pullback, the reported pullback of russian forces, hours after the associated press reported that russian troop movement had actually ramped up in the past 48 hours and the military continuing with attack preparations along ukraine s border. satellite im packages taken over the past two days show increased russian military activity within belarus, crimea, and western russia, including the arrival of helicopters, ground attack aircraft and fighter bomber jets at four locations. and we know that the u.s. has been saying for a few days now that an invasion could come at any moment. joining us now, news director for new alliance magazine michael weiss, had just been in ukraine and has done extraordinary reporting on this crisis. we re so glad to have you with us today. let s talk about these mixed signals. we heard from the russian president putin yesterday saying he was still open to negotiations, and we know there was a troop movement and ramp-up the last two days, and now, in the last h
activity, including the arrival of helicopters, ground attack aircraft and fighter bomber jets at forward locations. joining us, forward chief of staff at the cia and department of defense, nbc news national security analyst jeremy bash. good morning, jeremy. that breaking report comes from state media about the roared pull back of troops. it conflicts with what a lot of people are seeing on the ground, what surveillance aircraft are showing as well. how do you square the two reports? i think it is way too soon, willie, to call this a deescalation. we don t have any information that russia is trying to deescalate. in fact, on the contrary. they ve increased the number of their battalion tactical groups from about 83 to 105. they have 500 combat aircraft ready to go. they have 40 patrol boats and war ships in the black sea. they have the entire force postured for an invasion. if they wanted to deescalate, they would have to do something
taken. a cue airport in southwest yemen, the third largest city has now been overrun as well. tell us about that. that s sig can t. the rebels came into taiz the third largest city in yemen. they took control of the airport. they arrived by air and road. they also took control of certain government buildings, police buildings, interior ministry buildings. this is a city that does not broadly support the rebels yet they now appear in control and are literally a relatively short drive down the main radio to the city of aden. also thursday last week, the president s house in aden was attacked by fighter bomber jets believed to be houthis. really what you re saying right now is the potential for the internationally recognized government to get further squeezed in yes menyemen.
immigration debate confirms he is gay. another outspoken lawman sheriff joe arpaio weighs in on that controversy. plus, a natural wonder that isn t. what it seems a water fall that looks like red hot lava. more evidence tonight that if there is a front runner the republican race, it is at the moment rick santorum, not mitt romney. it the nomination is won state by state and arizona and michigan are up next a week away. as we prepare for a big debate wednesday night, check this out. santorum now surging to a ten-point lead over romney in the national gallup tracking poll. no surprise the former pennsylvania senator is getting more scrutiny from rivals annen democrats, too. some goes back to his record in congress. some focuses on new more pointed santorum rhetoric like his weekend accusation that president obama is imposing his own theology on americans. this is what the president s agenda, it s not about you. it s about you. it s not about your quality of life. it s no ab
been happening on the ground now on the western front here tripoli the capital which is the qadhafi stronghold, qadhafi used tanks, armored personnel carriers and heavy artillery to take the rebel town. looks like the rebels kept the town but suffered heavy casualties, 30 dead, hundreds wounds. on the western front the rebels are making huge gains. we were on the frontlines of this fight near a town which they won yesterday and pushed 40 miles forward many right now theain objective is a hometown of qadhafi and considered a strong loyalist pro-government stronghold that will be a bloody battle. they probably have another day or two to push in. when we were on the frontlines the one thing everyone was terrified of was qadhafi s use of the air force, military helicopter gunships and fighter bomber jets.