with a fox news alert. first carrier to carry americans outside of japan. fears over a nuclear meltdown continue to grow. crews are racing to stop the meltdown. some say it may be too late. we turn to david piper who is in the ykoto air base west of tokyo. hey, david. >>reporter: yes, desperate measures now are being taking place in the overheating reactor in the fukushima plant 120 miles northeast of here. they are using helicopters to dump huge buckets full of water on the cooling pond of the reactor. pots of two other reactors are boiling at this time. the chairman warned there is no water left in the spent fuel of plant number four resulting in what is extremely high radiation levels. the japanese government nevertheless have no plan to expand the 12 mile exclusion zone. the u.s. ambassador to japan said the situation is deteriorating and warned citizens to leave the area or remain indoors. the state department said the u.s. government has chartered aircraft to help americans leave japan. we are also understand that any american citizen that has no money they can get a flight out from hanita airport and that allows them to get out of the country and they can pay back the u.s. government earlier. a lot of concern amongst the japanese people of what is going on. there is fingerprintic buying of goods. but at this time the sensor and what people are watching is over the next 48 hours of what will happen to the nuclear plant north of here. >> brian: take precautions yourself. it there is a lot more to the story. >> steve: where do you start? we'll talk about what we are discovering. the united states government as david piper remending 50 miles from the plant to get out. you are not safe . the japanese government said 12 miles. yesterday they talked to jay carny. >> the advice that the japanese government is giving based on the inform they have is different than the advice we are giving . >> steve: are they spinning it. >> america's top nuclear advisor said unit four may have lost the water and significant if not. >> steve: empty. >> information is limited but he believes there is a crack in the spent fuel. that is the american side. japanese side and the nuclear safety and electric power company are denying that the water is gone . then the spokesman said the condition is stable in unit four and like you mentioned you need to evacuate if you live closer than -- >> steve: what about 25 miles. >> no, 12-19. >> brian: and going to full meltdown you have to get further than that. if they continue to allow the water to be low . water cannons and they are trying to fill it up. they know the dangerous. if they are dragging a line to reestablish electric power there and use it on a cooling system. if they don't, you might have a situation where you can't be around there for decades. it is just so clear, too. journalist are getting upset with the lack of information from tepco and the japanese government. as i mentioned the prime minister blew up. i am watching television and i am seeing an explosion . you don't call me up and i have to watch tape on the news. >> steve: something we are not seeing closely and referred to is the fukushima 50. there are 50 power plant personnel still on duty there. it could be as many as 180, but they go in shifts . there in japan they are folk hero. they refer to them as fukushima samari. given the level of rad yadings those people are facing in the reactor buildings they face increased risk of cancer or worse and there is no electricity. they are operating with flash night. >> talk about brave men. could you imagine doing this? or knowing your spouse is doing this. they are sending 50 at a time and facing toxic fires and radiation and no telling how that is going to affect them down the road. 92 five have been killed by explosion. >> brian: and a couple of them are missing. in chernobyl the 28 who did the operation and exposed to radiation. 28 were dead in three monthses and the japanese government is calling on men to step up and do it and older men to do that and saying it would be easier for them to do it because they would die of old age quicker. >> how are they really helping. >> steve: trying to put out the fire. >> brian: that's the problem. >> steve: one of the fukushima 50 apparently told a co-worker who leaked it to the newspaper that he was prepared to die because it was his job. >> duty. >> steve: and another worker said an e-mail to his wife. take care of yourself . i will not be home for a while. >> brian: we'll cover all facets of the story. it is noon over there. dick >> here are your headlines, a fox news alert. while you were sleeping united nations announced south korea and singapore intercepted nuclear weapon's materials headed to iran. they seized for of you suspicious tubes that are used for nuclear facility and in singa pornuclear power used for rockets was found on board. the united nations' committee will investigate. four of the reporters are missing in libya. steven farrell and reporter anthony shadid were last heard from on tuesday. they were covering the rebel retreat in libbia. the libya government assured that the paper if its forces have them they will be released promptly . with the clock ticking toward a government shut down. the senate is expected to stop another stop gap spending bill to keep things running through april 8th. it is the sixth time that congress passed a fiscal budget . the senate debate begins at noon eastern time and a vote is expected at 3:00 . republicans who control the house and democrats who control the spending are apart in the spending plans for the rest of the year. >> a chicago river is running green this st. patrick's day. dying the river is something that the city does every year. it will be plenty of green in washington as well ireland's prime minister will be a visitor . top of the stop. we'll talk about the parade making its way up avenue. >> brian: and that is nine minutes after the hour. it was overrun by the other major news story. general petraeus talked about what was happening in afghanistan and gave a bright and optmistic future. things are going well but it is fragile. i watched a lot on line. it was positive except for one congresswoman in peculiar. >> steve: california democrat who took to the floor for an amazing sound bite. on tuesday, congressional progressive caucus had a briefing with a rolling stone reporter by the name of michael hastings and he referred to general petraeus and compared him to a famous sit comactor . the congresswoman yesterday said it out loud. >> general petraeus is giving us the charlie sheen counter insurgent strategy and give exclusive interviews to major network and saying we are winning and hopes that the public actually agrees with you. >> brian: that is not nice and respectful. senator hillary clinton was questioning petraeus about the surge in iraq and it was fuel. the new york times let their feelings known with this ad and message to our general. the american general petraeus. general petraeus or general betray us? that was infamous and errorous and he told the truth. >> he dedicated his life to the our country. comparing him to charlie sheen, is that fair? >> steve: woolsey petraeus spun our withdrawal date and with all due respect to the general that is a lot of weasel word said. charlie sheen, weasel, what do you think about that kind of commentary from a member of congress from someone who is trying to fix things in afghanistan. >> brian: meanwhile, the u.s. sitting back as violence escalates in libya. families of lockerbie bomber feels that the white house is putting oil before the truth. >> how is this happening? 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>> if it is infringing on the owners and friendds around them. >> i get people complaining my high heels and the lady next door complains if my tv is too loud. >> we stand on a principle and a consistent principle that private property owners have the right to make rules in the end. however, it's my place to say wrong that is and why that shouldn't be done and why these are squeaky wheels that are making it an issue based on the antismoking crusade that is trying to influence the condos. >> i will say let's say i have a baby and i don't not second-hand moke and protect my family. he has a good point. >> no, it is no scientific evidence whatsoever that smoke from one person's apartment is harming anybody else in the other apartment. >> is that true. >> i am not a scientist and so i can't answer that. i can tell you smorks congregreat and smoke going from one apartment to another that can be not only a health hazard but distasteful when people are trying to keep the apartments clean and free from smoke. >> what is the latest and the next step here. >> for me. >> for the government. when do we find out if it takes affect. >> i know our building is putting together a proxy to ban the smoking from the building. that would be a decision based on the unit owners. >> thanks for being with us this morning. have a good one and happy st. patrick's day. >> coming upment families of the victims of locker by bombing are worried that the white house is sitting back because of the interest of oil . a brand new call to close it down. >> so, ah, your seat good? got the mirrors all adjusted? you can see everything ok? just stay ofth freeways, all right? i don't want you going out on those yet. and leave your phone in your purse, i don't want you texting. >> daddy... ok! ok, here you go. >> thanks dad. >> and call me--but not while u're driving. we knew this day was coming. that's why we bought a subaru. twenty-five thousand mornings, give or take, is all we humans get. we spend them on treadmills. we spend them in traffic. and if we get lucky, really lucky, it dawns on us to go spend them in a world where a sile sunrise can still be magic. twenty-five thousand mornings. make sure some of them are pure michigan. your trip begins at michigan.org. >> steve: now headlines for you on st. patrick's day. the lab technician accused of killing a yale grad student is expected to take a plea deal laterr today. raymond clark will plead guilty for strangling her less than a week before she was to be married. a immigrant accused of killing a army colonel. karlos sanchez ram oz caused the fatal crash this week. he was deported but had slipped back in the country. >> brian: the white house appears to be standoth on libya and debating in the u.n. . now families of the lockerbie victims are accusing the administration of sitting back and putting u.s. oil interest in libya. this is the father of a lockerbie victim and first of all paul, the president called for al-gaddafi to leave. doesn't that show that your theory is wrong? >> well, he did that over two weeks ago now. but hasn't follow today up. without, without action, al-gaddafi has shown he only responds to force or the imminent threat of force. >> brian: you think part of the reason we have not done anything more than use word exercise call him mr. al-gaddafi and ask him to leaf is because of the oil interest? >> well, all i know we spent 50 billion dollars for the exploration rights to his regime and he's been rearmed mostly with british arms and a lot of secret deals and probably an interest in seeing the stuff not uncovered. >> brian: so the oil exploration we reestablish operation because he give up the nuclear program and the brits did the same thing. since the rise of the rebels, you think that there is something behind the u.s. on the sidelines and let the french and arab push for hisoltster and we let the debate rage. >> i are no great information. but yesterday one of the major oil companies is calling for lifting of sanctions now that he reconquered the oil areas and they have been pushing for this. >> brian: is this intensely personal for you, paul. you lost a family member and all of the group lost family members and we seem indifferent to al-gaddafi's future and unlike how serious we took saddam hussein and continue to look at bin laden? >> yes, this has occupied us for offer 20 years now. justice is a longg process but it needs to come to an end. and freedom is not free. no fly zones worked effectivelyy in yugoslavia and we didn't do it in iraq and we ended up with a war. >> brian: the u.n. could not come up with a decision and said a no fly zone would not be enough if they move forward with military action and supposed to resolve that debate today. paul hudson, shanks for sharing your story and we are following this and find out what happens with al-gaddafi. >> hopefully we'll draww a line in the sand. >> brian: i was hoping we had done that already but haven't. >> ainsley:> a dire warning from american officials as americans are fleeing jap japp. >> steve: i bus driver fired for decorating his bus with a confederate flag. is that fair >> ainsley: we are celebrating the st. patrick days. 92 first i am hearing about it. star of csi new york gares sinise is 56 today. happy birthday gary. ♪ ok guys, how's the family gonna use less? 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[ female announcer ] only flood insurance covers floods. for a free brochure, call the number on your screen. >> this yearr marks the 250 anniversary of new york famed parade and the drill deem will march in the parade today. the members of the drill team are here to kick off festivities. >> good morning. >> steve: how many guys and gals in uniform. >> 220. >> steve: you are based out of bowling and washington d.c. . you are going to be here for the st. paddies' day parade. where do you perform. >> naval district and we travel in world wide military sporting events and what not. >> steve: i have to say, i have seen you many times it is thrilling. what are you about to drill here on me? >> this is part of our regular performance call it the cube of carnage. 92 cube of carnage. where will that come from? >> you will find out short >> steve: any adrice for me. >> don't flench. >> steve: they have bayonets. has anyone lost a nose. >> steve: all rightt. the cube of carnage. they're real bayonets and sharp. >> steve: oh. >> steve: i don't know if i had to shave today. >> brian: hey, steve. i dropped a quarter down there. would you bow down and pick it up? >> steve: oh, no. not right now. >> brian: don't move. they are good. steve, you can stop sweating now. >> brian: they are good. three of the guys were new, it is theirr first day. >> steve: that was awesome. >> brian: all right. >> ainsley: come on inside. >> steve: that was close shave. >> brian: we'll bringg you in here and change your underwear. now your headlines. >> ainsley: thank you, brian. first chartered flight taking americans out of japp jap is taking off from the tokyo airport . and the u.s. state department will send as many planes as it take to get u.s. citizens out of that country. the move comes after a startling report from the u.s. nuclear regulatory commission. radiation levels from japan's failing nuclear reactors are higher than japanese are admitting. dow jones lost 242 points yesterday . nasdaq and s&p 500 also feel fueling fears that the nation's fragile economic recovery could be going off track. brian. >> brian: in the wake of the crisis in japan, new york's governor ordered a fuel review of the safety of the indian point nuclear power plant. >> the indian power point is susceptable to earthquake because reactor number three was on a fault. that was surprizing to me. >> brian: the plant is 45 miles north of times square . people divided over the usefulness versus its safety. >> ainsley: terminally ill child baby joseph is expected to have surgery this morning. it will allow him to be connect to a portable breathing machine and cent home. the 13 month old is in a hospital in st. luse, missouri and he was rescued from a hospital in canada by a group called priests for life. and believe it or not joseph was a few hours from being taken off of life support in canada . they had said there was nothing mordoctors being do to help him. he will go home alive. that's great. oregon school bus driver wants his job back with pay. he was fired because he would not take the rebel flag. he said it is a life style and not a statement. the school argues that the flag is insensitive to minorities. >> brian: what is happening in the ports. mohamed ali not afraid to speak up as a muslimb-american. he called on ahmadinejad for the release of two american hikers that are held captive. they are held on espipon age charges. this is the second letter ali wrote asking for l release. he has yet to hear back from iran at all. if there is no nfl season. chad ocho cinco is ready to playy soccer. i will play on the mls team sporting kansas city on march 22nd . thanking inch involve would specially the coach herpes. he invited him to a play am. he deprew up in madrid playing spain. he is a big star in america. >> steve: that's crazy. >> brian: if he gets hurt he will be cut. >> ainsley: i would have said real instead of reall. >> brian: i have one more story left. star of the ncaa tournament. one of the surprising showing was virginia comm