The featured programs for the Foreign Affairs & Defense Tag http://www.c-spanvideo.org/browse?topic=876 en-US Copyright 2013, National Cable Satellite Corporation info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:05:07 GMT President Obama spoke to a crowd gathered on the eastern side of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. In his remarks he talked about a number of issues including the legacy of German Reunification, freedom in Europe and the Middle East, and nuclear non-proliferation. He also proposed further nuclear arms reduction agreements with Russia and said the U.S. would host a future summit on reducing nuclear threats. He was introduced by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313448-2 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313448-2 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Senior government officials involved with the National Security Agency (NSA) testified on the organization's Internet and phone record data collection practices. They gave extensive explanations of the programs, connecting them to successful terrorism investigations and describing controls designed to prevent spying on Americans. General Keith Alexander said the intelligence community was conducting a review to see if any changes are warranted. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313429-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313429-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT While attending a G-8 summit in Northern Ireland, President Obama spoke to students about about lasting peace in Northern Ireland and urged students to challenge the "hardened attitudes and prejudices" and continue to push leaders toward peace and reconciliation. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313409-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313409-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Evan Lesser talked by video link from Atlanta about who gets security clearances and what information those individuals have access to within the intelligence community. Nearly five million people hold U.S. government security clearances. He clarified and explained clearance myths, the process, contractors, and elaborated on the current National Security Agency (NSA) situation with the leak by Edward Snowden. He responded to telephone calls and electronic communications. The program concluded with a video clip of Education and Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) being interviewed on June 13, 2013, for "Newsmakers." http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313399-3 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313399-3 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT White House officials briefed reporters on a number of issues. Questions focused largely on the Syrian civil war and the upcoming G-8 Summit. The White House disclosed that the U.S. had conclusive evidence that Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime used chemical weapons against opposition forces. In addition, President Obama authorized sending weapons to Syrian opposition for the first time. In response to reporters' questions, Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said the president's decision to increase support for the Syrian opposition had been made over the last few weeks. Principal Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest and Special Assistant Caroline Atkinson also made remarks. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313376-2 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313376-2 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Robert Mueller testified at an FBI oversight hearing. Among the topics he addressed were the Boston Marathon bombings, the disclosure of National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs by a former CIA employee. and the impact of sequestration budget cuts. Mr. Mueller said that the government would probably have caught one of the September 11, 2011, hijackers if it had been able to use the NSA phone records, and that leaks about NSA and other surveillance programs had harmed national security. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313323-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313323-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Senior cybersecurity officials testified on their efforts to protect the U.S. from cyber attacks. Much of the hearing focused on leaks revealing the extent of domestic phone surveillance by the National Security Agency (NSA). General Alexander in his testimony defended NSA surveillance programs. He said that he favored providing the public with more information about the programs if disclosure did not damage national security, but that he was unable to explain any details due to their classified status. Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) briefly halted the hearing to respond to a tweet from BuzzFeed reporter Rosie Gray, which read: "@SenatorBarb is trying hard to keep the other senators from asking Gen. Alexander anymore about data mining programs." http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313307-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313307-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Martin Dempsey testified on the Defense Department fiscal year 2014 defense budget request. Among the issues discussed were sexual assaults in the military, sequestration and other ways the military plans to achieve cost savings, and contractor Edward Snowden's leak of National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance programs. Secretary Hagel in his testimony said the Pentagon was reviewing all private military contractors and their associated costs in reaction to news reports concerning Mr. Snowden's salary. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313284-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313284-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Senate convened and resumed consideration of S 744, the immigration bill. Additionally Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) delivered his first speech in the Senate and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) made remarks in Spanish. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313288-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313288-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Panelists talked about the bipartisan effort to pass immigration legislation, focusing on the Senate's "gang-of-eight" bill. They spoke about several challenges facing the legislation in Congress, but expressed optimism about the bill's eventual passage. They responded to questions from the audience. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313268-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313268-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama spoke about implementation of the Affordable Care Act, calling for a concentrated, localized strategy to encourage young Americans to enroll in the new health care exchanges.*He also responded to a question about his administration's mass collection of telephone and Internet records, saying it was thoroughly overseen by Congress and judges and struck the right balance between security and privacy. The president spoke at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, California. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313244-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/313244-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Attorney General Eric Holder gave the commencement address in the Hearst Greek Theatre to the 2013 graduating class of the University of California at Berkeley's School of Law. After giving congratulations and advice to the new lawyers, he spoke about policy matters. He defended the administration's policy of prosecuting terror suspects in federal courts, including the Boston Marathon bombers. Other topics included Guantanamo Bay, tactics used to question suspects after the September 11, 2001, attacks, and the mistake of imprisoning Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312705-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312705-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Former prisoners of war (POWs) from the Vietnam War shared their experiences. On May 24, 1973, President Nixon held a White House dinner to welcome prisoners of war home from Vietnam. From May 23-25, 2013, the Richard Nixon Foundation hosted a 40th anniversary reunion for the former POWs at the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312891-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312891-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns to commemorate Memorial Day. Then, he spoke at a remembrance ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312850-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312850-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama gave the commencement address to the 2013 U.S. Naval Academy graduating class. Among his comments he referred to a Pentagon report on sexual assault in the military that showed an increase in the numbers of sexual assaults from 19,000 in 2010 to 26,000 in 2012. He said that such assaults threatens the "trust and discipline" that makes the U.S. military strong and respected. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312946-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312946-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama spoke about a range of U.S. counterterrorism issues including controversial drone strikes, the Guantanamo Bay prison and detention of terrorist suspects, security at diplomatic missions abroad, the role of foreign assistance in international security, and the future role of military force in efforts to counter terrorist threats. During the speech he was heckled by a woman in the audience several times before holding his remarks until she was escorted out. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312917-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312917-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama and visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a joint press conference.*Topics included the state of U.S.-Turkey relations, war and unrest in Syria, and mutual security issues. President Obama also responded to questions about the Department of Justice's subpoena of press telephone records, and the Internal Revenue Service's scrutiny of conservative non-profit organizations. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312788-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312788-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Jay Carney spoke to reporters and answered questions on a number of issues including the IRS audits of non-profit organizations, the Department of Justice and Associated Press phone records, and the Benghazi, Libya talking points. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312735-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312735-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to reporters and answered questions on U.S.-U.K. relations. Among the topics they addressed were the future of the European Union, reports that the Internal Revenue Service had targeted conservative groups when reviewing tax-exempt status of organizations, and U.S. government talking points following terrorist attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312708-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312708-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Scott Shane talked about his [New York Times] Sunday feature story, "From Spy to Source to Convict," an examination of a former CIA officer in prison for leaking information to a reporter. He detailed the charges against former agent John Kiriakou, a 14-year veteran of the agency who gained notoriety by speaking out against water boarding in an ABC News interview with reporter Brian Ross. Mr. Shane outlined his own involvement as one of the reporters with whom Kiriakou spoke. He said the case was one of six prosecutions during the Obama administration for leaking information to the news media, and that previously only three other prosecutions for leaking information to the press had been prosecuted under the Espionage Act of 1917. He suggested that e-mail and other electronic records have contributed to the increase in cases being brought, and that Attorney General Eric Holder had not exercised prosecutorial discretion to stop the cases from proceeding. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311969-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311969-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Sharyl Attkisson talked about the investigation into lthe September 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Ms. Attkisson, who had followed the story since the attack occurred, discussed the previous week House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on the attack, State Department official Gregory Hicks' testimony at the hearing, State Department accounts of the event, and the politics surrounding the investigation. She also responded to telephone calls and electronic communications. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312694-3 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312694-3 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Jay Carney spoke to reporters and answered questions on a number of issues. Several questions focused on the talking points used by administration officials after the September 11, 2012, attack on Americans in Benghazi, Libya. Other topics included that day's acknowledgement by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that it unfairly audited conservative groups for their tax-exempt status the previous year. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312677-2 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312677-2 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT State Department officials testified at a hearing on the September 11, 2012, terrorist attacks of on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Among the topics they addressed were the initial responses to the attacks by the State Department and the military, statements to the media by senior Obama administration officials, assessments about the nature of the attack, and charges of reprisals for whistle-blowers who raised questions about the government response to the incident. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312586-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312586-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye held a joint news conference. Among the topics addressed were North Korea's nuclear and missile program and recent threats to test missiles and possible military actions. They said the two nations would stand firmly together against threats by North Korea and were ready for diplomacy to ease any nuclear threat. President Obama also commented on the use of chemical weapons in Syria and sexual assaults in the U.S. military. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312606-2 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312606-2 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Former President Bill Clinton and Bill Gates were interviewed by Tamron Hall about debt, taxes, health care costs, immigration, and education. "Shaping America's Future" Major Trends, New Ideas, and Big Decisions" was part of the Peterson Foundation "2013 Fiscal Summit: Facing the Future." http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312600-2 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312600-2 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama spoke to Mexican students about the state of relations between the U.S. and Mexico. Among the topics he addressed were immigration, cross-border drug and weapon trafficking, and economic cooperation. In his remarks President Obama conceded that demand for drugs in the United States was at the root of much of the violence in Mexico. He spoke at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312519-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312519-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama and President Nieto spoke to reporters in Mexico about the state of relations between the U.S. and Mexico. Among the topics addressed were bilateral trade, immigration and border issues, as well as drug interdiction efforts. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312499-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312499-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama held a news conference in the White House Briefing Room. Questions focused on a number of issues including reported use of chemical weapons in Syria, the Boston Marathon bombing investigation, budget and sequestration issues, health care reform implementation, and immigration policy. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312454-2 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312454-2 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Colonel Cedric Leighton (Ret.), a former military intelligence officer for the U.S. Air Force and former deputy director for training of the National Security Agency, talked about reports that small-scale chemical weapons were used in Syria. Lawmakers had said the "red line" in Syria had been crossed, and Colonel Leighton discussed the next steps for the U.S. and its allies. Topics included the reliability of the intelligence reports. He responded to telephone calls and electronic communications. Video clips were shown of a news conference by House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) and remarks by President Obama after a meeting with Jordanian King Abdullah II from the previous day. Also shown was a clip of Representative Adam Smith (D-WA) being interviewed on April 25, 2013, for "Newsmakers." http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312414-3 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312414-3 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testified in the third of a series of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on comprehensive immigration reform legislation. In her testimony she said she supported the bill, highlighting a number of provisions in the proposal that she considered positive. Regarding the portion of the bill that includes more than $1 billion for a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border she said she preferred more flexibility for other options She also answered several questions about the previous week Boston Marathon bombings. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312302-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312302-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Agriculture and labor interest representatives testified at the second in a series of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings on immigration reform.*Topics included worker visas, border security, and undocumented workers. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312277-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312277-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Rajiv Chandrasekaran talked about his [Washington Post] article, "Too Big to Bail," an examination of the embattled F-35 jet fighter program. He highlights the program's unique ability to avoid budget cuts despite increases in production costs and delayed project completion. He points out that the program will not receive spending reductions from the budget sequester process. He defines what opponents of the F-35 call "political engineering" which he describes as a process employed by defense contractors to spread production throughout as many states as possible. He says this is one of many reasons defense contractor Lockheed Martin gets continued funding for their advanced fighter jet for the Navy, Air Force and Marines. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311607-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311607-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama delivered a statement following the arrest of the second suspect in the April 15, 2013 bombing at the Boston Marathon. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312282-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312282-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Officials testified about Department of Homeland Security efforts on immigration and spoke about the president's vision for reform. During the hearing the subject of the Boston Marathon bombings and the suspects' ties to Chechnya were raised. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) raised concerns over gaps and loopholes in the U.S. immigration system. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) urged caution about such characterizations. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312169-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312169-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama spoke to reporters about the federal investigation of the bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon the previous day. He said the Federal Bureau of Investigation was treating the incident as an act of terror, but cautioned against assigning blame for the incident. He also extended sympathies to victims and praised citizens for their assistance in the aftermath of the explosions. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312149-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312149-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT BBC News provided commentary as dignitaries attended an official ceremonial funeral service with full military honors for the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Footage included scenes of the funeral cortege, interviews with politicians and others, as well as the service inside St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Baroness Thatcher died April 8, 2013, at the age of 87. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312072-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312072-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Foreign policy experts talked about threats made by North Korea during the previous month, including shutting down a joint manufacturing center employing South and North Koreans and announcing military permission for a nuclear strike. They also talked about the role of South Korea and China in building regional security, North Korean leadership, and possible consequences of U.S. intervention. They responded to questions from the audience at the National Press Club. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312100-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/312100-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT The leader of the ruling Conservative Party addresses the party conference in Blackspool, England. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/9447-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/9447-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel talked about the impact on the military of prior fiscal year budget reductions and current year sequestration cuts. He also detailed the ongoing Strategic Choices and Management Review to decrease spending and programs, and outlined his vision of the global role of the U.S. military. Topics during the audience question portion included North Korea's nuclear threat and Defense Department employee furloughs. This was Secretary Hagel's first major speech since being confirmed as secretary of defense. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311880-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311880-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT This week on Q & A, our guest is author and co-founder of CODEPINK, Medea Benjamin. She discusses her new book, Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, and explains why she believes the use of military drones should be stopped. She talks about what motivated her in her early years to become an activist for peace, and provides insight into CODEPINK s origins and motivations. She discusses many of her disruptions of congressional hearings and public appearances, and talks about the experience of spending time in a jail cell overnight. She reflects on her early days of activism and recalls how the Vietnam War inspired her first protest. She shares stories from her visits to pre-war Iraq, including an encounter with a border guard in Iraq who was studying Hebrew. She responds to accusations by critics that she is anti-American by saying she would describe herself as a passionate American. She reveals many of the tactics her group employs in organizing demonstrations, and talks about the varied receptions her outbreaks receive from committee chairmen. Medea Benjamin got a B.S. in political science in 1973 from Tufts University. She earned her M.A. in public health from Columbia University in 1975 and an M.A. in economics in 1977 from the New School in New York. She co-founded Global Exchange in 1988 and in 2000 ran as the Green Party Candidate for the U.S. Senate in California. In 2002, she co-founded Code Pink: Women for Peace. She is the author and editor of several books. Her first book Bridging the Global Gap: A Handbook to Linking Citizens of the First and Third Worlds, was published in 1989. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311309-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311309-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama and Jordan's King Abdullah II spoke to reporters and answered questions following their meeting on the last day of President Obama's trip to the Middle East. Among the topics they addressed were the growing number of Syrian refugees in Jordan, the threat of new extremism in the region as the Syrian civil war continued, and the future of the Middle East peace process. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311678-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311678-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas held a joint news conference in Ramallah. Questions focused on relations between the U.S. and the Palestinian Authority and settlements in the West Bank. In his remarks President Obama described new settlements in the West Bank as "not constructive" but stopped short of calling for a settlement freeze as a precondition to peace talks. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311641-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311641-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT The U.S. ambassador to Syria and State Department and USAID officials testified on the ongoing civil war in Syria. Ambassador Ford in his remarks said no evidence had been found thus far to support claims that Syria had used chemical weapons. Other topics included the number of refugees created as a result of the war and the role Iran and Hezbollah were playing. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311615-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311615-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Jody Williams talked about her newly released autobiography, [My Name Is Jody Williams: A Vermont Girl's Winding Path to the Nobel Peace Prize]. She shared details of her Nobel Peace Prize-winning work on the campaign to ban the use of landmines and her career as an advocate for world peace, and the struggles she faced in adjusting to her new life after receiving the award. She described her political ideology as left of liberal and spoke candidly about her departure from the Catholic Church and her relationships with fellow laureates Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. She wrote about meeting her husband, and fellow human rights activist, Stephen Goose, and the struggles they faced together. She describes her motivation for advocacy as righteous indignation and says that she is full of anger at injustice. She talks about the eleven years she spent working on various projects related to the wars in Nicaragua and El Salvador. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310955-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310955-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT House Republican leaders spoke to reporters about the sequestration budget cuts set to begin on March 1. They said that President Obama and Senate Democrats bear responsibility for the automatic spending cuts. Speaker Boehner stated that the House had already passed two bills to address sequestration, adding, "We should not have to move a third bill before the Senate gets off their ass and begins to do something." "Sequestration," a legal procedure in which every federal agency has the same percentage of its budget cut in order to take back deficit spending, was agreed to in the Budget Control Act of 2011 and scheduled to happen on March 1, 2013. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311191-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311191-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Former defense and foreign policy officials talked about cuts to the U.S. defense budget, maintaining national security, and modernizing the military budget. Among the topics they addressed were joint operations, partnering with allies, troop draw downs, addressing overhead costs, and establishing a an improved defense posture. They also addressed the potential impact of defense budget sequestration. They responded to questions from the audience. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311128-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311128-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT In his first speech as secretary of state, John Kerry spoke about U.S. foreign policy challenges. Saying "we can't be strong in the world unless we are strong at home," he called on legislators to avoid automatic spending cuts that could jeopardize $2.6 billion in aid, security assistance, and other international programs. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311082-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/311082-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT The Senate Armed Services Committee approved the nomination of Chuck Hagel to be secretary of defense by a 14-11 margin. All 14 Democrats supported the nomination, and 11 Republicans opposed. Senator David Vitter (R-LA) was not in the room at the time of the vote. Several Republican members voiced concerns over the nominee. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) accused former Senator Hagel of taking money for foreign entities and implied he lied about speeches he had given in the past. Chair Carl Levin (D-MI) reminded members of the committee's bipartisan history, saying, "We have survived party lines vote before. We will survive this one." http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310957-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310957-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to former Army Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha. Sergeant Romesha was honored for his actions during an October 3, 2009, battle with the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan, during which eight American soldiers were killed and 24 others were wounded. In remarks President Obama said U.S. troops should never again be asked to "defend the indefensible," a reference to Sergeant Romesha's outpost, which was positioned at the bottom of a valley, making it vulnerable to attack. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310928-2 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310928-2 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT Former President Bill Clinton spoke to House Democrats at their retreat about the future of the party. He talked about several issues including job creation, immigration and gun control, which he described as "an opportunity, not a toxic land mine." He urged Democrats to to treat gun-owning voters as friends and neighbors. The House Democratic Issues Conference was a three-day retreat at the Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg, Virginia. http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310912-1 info@c-spanarchives.org (National Cable Satellite Corporation) http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/310912-1 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:00 GMT