Transcripts For KQED PBS NewsHour 20161213 : vimarsana.com

KQED PBS NewsHour December 13, 2016

Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by xq institute. Bnsf railway. Lincoln financial committed to helping you take charge of your financial future. And with the ongoing support of these institutions 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 another big seat is filled in the trump cabinetto be, and it sets up a potential confirmation fight. The president elects Transition Team confirmed this morning that a top Oil Executive is the choice for secretary of state. After days of speculation, official word of the Rex Tillerson pick came before sunrise, followed by praise from the Vice President elect we just could not be more grateful that someone of Rex Tillersons proven leadership and accomplishments is willing to step forward to serve our nation as next secretary of state. Woodruff tillerson, a native texan, is currently c. E. O. Of Oil Giant Exxon mobil, among the Worlds Largest publicly traded companies. He rose through the ranks over four decades, and as chief executive, hes expanded exxon mobils business overseas, including its operations in russia. In a 2013 interview with charlie rose for cbs news, tillerson made clear his company will go wherever theres oil. My philosophy is to make money. laughs so if i can drill and make money, then thats what i want to do. But it really is, for us, about making Quality Investments for shareholders. Woodruff to that end, exxon mobil began working closely with the russian stateowned oil giant, rosneft. That, in turn, brought tillerson into close contact with russian president vladimir putin. Since then, hes received the russian order of friendship, and hes said he opposes u. S. And european sanctions against russia over its intervention in ukraine. Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell today highlighted tillersons experience, and said he looks forward to supporting his nomination, but the top democrat on the Senate Foreign relations committee, ben cardin, said he is deeply troubled by tillersons vocal opposition to sanctions on russia, and republican senator marco rubio voiced serious concerns about the planned nomination. Theres also word that another texan former governor rick perry could be tapped to be energy secretary. But the transition at energy could be rocky the Department Said today it will not provide the names of employees whove worked on climate change, as the trump Transition Team requested. There are also reports that montana congressman ryan zinke could be tapped for interior secretary. Meanwhile, president obama criticized mr. Trumps lack of interest in receiving a daily intelligence briefing. He spoke last night on the daily show it doesnt matter how smart you are, you have to have the best information possible to make the best decisions possible. And if youre not getting their perspective, their detailed perspective, then you are flying blind. Woodruff back at trump tower today, the president elect met with microsoft billionaire bill gates we had a great conversation, about innovation. Woodruff others he met with profootball greats jim brown and ray lewis, and entertainer kanye west. Tonight, mr. Trump is making the latest stop on what hes calling his thank you tour, this time in wisconsin. Sreenivasan back in this country, the Environmental Protection agency released a longawaited report on the effects of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, on drinking water. It found the oil and gas Drilling Technique can contaminate underground water in some cases. At the same time, it said there is not evidence to estimate the severity of the risk. The report dropped an earlier finding that fracking has not caused widespread, systemic harm to water supplies. Woodruff ohios republican Governor John Kasich has vetoed a closely watched antiabortion bill. He rejected a measure today that banned abortion once the first fetal heartbeat is detected. He said federal courts have already struck down similar laws elsewhere. Kasich, however, signed a separate bill banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Seventeen states already have similar laws. Sreenivasan president obama today signed a sweeping law with new spending on Cancer Research and drug abuse. The 21st century cures act provides more than 6 billion. It also streamlines the process for approving drugs and medical devices. Mr. Obama spoke before signing the bill, at a white house ceremony with lawmakers and Vice President biden. We are bringing to reality the possibility of new breakthroughs to some of the greatest Health Challenges of our time. Im confident that it will lead to better years and better lives for millions of americans, the work that youve done. Thats what we got sent here for. Sreenivasan the new law also includes funding for Mental Health. Well explore that, later in the program. Woodruff in russia, opposition political leader Alexei Navalny announced he will run for president in 2018. The anticorruption activist hopes to put pressure on president vladimir putin, who is expected to seek a fourth term. Navalny is currently on trial for fraud, in a case he says is politically motivated. If he is convicted, he would be barred from running. Sreenivasan a Railway Strike across southern england today caused the Worst Railway disruption in 20 years. It is part of a longstanding dispute over whether train drivers or onboard guards should close train doors. The drivers went on strike today for 48 hours, leaving hundreds of thousands of commuters stranded or delayed and angry, but Union Officials defended their stance. Its a safety issue. The reality for us is that the increasing level of trains, the increasing amount of footfall in the 21st century, we dont believe that the technology or the make do and mend of our victorian infrastructure lends itself to a oneman operation. Sreenivasan the government blamed the unions for the impasse. The railway owner announced new talks for tomorrow. Woodruff another day, another rally on wall street. The Dow Jones Industrial average gained more than 114 points to close at a record 19,911. The nasdaq rose 51, and the s p 500 added 14. Sreenivasan and, the oldest person in america is another year older but dont tell her that. Adele dunlap of pittstown, new jersey turned 114 yesterday. She said she is 105, but her family said she always shaves about a decade off her age. Either way, people at her nursing home gave her balloons and sang happy birthday. Still to come on the newshour how exxons c. E. O. Could shape Foreign Policy as secretary of state; syrians facing an onslaught from Government Forces in aleppo, record their final goodbyes; where American Students rank compared to their peers around the globe, and much more. Woodruff its a post first officially held by Thomas Jefferson the secretary of state is americas top diplomat. Today, president elect trump tapped the c. E. O. Of the Worlds Largest publiclytraded oil and gas company for the job. So who is Rex Tillerson, and what does the pick tell us about the trump agenda . Were joined now by john hamre he is the president and c. E. O. Of the center for strategic and international studies, a thank tank in washington, d. C. Where tillerson is a member of the board of trustees. He served as deputy secretary of defense during the clinton administration; Nicholas Burns was a career diplomat and former u. S. Ambassador to nato. Hes now a professor at harvard university; and steve coll is the author private empire exxon mobil and american power. Hes also a staff writer for the new yorker magazine, and the dean of the Journalism School at columbia university. Welcome all three of you back to the program. Steve coll, to you first, you wrote in the new yorker this weekend, that mr. Tillersons life, you said has been shaped by to institutions, the boy scouts and exxonmobile, a company you describe as ruthless and unusually aggressive. Is that a contradiction . No. I think he comes from the standard oil tradition of ruthless business competition rooted in strong strong values and a kind of adherence to the rule of law, modeled by john d. Rockefeller, the original founder of standard oil. I think the most important part of his career is that its all been at one place, 40 years at exxonmobile. Now that hes been nominated for secretary of state, we really dont have any record of his views about americas place in the world. We only have a record of his views about exxonmobiles place in the world, which is different, i hope. So theres a whole series of questions now in front of us what does he think about promoting human rights . What does he think about promoting democracy . Is he worried about russias influence in europe . These are not questions that hes had to address, and that makes him a very unusual nominee for secretary. Typically, even nominees who have come and gone from industry have built up a record of views about these fundamental questions of Foreign Policy. Woodruff john hambre, as we said, you know Rex Tillerson having served on your board at the center for strategic and international studies, what is your understanding of his view of the United States role in the world . I have known rex well. Ive known him for 11 years. Hes been a very active member of our board. Hes hes always engaged substantively in our discussions when Foreign Policy. Hes remarkabl remarkably insig. He has more experience as a keanu than most political political figures in washington. Hes able to lead conversations in front of some of the most impressive people in our history and Foreign Policy, people like Henry Kissinger and zibrin ski. He fits squarely in american realism, a pragmatic, centrist realism. He sees the leadership of america as shaping a better world. Hes actively believes strongly in American Values, due process, rule of law. But hes also very pragmatic. He wants to know what other people thinks. He listens carefully. Thats one of the most important qualities, he listens so well. So youre going to find a very fine secretary in Rex Tillerson. Woodruff Nicholas Burns, based on what you know of Rex Tillerson, what do you know and what are your concerns . Woman, hesab impressive man my all accounts. Hes rub our largest corporations. He has had international experience. He was endorsed today publicly, by former secretary of defense bob gates, forme society condi rice. I admire both of those people. But, judy, i think there will be a real challenge to his nomination, and thats his closeness to the russian regime and what hes been saying about russian policy. And i think the backdrop to his Senate Confirmation will be the extraordinary statements made by donald trump during the campaign. I dont think weve had in 70 years a president ial candidate, and now a president elect, so accommodating to russia. No criticism by donald trump about russias illegal annexation of crimea. No criticism about russias division of the ukraine. No criticism of russias harassment of our nato allies, poland and the baltic states. And no criticism of this barbaric russian bombing of the civilian population of aleppo. A lot of people feel we should be containing putin, and theres a great concern that donald trump and general flynn, the new National Security adviser, and perhaps mr. Tillerson we dont know yet. He has a right to speak on behalf of his own views that this administration will be too tilted to make excuses for putin. We might have a weak policy. Thats where i think the senators are going to noax foex in january. Woodruff well, its hard to know what donald trump believes, but, steve coll, based on your reporting of Rex Tillerson and exxonmobile, what do you see as his attitude towards russia . We know hes grown close to vladimir putin. Hes received an award from him. Well, hes been an effective negotiator on behalf of the shareholders of exxonmobile, but now hes being asked to think about russia it in an entirely different way, and i agree completely with ambassador burns critique. This is a very dangerous moment in europe, and part of the reason is because piewten has been pushing the bound reas of western pol trance. Also, trumps election is part of a wave of populism and the strengthening of authoritarian regimes around the world that is really going to challenge the United States and its values. I worry about russia. I also worry about the Global Human Rights movement. You know, right around the world today, there are human rights activists, democracy activist, Civil Society activists that have traditionally relied on the secretary of states voice speaking up for them when theyre under pressure, and the state department pushes a lot of funding, including into authoritarian regimes, to support this kind of activity, Human Rights Research and democracy organizations. So where is mr. Tillerson on these issues . I have no idea. He has spent 40 years managing exxonmobiles place in the world, and it will be very important to hear him speak forthrightly, because hes now, after the president , going to be the most important voice on behalf of American Values in the world. Woodruff john hambre, you describe as Rex Tillerson as a centrist. What do you know about him that would assuage some of these concerns, first about russia . Well, i i agree with what both nick and steve have said that we face a very challenging time with russia. Boy, thats why im so glad that rex is there because he knows them so well. I mean, knowing someone and agreeing with someone are two completely different things. Rex does know russia very well. He knows president putin very well. He knows the dynamics within russia very well. Of course, hes going to have to lay out his thinking during his nomination hearing. Im not at all worried rex is going to stand up for america and American Values. Woodruff Nicholas Burns i want to ask you to respond to that but also move on to iran, because there have been questions raised about what Rex Tillerson would do with regard to u. S. Posture toward iran, and the nuclear the nuclear deal. Well, i do agree with john that Rex Tillersons track record is very encouraging as a centrist, as a pragmatic person, and as a real leader of a big, complex organization. I think those are all in good stead. My questions arent about him. Theyre about the president elect, and his extraordinary statements. And, judy, on iran, donald trump has been saying this is the the nuclear deal that president obama negotiated is the worst deal in the history of the world. Its going to be very difficult for a Trump Administration to disengage the United States from the nuclear deal because if we do that, im convinced that germany, france, and britain will not walk out with us. They want to see this deal through, and if we walk out, then, of course, iran would already have received sanctions relief, but iran then could walk away on its own and go back to resuming the nuclear program. I think thats a very bad outcome can, and i think a smart decision and youll have pragmatic people like general mattis at defense and Rex Tillerson at state to tell the president elect that a smart decision is going to be to stay with the nuclear deal, but try to limit iranian behavior in the sunni world, and support those countries that are victims of iranian aggression. Woodruff steve coll, quickly, is there something you can shed that would shed light on Rex Tillerson and his posture toward iran from your reporting . Well, he has been realistic in seeking stability in the middle east. He has advocated for a world that is managed, rather than disrupted. He is skeptical about sanctions, though his allies have clarified in the last few days that hes more worried about enforcing them than imposing them, but they are a very important instrument of american Foreign Policy that he has often advocated against. Now in his public role he may have to clarify his views about that. Woodruff quickly, again, john hambre, and just finely, if we look to russ tiller ston im sorry Rex Tillerson in u. S. Policy towards iran, to russia overall, what should america think . Is this a man who will do exactly what donald trump wants, or will he speak up with donald trump when he disagrees with him . Well, i have no doubt that Rex Tillerson will give his private counsel to the president , president elect, in a v

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