Transcripts For KQED PBS NewsHour 20140627 : vimarsana.com

The social services are in another, thats what were really trying to address. Woodruff and its friday. Mark shields and Ramesh Ponnuru are here to analyze the weeks news. Those are just some of the stories were covering on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. 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 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. Woodruff the head of syrias moderate opposition made a renewed plea for american help today. Ahmad aljarba met with secretary of state john kerry in saudi arabia. The white house called yesterday for 500 million to aid al jarbas forces. Kerry said its vital to bolster the group, given the rise of islamist militants known as isil. Obviously, in light of what has happened in iraq, we have even more to talk about in terms of the moderate opposition in syria, which has the ability to be a very important player in pushing back against isils presence. Woodruff meanwhile, syrias military captured more territory near the border with lebanon, cutting off more supply routes for the rebels. Government forces are now advancing toward zabadani, a Mountain Resort that the rebels have held for two years. The u. S. Special envoy to the middle east is resigning after a year on the job. The state Department Said today that martin is returning to his previous job at a washington think tank. His departure was widely expected after peace negotiations between israel and the palestinians fell apart. In afghanistan, thousands filled the streets of kabul today, protesting alleged fraud in the president ial Runoff Election two weeks ago. Candidate Abdullah Abdullah joined supporters as they chanted death to fraudsters. They accused the current president , hamid karzai whos barred from running again of trying to rig the race for abdullahs opponent. translated we dont accept fraud in any way or by any means. Millions of people sacrificed to reach this point and achieved this victory. And thousands, hundreds of thousands and even millions are ready to sacrifice again to defend it. Woodruff initial results from the runoff are due next week. For the first time, a top representative of the pope has been defrocked for sexually abusing children. A vatican body convicted polish archbishop jozef wesolowski of assaulting teenage boys when he was the Vatican Ambassador to the dominican republic. He is barred from performing any priestly duties, pending an appeal. W president obama today brushed aside House Republican plans to sue him for abuse of power. He told abc news that the lawsuit is a stunt, and he insisted hell keep using executive orders on issues like the minimum wage if congress refuses to act. He emphasized the point later in minneapolis. We cant afford to wait for congress right now. Thats why im going ahead and moving ahead without them wherever i can. Im not sure which of the things ive done they find most offensive, but theyve decided theyre going to sue me for doing my job. Woodruff republicans charge the president is effectively rewriting laws on health care and immigration, and, in so doing, violating the constitution. Police in mississippi say that a tea Party Official embroiled in a hotly contested senate race apparently committed suicide today. Mark mayfield was found shot to death at his home outside jackson. He had been charged with conspiring to photograph senator Thad Cochrans wife, who suffers dementia. Republican cochran defeated a tea party rival this week in a runoff. San franciscos Golden Gate Bridge is now a big step closer to installing an antisuicide net. The bridge board of governors approved a funding plan today, costing 76 million. The net is designed to stop people from jumping to their deaths. More than 1,400 people have done so since the famed span opened in 1937, including a record 46 last year. On wall street, the Dow Jones Industrial average gained five points to close near 16,852. The nasdaq rose almost 19 points to close just under 4,398. And the s p 500 added three, to finish near 1,961. But for the week, all three indexes fell a fraction of a percent. Still to come on the newshour mounting pressure both inside and outside iraq on Prime Minister Nouri Almaliki; ukraine clinches a new trade pact with the European Union, over russian objections; addressing the challenges for those who qualify for both medicare and medicaid; new statistics on the dangers of drinking alcohol; plus mark shields and Ramesh Ponnuru on the weeks news. Woodruff the pentagon confirmed today that the u. S. Is flying armed drones over baghdad to protect u. S. Civilians and military forces in the iraqi capital. Also, Human Rights Watch released a report alleging that isil militants conducted mass executions of more than 160 men after seizing control of tikrit earlier this month. The uncertainty and violence in recent weeks has many iraqis running scared. Lindsey hilsum of independent Television News reports on the growing apprehensions of every day iraqis. Reporter its the last friday prayers before ramadan, but fear is stirring beneath the surface calm of this sunni mosque. Yesterday, a suicide bomb exploded in a shia area in baghdad, killing 19. And sunnis say some of their young men have been taken from their homes by groups of unknown men. The day before ramadan, everyones minds are on religion. But what sunnis fear most now is a return to the bad old days when the men would disappear and wind up in a ditch with a bullet in their head. And there are some reports that its already starting to happen. Sunnis in baghdad fear the government will make them suffer, because sunnis further north are cooperating with isis rebels. translated ramadan is the holy month, so, in this month, god forgives the people. I ask god to save iraq and all iraqis. translated i feel unsafe even just going the mosque. Theres no security. Im afraid whenever i go out in case i never get back home. All iraqi families are suffering because of this situation. Reporter Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki was meeting military officers today. His mind was on the security of baghdad, too. translated we will not pardon anyone who makes troubles and he will be brought to account severely and strongly punished. Baghdads safety should be secured and cannot be under any danger. Reporter this is what everyone in baghdad dreads. Back in 2007, car bombs exploded every day as sunni insurgents tried to destabilize the government. Unseen, Government Secret Police would torture and kill sunnis to intimidate them and create a climate of fear. The tigris flows under the bridges past the government quarter, so spectacularly destroyed by shock and awe 11 years ago. The square in front of the mosque where the americans pulled down saddams statue is neglected and overgrown, and baghdad is on the brink of war again. Woodruff earlier today, iraqs top shiite cleric stepped up pressure on politicians to agree on the iraqs next Prime Minister by tuesday, as Nouri Almaliki continues to lose the confidence of former allies in the fight against isil militants. Rod nordland has been reporting on the Political Developments in baghdad for the new york times. I spoke to him a short time ago. Rod in orderland thank you forejoining us. We heard about the population there. Give us a sense of the play. Its just a few days until the country has to choose its leaders. The anybody emerging as an alternative to maliki. I think a lot of people feel from many different sides of the Political Parties here that they are all kind of marching toward a cliff and theyre going to go straight over it and not be able to agree on a leader to replace maliki and not being able to agree on maliki in some kind of formulation joined with sunnis and kurds that would bring the country together again to fight this threat from the extremists. Woodruff you wrote today however that even some members of malikis own party are saying he should not continue office. Thats right. And thats new. I mean, he does have the biggest number of seats from the election 92. Sounds like some of them may defect. But still the next Largest Party has 33 seats. And they would have to join with a lot of other desperate groups both sunnis and shias and kurds in order to defeat mr. Maliki and people dont they are it can be done and particularly it cant be done in the next couple days which is what certainly the shia religious leaders have been pushing them to do. Woodruff what role is the United States playing in all of this. We know secretary kerry has been in the region for a number of days. He has spent time in the kurdish part of iraq. How is that being seen. I think[ur÷ hes been doing pretty much what sistani is doing, is United States like the shiite leadership would like to see maliki go, without actually saying so. About in his actions and even in the statement of president obama, is saying that they need a government of unity and mr. Maliki certainly hasnt been able to form oneaofx over thest years. Mary making it clear than altery hard because they think thats the only way to get a government that might possibly bring sunnis and kurds back into the fold. For his trip to kurdistan and his meeting, its alarmed a lot of shia leaders here in certainly mr. Malikis government because it gave kind of approval to what the kurds have done just by mr. Kerrys presence there. And mr. Barzani, the kurdish leader took advantage of that opportunity the to repeat his demands for an independent kurdistan and for them to hold on to the oilrich city that theyve taken. Thats upset a lot of people here and increasingly theres a feeling that kurdistan are lost and the countrys that much close to dismemberment. Woodruff what about the iraqi army . Is it seen as any better equipped to hold off the advance by the isis sources. I dont think so. I dont think anybodys seen a dramatic change. Most people are putting their hopes in these tens of thousands of shiite, mostly shiite volunteers. So who have joined in response to a call from the shiite leadership to buck up the army. But theyre untrained, unproven. The iraqi army has had very little success in the field against extremists insurgents who are far, far less numerous than the army, far less well e quaipped. Training morale. Its also a big problem of corruption. Theres a lot of corruption in the military that under minds the confidence of the soldiers and the confidence of the public and the arm army. Woodruff what about the armed drone flights that the u. S. Has gone over iraq. What are you seeing about both of these. Well, we havent heard much from them aside from the announcement 180 of the advisors are here and theyve begun armed Drone Missions over iraq. Theres already been Drone Missions but theyre flying ones that haveyfvl missiles and thato protect protection for the advisor. Thats more likely to be symbolic, symbolic show of support for the government here. I would think tha ucn they would bevery careful ad take their time to make sure they have assets on the ground that can direct the targeting and make sure they dont make what could be in this situation a really really disastrous mistake if they were to say as theyve done so many times in the past, hit a funeral or wedding or a group of civilians in a sunni area. That would just play into the hands of the extremists. So i think it will be a while before we see any definitive action from drones or air strikes. Reporter ron nordland we thank you very much for talking with us again. Pleasure. Woodruff in a move angering moscow, ukraines new leader signed a deal bringing his country closer to europe today. Jeffrey brown reports. Ukraine paid the highest possible price to make her european dreams come true. Brown ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko came to brussels to sign the pact that had sparked the crisis in his country. It is a symbol of faith and of unbreakable will. It is a tribute to people who gave their lives and health to make this moment happen. Brown last november, poroshenkos kremlinbacked predecessor, viktor yanukovych, balked at signing the trade agreement to further integrate ukraine with europe and move it away from russia. That triggered a Popular Uprising in kiev, and yanukovych fled in february. Of course, all of us would have wished to sign the agreement under different, more comfortable circumstances. On the other hand, the external aggression faced by ukraine gives another strong reason for this crucial step. Brown that aggression russias invasion and annexation of crimea in march; major troop buildups on the russian border with ukraine; and accusations of moscows support of separatists in eastern ukraine. Today, president Vladimir Putin said a longterm cease fire needed to be guaranteed before peace talks among warring parties in ukraine, and he had tough words for poroshenkos government. translated the anti constitutional coup in kiev and the attempts to artificially impose a choice on the ukrainian people between europe and russia have pushed society towards a split and a painful confrontation. Brown but in washington, state Department Spokesperson marie harf applauded the ukraine deal and dismissed putins complaints. I think its noteworthy that what putin was trying to prevent from happening in ukraine has now happened. And on top of that, he has a lot of baggage to go with it. Brown the baggage comes in the form of u. S. And european sanctions, and there could be more next week. Hoping to head that off, russias parliament has rescinded authorization to take military action in ukraine, at putins request. Still, Russian Military exercises restarted yesterday near the ukrainian border. Meanwhile, poroshenko had declared a cease fire last friday, but that has been largely in name only; fighting continued sporadically through the week, with each side blaming the other. Today, the ukrainian president renewed the cease fire through the weekend, and a top separatist leader agreed to honor it. translated the cease fire has been so far very unsuccessful. The fire has not stopped, but nevertheless it was a certain pretext to continue dialogue. Therefore, we confirm on our side the extension of the cease fire for the same duration. Brown thousands have fled the fighting. The United Nations reported today that more than 100,000 ukrainians have crossed into russia this year, seeking safety; and 50,000 others are displaced in their own land. And for more, were joined by matthew rojansky, director of the Kennan Institute at the wilson center, where he focuses on u. S. Relations with former soviet states; and nikolas vos dev is professor of National Security studies at the u. S. Naval war college. Hes written extensively about russia. Welcome to both of you. Matthew let me start with you. The trigger for so much last november and now its signed. How important is it and what impact will it have. Theres no question its important but actually its role as a trigger is probably the less important role. I would say much more important is what it means now. Its a massively important symbol that poroshenko was able to accomplish something that young vention was unable to accomplish. Yanukovych could have signed it but unable to implement and thats what the ukrainians and russians expected. It was a surprise he walked awas signed a piece of paper. He has to do extremely painful, costly and difficult things in order to make ukraine a competitive economy that rather than drowning in the deep end of the european pool can actually succeed. Brown nikolas, how do you see it. From the russian side is it likely to cause president putin to take any action . Well first, let me agree with matt that this is only the beginning of a process, not the end. Its not simply the ukrainians have to move forward, European Countries having taken on this agreement how much they plan to fund ukraine, what they plan to do in terms of offering concrete mechanisms. Remember turkey has had in the session agreement with the European Union for decades, and turkey has not advanced any further. The russian side is very interesting. I think the russians see this essentially now as a game of political chicken. Theyre waiting to see who is going to blink first. Are the europeans having gotten ukraine up to this starting point of signing this agreement, are they going to do more to actually help ukraine. And well see in the comingaqt months, theres still contentious talks about the energy flow. Ukraine right now is not receiving natural gas fromerer are russia. The russians have threatened theyre going to, from this point onward treat ukrainian imports on a much different way than they were done before. Before they had preferential trading relations with russia. I think some of the russiancalcn to ukrainian problems with theyre going to have some sectors in ukraine that find that they dont like having access to the russian markets cut off. And that could lead to political pressure down the road. Brown how do you read the russians especially the events on the ground right now. We refer to a cea