in the middle east. the italian, on the other hand, and they're very important, john, because they're just across the mediterranean from libya, have all the nato air bases in southern italy, the italians want nato, on the other hand, to take charge. so we seem to be immersed in this operational detail of who's going to command when the bigger problem is what's the strategy going forward for the united nations coalition. how is gadhafi going to be maneuvered to the point where he leaves power or is driven from power? that's the more important question. but the community -- international community tends to be focused on this operational detail. >> operational details do matter when young men and women's lives are at risk. we'll pick up at that point when we come back. david and nick will stay with us. ahead, a dramatic rescue of an american f-15 crew after a crash in eastern libya. an american pilot crew rescued 15 years ago by crews from the same navy ship takes us inside this kind of daring operation. and the president is pressed to define the end game in libya and explain why, after america