tavis: good evening. i am tavis smiley. a look at two major developing stories worldwide. the latest release of secret u.s. documents by wikileaks and the escalating tension with north korea. reaction and analysis on both fronts from josh rogin, who covers security issues for "foreign policy" magazine. ron isley is here. he was honored for 50 years in the music business. you can pick up a copy of his solo product, "mr. i". we are glad you have joined us. josh rogin and "mr. i" now.

>> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment, one conversation at a time. >> nationwide is on your side >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: a few programming notes. a candid conversation tomorrow with daphney cole.

overcoming a number of personal issues, including kidney it -- a kidney implant. a conversation with gary hart on what the democrats have to do following their defeat in the midterm elections. thursday, hilary swank discusses her latest project. on friday, a conversation with a legend. quincy jones. out this month with a new cd. and a new book. we will see him on friday night this week. we begin with the news of the day. the end -- international outrage ofover a release of documents. rogin who by josh covers the new "foreign policy" is for -- covers the news for

"foreign policy". i want to start with this wikileaks story. i want to read what i found interesting. "the new york times" justification for why they chose to publish these documents. i will read an excerpt, a couple of paragraphs from their justification. "the decision to publish diplomatic documents. these are based on thousands of u.s. embassy cables. a daily report intended for the eyes of senior policy makers in washington. "the new york times" and publications in europe were given access. based on the cables on line sunday. we believe the document servin of public -- an important public interest.

highlighting the goals, compromises, and frustrations in a way that other accounts cannot match. we're taking care to exclude in its articles and in supplementary material in print and online information that would endanger confidential informants or compromise national security. the reductions were shared with other news organizations and communicated to wikileaks in the hope that they would similarly edit the documents the plan to post on line. most of these documents will be made public regardless of what we decide. wikileaks has shared the archive of secret cables with at least four european publications and promised tlets and will post on. for us to ignore the material would be to deny readers careful thoughtful analysis they expect from this -- when this information becomes public. just some eggs served on what the times had to say about why

they chose to publish these documents. do you buy that? >> what is remarkable is what was at the end of a statement. they acknowledge they no longer have the power to make these decisions about what parts of the secret documents are going to be released and analyzed. gone are the days when the senior editor would go and get on the phone with the white house and negotiate which pieces of information are damaging and which are in the public interest and needs to be disclosed. this was their strategy all along. the reason that they disburse these documents was to remove the ability of any one organization to make those kinds of decisions. fence -- since the first release of documents, we have seen wikileaks evolve its media strategy including more our lives. -- more outlets.

"the new york times" which angered the founder by publishing an unflattering profile had to get them from "the guardian" and claimed "the guardian" requested anonymity. what we're seeing is a flattening out of power in the media and a diversification of the balance through which these documents can be distributed. that has consequences for the media and for the people that are affected by these lakes. they are starting to unfold. >> consequences like what? >> we have had this understanding, people who write for publications that there would be some sort of negotiation. some sort of give-and-take with the administration over what the publisher -- what to publish and what not to. that does not exist anymore. whether you believe they are doing this for all tourist purposes or as a vendetta against the u.s. government or a combination, it does not matter.

this is the world we live in. it is full alternative alliance. the analysis which is amongst the best in the world is not the only game in town. the consequences are the government is going to have to come around to the decision of whether or not the starting -- these entities that are able to scoop "the new york times". wikileaks asked the state department to help them redact this. they're angry and frustrated with wikileaks. they cannot believe that there negotiated with -- negotiations would be conducted in good faith. could they have prevented some of this serious damage they claim is a result? walerga no. >> is there a value for the public to read these documents?

>> i believe there is of value. to the extent that these documents reveal contradictions between what we're being told by our leaders and diplomats in public and the information they are conveying in private. that can point out inconsistencies and contradictions and it is clear that the way wikileaks has done this is reckless. i see that very seriously and cautiously. a lot of these documents were part conversations that should have been kept private. there is no doubt that foreign policy has to be conducted in public in secret. what happens if the diplomats do not feel that their private conversations can be protected? our officials s -- we will be living in a world of constant

spend. it will put a chilling effect on discussions worldwide. tavis: if the state department refuses to get involved, how do we know that "the new york times" or any other outlets truly knows what needs to be redacted to not compromise security? i do not get how they know that because they're not in the negotiating room. >> it is a judgment call. what you just mentioned, "the new york times" believes what it should be redacted is the gold standard. i did not get my copy of the talking points but i will call them and ask them. that is one papers opinion. "the new york times" decided not to reject something, i may publish it. everyone will have to make that

call. also the emerging new order of what we will have to deal with. you can curse the darkness or light a candle. this is the media world we live in and everyone will have to adjust. that is not to say that there are not abuses or a huge problem of over classification of intelligence in the government. protecting that information is the responsible the -- responsibility of journalists. how that will shake out is what will -- what we will see. assessmentt your ?hat we are at defcon 3 f >> the tensions are getting higher. it is the most dangerous situation since the 1953 armistice.

there are anecdotal reports that make it seem worse. reports of north korean workers being pulled back into north korea from foreign countries to prepare for what could be a protracted conflict. the biggest sign that this is serious is the chinese, who have been resisting coming out on one side or the other are making comments about this, they are mobilizing and calling for international discussions. the chinese priority is stability and to prevent a crisis on the peninsula. they are coming out and acted out. even they believe this is a problem that needs addressing quick. tavis: we will keep addressing this. he is josh rogin of "foreign policy" magazine. good to have you. next ron isley, with his solo project.

stay with us. ron isley is the legendary lead singer of one of my favorite groups, the islip brothers -- isley brothers. his a remarkable 50 year career. including his first solo project. the new disk is called "mr. i". the single is "no more". ♪ i'm never gonna let you go ♪ ♪ they don't make 'em like you no more ♪ yeah, they don't ♪

reading abouts this project before it came out and it occurred to me that you have been doing solo stuff for a while. >> that is right tavis: barbara -- promoting this as your first- ever soap project. >> ever since 1987, when i did an album called "split sailing -- smooth sailing", my brother came out and took pictures of me. -- with me. my father said i always wanted to keep the name. my other brother who just passed this year, he was with me and my other brother, ernie. he is doing a solo project.

some sort of tour or something like that. the main thing that might -- we will always be involved. >> your dad insisted you keep the name. on the project. >> he wanted us to stick together. that has been the thing that kept me going all those years. just thinking about whether there with beer not. >> you are never buy yourself. you were by yourself and your brothers could not be with you in that moment. what is it like when you have the freedom that you have exercised in all these years to travel and you are confined to a space where you have no freedom? what is the loss of freedom like? >> it is nothing like that. it is a feeling -- i guess it

was in a camp with 150 people. those people were close to me. that is -- they protected me. we stayed together. we worked -- i worked in a chapel with them and did shows. every monday. the gospel show. they became more of a part of me in there that out here. my family was there to see me four times a week. it was about 100 miles from where i lived until -- i could see my son four times a week and my wife. my mother-in-law and it was not that bad for me. it was bad -- i was able to

entertain and to my normal thing. tavis: you thought about putting out the gospel album. are there certain songs that resonate with you? >> i was raised on them. that is what we did before we started doing this. we learned from the gospel years froand all the songs curse. after that, for and to -- learned about the dominos and jackie wilson. they got us able. tavis: i went back to check to see if i was right. all the romantic ballads and all they social stuff that you have

done. i am trying to juxtaposed this with your first hit, which i could not believe. your first song was "the cow jumped over the mount." -- the moon." if anyone can make that sound good, ron isley can. >> i remember that. "the shout" was our first hit. i wrote that in 1959. tavis: the cow in 1957. >> e.u.-3 off. nobody would know that. -- you threw me off. tavis: tell about this new project. >> i tried to cover everything

we did. i am so proud of this album. i cannot wait for it to come out so everyone can hear. what do you think of that? i have had so much pressure on me when i was away. talking to the guys, what the album was going to be like. it has brought to be one of the top albums we have ever done. it turned out to be just that. tavis: you and aretha franklin? >> i had so much fun doing that. i worked with t.i. and one of his best reps was on that. on that.was i was going to hold out and that

will probably are other single. tavis: how have you protected your voice? god, that is where get my strength from. he did everything for me. when i got sick, every hit record we ever had. ."ngs like "it's your thing all the brothers sitting around -- we prayed, i prayed. and this is our biggest record. ever since that day, "shout" is our mega-hit. tavis: what did jesus think

when you said "please bless me between the sheets." >> we try to make that a love story. the record has been done by so many. it is still love story. -- still in love story. tavis: how did your voice to such rote -- a great marriage with romantic ballads? >> they wanted me to do other records. which i love doing. i finally got a chance to come back and do "lay lady lay" and from that day on, our record sales went through the roof. and so i loved doing it.

tavis: anybody -- if you are a fan, that burt bacharach project, i could not imagine. i thought it might work. i love the project. >> it is my favorite. just working with him. that is something at wanted to do. all my time. i spent a lot of time with dionne warwick and was thinking, i would like to sing songs like that. at the time, i had "twist and shout" and "make it easy on yourself." we never got a chance to record.

we serve recorded. i talked to him about that. i got the chance to do "alfie," i wanted to show him what i could do. >> you did. speaking of doing research on you. this is unheard of in the record business. you signed an eight-record deal. nobody signs anybody out. >> i figured i might not be around. [laughter] tavis: how old are you? >> i am 69. tavis: almost 70 and you just signed and a record deal. >> it is crazy. tavis: it does not happen in the

business these days. you got that much left in you for eight more records? >> i think so. tavis: that is amazing. you still in georgienjoy the to? a lot of people get sick of it. >> i cannot wait to see my fans. i love to travel. i like that. i love the people. that is your way. i am here and i love you and thank you. that is the way to say it. i got to do that as long as i can. as long as frank sinatra tried. tavis: i do not think the fans had a problem. we have been waiting for ron isley to get back. the new project is called "mr.

i". >> my friends here and my manager and people who worked for management. they called me "mr. i". what are we going to name the album and i said, what do we "mr.th-- don't we call it i"? tavis: they got the shout out. you are as sharp as ever. >> i knew i was coming to your show. until i am over 100 year old. he was a minister.

he carried this on his album. he gave it to me for my birthday. every time i do a show, i walk out like he did or take a picture with him. tavis: i will let you walked out with him. that is our show for tonight. catch me on the weekends on pr i international. we will see you back here. until then, thanks for watching. as always, keep the faith. captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> for more information on today's show, visit tavis smiley at pbs.org tavis: journey next time for a conversation with natalie cole. we will see you then. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help

with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment, one conversation at a time. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> be more. pbs.