsibility on the Palestinians themselves.

Now, the Palestinian authority, prime minister Salam Fayyad came out earlier today in a statement and condemned the attack, calling it disgraceful. A lot of questions being asked about whether the Palestinians are responsible, which groups.

But all of this, of course, Randi, is taking place against the backdrop of increased violence between Israel and Gaza-based Palestinian militant groups. Dozens of rockets have been fired into Israel in the past few days, and strong response from Israeli military in which ten Palestinians have been killed since Saturday in retaliatory strikes. So, we just heard from the Israeli prime minister as well --

KAYE: All right. Kevin, Kevin -- I need to interrupt you there for a moment. We want to go to Hillary Clinton, who we expect will be making statements about Japan and possibly Libya.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: -- recent weeks. This morning, I spoke with the Japanese foreign minister to express my condolences and my admiration for the remarkable resilience of the Japanese people. The United States has joined in the international outpouring of support for Japan at this time of need. And in the spirit of the enduring friendship, partnership and alliance between Japan and the United States, we stand ready to help in every way that we possibly can.

Also, this morning, I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the bombing in Jerusalem today that took at least one life and injured innocent civilians. Terrorism and the targeting of civilians are never justified, and Israel, like all nations, of course, has to respond when this occurs. The United States is committed to Israel's security, and we strongly condemn this violence and extend our deepest sympathies to all those affected.

We also strongly condemn recent rocket attacks from Gaza against innocent Israeli civilians and hold fully responsible the militants perpetrating these attacks. And I join President Obama in extending our sincere condolences to the friends and families of the Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza yesterday and appreciate that Israel has expressed regret.

We stress the importance of calm, and we urge all concerned to do everything in their power to prevent further violence and civilian casualties among both Israelis and Palestinians. Violence only erodes hope for a lasting and meaningful peace and the final realization of two states for two peoples.

In our meeting today, I thanked the foreign minister for Morocco's leadership at the summit in Paris last week and for Morocco's important role in the Arab League's decision to call for the protection of Libyan civilians. We also discussed the international community's ongoing efforts to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 in Libya.

It is still early, but we have made significant progress. This week, Gadhafi's troops with were poised to enter Benghazi over the weekend, putting hundreds of thousands of civilians in that city of 700,000 at great risk. Today, those troops have been pushed back, and those civilians are safer as a result. Coalition efforts have downgraded Gadhafi's air defense capabilities and set the conditions for an effective no-fly zone. I know that the nightly news cannot cover a humanitarian crisis that thankfully did not happen, but it is important to remember that many, many Libyans are safer today because the international community took action.

Now, of course, challenges remain, so long as Gadhafi continues to direct his forces to attack his own people. So, the United States will continue to support this mission as we transfer command and control to NATO.

Moving beyond Libya, this is a crucial moment in time for Morocco, the Magrab (ph) and the Middle East. I saw this vividly when I visited Egypt and Tunisia last week. And it was very inspiring to meet with the young people and the activists from civil society who are expressing such a strong desire to have a democracy of their own, to have some say in the decisions affecting their lives.

Morocco is well positioned to lead in this area because it is on the road to achieving democratic change. His Majesty King Mohammed VI's government has consistently allowed its citizens to express themselves openly and peacefully, and it has been frank and forthcoming about the challenges ahead. The king has long demonstrated his commitment to reform.

And earlier this month in an important address that captured widespread attention, he promised comprehensive reforms that would guarantee free parliamentary elections, including the election of a prime minister, create an independent judiciary and ensure human rights for all of Morocco's stakeholders, including the Ahmazid (ph) community. These ideas build on the king's earlier reforms that included increased rights for women and children and universal access to a free education. We recognize the critical importance of the aspirations that his majesty has described, and we urge a continuing and rapid implementation of his vision. We also look forward with great optimism to further deepening our strong and strategic partnership in working with Morocco on so many issues.

Let me close with an issue that I know is of great importance to Morocco and its neighbors -- the western Sahara. U.S. policy toward the western Sahara has remained constant from administration to administration. We want to see a peaceful resolution. Starting with the Clinton administration and continuing through the Bush administration and up to the present in the Obama administration, we have stated our belief that Morocco's autonomy plan is serious, realistic, and credible, a potential approach to satisfy the aspirations of the people in the western Sahara to run their own affairs in peace and dignity.

The United States strongly supports the role of ambassador Christopher Ross and the United Nations in resolving this issue. So, again, Minister, I thank you very much for all of the work we are doing together and all of the important work that lies ahead.

KAYE: All right. You've been listening to secretary of state Hillary Clinton addressing several issues there. Some brief comments on the bombing in Israel, but then she quickly moved to Libya, saying that Gadhafi's forces, which has put people at risk in Benghazi yesterday, have been pushed back. The humanitarian crisis that the United States and coalition forces was so worried about did not happen, and that Libya is safer because of these actions.

So, let's bring back in Michael Holmes, our CNN International anchor and correspondent. What's your take on what she said?

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There are reports of food shortages in some of the cities like Misrata, where there's been a lot of action actually. The coalition has been striking at Gadhafi forces outside that city where they can find them. Where they can find tanks and rocket launchers and the like. And this has been going on for a little while.

What's interesting about that, though, is the coalition obviously realizes they can deal with them outside. There's a lot of Gadhafi forces inside the city, and the street-to-street activity we've seen and people have been complaining about -- this is the third biggest city in Libya. That's something the coalition can't do anything about, obviously.

KAYE: Does it appear to you we could be heading for a stalemate there?

HOLMES: It absolutely could. The thing we keep saying about all of these revolts and revolutions and the like is it's very hard to say what will happen, but a stalemate is certainly possible. That's the least desirable thing you've got -- the rebels holding the east and Gadhafi forces perhaps holding on to the towns in the south. Even if he falls, there's still this very important question of what next? You've got Islamists fighting alongside secular rebels from Benghazi in the east. What happens when they try, if they try, to form a government? The old enmities are there. And the tribalism is there.

KAYE: Right. And what would that government look like?

HOLMES: Exactly.

KAYE: We don't even know.

Can we turn to Syria? A lot of political unrest there, a lot more violence. Fifteen people killed there today. The situation really does seem to be going from bad to worse.

HOLMES: Yes, it does. It's hard to call this a revolution or even really a revolt. It's still very small, still in its infancy. But it is a spark run by young people, disenfranchised people, poor people.

The fear barrier as we said yesterday has been broken, and we're seeing some of these demonstrations spread to towns and villages around Daraa. This is in the south near the Jordanian border. But the Syrians are keeping it in that area. They desperately want to keep this contained in this area. And they're doing so with an iron fist. As you're seeing, live ammunition being used to put this down.

KAYE: Hmm. All right. Michael Holmes, great to see you as always. Thank you.

It is one year later for health care. Are you still confused about what has changed and how much it is going to cost? The "Big Breakdown" is next, and we'll explain it all for you.

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KAYE: It is health care reform, one year later on today's "Big Breakdown." CNN's Stephanie Elam joins me to clear up what it really means for people today, and where we're supposed to actually be headed. Stephanie?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Randi, you know, there's actually a few big changes for consumers, already kicked in last year. But just to give you an idea of those are, kids can stay on their parents' insurance until the age of 26. Certain preventative care services like mammograms and colonoscopies are free, meaning no co-pays or other out-of-pocket costs for those. And children cannot be denied coverage because of preexisting conditions.

This year, we've had a few more changes kicking in, mainly targeted at older Americans. Prescription drug discounts for some senior and certain free preventative services for them as well. But the truth, is the really big changes most of us will notice don't come until 2014 because that's when insurance companies won't be allowed to deny anyone health coverage because of a preexisting condition. Annual limits on coverage will be eliminated, and most Americans will be required to get health insurance or they'll have to pay a fine.

And this timing issue is part of the difficulty for President Obama and other Democrats right. They're out trying to sell health care to a public that is still pretty divided on the law where most Americans aren't seeing much benefit from it at all yet, Randi.

KAYE: All right. Stephanie, good to see you. Thank you.

Coming up after this quick break, we've asked for your comments about health care. We're going to read some of your comments about that and also about Elizabeth Taylor.

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KAYE: Welcome back. Earlier we asked about your thoughts and memories of Elizabeth Taylor. Well, we have so many responses. We want to share as many of them as we can. Here's what some of you told us.

From Facebook, Scott says, "They don't make actresses like her anymore. "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Father of the Bride," Suddenly Last Summer." Even "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf!"

Amy adds, "'Giant' was my favorite. Liz Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean. Superb. But what I will always remember about her is her glamour and the true movie star-ness of her." Movie starness. I like that.

From Twitter, Vicki says, "Elizabeth Taylor's wit is my favorite memory. There was this whisper-soft voice, very ladylike, then out came a salty, witty story."

And there's this from Scott. He says he will remember "her work with people with HIV/AIDS and being one of the first to use their fame to bring awareness to people living with it." As you know, she started that charity for AIDS.

On our blog, Derek says, "What I will always remember is her friendship with Michael Jackson. No matter what drama surfaced in Michael's life, Liz remained loyal to him as a friend and adviser. Even when the critics were after Michael, Liz Taylor was always at his side."

That'll do it for me. Let's hand it over now to Brooke Baldwin.