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Gadhafi Forces Pound Misrata; High-Ranking Libyan Defects; Lottery Winners Claim $319 Million; Gadhafi's Son Left U.S. Intern Job to Fight Against Libyan Rebels; Trace Amounts of Radioactive Iodine found in U.S. Milk

Aired March 31, 2011 - 11:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Well, live from Studio 7, I'm Fredricka Whitfield, in today for Suzanne Malveaux. Let's get you up to speed this Thursday, March 31st.

A U.S. intelligence source says CIA operatives are on the ground in Libya today to size up rebel fighters. The source says they are not there for battlefield direction. Congress asked Defense Secretary Robert Gates about the CIA story a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ROSCOE BARTLETT (R), MARYLAND: Do you see the use of CIA and U.S. Special Forces in Libya as following the blueprint we used in Afghanistan?

ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, first of all, we -- I can't speak to any CIA activities, but I will tell you that the president has been quite clear that in terms of the United States' military, there will be no boots on the ground.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Britain says it has not promised immunity to Libya's top diplomat. Foreign minister Moussa Koussa defected to London Wednesday. He has been at Moammar Gadhafi's side for decades. CNN's Nic Robertson says this man may be a treasure trove of information.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's significant for many reasons, because -- not least of which because he was a former head of intelligence, not least of which is because he is who, at one time, a very wanted figure by European security services. This is a man whose disappearance here wasn't even known by the deputy foreign minister.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Libyan rebels remain in full retreat today. Gadhafi's troops bulldozed them out of Brega. Rebels had reclaimed the oil port just four days ago. Since Monday, Gadhafi's troops have pushed opposition fighters from the edge of Sirte to Ajdabiya, a distance of 253 miles. Meantime, Japan is under pressure to expand the evacuation zone at the Fukushima nuclear complex. High radiation has been detected 12 miles outside the zone, and seawater radiation is still climbing. Officials say it is 100 times higher than a week ago.

Meantime, in this country, the Environmental Protection Agency is going to keep a closer check on dairy products. The EPA says radiation from Japan has been detected in milk on the U.S. West Coast. The government says it is miniscule compared to what most of us absorb every day and it maintains the milk is perfectly safe. Still, dairy farmers say people are curious.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've had a lot of customers today, and we've had some ask about it as they are buying six and eight gallons of milk with their car full of kids. So I'm not too concerned.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: The U.S. Labor Department says first-time unemployment claims fell to 388,000 last week. That's down 6,000 from the week before. The nation's overall jobless picture may be clearer tomorrow, when the government releases the unemployment report for all of March.

Meantime, U.S. House and Senate negotiators have agreed to cut $73 billion from the federal budget for this year. They have not agreed on specific programs to cut. Without a deal or extension, the government technically runs out of money at the end of next week.

And despite weeks of loud protests, a bill to limit collective bargaining rights for Ohio public workers is headed for the governor's signature today. Ohio's Republican-controlled legislature says the bill will help close an $8 billion budget gap.

In New York this morning, a funeral mass for former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro. She died Saturday from blood cancer. Ferraro was a little-known Queens congresswoman when Walter Mondale chose her to be the first woman on a national party ticket to become vice presidential nominee.

All right. More now on Libya and a city under siege.

For weeks, Moammar Gadhafi's forces have pounded Misrata. Rebel fighters are outgunned. Civilians are suffering, and much of the city is in ruins now.

CNN's Frederik Pleitgen is one of the few journalists able to get inside the city after the most recent attacks. Frederik joins us right now, live off the coast of Libya.

What can you tell us?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka.

Yes, we got into Misrata on this boat right here that was bringing medical supplies and aid into Misrata, because as you know, Misrata is really an enclave in Gadhafi-held territory. And he now has a lot of his troops inside the city center. Misrata was -- or is one of the richest towns in all of Libya, but now it's absolutely devastated.

Take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Weeks of urban combat have taken their toll on Misrata, badly-damaged buildings, streets littered with wreckage. Libya's third largest city, the final position stronghold in the west, is under siege by pro-Gadhafi forces.

(on camera): All right. So we're extremely close to the front line right now. We're with a couple of the fighters from the opposition forces. And this is in downtown Misrata.

There's a lot of destruction everywhere. Most of the buildings here have some sort of damage to them, pockmarks. There's a lot of destroyed cars in the streets, as well. And you can also see that the people that we're with, the fighters that we're with, are very, very tense at this moment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's go. Let's go.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): A celebration on a destroyed armored vehicle, a step too far for pro-Gadhafi forces nearby, and the scene turns ugly.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fire! Fire! Fire!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As you see, that all is destroyed from Gadhafi's forces. Building, gas stations, schools, restaurants, police station, even fire station, they destroyed it.

PLEITGEN: Most residents have fled downtown Misrata as pro-Gadhafi forces have positioned snipers on tall buildings and used tanks and artillery in the city center. The anti-Gadhafi fighters, badly outgunned, fight back with the few weapons they have. They provided us with this video saying it shows a man disabling a battle tank with a rocket-propelled grenade.

Those civilians still left in Misrata are suffering. Twelve-year-old Mohammed (ph) and his 15-year-old brother were wounded when mortars hit their parents' home. Mohammed (ph) lost several fingers on his left hand and his whole right hand.

Their father swears revenge. "Gadhafi should be killed," he says. "He's not a human, and he should be killed."

But, for now, the medical staff at one of the few functioning hospitals are struggling to keep many of the wounded alive. They lack even the basics -- anesthetics, operating tools, and space. Some patients must stay in the parking lot. The emergency room is in a tent in front of the building.

DR. ALI ABDULLAH, SURGEON: We don't (ph) go from there. All the doctors and medical staff, they live here now.

PLEITGEN: And they won't leave any time soon, as opposition fighters struggle to hold on to this besieged town and forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi continue to pound what not long ago was one of Libya's most prosperous places.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Fred, back with us now.

So, I wonder, as you look at these images, and you hear people about their struggles, it seems like there is a real conflict between the fighting and the freedom. So, do people feel torn between the price that comes with this kind of fighting?

PLEITGEN: Well, certainly. I mean, there's a lot of people, Fredricka, that we spoke to who say they are willing to fight on. They say that things are still going strong for them.

The interesting thing about this place is that half the town is in the hands of Gadhafi fighters and the other half is in the hands of the opposition forces. And it's unbelievable to see how badly the opposition forces there are outgunned.

I mean, some of the opposition fighters have guns that they made themselves. A lot of people are armed with machetes, things like that.

On the other side, with the pro-Gadhafi forces, you have things like tanks, artillery rocket-propelled grenades, and, of course, rifles in abundance. Nevertheless, there were some opposition fighters who told us they still feel that they're going to be able to hang on. But there is also, quite frankly, a lot of people who are very, very scared.

A lot of people, Fredricka, who have had to flee their homes, who are now in makeshift shelters. And a lot of people say they are afraid that if Gadhafi takes this town back, a lot of people will be massacred, simply for this uprising that they started -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And quickly, Fred, about your journey into Misrata, you know, clearly a lot more porous there by entering it from the coast, from the water. Give me an idea why this was the safest or best route in which to do this reporting.

PLEITGEN: By entering through the coast, well, going in it from the sea was basically the only way we were able to do this, because the city is absolutely cut off from all sides. The opposition forces control part of the town, but the whole surrounding territory is controlled by Gadhafi forces. And therefore, the only way in is really by sea.

There are some aid ships who try this. Sometimes the Gadhafi forces have actually tried to attack the port of Misrata using little speed boats and firing on merchant vessels inside that area. So this is a very, very dangerous undertaking. But really, right now, boats like this one are the only lifeline that this town has -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Fred Pleitgen, thanks so much, off the coast of Libya. Appreciate that.

All right. Back in this country, let's talk some politics. The Tea Party is holding a rally at the U.S. Capitol next hour. Potential 2012 presidential candidate Michele Bachmann will be there. She thinks conservative women like herself and Sarah Palin are being unfairly criticized.

And that brings us to today's "Talk Back." Carol Costello with more on this.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: With more. I do have more.

We hear it a lot, there is a double standard when it comes to criticizing politicians who are women. Republican and Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann, who has had a few missteps with historical facts says yes, she made mistakes. But she, unlike liberal politicians, did not get a pass from the media.

Bachmann told CBN's David Brody it's something she, Sarah Palin and other conservative women have to deal with.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R), MINNESOTA: She has been unfairly criticized, and I think that we've seen that with other conservative women as well across the country, whether they are political commentators or whether they're in public service.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Commentators like MSNBC's Ed Schultz, who calls Bachmann a "psycho talker," and Jay Leno, who holds nothing back when it comes to the so-called "Mama Grizzlies."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, now under fire for claiming the founding fathers eliminated slavery. Well, and Sarah Palin, oh, she is upset. Well, sure. Another female Republican out there trying to steal the dumb- ass vote?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All this is not surprising at all to Sarah Palin, who was asked about it on Fox.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH PALIN (R), FMR. ALASKA GOVERNOR: Yes, of course. Women are held to a different standard in all areas.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why? PALIN: But my point is going to be, so what? I am through whining about a liberal press that holds especially conservative women to a different standard because it doesn't do me any good to whine about it. I made my point.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: For conservative women to say this, it's big, because many conservative women don't buy into feminism and prefer people to think of them simply as candidates.

Politics, as you know, is rough for both women and men. Just how rough? Maybe it depends on your gender.

So, the "Talk Back" question today: Are Republican women unfairly criticized because they're female?

Facebook.com/CarolCNN, and I'll read your comments later on in the hour.

WHITFIELD: And, of course, we want to hear from both women and men on this issue.

COSTELLO: Oh yes. They are already commenting.

WHITFIELD: Good. Can't wait to hear more. Excellent. All right. Thanks so much, Carol.

COSTELLO: Sure.

WHITFIELD: All right. Here's a look at what's ahead "On the Rundown."

Defecting from a dictator, what Moussa Koussa's move away from Gadhafi could mean for the Libyan leader.

Also, Mega Millions magic. One lucky group of seven wins big.

And the South gets socked by some pretty nasty storms.

Plus, radiation detected in the U.S. in milk. Should you be worried?

Finally, like father, like son. So why was one of Gadhafi's sons recently in the United States?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Regardless of the hostilities that would break out later, is it all right for a U.S.-based company to give an internship to someone like Khamis Gadhafi?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: For decades he was by Moammar Gadhafi's side. Today, Moussa Koussa is in Britain. The foreign minister and former intelligence chief is the highest-ranking official to defect from the Libyan government.

CNN national security contributor Fran Townsend has actually met with him. She is a member of the CIA External Advisory Committee. And as early as last May, she actually visited high-ranking Libyan officials at the invitation of the Libyan government.

So, Fran, give me an idea. What were your impressions of Moussa Koussa when you interacted with him?

FRAN TOWNSEND, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I met Moussa Koussa. It was in 2007 when I was working at the White House.

I went there to deliver -- I went to deliver a letter to Gadhafi from President Bush. The first person I met with, there was a small group. But the leader of that group was Moussa Koussa, and we had a long meeting.

He is very smart, very savvy, speaks perfect English. And he is well known because of his decades of service leading the intelligence service in Libya. He is well known to the heads of other Western intelligence and intelligence services throughout the world.

WHITFIELD: So was your interaction with him any different when it was more recently within the past year?

TOWNSEND: No. By the last year -- when I was there in May of 2010 (ph), he was already the foreign minister and he was traveling -- he was on a trip to China, although left a message saying he was sorry not to be there to greet me.

I at that point met with Abdullah Senussi. He's the only other non- family member who is very close to Gadhafi. He is now the leader of the intelligence service there, and we have not heard anything about him.

I should tell you, Fredricka, the notion that Moussa Koussa has defected is an undeniable win for the coalition and the administration. This is a guy who knows many things about Gadhafi's activities, his security services, their structure, who they are, how they operate. And his cooperation could be very, very useful to Western intelligence services, and particularly the coalition.

WHITFIELD: Well, then you weigh that, the kind of information he must have, with that 40-year relationship. So, clearly, he would be very loyal to Gadhafi.

Do you believe that his defection would mean that he no longer feels those loyalties, that he would be willing to give up that kind of information that would be so crucial?

TOWNSEND: Well, he could not have gotten out -- I don't believe he could have defected without the assistance of Western intelligence and Western officials. And so he's in London. You can be sure, Fredricka, that a deal was cut with him before he left.

He would have asked for things like immunity from prosecution because he is directly implicated in Pan Am 103. We've frozen his assets, and so he would have asked for access to his assets. And one of the many things the Western governments would have asked in return is for his cooperation.

Now, the question remains -- he is probably being debriefed by intelligence, British and American intelligence services now in London. The question is, will he keep up his end of the bargain?

WHITFIELD: And while he may have found some safety there in Great Britain, one has to believe that there is great risk that comes with his defection.

TOWNSEND: Of course. This is a very aggressive intelligence service. And any -- you know, the Libyan. And this is an intelligence service that pulled off the La Belle disco bombing in Germany and Pan Am 103. They certainly have assets around the world. So, yes, it's very dangerous.

WHITFIELD: Fran Townsend, thanks so much. Thanks for your insight. Appreciate it.

TOWNSEND: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. Meantime, let's talk about something rather uplifting, especially if you are one of the lucky seven. A group of New York State workers just might make you change your mind in every way about whether that number is indeed a lucky number -- 7.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Here's an advisory. Stock up on that chocolate while you can.

Those delicious Kit Kats and Hershey's Kisses are about to cost you more. Hershey Company is increasing the price of its chocolate goods by almost 10 percent. The company says it needs to offset rising production costs.

All right. Well, one group that won't have to worry about higher prices anymore, those lucky seven New York State workers who won $319 million in the Mega Millions jackpot. They have come forward to claim their prize today. It happened last hour in Schenectady.

And that's where we find CNN's Alison Kosik.

Very, very luck seven.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, yes. And you know what? I think it's been a while since I've seen such a happy bunch of people.

They are being called "The Albany Seven." They all put their money in. They work for the state of New York. They all put their money into an office pool. They have the winning ticket. But let me tell you a couple of stories about how this came about. The 63-year-old who is in the group said he went to a convenience store that he goes to all the time to buy these lotto tickets. He was in line to buy his lotto ticket, and somebody cut in front of him as he was reaching down to get a Snickers bar that he says was his weakness, but he let the guy get in front of him.

And guess what? Mike stepped up and bought that winning ticket.

It was 29-year-old Gabrielle who watched the drawing on TV and saw that they won. And then it was John, who was the person who was pointed out to go and actually retrieve the ticket that was still in the office, at their offices for the state of New York.

He was so nervous, he took his son with him that Saturday, he said, as his bodyguard. He took the ticket, and listen where he put it. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN HILTON, LOTTERY WINNER: I went into work and got the ticket, took it home. And I said, "What am I going to do with it now?"

So the only thing, I'm frantic now. And what I did was I put it in two Ziploc bags, put it in a five-gallon bucket of bird food I had in the garage and hid it in the basement. I didn't know what to do with it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: That's awesome. Well --

KOSIK: Yes. And just so you know, when he had that ticket in the birdfeed in the bucket, he went to the Lottery Commission, Fredricka, with the ticket still in the bucket. He was so nervous, he didn't want to carry it by itself -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Well, I don't blame him.

All right. Well, so he was nervous. The others were quite euphoric.

But I hear there is a story about yet another co-worker who opted out of joining that lucky seven. Any truth about that?

KOSIK: Well, no truth to that. That was just a rumor about that eighth person who decided he was unlucky.

This has been an ongoing office pool for several years. They would pool their money when the lotto got as high as $100 million.

Usually it was 12 people, but this time around, when they really needed it, five people opted out. I did ask one of the winners whether or not they would share any of those winnings with the other five that decided to opt out. She kind of skirted the question, didn't really say yes or no -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Oh my God. OK. Moral of the story, if there is an office pool going on a purchase of lottery tickets, just go in on it, $1 or $2, something. It's worth it in the end, right?

KOSIK: Exactly, just 2 bucks.

WHITFIELD: That's right. Please don't regret it for the rest of your life.

KOSIK: Yes, you said it.

WHITFIELD: All right. Alison Kosik, thanks so much. Appreciate that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WHITFIELD: All right. Trace amounts of radiation in milk samples on the West Coast. We'll tell you what that means and how concerned you need to be.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Here's a look at what's ahead on the Rundown. Worries in the west after traces of radiation are detected in U.S. milk. But, is there real cause for concern?

Also, workers say it's getting worse at Japan's nuclear plant.

And rage and resentment in Syria. Swelling protests pressure the Assad regime.

Samples of milk taken this past week in two west coast states show trace amounts of radiation. Milk samples in Spokane, Washington, and California's San Luis Obispo County showed radioactive iodine at a level the FDA calls miniscule.

Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here. All right, so connect the dots, because we hear radiation, you hear U.S. milk, you want to panic.

How in the world did radiation from Japan get to these west coast states in the cows?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: All right. So radiation traveled from Japan to the United States. Radioactive particles fall on the grass, cows eat grass, right? And then it gets onto their milk. And the same way that a nursing mother knows that everything they eat gets in their milk.

So there's the cow eating the radioactive dust that has fallen on the grass and ends up in the milk.

WHITFIELD: All right. So, so much for the dissipation. A lot of people were very relieved to hear, you know, anything about any kind of dust cloud wouldn't make its way all the way across the Pacific into the U.S.

So now talk to us about the degrees of this kind of contamination. COHEN: Right. I think they always knew that there was going to be some radiation coming from Japan to this country. But it's all about dosage and the dosage is tiny. Teeny tiny amounts, 5,000 times lower than the safety standards set by the FDA.

So the FDA is telling us and other experts we've talked to also, say look, you don't need to worry about this. And I feel compelled to say these are experts, some of whom are very anti-nuke, who hate nuclear power and it would be in their best interest to scare the heck out of all of us and they're not. They're telling us, look, these are such small amounts you don't need to worry.

WHITFIELD: OK. So if in milk now, then what about other things in the food chain?

COHEN: I mean, you do have to wonder, right? I mean, chickens eat grass and cows eat grass and that ends up with their meet as well as their milk. And so I'm doing research on that right now, working on it all morning and we'll talk about it next hour.

WHITFIELD: All right. We'll check with you on that one.

Thank you so much, Elizabeth Cohen.

All right, radiation levels spiked to new highs in the ocean waters off Japan's Fukushima plant, as well. And there's no clear sense of what's causing the spike or how to stop it.

Michael Friedlander, a former senior nuclear power plant operator joins me now from Hong Kong. He has prepared nuclear facilities for natural disasters.

So why do you suppose radiation is being detected some 12 to 20 miles away from the Fukushima plant right now?

MICHAEL FRIEDLANDER, FORMER SENIOR POWER PLANT OPERATOR: Clearly that, radiation is coming from the power plant. What we don't know is we saw the dramatic videos of a week ago where they were dousing the buildings from the outside.

We know that over the course of the last couple of weeks, periodically we've been venting containment to the atmosphere to release the pent- up steam inside. And every one of those activities that we've undertaken has, indeed, carried away some of the radiation to it. And that radiation has, of course, over time flowed into the ocean. That's certainly one source that's indisputable.

One of the other areas that they're looking into right now is, of course, is there some sort of underground leak somewhere that's coming from that very, very radioactive water that we found in the turbine building. And just time will tell in terms of us actually finding the source.

WHITFIELD: So Michael, the concern and question now is, you know, if the sea water is being contaminated, is it inevitable that the contamination will engulf all or most of Japan? FRIEDLANDER: Well, when you talk about engulfing all of Japan, I think that that's probably being a bit dramatic. You know, certainly there's no doubt that they detected some radiation, some 20 and 30 kilometers away. What we're looking forward to finding out is, is that something that's just localized in a very local region? Or is that something that's in a very widespread area?

From a contamination standpoint and from a dose standpoint, I think we can pretty safely -- pretty much safely say at this point that the worst is over, because again, the way that the contamination gets spread is when they have to make those containment vents periodically. And those have largely stopped.

And so I think that what is there is there. You may see it floating around when there's some rain and things get washed into the river basin and things like that. But in terms of more or additional radioactive contamination, I think that the worst is over.

WHITFIELD: OK. And then there are reports about this six nuclear reactors that apparently four of them are officially going to be out of commission, couldn't be used again. But I thought the -- I guess, the general consensus was none of these reactors would ever be able to be used again, namely because of the kind of sea water contamination, the sea water that was used to help quell matters at these plants.

FRIEDLANDER: Well, what we'll set aside for just a moment, sort of the emotional and the social aspects of whether or not the plants, you know, prudent for the company never to start them up again. That's a whole other issue, the diplomacy associated with that.

But I think from a purely technical standpoint, the reactors that we're operating for which we've had to inject sea water, the moment that they'd made the decision to inject sea water, which by the way they had no choice about, the death sentence was assigned for those reactors. Those reactors will never operate again.

But remember, that was units one, two and three. Units four, five and six were not operating at the time. Now we've been injecting sea water into the spent fuel pools but that is not the reactor and the consequence of us injecting sea water in spent fuel pools is dramatically lower than the consequences of injecting that into a hot reactor.

So from a technical standpoint, I think an argument could be made.

WHITFIELD: OK. Michael Friedlander, thanks so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

FRIEDLANDER: Sure.

WHITFIELD: All right. Three stories coming from three different angles and personal struggles. Let us know which one you really want to see on the CNN Newsroom. You vote by texting us. So here are the options, here we go.

Your first choice, Acapulco's street kids call her Mama Rosy. Meet the woman whose heart and doors are always open to kids who have no one else to turn to.

You second choice, a 13-year-old fights back at bullies using their own words. Find out why her powerful video message is now going viral.

And, your third choice on Major League Baseball's opening day, some major league money troubles for a team caught up with the Bernie Madoff financial scandal.

Vote by texting 22360. Text 1, for one woman's mission to get kids off the streets. Text 2, for the 13-year-old girl fighting the bullying and text 3 for major league money problems.

The winning story airs the next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Syrian President Bashar al Assad acknowledges his people won't reform but he's made no mention of lifting the emergency law that's been in place for almost 50 years. The has sparked protests in the coastal town of Latakia. Eyewitnesses say one man was killed.

Our Mohammad Jamjoom is in Abu Dhabi with the latest on this.

So, a real mixed message about whether this emergency law is staying or going.

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredericka. You know, several days ago we started hearing from the Syrian government that this law would be lifted and they said it would be lifted soon.

Today, after the president's speech yesterday that left so many activists profoundly disappointed that there had been no mention of if this law would be lifted or when. So we hear today that a committee is being formed to study the lifting of the law.

A statement of the Syrian news agency went on to say that the committee will study and draw up legislations that procures the country security and it will combat terrorism in preparing for lifting the state of emergency.

Now, that left everybody asking, what does that mean? I spoke to an activist in Syria just a few minutes ago, wanted to get their reaction. He said, again they're very disappointed. They believe that they're being manipulated, that the government is stalling, that this is a tactic to try to quell some of the discontent there. But, he said it's not going to work.

The activists, the demonstrators, the protestors there know that they put sufficient pressure on the president. They know that they backed him into a corner and made him make this speech. But they feel, again, right now that they're being played with. And they say they're worried if there is a new terrorism law that will replace the state of emergency, that they will still be gone after, that they will still be rounded up, they will still be prosecuted for expressing their opinion -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: Mohammed Jamjoom, thanks so much from Abu Dhabi. Appreciate that update.

Meantime, we've got some pretty potentially dangerous weather taking place here in the U.S. and the southeast, in particular.

Our Reynolds Wolf is in the Weather Center with some possible tornadic activity in Florida.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Possible tornadic activity -- absolutely, outside Tampa, Florida.

We've been watching this all morning long. We have that boundary that's been working its way across the state. Here in Tampa, here's the city of Tampa, you see the other side of it toward St. Pete. We're keeping an eye on this particular shape.

This is your TV, your tornado vortex signature, about where we see the best rotation of a possible tornado moving into the Tampa area, possibly within minutes. So anyone who happens to be in Tampa, we're talking Hillsboro County, Pinellas County, you need to take shelter as soon as possible.

You're taking a look now at a shot, this is actually over the causeway of 275. This one looking about due west. You can see visibility minimal. A lot of that water getting kicked out. Heavy rainfall. Very, very likely this tornado, if it is indeed a tornado, it is going to be rain-wrapped, it's going to be very, very hard to see. So the thing is, don't wait until you have visual confirmation. You want to shelter immediately.

Where would you want to take shelter? Lowest floor in your house. If you don't have a basement which many people in Tampa (AUDIO GAP) closet's not a bad place, restroom certainly not a bad idea either. As this storm system makes its way across, we're going to see possibly more of these.

We've been watching other areas. We have these TVS, these tornado vortex signatures that have been popping up. This one now you're seeing pop-up just along parts of 75. Again, very hard to see with the radar imagery that we've got. And if you'll also notice, we've got this pink area. That is all part of the warning area and we might see more of these hopscotch across the state as the system marches its way eastward.

These are quick movers, too, about 45 miles per hour so you're not going to have a great deal of time. If you happen to be tuning in, say you're listening to satellite radio and you've got CNN and you are on 75 or even making a drive on parts of I-4, you need to be advised. If you're in Ibor City, you might just want to go ahead and take shelter over in Brandon. Certainly the same situation.

I don't know if you can hear me in back the weather office, but if we can pan this over a bit more to the right, a little more to the east, rather, to show our viewers what is happening downstream, what we might be seeing in other places, like, say, Lakeland, Florida, that's where this intense line may be headed.

Now, with this possibility of tornados, not only do we have the chance of, of course, the tornado itself, but other damaging winds, large hail. At the same time, some flash flooding, because this is going to bring a great deal of rainfall with it.

You've got the tornado here but strong winds coming out right ahead of it. Lakeland, be prepared, you've had some heavy rain. You're going to get a little bit of a breather before this batch comes through. Winter Haven, you're in the clear for now. But if you were to look out the window and look back towards the west, back towards Tampa, you're going to see just dark skies. The foreboding skies all moving towards the east.

And then back towards Kissimmee, same situation. Back in Orlando, in Orange County, you've already had a couple of tornado warnings this morning. So I would expect this would be a very busy day for you.

That's a quick snapshot of what's happening. Again, to our friends in Tampa, please take cover if you can, as soon as possible.

Fredricka, we're going to keep you posted with this as more information becomes available to us.

WHITFIELD: And Reynolds, one more time? What's the time frame or the window?

WOLF: I would say the window's going to be within minutes. If you are in Tampa right now, if you can hear my voice, you need to take cover immediately. You really do. Leave the TV on, you need to get to a shelter. Obviously if you don't have to get to a shelter, just stay in your home, get into an interior room, the lowest floor of your home. That's going to certainly be the best situation for you.

Clearwater, you are in the clear for the time being, same deal with Palm Harbor. The big concern is going to be the Tampa/St. Pete area.

Let's send it back to you, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right, Reynolds, thanks so much. I know you're going to stay on top of that. And, of course, we'll keep you posted on these weather developments right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Tea Party activists steamed up over a possible budget deal.

Brianna Keilar, part of "The Best Political Team on Television," live from Capitol Hill right now.

So what's crossing?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, on the Ticker, and we are going to watch this throughout the day, as well, Fredericka, is a Tea Party rally that is supposed to kick off here in about 15 minutes. It's a pretty drizzly, kind of miserable day here in Washington. So we'll see how that affects attendance. But these Tea Party activists will be here trying to put pressure on lawmakers as they figure out exactly how to fund the rest of the budget year.

Remember, if Democrats and Republicans here on the hill can't come to a compromise on how to fund the rest of the budget year, we are looking at a government shutdown a week from tomorrow. So really, Tea Party activists will be putting a lot of British on Republican leaders, especially as there's been word there could be a possible agreement on just how many spending cuts there should be.

Remember, House Republicans passed a bill with $61 billion in cuts. That didn't fly in the Senate; Senate Democrats want less than that. And now with word that they may have discussed a number somewhere in between there, in between those two numbers, you have Tea Party activists who are furious and calling Speaker Boehner saying that he is caving on this.

He tried to say nothing is settled. He said this a short time ago, but he also had a reality check for these people calling for more cuts. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: We control one-half of one- third of the government here in Washington. We can't impose our will on another body. We can't impose our will on the Senate. All we can do is to fight for all of the spending cuts that we can get an agreement to, and the spending limitations, as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: So Speaker Boehner there managing expectations.

We will be watching as this rally gets underway, Fred. There are a few conservative Republicans who will be speaking at this, including Michele Bachmann, who, as you know, is a Tea Party darling and is considering a run for president.

WHITFIELD: All right, Brianna Keilar on Capitol Hill, thanks so much.

Of course, for all of the latest political news you know exactly where to go, CNNPolitics.com.

Meantime also keeping a close watch on the weather situation in the southeast. Potential tornadic activity right there where you're looking, Tampa, Florida. More after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Could Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is thinking seriously about a run for the presidency? She'll be appearing at a Tea Party rally next hour on U.S. Capitol Hill. Bachmann thinks conservative women like herself and Sarah Palin are unfairly criticized overall, which brings us to today's "Talk Back."

Carol Costello has your responses, and you've gotten a boatload of them.

COSTELLO: Yes, some falling on partisan lines, but all interesting.

The "Talk Back" question today: Are Republican women unfairly criticized because they're women?

This from Edward, "Nope. Republicans are unfairly criticized because they're all about fiscal responsibility and securing the success of our children's future. Something that no Democrat has ever been able to accomplish."

This from Nancy, "No, they are criticized because they don't know the facts. And please don't tell me, my Hill didn't get some knocks while on the trail! GOP stop whining!"

This from Jackie, "Hey, ladies, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. The media is going to be critical for anyone running for public office, especially if they're running for president."

And this from Mack, "With Palin, Bachmann and Christine O'Donnell they're not criticized because they're women, they're criticized because they're fools."

Ouch.

Continue the conversation, Facebook.com/CarolCNN, and I'll join you again, Fredricka, in about, oh, 10 minutes.

WHITFIELD: All right, people are frank and that's why we have that.

COSTELLO: They are frank.

WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Carol. Appreciate that.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

WHITFIELD: And we'll have much more in the NEWSROOM right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: So it may not surprise you to than one of Moammar Gadhafi's sons commands one of Libya's most brutal brigade. And then we've learned this, just days before leading the deadly assault in Libya, that son was right here in the U.S. working as an intern.

CNN's Brian Todd tells us why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's the man in the black beret greeting supporters in Libya, disapproving rumors that he was killed in an allied air strike. Khamis Gadhafi, youngest son of leader Moammar Gadhafi, commands the notorious 32nd Brigade, known for its brutality.

VICE ADM. WILLIAM GORTNEY, U.S. NAVY: This is one of Gadhafi's most loyal units and are also one of the most active in terms of attacking innocent people.

TODD: And here's another title Khamis Gadhafi's held, intern in the U.S. For a month he interned with an American engineering and construction firm called ACOM. The L.A.-based company had deep business dealings in Libya until the uprising began.

(on camera): As an intern, Khamis Gadhafi wasn't exactly getting people's coffee or running to the printer every 10 minutes. He was jetting all over the U.S., meeting with high-tech companies, universities, but also with defense contractors like Northrop Grumman and he paid a visit to the Port of Houston.

(voice-over): And he went to these places just weeks, in some cases days, before leading deadly attacks on the Libyan opposition. When the fighting broke out in mid-February, he cut short his internship and flew back to Libya to oversee the 32nd Brigade.

Contacted by CNN, the Port of Houston issued a statement saying, "...he toured several Port Authority facilities and received briefings on trade relations," and acknowledged it was part of the Port's perspective future deals with Libya.

Northrop Grumman won't comment on his meetings there. But Khamis Gadhafi also visited the Air Force Academy, which told us he saw nothing classified. He went to the National War College. A spokesman there says tactics were not discussed. Defense contractor Lockheed Martin won't confirm or deny media reports that he went there.

He went to the New York Stock Exchange, got with the exchange calls a basic tour, the very day he scrambled back to Libya.

James Carafano is a national security expert with the Heritage Foundation.

(on camera): Regardless of the hostilities that would break out later, is it already for a U.S.-based company to give an internship like someone like a Khamis Gadhafi?

JAMES CARAFANO, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Well it's a qualified OK because it's a process of engagement. If it's towards moving that country out of being a foreclosed society and actually reforming, you know giving them access can move in that direction, but you know it's qualified.

I mean, there are a couple of things that are just commonsense. You don't want to compromise national security. You don't want to give away information and you don't want to give something to somebody for nothing.

TODD (voice-over): Contacted by CNN, ACOM didn't want to put someone on camera with us. They issued a statement saying this internship was part of the company's efforts to improve the quality of life in Libya, that they never paid him, that they never knew about his military connection and that when they find out about Khamis Gadhafi's role in the civil war, quote, "we were shocked and outraged."

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)