Extend the policy. In public, it is time for me to go. It takes a lot of love and understanding woodruff plus, the art of translating a life of hard knocks into music. Woodruff the story of soul singer charles bradley, and how he pours his years of struggle against adversity into every note. Sometimes youll hear me scream. I scream because its like 40 words will come to me at one time and i cannot sing those 30 words. I cant, so i scream it. Woodruff those are just some of the stories were covering on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by at bae systems, our pride and dedication show in everything we do; from Electronics Systems to intelligence analysis and cyber operations; from combat vehicles and weapons to the maintenance and modernization of ships, aircraft, and critical infrastructure. Knowing our work makes a difference inspires us everyday. Thats bae systems. Thats inspired work. Ive been around long enough to recognize the people who are out there owning it. The ones getting involved, staying engaged. They are not afraid to question the path theyre on. Because the one question they never want to ask is, how did i end up here . I started schwab with those people. People who want to take ownership of their investments, like they do in every other aspect of their lives. United healthcare online at uhc. Com. And the william and flora hewlett foundation, helping people build immeasurably better lives. And with the ongoing support of these institutions and. This program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Ifill the u. S. Is set to increase its military presence in europe, to counter russian actions in ukraine. President obama arrived today in warsaw, poland and announced hell ask congress for up to a billion dollars for the effort. The money would pay for sending more troops and equipment to the continent. The ability for people to make their own determinations about their countrys future is the cornerstone of the peace and security that weve seen in europe over the last several decades. And that is threatened by russian actions in crimea and now russian activity in eastern ukraine. Ifill the president remains in warsaw tomorrow, to meet with petro poroshenko, the president elect of ukraine. Woodruff the Ukrainian Government reported new advances today against prorussian rebels in the east. Kiev claimed its forces broke through rebel positions on the outskirts of slovyansk, with help from warplanes, helicopter gunships and artillery fire. The interior ministry warned people to stay indoors, and civilians took refuge in basements and makeshift shelters while the fighting raged. Ifill in nigeria, a leading newspaper reported ten generals and five other top military officers have been convicted of aiding boko haram. They were found guilty of providing guns and information to the Islamist Group thats holding more than 200 school girls captive. Meanwhile, in the capital, abuja, demonstrators defied an apparent ban on protests to demand the government get the girls back. All we are saying to the government is just wake up and do what you are supposed to do. We are in this together, we are working together, all we want are these girls back home. If they dont want me to protest all they can simply do is bring back the girls now and alive. Ifill later, police said protesters were free to march after all. Woodruff former Egyptian Army chief Abdel Fattah Alsisi was officially declared the winner today in the countrys president ial election. The Election Commission reported he won nearly 97 of the votes last month. Turnout was only 47 . Alsisi led the military move to topple islamist president Mohamed Morsi last summer. Ifill back in this country, this was the biggest voting day yet this year. Eight states held primary elections, including alabama, california, iowa, montana, mississippi, new jersey, new mexico and south dakota. Senate and gubernatorial races topped the ballot. In california, democrat jerry brown was seeking renomination for a fourth term as governor. I dont know what number election this is but its 40 years since ive first voted in the primaries in 1974. Its been a long journey. Ive learned a lot and i hope if the people give me another four years that i can deserve their confidence and trust and lead california in so many different ways. Ifill nominations for a number of seats in the house of representatives were also being decided. Woodruff the former mayor of charlotte, North Carolina, democrat patrick cannon, pleaded guilty today to wire fraud. He was arrested in a public corruption sting last march, after less than six months in office. The f. B. I. Recorded him accepting thousands of dollars and airline tickets. Cannon could get up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of 250,000. Ifill in economic news, u. S. Auto sales hit a sevenyear high last month. Chrysler, nissan and toyota reported doubledigit gains, and so did general motors. It had its best month since august of 2008, with sales up 13 . Thats despite an onslaught of recalls. Ford sales rose just 3 , but that was better than expected. Woodruff on wall street today, the Dow Jones Industrial average lost 21 points to close at 16,722. The nasdaq fell three points to close at 4,234. And the sandp 500 dipped a fraction of a point, to finish at 1,924. Ifill still to come on the newshour the president stands behind the deal to free an american prisoner of war; political fallout from the new proposals to curb carbon pollution; a former ambassadors assessment of the u. S. Response to syria; plus, putting a life of adversity and hardship to music, Jeffrey Brown talks to soul singer, charles bradley. Woodruff there were more developments today in the controversy over the agreement which won freedom for an abducted u. S. Solider, including an apology from the white house. The United States has always had a pretty sacred rule, and that is we dont leave our men or women in uniform behind. And that dates back to the woodruff the debate over the deal to free Sergeant Bergdahl followed president obama to warsaw, poland, today. At a News Conference with the polish president , he defended the prisoner swap with the taliban, and he said bergdahl has not yet been questioned about his disappearance in 2009. Whatever those circumstances may turn out to be, we still get an american soldier back if hes held in captivity. Period. Full stop. We dont condition that. And thats what every mom and dad who sees a son or daughter sent over into war theater should expect from not just their commanderinchief but the United States of america. Woodruff early in his captivity, bergdahl said, in a taliban video, that hed been taken prisoner while lagging behind a patrol. But since his release on saturday, soldiers who served with him in afghanistan have challenged his account. He walked away, he walked right off the base. The fact of the matter is, is he deserted us, in the middle of afghanistan, to go and find the taliban. Woodruff among the latest is former Army Sergeant evan buetow, bergdahls team leader in afghanistan. People calling him a hero and people calling him this great soldier, its a spit in the face to, one all the soldiers who were there, and more importantly its a spit in the face to the soldiers who died as a direct result of him leaving. Woodruff according to the associated press, the pentagon concluded in 2010 that bergdahl walked away of his own accord, and it called off further rescue efforts. Today, on his facebook page, army general martin dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, left open the possibility that bergdahl may be charged with desertion. He wrote woodruff but dempsey added questions also continued about the five taliban leaders, long held at guantanamo bay, and flown to qatar, in exchange for bergdahls release. The Reuters News Service reported theyve been moved to a residential compound and, it said, they are free to move about the country. President obama acknowledged today that some of them may try to return to the fight in afghanistan. But, he said i wouldnt be doing it if i thought that it was contrary to American National security. And we have confidence that we will be in a position to go after them, if, in fact, they are engaging in activities that threat our defenses woodruff the president has also taken heat for not telling congress the saturday swap was coming. This afternoon, Deputy National security adviser tony blinken apologized to senators Dianne Feinstein and saxby chambliss, the top democrat and republican on the Senate Intelligence committee, for the lack of notification. Earlier, mr. Obama said his administration did discuss a possible bergdahl deal with congress, in the past. But chambliss complained today that was a long time ago. I hadnt had a conversation with the white house on this issue for a year and a half and if that is keeping us in the loop, then this administration is more arrogant than i thought they were. Woodruff in a statement, House Speaker john boehner said top lawmakers were briefed, more than two years ago. He said they raised serious concerns that were never properly addressed. Bergdahl, meanwhile, spent a third full day at the u. S. Military hospital in landstuhl, germany. Officials said hes undergoing debriefing and reintegration. Woodruff for more on all of this and a look at some of the options before the military in the bergdahl matter. We turn to New York Times reporter eric schmitt. And retired lt. General chipman, judge advocate general and as such the armys top lawyer. We welcome you both. Eric schmitt, what is the best information you have about the circumstances of bergdahl leaving his post . Right now the circumstances appear to be as the soldiers in his unit suggested that he did voluntarily walk off his base in june 2009 into a hostile environment with the taliban nearby. Why he did that is still not known and thats whats going to be going on with these debriefings you mentioned in your report. Clearly, this was an individual who had expressed mixed concerns about his mission in afghanistan to his parents and emails to his soldier comrades. Exactly why he did what he did when he did it, those are answers were waiting for. Woodruff eric, this is not just one comrade but several who are saying he walked away. Thats right, thats what pentagon and officials have told us at the New York Times as well that he did voluntarily walk away from his post in eastern afghanistan in 2009. Again, what his intentions were, there have been suggestions he deliberately deserted to join the taliban and we have seen no evidence yet of that. But as gen. Dempsey said today, there will be an investigation. Woodruff lets talk about an investigation. As we heard from eric schmitt, theres not just one but several soldiers who served with mr. Bergdahl who say he left of his own accord. Is that the same as desertion . No, it doesnt mean the same as desertion. He may have left of his own accord. That will be proven in the final investigation because what we have right now is an effort that went underway when he left back in 2009. Now well have a chance to interview Sergeant Bergdahl to determine from him what was your intent, what was your perspective, what were you thinking at the time, and that the that will enable us to conclude that investigation that really needs his perspective as well. Woodruff as we said in that report, we said the pentagon concluded in 2010, the year after he left, that he did walk away. So what more information will they need . If he did make this decision on his own, what will be a mitigating circumstance that would explain it . Well, you will want to know from him what was your motivation, what were the circumstances that led you to walk away, if thats, in fact, what occurred, and i dont think you can determine that without getting into his state of mind and the actions he took at that time, and only he can fully supplement what we already know. So i think, you know, one of the elements under the code, under the uniform code of military justice to prove desertion is an attempt to remain away permanently from military duty. Thats what well find out. What was his motivation, what was he thinking and what did he intend to accomplish at that time. Woodruff so theres an investigation which goes on for presumably months. Is that what normal procedures would be . It can be quicker than that, but i would expect with a case of this notoriety and interest, there will be a thorough investigation that could take a matter of months and, at the conclusion of that investigation, there will be a decision was there criminality involved, will we press charges under the uniform code. Woodruff eric schmitt, what are bergdahls comrades in the army serving with him at the same time, what are they saying they believe was on his mind at the time . They are saying he expressed disillusion in 2009. It was in afghanistan at a very remote outpost, just 30 or so soldiers, a very small outpost in the mountains of eastern afghanistan, not far from the pakistan border. Of course, the surge of troops into afghanistan under the new president , president obama at that time, had not yet started. So it was a very difficult time and, as the soldier in your report indicate, hostilities all around. So it must have been very dangerous and depressing environment for these soldiers. Woodruff but what they are saying and what you were telling us is that he gave every indication after a period of time that he was disillusioned and that he was thinking about leaving the military. We know there were communications between him and his parents. Thats right, but as the general said to, really understand his longterm goal, was he just in a fit of depression, walked off the base . What were his goals and intentions and his longterm goals . Again, there have been no indication from military investigators that weve spoken to during this whole period that hes been missing and more recently that he had any intent to go over to the other side to help the taliban. Again, these are things we dont know until the military investigators actually speak to him and find out what was his state of mind at the time, what was going through his head and his intentions when he left the post. Woodruff and general, just to be more clear about what were talking about, you said you will be wanting to know his longterm intention. Does that mean he had to have been planning to join the enemy or simply that he was just walking away from the United States military . It doesnt mean that he was planning to join the enemy, judy. Desertion is when you leave military service with an intent to remain away permanently from military control. So what your ultimate motivation is, to join the enemy, to go away to canada, europe, desertion is complete when you have proven or we have proven, the prosecution has proven that you do not ever intend to return to military control. Weve had desertion as an offense under the code for a long time, prosecuted in desserters in conflicts. Woodruff i know martin dempsey, chairman of joint chiefs, is quoted as saying he is innocent until Proven Guilty, as is the case with all americans. How tough a standard is it to prove someone deserted . Its difficult to prove. Its a subjective standard. You have to be in the mind of the soldier. How do you show that intent . It can be circumstantial in the testimony of his peers, fellow soldiers. It can be his direct quotes i intended to leave and never come back to the u. S. But it can be very difficult to prove a desertion case, unlike absence without leave, where, when you leave without authority, thats pretty much all you have to prove. Woodruff does the army go in with a predisposition or a completely open mind . With a completely open mind. As general dempsey said, if we prefer charges here, he is presumed innocent until Proven Guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a proceeding. Well have a charge sheet and let the prosecution play out as in any other case if we press charges. Woodruff we thank you both. Thank you. Ifill the president s proposal to cut Carbon Emissions may not take full effect for several years, but the politics kicked in immediately. In states where nearly all of the electricity is generated by coal, like West Virginia and kentucky, democrats were quick to denounce the plan, which they fear would cost jobs. Alison lundergan grimes, who is Challenging Senate minority leader mitch mcconnell, immediately distanced herself from the plan. I will fiercely oppose the president s attack on kentuckys coal industry. But a recent Washington Post a. B. C. News poll found 70 of americans actually support curbing Greenhouse Gas emissions. Joining us for a look at how the decision is resonating politically, are susan page of usa today and reid wilson of the Washington Post. Susan, the coal map, is it near the battleground map we have been watching . It mirrors the key states where there are Competitive Senate races, control of the senate, states like West Virginia, arkansas, kentucky, louisiana, colorado, these are states where most of the electricity is generated by coal fired plants. This may not be a big controversy in some states in the country but its a big controversy in the states on which control of the senate now hinges. Ifill a regional or National Issue . Its a regional issue. A lot of states on the coast specifically the northeast have curbed Carbon Emissions a lot. The plan by the e. P. A. Requires states to curb them 30 less than in 2005. A number of states have already met that particular goal. The problem is, its not in that section of midwest america