Credibility, Openness Issues Arise as Nuclear Crisis Deepens

"The chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission was invited to the White House briefing today to assure Americans that they had nothing to fear from the nuclear radiation coming out of Japan's damaged reactors and that the nuclear reactors in the United States were safe. When he was finished taking questions there was very little reassurance on either front.

When the White House press corps sought more specific and detailed information about both fallout and nuclear plant safety, the chairman, Gregory Jaczko, would not offer any. Instead he said he wouldn't want to speculate about either one. The irony is that dodging these questions as he did left the impression that his assertion of nothing to fear was nothing more the speculation."

Ward Sloane reports for CBS News March 14, 2011.

SEE ALSO:

"Crisis Revives Doubts on Regulation" (Wall St. Journal)

"Japan's Nuclear Crisis: Regulators Warned Of Reactor Risks" (Guardian)

"Operator At One Of Pennsylvania's Five Nuclear Power Plants Issues Reassurance" (PennLive.com)

"Asia To Test Japan Food Imports For Radiation" (Reuters)

"Fear Is Potent Risk Of Japanese Nuclear Crisis" (Washington Post)

"Three Mile Island Meltdown: Richard Thornburgh's Advice for Japan" (Daily Beast)

"Crisis Casts Doubt On Nuke Industry P.R. Campaign" (Salon)

Source: CBS News, 03/15/2011