Tensions continue to escalate between North and South Korea as an investigation of the sinking of the South Korean Cheonan comes to a close. Though all-out warfare seems unlikely, the South is doing what it can to state its disapproval for what some believe was a torpedo attack from North Korea. WSJ’s Andy Jordan reports from the DMZ that separates the two countries.
Special Representative Richard Holbrooke discusses Afghanistan and Pakistan with Chairman of the World Affairs Council of America Marc Grossman. Holbrooke outlines the warming of U.S.-Pakistan relations, detailing effects of the Kerry-Lugar Bill and renewed emphasis on energy and water issues within Pakistan. He also discusses various elements of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan with a particular focus on the U.S. civilian presence and the need to bolster the country’s once vibrant agricultural sector.
Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania are setting up a joint command headquarters in southern Algeria to counter a growing al-Qaeda threat in the Sahara Desert region. AFRICOM was deliberately left out of the coalition for fear that U.S. involvement will stoke the flames of insurgency. Al Jazeera’s Clayton Swisher reports.
In Thailand, three leaders of anti-government demonstrations evaded arrest, embarrassing the police sent to capture them. As the Vejjajiva government falters, Thaksin’s opposition continues to protest. VOA’s Daniel Schearf reports from Bangkok.
After years of intense fighting, the U.S. has left its remote outpostin the Korengal Valley, in eastern Afghanistan. Since their departurethe Taliban has crept back into the area, taken over the former U.S.base camp and plans on using U.S. supplies to fight against them. AlJazeera’s James Bays reports on the re-positioning of troops to moredensely populated areas.
Remarks by Under Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns on”U.S.-Russia Relations in a New Era: One Year After the ‘Reset,’” atthe Center for American Progress. Burns walks attendees through thecomplicated history of U.S.-Russia relations, a period mired inmisconceptions and disagreements. He then goes on to discuss thestrengthening of this relationship that he believes still has a longway to go, but has many areas in which the two nations can focus on.
As Britain’s three candidates for prime minister wage heated campaignsahead of the May election, Simon Marks reports from London on thepolitics behind the country’s very first American-style public debate.The debate covered a range of topics from domestic affairs to thebudget deficit to funding for Afghanistan and was the first in a seriesof three that will culminate with a debate on the economy. Having trouble viewing this video? Click here to watch.
With the conclusion of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, Iranannounces its own nuclear conference. The gathering, being held onSaturday, is called “Nuclear Energy for All, Nuclear Weapons for Noone” and some countries such as Russia have said they will attend. AlJazeera’s Nazanine Moshiri talked with Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran’sforeign minister, and asked about the conference.
Robert Gibbs, Ben Rhodes, Gary Samore, and Laura Holgate take questionsfrom the media at the Nuclear Security Summit. The panel answersquestions on a range of questions from Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions topossibilities for engagement with Iran to disposition of highlyenriched nuclear materials.
Secretary of State Hilary Rodham Clinton appeals to the people of Thailand for peaceful talks. As violence and loss of life continues in Bangkok, Clinton asks for Thais to look for an agreement that will strengthen democracy. “The challenges you are facing cannot be resolved by force, but only by dialogue,” she said. “We believe a negotiated solution is possible.”
Jim Lehrer speaks to Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security Ellen Tauscher about Iran, China and the Nuclear Summit. Tauscher talks about the progress President Obama has made in his efforts to persuade countries attending the summit to better secure their nuclear stockpiles. She says that not only has Obama recieved a committment from attendees to better secure their nuclear material, but the group as also committed to reconvene in 2012 in South Korea to continue to tackle the issue. Having trouble viewing this video? Click here to watch.
President Barack Obama talks to the press about his initial talks onthe sidelines of the Nuclear Summit and his agenda for the conference.Obama emphasizes the need to secure nuclear materials globally toensure that stray material does not make it into the wrong hands. Obamasingles out South Africa as an example of a leader innon-proliferation, having started a nuclear program and then laterdeciding to reverse their actions.
Vitaly Churkin, Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, tellsCharlie Rose that Russia is really pushing for a diplomatic solution tothe Iran impasse. He says that Russia sees sanctions as a last resort,but at this point he says “we are all quite discouraged.”
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev talks to ABC News on issues rangingfrom the Moscow metro bombings to sanctions with Iran to hisrelationship with Prime Minister Putin. Medvedev shows confidence inhis American counterpart Barack Obama and says that he believes thefollow-on to the START treaty is a sound agreement.
Egypt’s Foreign MinisterAhmed Aboul Gheit talks to NewsHour aboutEgypt’s view of nuclear nonproliferation. Gheit says keeping nuclearmaterial and facilities under tight security is a chief concern in thefight for nuclear nonproliferation, but more importantly he says thatthe Middle East must create a nuclear-free zone. To this end, he saysthat Israel and Iran are the main obstacles to stability in the region,with a particular emphasis on Israel. As a neighbor of Israel and anNPT signatory, Egypt has categorically been opposed to Israel’s policyof ambiguity when it comes to their nuclear program. Having trouble viewing this video? Click here to watch.
As the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review is released, NewsHour’s Jeffrey Brown talks to Joseph Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, a foundation that promotes a nuclear-free world and Stephen Rademaker who has served in the administrations of both George H.W. and George W. Bush, focusing on arms control and proliferation issues. Cirincione says this NPR is “night and day” in comparison to the similar report conducted under the Bush administration that expanded the role of nuclear weapons in military operations. Conversely, Rademaker says that the most recent report is more verbiage than substance, with enough wiggle room to still use […]
NewsHour’s Gwen Ifill interviews New York Times reporter Rod Nordland who is on the ground in Baghdad where violence has been on the rise. Nordland says that recent attacks targeting civilians bare the mark of Al Qaida, but no one has yet claimed responsibility. While some observers suggest that the attacks are an attempt to keep U.S. forces engaged in combat, U.S. troops on the ground have left the management of the recent aggression to Iraqi forces, pressing forward with their timetable for withdrawal. All of this is happening as the Iraqi government works quickly to create a coalition government […]