polish and jewish nationalities, were killed during that war. they were the victims of this all over the world. the holocaust was a crime that was committed during that war. but before the outbreak of war between germany and the soviet union, other crimes were committed. .

outfox the other. ñrstalin thought the germans would bleed out fighting the xdfrench and british and then fl easy prey to the soviet union while hitler countedñi on a quik

defeat in the westçóokñicor;orñd face east for the time being. ñixdñreither side may mistake. many russians, ukrainians, georgians,çw% toxdñrñi fall. é9nçóñ2ixdy ñd]ñiñiñiñixdçóthat not see syss defeated. ñibut poland not regain full sovereignty. europe. on the other side of the curtain, not on theçóxd

which led toçó the devising and finding of the north atlantic treaty. it's a treaty that over the 60 years of its existence has becomeñiñr the exportmrijáup!ily freedom --çó stabal&ty, freedom, and democracy. eì(lc@&c+ nl experiment. ñiñrñims be remembered that tres require --ñi treaties required o observe the stipulationsñi. polandñi is an inherent and so s germany and that ourñrxdñrçó;('s

germany and that ourñrxdñrçó;('s stick to their commitmen this treaty is and willçóñi ren important, bu((áhe found[ne ñiñiñiñihey founded what isñiqús ñi>'óñis experimentçóñiçó in the interesf ñiñrñrçóñiñiwithin this communie superseded by cooperationñrxdñi, of that success?

-- will the prerequisites of that success? çóthe next prerequisite7.=mçó we resending ofñp imperialxorñrç:. ñiçó partial rescinding of the areas of influence. without this, united europe would be unthinkableñiçóñiñi. hear, with 27 member states, in the future possibly more, we have equality. this should be accessible to others however, on -- under one

condition that they accept this system of values which does not allowñr the going back to what once was. where quality is the main principle. this requires broad, ñirequires democracy, not only n and citizens, but between states. if this happens,ñr we could say that following the unimaginable ñ!e?zcrime of the years 1939-19,

this unimaginable tragedy taught us a lessonçóñiççuiñi and we han conclusions. that may be difficult or painful. ñiñiñixdthee ÷z:iwckkñi confessed by the woáeáwháq". not the only ones who are to ñiñiñiñiconfessxd. >1ñ the. according took christians, confms+ion does notñiñi humilia,

it liberates an excess free. provided it is universal. ñiwe hold the entitlement to act first -- to access the truth about tragic occurrences in our history. i deeply believe;j:lpñiçóñiñi'g down that path leading to pluralism,ñi democracy andxd tr, even ifñi it seems to be hard to take. xdj0ñic

and the deaf people do to an epidemic. ñrxdñiym7ooñrfollowñ2ñdñro the whole of europe. >> now i would like to ask the president of the european parliament to the floor. 3ñr,

uáuñi of 3!'áeuájtdh@/mbyaiñrñrñvó 1939e of europe and the world started on -- started with the attack on poland. ñia handful ofñrñiñi soldiers rd heroically ÷h nszk regime. ifu?q"om and honor of e. ñ-%iñ/ hatiuñixxdçyóñixdñr nod resistance. t be foughtçi against the not too regime from the first to the last day of the war. as the president of theñiñrxdçón parliament, wantxt stronglyñr we shall never forge. ñihe ñipushed somewhereñk3ññwm+ aw)a

ñiit is a treasure, and burns o6 remembrance, and a remembrance of those in power and th7((5]i9. this remembrance is the foundation upon which we build the future. won end in may of 1945 whenñr the ni regime collapsed. but it was not the and of the persecution of european nations. on behalf of the continentñr -- [unintelligible] k in thexjkxxzaiçót(ç@

prague and polishñixdñr coastlin 1]eu$e beginning ofñiñr the solidarity movementzv which cat really be destroyed so that our breath again. ñithe sobering changes in the soviet union helped. ñiin parliamentñi commemorated the victims -- they made the date of the 23rd of august the anniversary of been [unintelligible] the war crimes and crimes against humanity. this is what the members of the european parliament showed. the terrible experience of the

coincidence. commodity --ñr [unintelligible] the solidarity of protection will not only make the war unthinkable, but something that does not pay. for many years, since the first wed we must never allow them to be erected again. we cannot allow the manipulation of historic facts. i would like to remember

[unintelligible] %yw3ñ)=yñqdñrñ9iñiçóokonly tru. truce that does not miss something. that doesn't commit anything. -- truth can saidñr us fre5 trees that does not miss something. the foundation of solidarity can only be completed by concrete action and concrete bases on which we can develop economically. we also have a steadfast guard of democracy and human rights. the european union is of great value in itself. in the global world, it requires a reliable process with russia, the guided states, and other countries. we are here together and that is of great value in itself.

we are responsible for the reconciliation. i want to pay tribute to those who are fighting in the defense of freedom. we europeans shall remember. we shall build, we shall build europe, which was worth your great sacrifice. thank you. [applause] >> will all please rise? zçóf honor. ñiñrñiñiñijfñrçóñiñrçzoñrçóñiñs

anniversaryçóñrñr of the breakof the second world war, the most ñi ofñie of the 20th-centurqi, pay tribue çóxdçóto all its victims. may be remembered forever. xdçóñr %"tminister to take the floor.ì+

first of september and not some other day in some other place? the leaders of europe have gathered. why here and wfqpiñr on the firf çóñiñiñiñrçóñrçówhy do we see hf poland from the previous year's? ]iññrwhy here, on the first of september veterans are meeting together with young people? the answer is dead -- the answer

is that here on the first of september, the most terrible tragedy in the history of mankind started. the symbols of the tragedy can be seen here everywhereçó. hear, very close to this place, the first soldiers lost their lives. the first soldiers, victims of the nazi invasion of poland. exactly here, in this place. çóxdñrbut if we look a little bt further, you willñr see the barbwire of the concentration camp. thereñrxrçó wdhñi some eight concentration camps created by the war against humanity. it was in that campñiñrñrxdñiwot

russians were killed,ñr jews wee killed and germans were killed. if we look in the other direction, also very close from this place, you would be able to see a forests not far from a small village. it was there in the first weeks of theñixd war that thousands of people were gathered, polish teachers, engineers, soldiers,tr and people who were absolutely innocent. they were shot down in many places here. in many forests, this terrible secret was hidden.

ñithis war had it's tragic and terrible fate. here, germans with a sign of the swastika were assembling hundreds and thousands of their own countrymen,ñi the disabled, mentallys%>z disabled, and theyt them downñr here in the forest. [unintelligible] if we look further on, close to my home place, we can see [unintelligible] thousands of young people lost their lives here in early spring

of 1945. as i mentioned, they gave their life for liberation, all voted to adopt -- freedom to us. we care for their grace period why am i óakingñiñrñr about thee examples of the cruelty of the war? i am doing this because all of us aren't are deeply convinced that the remember and about the cruelty, the remembrance about destruction of peopleñi is perhaps the most important, effective shield to protect us from the danger of the next war. nobody in the world would ever remember the events from 1939

and the terrible events all over the world in that time. nobody has the basic responsibility will never do anything to allow this nightmare to return. their member of was our common responsibility to ma&ñññi sure h a tragedy never happen again. but it is also a place of hope ñi"nhereñiñiñit(2ymñiñiñrñi a'd amongst many poles, select:. ñrafter the victory of solidariy and upon which new europe was founded. the fact that it was here the solidarity movementñi was established. "tthe rl of those principles in which the

name of war brokeñr out, it's çópossibleçó we remember thfr ws and all you we believed again so it would never happen again. it was here on the first of september, everybody from moscow to rome, from london to stockholm, the soviet, the baltic states to the united exception, we must say today we share those values and those values will protect us from this tragedy but freedom must be always better than slavery. ñrñiuçódemocracy is always betn dictatorship, the truth is better than lies and love is

better than hatred and respect is betterñi than distrust. finally that solidarity is better than [unintelligible] ñii don't know a single person o would be sitting here in the audience, dear countrymen and your guests, who doesn't share the saudis. it is on these values we found in europe. --ñr doesn't sureties of values. q ukraine, and . e ofñr the tragedy and our nation sufferedxkñwrxdçm c%q%ññiñr [u] zdo!u+u)áq such ab.çóñi meetind

never make any sense. ñi5a;/zn3ñrçóñiñri want to>n# t interpretations of history are allowed. everybody has their on remembrance, however the fact, which we somehow interpret differently. we want to remember the facts z

were the symbolic beginningi]ñrf of war. adolf hitler, on the 22nd of xdaugust, ah$l meeting with his ñrbnqq'erals, said something tht a wide unsaid. n'kñi saidçóñoó and understandr the week. together, there is no room for those ideas. we haveñi built and we want to continue toñ(&íw3[wñ!óçmkxdñiiñd in the world order, where it is 13"1

[unintelligible] witx%ts% exception is searching for the truth. if we want to build the order of security together, we have to reject the temptation of the .ñlp strong overçó theof the week. we want to leave town that at the united europe where there is no contemptñxk3 for the week ony because he is weaker. i want to say there would be no point in organizing this ñiassembly. okwill be repeated and hurt and

only as a solid honor. that we are here in order to access a very difficult⌞ñ histoi and different temptation, we are hereñrñr [unintelligible] never+ again. ñixp]ñiçóñrñie1ñiçóxdñi5açóñi÷r of the federal republic of germany. ñr>> mr. president, prime

minister, colleagues, excellencies, ladies and showman, today, 70 years ago, the most tragic chapter in the history of europe was usheredñii in by the german attack against poland. the war unleashed by germany brought immeasurable suffering over many people. it brought years of deprivation [unintelligible] xd suffered as long under german occupation as poland. particularly during those dark times about which we talk today, the country was devastated. cities and villages were destroyed. after the uprising had been crushed in 1944, there was hardlyxd any building left does not in ruins. ñilawlessness and violence characterized daily life and çóhardly any polish familyçóñrìú

ñiw3ñipaired this experience. here, high as ge"man chancellor remember the fate of all poles on him untold suffering was inflicted under the criminal german occupation. the horrors of the 20th-century culminated the holocaust, this is a method persecution and murder of the jews of europe. i remember the 6 million jews and all of those who died a cruel death in german concentration and extermination lost their lives and the fighting and resisting germany. q=z$(+ ñipeople who died of hunger, co, and disease through the violence of war and its consequences. i remember the 60 million people who lost their lives in a war unleashed by germany.

w3auhñiwdñu3nh&oñshyçóñixdz[w'e theñi sufferingñr inflicted thrh this war and the holocaust. ái!uorñe secondealp!0bás" war cannotxd be undone. the scars shall remain forever visible. but to shape the future and the awareness of our everlasting responsibility, this is our mission. i is in this spe has changed from a continent of ©>xr we germans shall never forget and have never forgotten germany's partnersw÷#+m0v[3óñ2d west paved the way for

reconciliation. you reached out to germans, stretching out a hand in a spirit of reconciliation and weak grasp the with gratitude. indeed, it is a miracle that this year we not only remember the dark chapters, theñi abks!9f that we needñi to remind ourselves of. it is añrñr miracle that we must also run behalf bidets 20 years ago which brought us the fallñrf the berlin wall, the europe's quest for freedom was only truly filled once the iron curtain came down. in the tradition of solidarity, people pushed open the gates to freedom. we germans shall never forget this. we shall not forget the role of

"!áájsr)rpr& gorbachev and our western allies. we shall not forget the force of nobody embodies as credibls pope john paul roman numeral 2. this is why it was -- pope john paul ii. indeed, it isxd true --ñrñrñi is truly a miracle that today we europeans live in peace and ñifreedom. there is hardlyñr anything the better symbolizes the difference basedxdñçó onpm

we [unintelligible] çóñixdñiçójf-- together, do we k into the future toward which we once -- toward which -- toward once -- oçóñrñrñiñiñiok go,ñr wt forgetting the histor] in all itsñiñi aspects and never belittling it. remembers the fate of all the germans who lost their homes as a consequence of the war, we invariably to settle. we do it in the awareness of the responsibility of your money which was there at the very beginning. we do it without ever thinking of writing anything that points to the everlasting responsibility of germany.

it is exactly in this spirit that i have come here today, 70 years later to this suffering, however beautiful restored saturday -- city. mr. president, prime minister, i am deeply moved they have invited me in my capacity as german chancellor to this commemorative ceremony today. i've even sign of our good neighborly relations based on mutual trust, close partnerships and true friendship between our countries and x" people of germany and poland and it is i am truly grateful to you. [applause] >> i would like to ask the prime minister of the russian federation, mr.ñiñiñi vladimirñ.

ññ!óçóçó>> distinguished preside minister,ñi distinguished ladies enjoyment, colleaguoszñi frien, we represent different countries that have gathered here today with the first fellows of the most bloody and violent and dangerous war in the history took place. toxd. the zvóloits of theñrçóñs and bandar heads before the dozens of millions of paris soldiers and officers of the anti-killer coalitions, partisans, and militants of resistance -- anti-hitler

coalition. and a person to die under the bombs and hands of the executors and torturers in concentration camps. people of various nationalities, political creeds, andçó views, people who are not scared by the catastrophe. the victor in the fight against the nazis who was it achieved with a tremendous price. ñi d officers of the red army gave their life. 600,000 of my compatriots are buried in the polish land. çó e

ñr>okñiñr of the ussr. of figures. people to cherish the memory of the eternal meaning of the g$qì+ value of alliance and dramatic events in our history, recalling the first day of the war. we should reflect on what prompted [unintelligible] attempt to eure oneñr security çóat the account ofñi the secury of other neighbors primarily.

[unintelligible] and i agree with the speakers to mention this, and the decision of the versailles treaty, which not only registers the deceased, but [unintelligible] which were used by nazis coming to office in the mid '30's. ñrxdit's worth mentioning the ft that to ensure a reliable system was not possible. ñrwhile analyzing dramatic evens on the verge of world war two,çó we must reserve the right lesson to be that. xdñçóñiñiçóñrdistortions of hise keeping silent, it's important

[unintelligible] well talking about world war two, not seize, and their accomplices, no matter what might be found for such tragedy. tjf-/a>u;xn÷ ?oit(çólpñi0ñcohñi-9ç$1çóoçcee

political statement of theóoçcee political decisions to be adopted. naturally, we need to think çówithout a deep understanding f all letçy/ occurs, it will note possible for us to build a secure world, to eradicate the legacy of the cold war and remove artificial dividing lines. my country not only admits the bql

a contribution in building the a contribution in building the ñiworldw3ñis7ñiñi=ñmyñrqññiçóñ ñiñiñrñld on the principles ths !leiñ iñrçóxd toñr remove the real and virtual berlin wall and to ñrxdxdçóxd[ññrwe need toñiñrw3g xenophobia, race hatred, and ñicynical distortions of histor. j(%-tt(áár'. the page on the history of world war two for the sake of the memory ofçó for the future of or children. the example of how we can treat such wounds of the past, and i

basis of theirñi relations betwn %ggó+t relations and cooperationxdçóóo. in conclusion, like to address the main protest plans in this and disembarkedçóñixdw3 inñrñr d normandy and liberated warsaw andñr berlin, your exploits are eternal and it will always be kept in our hearts and it will

be a genuine benchmark of the stamina, courage, and honor. thank you for your kind attention. [applause] ñiñi>> i would like to invite te xdprime ministerñr of the french okñrçó>> mr. president, prime minister,ñiçó ladies andçó gentr europe's strength lies ini] its memory, cultural, and shared&c. çóhere, where the second world r

started on the first of september,ñr 1939,ñiñxiçó polant through great sacrifice and pain but it fought for the honorñiçó of europe as axdñi wht did again in 1980 under the banner of solidarity. the promotion brings us together today. a complex motion made up of grief, pride, remorse, admiration and help. it reflects the changing destiny of a continent driven by war and then hadñi peace divided and thn united. çóthe peninsula was for the firt crimes were heard in the

terrible conflict that would become the bloodiest of mankind. the 200 polish soldiers responded to thexd shelling of n enemy battleship by giving us a magnificent wasn't in the heroism our country has upheld in the face of the cruelty of warñi and the harshness of authoritarianism. from the very first hour of the war, the polish [unintelligible] a few weeks later, theçó polish army was defeated. nine months later, [unintelligible] striking on land and from the air. revived the age-old solidarity

betweenñi france and poland. our twoñi countries have always fought side-by-sidexdñiñi for tr freedom and for that of europe. on theú2+ its of december, 1939, the polish government, in exile+ setñr up its headquarters in franceçó. an army of moreçó than 80,000 mn was raised before the french ezñiñi 1944d to england. ymtheñiñi polish govebn9quzr ee enh capital on the 18th of june, 1940, the same dayçó when generl call broadcast on radio xdñideclaring añr matter whatçó happened that the french resistance wau7ki not be wnkextinguished andñrfá it wi.

countries and the freed?ñwoaúfwg foughtñiñi againstjf barba&uty. fro polishçóñrñiñrko soldiers put s on theñr linexdñi. whichñiñiçó fell on the 18th ofn 1944. 's firstñrçó armore division tookñi paztir' her lap xdñiñiçóçóñiñiçérñiñifightingñi. i would like to pay heartfelt of mudgeñrñrñr to the polishñi peo.

in the resistance of the churches, schools, and universities to accomplish what honor dictated. i am thinking of those who overcameñrñrñiçó despair andñr e warsaw get uprising -- the warsaw ghetto uprising. ñfiñvóçóñithe heroes of theñi jh community and the righteous among the nation'sñiñiñiçó [unintelligible] qì(+ sájfxdozg"nization 66 years agoo saved moreñi than two thousand jews children. ñrçóñiñr--

meet these challenges, provided that its members have the political will to implement the solutions. i know howñi ambitious a contribution poland can make with itsñiñrñi memories of and d suffering, poland should become with our support and friendship,

a place where the future is invented. across from the older box, there is a vacant piece of land where poland can create and build. this means, ladies and gentlemen, that is a tragedy that started on this very spot 70 years ago shot not only find its own, it should find its answer. [applause] ñrñiñrçó>> xdñrñrñrñiwe now inve minister to speak.

ñiñixds#zñiñrçóñiçóxdñiñrñiçód, ñrpresident of theñi european parliament, ladies and showman, we meet today at a place of battleñiçó that is also a placef liberty. 70 years ago, polish men and womençóñr -- from here, darkness fell across europe. slavery. ñiukrainians, jews, poles, çóxdrussians, french,ñr and manr nations criedñllkçó out from te concentration campsñi. holocaust was gaining strength.

billions prayed for a liberation from despair. over 7 million ukrainians joined the war and every second of them never came back home. every second of those who3rñiçód disabled. all in all,çóñr in concentration camps and max punitive -- mass punitive actions, almost 10 million of my people died. together with the other nations, we haveçóñi paida/aikì+ extremely'!çóñiñi price, but we not only to overcome, we have one.$jqjñrise to memories. it is right and proper that we meet here, where europe's

enslavement began and where two decades ago its complete liberation took place. ñiñrthe memoryñrñi of their coue lauzon in all of us. as well as the memory about all those who perished, but today, many of their sons and daughters the solidarity the completed o"j their struggle are with us today. their courage is also our inspiration. today, in their memory, we're marking not only the beginning çóof for,ñrñi but the triumph of liberty. we reaffirm the unity of people who fought a war withçóçó aggren who came toñiqñiçóçóñi join hand

unbreakable bond of peace with those who were once at the other side of the front. ñr n make us invincible. ñr n today, this unityñi continues to keep us free. ourlp]/> history since the stars has shown that countriesñiñiñi e themselves by the choices they may. t(xdthoseñr who endure theçó bis of invasion, occupationxd÷d andt ñrñrñsrcouldñrñiçki be filled w, ñiñrçlpxdhatred, and desire for. w3europe could have movedxd in t direction of recrimination and )jrjuq'sion. but europe started looking for a new solidarity and a handful of nationsçó in forging the europen

we all must make a bold effort to understand and comprehend one another. ñrñiñrtto replace violence and' ,có7mkzímio-

they did not bring into lawlessness. gdansk and poland are now part of a united and free europe. this is what you poles have chosen. let me ask as i close, all of ì(lc@&c+ ofçó today to the hopes of ñrtomorrow, beyond the freedoms that you now enjoying, to the advance of freedom everywhere, beyond memoriesñi to the day whn

all of europe and all of the world will be united in peace and justice. ñrour challenge today, as we wee taught,xdñi is a matter of healg the will. the willriyt$ of ñrb$=51ñxdñi let us rededicate ñrourselvesñiçó as the ancient s road at the dawn of europe to tame the savagery of mançand ñrmakexd gentle lightñi of this. ñixdñiñrñrçóçóñiñrñiñiñixdnow le who gave their life a way to fightxd foróñi this piece for - now i bow ñito all of those who gave their life to fight for this piece. -- peace.

çó[applause] >>ñiñi now i invite the prime minister of the kingdom of sweden to come forward. sweden to come forward. ñiñiñiñiçóñi>> presidents, prim0

frail and the sense of being capable of actions that can hurt ourselves and others. these actions can cause enormous destruction. they had given as words like genocide and holocaust. the these deeds cannot support -- but they cannot be described merely in words. we call for the remembrance of one of the darkest hours in the history of mankind, and remembrance is necessary.

it is necessary because it cannot remember, history may repeat itself. world war ii changed not only europe but the entire world, and in europe, we learned the lesson that we must build our common future not want conflict but on cooperation. it was a painful lesson, and that makes it even more important to remember. never again -- these were the words that rose to the skies from the survivors and the ruins left by the war. never again, war. that was the founding pillar of the european project that we now know today as the european union. the european cooperation that followed the end of world war ii was not only created as an escape from the extreme forms of

nationalism which had devastated our continent. it was also founded in order to give the people of europe a chance to build a common future, based on values such as tolerance, democracy, market economy, and rule of law. from this point of view, this is also europe's celebration and remembrances of european cooperation and integration, democracy, and freedom. 60 years ago, the council of europe was founded and just two years later, a community was established. 30 years ago, the first direct elections of the european parliament was held. and 20 years ago, we saw the fall of the berlin wall and the birth of a new and free europe. certainly we have reason to

celebrate, yet the celebrations are worth nothing if we do not remember the war that 70 years ago ravished our continent. if we do not remember the victims, the survivors, and the people who gave their lives to save the others, if we do not remember and honor those who sacrificed their lives to respect human dignity. our collective memory comes weaker and weaker and the older generations, those who survived, disappear and can no longer be a witness. but here today we must say, we will never let this memory escape. we must remember it. we must show that we have learned the lesson, today, tomorrow, and in the days to come. and we must do so to insure --

ensure that these words will have a true meaning as we build our common future, the words, never again. [applause] >> our celebrations have come to an end. i hope that the message of this assembly will stay in your memories for a long time, [unintelligible] please turn to the exits on the right and if you would be so kind to leave by the entrance by which you came in. thank you. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009]

>> booktv continues all this week on c-span [applause] . howard dean and his book. and then a republican strategist with the book "catastrophe," which examines how president obama is dealing with the u.s. economy. and after that, peter carlson, a comic interlude starring khrushchev. booktv, tonight beginning at 8:00 p.m. eastern on c-span2. >> in more than a dozen words, jonathan kozol has analyzed and

protect the american education system. sunday, he will take his life -- he will take your questions live on "in-depth." >> c-span is health care hub is a key resource. go online to watch the latest events, including town hall meetings and share your thoughts on the issue with your own citizens video, including video from any town hall and you have gone too. and there is more at c-span.org /healthcare. in 20 minutes we will bring you live remarks from michael steele at howard university forum. until then, today state department briefing with ian kelly. topics include the political situation in honduras and allegations of misconduct by guards at the u.s. embassy in afghanistan. and we will show you as much of this as can until live coverage gets under way at 6:30 p.m.

eastern. >> good afternoon. i would like to make a few remarks at the top about honduras, and give you an update. we have been working hard with our partners in the hemisphere to reach our goal of restoring democratic and constitutional order in honduras, and we continue to believe that the best solution to this is the san jose accord. president zelaya is in washington this week. he has several meetings today. i refer you to them for further details on that. on thursday, secretary clinton plans to meet with him to discuss the best way forward on the situation in honduras.

and with that, i will turn it over to you. >> does she expect to make the determination at that point? >> we still not have -- we still have not made the determination. the issues there are being considered here, but i cannot give you an exact time. >> but they are being considered? $1 would think that you have had enough time to judge whether it is a military coup. >> right, well, we have taken the actions that we would be required to take, if that determination is made, and we have suspended assistance that goes directly to support the government of honduras, and you know what -- the issue can

hand is the reparations act. >> we already know what it is. what is the holdup? >> as i said many times, there are a number of diplomatic activities going on. we have done what we have to do under the law, and that is not to provide assistance to the government of honduras if the secretary decides to make this determination, which she has not made that determination yet. >> one big exception to that, as i understand it, is the grant from the millennial challenge, which could be implicated in such a decision. it is mine understanding -- it

is not automatically cut off. they have to make an affirmative decision to do so. >> i think that is right. >> it is more than $100 million that would have to be scrutinized. that is much bigger than the $18.4 million that has already been suspended. in a way there is a big chunk of money out there that will have to be -- on which decisions are going to have to be made. >> you are right. in the case of the millennium money and the challenge corp., it is something that will have to be decided by the board. secretary clinton is a member of that board. we'll see about what we have to do. with the usaid programs and the

militant -- millennium challenge programs. >> in response to the last question, if you said that there are a number of diplomatic activity is underway. are we to understand -- is that the case that it is solely a question of diplomacy -- the hope that you can find a diplomatic solution that is holding off the determination? or are there other factors? perhaps within the u.s. government, they're holding up? >> as i have already suggested, it is not just a decision that affects the department of state and the agency for international development. there are a number of other avenues that we have to go down, including briefing congress. we have to coordinate with the

department of defense. all along in this whole conflict that we have a run honduras, we have had to coordinate with the organization of american states, and with our partners in the region. so there is quite a bit of coordination that has to go on. >> the air base, which such a cut costs -- would set a caught off had any effect on that air base? u.s. uses it. >> obviously the department of defense is in the best position to answer that question. as i understand it. the determination will affect programs. the suspension has already

affected a number of programs that the u.s. military runs. that air base is not our base. it is a honduran base. the military -- you should get the nitty gritty details on this from the department of defense. but i think that they have suspended their programs, except for the kind of activities that you would need to support a base, regarding the perimeter and provisions and activities like that. but please do find those kind of details from dod. >> what kind of access we have to it? >> we have not determined tthe arrangements for the press. i feel confident that there will be some kind of -- it will not

be closed to press. there will be some -- we will have some kind of engagement with the two principles. that's not been determined. in terms of the readout, we will be happy to give your read out. >> will we be able to actually ask them questions? >> that is not actually been determined. i cannot answer that yet. >> can i talk about the embassy in kabul? a report list incredible understaffing, extremely long hours for guards, training problems, a language barrier between the guards and the staff at the embassy, and also hazing new recruits of guards, which has been -- some of which has been listed in letters from the state department to the contractor, complaining about

the behavior of the last few years. >> we have received a long letter from the project on government oversight, with quite a few documents attached. you make reference to some of them. let me just say that these are very serious allegations, and we are treating them that way. as soon as we receive the documents -- received the documents, that were turned over to the office of inspector general. secretary clinton has been apprised of the allegations in these documents, and has directed the department and the office of the inspector general to take appropriate action. and let me just say that the secretary in the department have made it clear that we will have zero tolerance for this type of conduct that is alleged in these

documents. >> i like to quote from a letter from the state department to the contractor in june 2007. this is two years ago. you recognize that some of these deficiencies exist and you say, these endanger the performance of the contractor to such a degree that the security of the u.s. embassy in kabul is in debt -- is in jeopardy. and if you threaten to terminate the contract, get over the last few years there are 11 letters that have been released, not just by the project but buys senate from a paschal's office, who is in charge of the office, that you continue to warn the contractor about the deficiencies and that you said that the security of the embassy is in jeopardy. why did you continue to extend their contract? >> these are serious allegations which you just read me. >> these are not allegations. these are your own words. this report came out today, yes,

but over the last two years you have been continuing to warrant this contractor about performance. does it take independent non- government organizations to cast light on what you have been overlooking for the last few years? >> as i understand it, we had been investigating this organization for some time now. we understand that we have made some -- we have pointed out to them some of the deficiencies, and i cannot answer right now from this podium exactly what they have done in response to this letter. >> in your letters its says that they go unaddressed. >> let me give you more information but i do not have a right now. >> cannot follow up with that?

senator camccaskill held hearings, and one person told the hearing that these problems head and looked at in since january that had -- they have been addressed. on what basis did he get that testimony when according to this report, this behavior, this whole pattern has continued up to the present day? >> i will have to ask him. i wiland not sure what he was basing his determination on when he told congress that these issues have been addressed. >> can you tell us if up to now the state department has been satisfied with the group in providing security for the u.s. embassy? >> i am not prepared to say that right now. let me see what we can say about this congressional

testimony. >> it says, the management of the country to protect the u.s. embassy as grossly efficiency and is a significant threat to the sec embassy and its personnel. is this the case now? are you worried about how well your staff are protected? >> we always worry about our staff and how well they are protected. there is no higher priority for us than the safety and well- being of our people, especially our people who are serving in a dangerous environment like kabul. >> the question of language was race, and that many do not speak english, and the state department was made aware of that. yet there are lots of security

staff, 67% who do not speak proper english? >> you are asking a lot of good questions. but i cannot comment on them. i do not have the answer to them right now at this moment from this podium, and the matter is under investigation. i cannot comment on it. >> it looks like it has been under investigation for the past two years. >> lisa, i cannot answer it. i'm sorry. >> one other matter raised in a letter is that pogo is saying that the state department has a pattern of ineffectual oversight and congress or someone's should give the oversight of embassy security in a war zone to the military. what is the state department's the bishop -- position on that? dollars the year -- these are very serious allegations. these particular allegations from this particular organization, and we are happy to consider them.

these are extremely serious questions that you are asking, and i want to make sure that you get a good answer to them. as i say, the security of our colleagues serving overseas is an extremely serious matter. >> with this material get turned over? >> i do not have an exact time. when i was first asked is, it was turned up when we first got it. >> which was when? >> i think we got the material in the last week for some. >> if you had in the last week, these letters are going back two years. the idea is now looking into these -- the i.g. has not been looking into these for the past it will years? it is only set you got this report that you have been looking into it?

>> it is business separate report of these serious allegations of a more recent nature in the gopogo document. i know that congress has concerns. we have also been talking to the contractor, too, asking them to redress some of these deficiencies. >> as the inspector general been looking into this since 2007? >> i do not know. >> if they had not, it would suggest that you have a problem. >> i do not know the answer to your question. >> someone warranted it buys, all of this stuff is coming out, of breaking its delayed by an hour, someone would think that someone in the legal office could come up -- you had to anticipate these questions. >> i have told you what i know.

i've spoken to the i.g. office. i've been taught to the office of security. they have been looking into matters of efficiency. as soon as we got the documents -- these documents that you see in the report, they were turned over as well. >> they have been on the center's website for months, since june. >> all of these documents? >> not the pogo report, not the photographs of lewd behavior, but these complaints you have been making to the contractor yourself for the past two years. >> i told you all that i know, and i cannot really address a lot of these issues because they are under investigation. >> just back to the issue of oversight of contractors, there was a huge issue of oversight over blackwater, and revisions to the procedures and all of that stuff.

since this was going on concurrently, isn't there a need to reevaluate all of the contractor oversight of the state department, not just in particular incidence where there is a case of abuse? >> i don't know if you recall, but the secretary herself in one of her town halls has said that it is her view that we have to lessen our reliance on contractors for security of our embassies. she has asked for a review of the whole system, and whether or not we can move to -- i would highly doubt that. there are contracts involved and there is also the whole issue, the importance of protecting our people. this is not something that we can do overnight.

>> can you explain what part of the security armor group is responsible for, where the responsibility ends? whether the u.s. military has any role protecting that? and there are off of -- also afghan security forces on the perimeter as well. >> i normally address that from a very general way. from my home experience, and i have not served in kabul. but the regional security office is in charge of the security of our perimeter, and that is usually a local cards that provide that. -- local cguards that provide that. there is also the u.n. security program, protecting classified information and protection of

the chancery. there's also protection of americans themselves, a number indices' including the one that i served at adding a residential security program as well -- having a residential security program as well. kabul has its own challenges, to put it mildly, and there is also coordination with the military. >> could you take that question and give a specific up with what they do there? that question is exactly what this armor group is responsible for. we were told they were static security, not a close protection of moving around with the ambassador. but they are in charge of -- except for the outer entry points, all the checking of cars and all that.

what is their role? >> d.s.'s role is the oversight of the card program. that is a good question. >> what is the oversight status of this contractor? in the blackwater situation, there was a complaint about the state department having oversight. >> the contracting officer is assigned here in washington, d.c., and that person has overall responsibility for oversight of the contract and participates in weekly meetings between the program office and the former group. this person -- the fararmor group. >> so there is no adult supervision of this contract entered? >> i am getting to that.

there is the representative and the assistant contract in officer representative to respectively. there is also always 18 rso that deals with the routine matters, access request and the like. that is some way to answer your question. it does appear that pierre >. >> armor as the contract for it. let's find out exactly. news subject? >> the site is khan -- a scientist khan recently released, do you have any comment? >> are concerned of the

potential for liberation -- proliferation activities by mr. khan are well-known to the pakistani government. we believe that he remains a pall corp. risk -- preparation -- proliferation risk. they're well aware of the spirit >> i am sorry? dollars >> why you think he still remains a risk? >> i think his activities are well known and we have concerns about them. we have made those concerns known to the pakistani government. >> this popped up last week. >> it popped up on friday.

i don't have an exact answer to that question. i am sure that we have frequent contact with the government in us -- in islamabad. >> is in a position where he is not a risk, given the measures that been taken about his movements? >> i just don't have the information to be able to answer that question. related? >> there is information that the pakistani nuclear arsenal has increased to 90. >> i am not aware of that report. >> have you ever discuss with the state department -- the state department ever discuss with the justice department the ability to prosecute him? isn't there the ability to prosecute him in the ad states

by various laws? >> i am afraid i do not have an answer that question. iran? >> there are some reporters that says that pakistan has missiles and khan has his hands on. is there any reaction to it from india? the oilers you have to speak to them. these press reports, we have seen these reports in the "new york times any potential violations of obligations entered into pursuant to arms export control act, and we take these allegations very seriously. we have in case the government of pakistan to the highest levels. -- engaged the government of

pakistan to the highest level. they recently agreed -- we have notified congress of potential violations and obligations entered into pursuant to the arms control pact, and provided key effort -- information on u.s. efforts. >> before the report, did ambassador holbrooke raises questions with pakistan? >> i am talking in in general terms. i am not addressing this particular allegation. i am not aware of any discussion by ambassador holbrooke. >> iran says that it has prepared a counteroffer to your offer. i am wondering if you have

heard, if anyone has heard from the iranians, and will this offer be discussed tomorrow at the political directives meeting, and will that be an iranian representative there? or are you expecting one? >> we are not expecting a iranian representative tomorrow in frankfurt. as you know, this is a meeting of the six political directors from the p5 + 1 countries. the main agenda is the nuclear program. we've seen press reports of a new proposal but we have not received one. we would review any proposal that they give us seriously, and in the spirit of mutual respect. we welcome the iranian

government's constructive response to the april 2009 invitation to meet face-to-face. living floor, this could bring iran into compliance with its international obligations and create confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program. >> but you cannot seen an offer. >> know, we have not. -- no, we have not. not to my knowledge. >> are they willing to meet or is it just that they are saying that they have a package to offer? >> we do not have any understanding. all we have seen is what you have seen, that there is one iranian press report that purported to quote the iranian nuclear in addition --

negotiator. we're not seen any new proposal and we have not seen any answer to our proposals, p5 + 1, the issues outlined in their declaration of maple. and our proposal to engage with them and talk about these issues. the nuclear issues. >> did he make an announcement? dollars to the present iran. he blamed the west -- >> to the press in iran. he blamed the blast saying that they did not want to go further because of the financial crisis, but georgian war -- the georgian war, and so on and so forth. they basically put the blame of the suspension of talks on the west. would you agree with that? >> no.

we're prepared to respond to some kind of meaningful response. we're not going to respond to something that is made through the media. the offer of the p5 +1 remains on the table, and we can respond to that when they respond officially. in the meantime, as we saw in the most recent iep report, they are not complying with their -- i e a e report, they are not complying with their obligations and remains a matter of deep concern to us. how to say what i have said before, we have provided a pact whereby they can become a fall in respected member of the international community. it is up to them whether or not they want to choose that path.

>> are you going on the nuclear stuff? why shouldn't one card these reports of a new proposal that just happened to surface on the eve of a meeting in three weeks in advance of the u.n. general assembly, when this is going to be a major subject and topic of conversation, why shouldn't one regard this other than an effort by the iranians to blunt the u.s. push to consider additional sanctions? >> it may well be. but it does nothing that we can respond to because it is not -- they still not have officially responded to our various initiatives. >> and had not giving you anything. not just that they have not responded. >> that is what i'm saying. >> what would you consider a response?

>> a response that they s -- that they say that they have certain obligations that they have to adhere to in that they welcome marie engagement with us in the p5 + 1 context to try to address some of these concerns that we have. the oilers had you heard from the chinese yet? >> regarding his press reports? i am not that we have. >> it seems that in the past, on the cusp of big meetings or events, the iranians have come out with -- coming out with statements like this, talking about proposals, which appeared to be designed entirely to isolate the russia and the chinese, keeping them from getting on board with the rest of the group on sanctions. you don't see that this time?

>> your asked me to speculate on what the motive might be for this one statement being made to the medium that may well be. but we cannot said. >> what you keep referring to this as "made to the media that's good dollars because we're still waiting for an official response. -- has made to the media?" >> because we're still waiting for an official response. >> you of not given the official state report -- you have given your official response to these allegations. >> that is my job. he is a representative of the iranian government. >> but i am a spokesman. i talk to you. >> what you come down and say that to us, and we say that you

said that, and the iranians will not take that as just a press report. >> you just said from the podium that we're getting ready to present an offer to the iranians. >> yes. >> but you announce that you're going to do it. >> they only need to respond to our proposal in some serious an official way. [unintelligible] we don't have an embassy in tehran, but our partners do. >> the iranian president has apparently decided to come to participate. -- to the un general assembly. has he applied for visa and is it close? >> i am not aware of that. he does plan to come, he has come in years past. i've had at free expectation that he would receive a visa -- i have every expectation that he

would receive a visa under our agreement with the wind -- the u.n. >> anything further on the three americans held there? >> sorry, i don't. new information on their welfare or whereabouts, which is of course very distressing to their families and of great concern to us. >> on the subject of world is coming to the un, any movement on gadhafi yet? >> not that i'm aware. >> what about the release in britain of the a l megrahi letters? >> this has been a matter for the u.k. government and the scottish authorities.

they consulted with us with respect to the release of certain documents relating to the u.s. view. and in our view, our views are well known, that we strongly oppose any outcome that would result in the transfer of mr. megrahi to libya. >> did the u.s. government believe that it had a commitment from the british government and thought he would not be released? >> i think we have said all along that we understood that this was a matter for the scottish executive to decide -- our interlocutors in a london made it clear that this is a matter for justice officials. >> did you seek such a commitment? >> we have told you -- we have

made our views known to the scottish authorities. , including secretary clinton. >> that was at least a reasonably solemn and formal agreement between the foreign secretary robin cook and and eric holder. that he would not be released. dollars that there is no written document. >> i think there was an understanding that he would serve out his sentence in scotland. but i don't know what i would characterize it as agreement. i think you have as the department of justice. >> he is not the attorney of

general by coincidence. but are you comfortable with the fact that if there is no written agreement that is being broken, nonetheless a significant agreement this is taking place in howard university, one of the historic

black universities. live coverage now on c-span. [applause] good evening. i am the vice-chairman of the howard university college republicans. >> i am the president of howard university college democrats. >> we would like to thank you did it town hall meeting this evening. i like to congratulate chairman steel for being the first african-american to lead the republican party. [applause] i am truly honored to

participate in this historic event. tonight presents the opportunity to come together as a community, regardless of political affiliation. although we may not share the same views or agree on certain issues, we would like have constructed discussions tonight where everyone is treated with the utmost respect and howard hospitality. dollars for the question and answer portion of the meeting, questions were already submitted. but you were given a white sheet of paper where you can write down your question. when you are finished writing, please raise the paper in the air and someone will collected. and now we would like to turn this over to the missions of ceremony -- mr. ceremonies this evening. -- the mistress of ceremonies this evening. [applause] >> good evening, however. how are you? we're so excited to be here and

you have received us with a warm -- with a warm welcome. german steele -- chairman steel e is excited about doing a tour of this historic institution. another thing step of katherine and emma for the warm welcome. -- another thanks for katherine ann m. up for the warm welcome. you have a lot of distinguished participants here today, in terms of the fact of the. we want to make a couple of the acknowledgments before we get started. the president, we want to say thank you for allowing us to come to your great institution. fis protests -- vice provost, and others, mr. jackson, mrs. reese, very gracious to was

outside, mrs. edwards, and we do not want to leave out brian smart whose vision and leadership here as the president of howard student body. let's get all of them around of applause. -- let's get all of them are round of applause [applause] we have three students that will interact in dialogue with chairman steele throughout. thank you for your leadership and working diligently to pull this together. you are doing a great job. taylor, thank you so much. and asskyla johnson,

thank you so much. in doing so, one of the chairman's top priorities is to be able to talk to young people. he loves to interact with your intellect and to begin to engage you in the dialogue. student participation is a very important activity in our country, in terms of how we are founded. and as african-americans, it is a privilege we have not always had. so it is -- is especially important to take opportunities to do that. as we bring him forward, we want you to know that he is here because he was the dialogue with you. he wants to be able to hear your thoughts and the things that you were thinking and to be able to share perspectives with you, as you articulating through this great university. he has been a trailblazer on many fronts, and the political

scene is one where he has definitely made great inroads. as lieutenant governor of maryland, he ran a very good and tight campaign for the senate in maryland, and has been very involved in politics and the republican party in maryland at county and state level. today he stands here before u.s. the first african-american to serve as the actual chairman of the republican national committee. i call him the man of steel, because the steps he has taken as required when the have a very stern and steady course. as you can imagine, the different leader that you have read about, trail blazing. i want to turn it over to chairman steele and say that you

have a great opportunity to dialogue with a great leader, a man of great wisdom and compassion, and so i welcome you to rise to your feet and welcome him to the podium. [applause] >> thank you all very much. what's up, howard? how is it going? it is great to be back here on campus. i've had the privilege of spending time on this campus as the county chairman from prince george's county, md., when i served there six years as the chairman of the party in prince george's county maryland, which lot of people were surprised that there was a republican party there, but there is. i served as the state chairman and had the privilege to come here on campus and dialogue with students, and to work with the

students here on campus on a number of issues. and also now as the national chairman, to come back, but even before then, as the lieutenant governor of maryland, having the opportunity to come here to this campus. why this is special for me is because this is tom. i brought literally about two -- i grew up literally about two moscow georgia ave. -- two miles up georgia avenue i grew up there, said d.c. is my home. it is very special to me. and certainly this is where i began in politics. and believe it or not, i began in washington, d.c. as a 17- year-old republican. and i remember when i tell my

mother that after a long discussion, it's fine what you wanted to, it will be ok with me. and i told her, mom, right before the 1976 election, i decided i wanted to be a republican. she looked at me and said, lord, baby, why did you do that? and that is the story of my political career. look, baby, why are your republican? this conversation is not just about that. it is not just about being a republican or being a democrat. it is about being engaged in one of the most exciting times of your life at one of the most exciting times in the history of our country. before i get into that and engage other folks here and the folks here, i want to send out a welcome to our national command the hear from the district of columbia, but former chairwoman of the party here, betsy, who is

our -- and i want to welcome her husband, hank. thank you so much for being here. regards to bought cable, our chairman, and tony parker, our national committeeman. the party here in d.c. has been one in fits and starts trying to get going, dealing with the particular changes that are happening here in the city. but i must admit it had been consistent in its efforts to engage. and certainly betsy has tried to find ways in which we can engage the entire city, because it is important from ward 8 toward one, from uptown to downtown, so i appreciate you being here. and certainly to the president, it was a honored to meet him and congratulate him on his tenure. i am really grateful to be here with all of you.

where to begin and what to talk about? so i got two microphones, so i don't need this one. where to begin? . a lot of folks are beginning to see it. the opportunity that we have to talk about today is not just the particular issues, but what it means. what are you going to do when you walked out of this institution in four years or

next spring? how are you going to engage in the marketplace of ideas? what is going to be part of your legacy of creating a pathway for the next generation, particularly when you talk about the great men and women who walked through this institution and stood on those steps at douglass hall? and the question is a very important one because you are watching the nation go through the pangs and the pangs and the frustration of change. it is the kind that comes from a people who are emerging into something else and doing something different. economies are shifting back and forth and opportunities that were once plentiful are limited. resources that were once

plentiful are now limited. ideas are really going to be the springboard for your generation. as a young man growing up in this city, i think it is important for you to understand and appreciate how i got here. my mother was a sharecropper's daughter with a fifth grade education. she grew up in south carolina. my father was an alcoholic. he died at 36, leaving a salon in northwest d.c. all of these statistics say that michael steele should have a different path. and that i should not be here. those of you have like or similar systems dances should also not be here. but the difference comes down to

what you decide to do and others for a part of your life decide to do for you. my mother invested in education even though she had little access to it. she put me on a path that led made to be the first african- american to be elected statewide as lieutenant governor. that defied the odds. and then, having to fight for this job defying the odds. whether it is your first year or your last year at this institution, hothe question is w you are going to conduct yourself to defy the odds? you have to make choices on health care. you have to make choices on whether or not you're going to start a business. how're you going to engage with

viet -- with each other and the broader community? a lot of folks thought that knows when to come here and try to convert all of you to become republicans that is a bonehead idea. i got here because i was allowed to do the one thing and use the one thing that mattered most, use my mind. that is why you are here. this dialogue is to engage. you know what? republicans do not do this. we do not do this. we do not come up into the neighborhood, community, and actually engage in dialogue. when i became chairman, i made it very, very clear that this leadership would not stay stuck on capitol hill on first street and not get engaged with the communities, not talk to people,

not take the hits that people want to deliver, not share the ideas, not talk about the future of our country and the future of this generation. so if you want to know why i'm here, that is why i am here. i grew up two miles or so of the street. it is important to be here to show you that, from eighth streets nw to this moment, it happens. it can happen. and you are now poised to make it happen for yourselves and your community back home, it is here or somewhere else, as you leave this institution and as you prepare to go out there and changed the world. that is the message of president obama. that is my message today and it is consistent. did you ever think that, at this time, you would have two african-american men sitting on top of the political class in this country? one is a democrat and one is a

republican. both have competing views and interests in government. both are reflections of the african-american community. how powerful is that? what a story and what a legacy to be a part of. it is not about us individually. it is about the legacy that it has taken for us to get to 1600 pennsylvania avenue and here at howard university this evening. i remember having a conversation with a friend of mine a few months ago was complaining about the fact that things were not going quite the way he thought they should be going. he said, you know, the man is beating us down. he is not giving up. he said the man is and the man that. i looked at him and said, we are the man now. we are at that point where we have been empowered through the

vote, yes, and also through that legacy to make decisions that is going to move a nation and changed the course of the country. what i would like to talk about this evening is what does that look like for you? what does that feel like for you? what do you want it to be? do you want to really fall into the stereotypes or do something like mine monty python troupe says, completely different? that is what we have a chance to do. i asked three of your colleagues to sit up here and share some of their ideas and some of their thoughts. we had gw represented in the house. we have addison howard. we have some students from across the city.

it is a cross-section. is a democrat, republican. it is black. it is white. we have a chance to do something and say something that, hopefully, will feed the mind and give us a fresh perspective on some things. i want to a -- i would not use this opportunity to convince you to do what i do and believe what i believe. this is not what this is all about. but appreciating that there's a diversity of thought out there, some of which you will be surprised to find out that you agree with, some that you will said, have, i cannot follow that. that is fine. but to engage in the battle of ideas, we can all move this country forward. that is what last year's election was about for the first time, this generation to cold, engaged, and spoke.

as these issues, flowing out across the country, do not stop speaking. do not stop sharing your ideas and engaging in the elected leadership of this country, whether they are political, like myself, or government officials with the president, the congressmen and senators that represent you here and at home. so what is your expectation when you graduate? does anybody want to take a quick stab at that? do we have a microphone for them? we have a lot of folks here. we have cnn. we have c-span. we have fox. i want america to hear. we have howard tv. we have cbs. we have showtime?

what we want is for folks to hear a little bit about what our college students are doing as they think about their next steps. >> good evening, everyone. my apologies. can you guys hear me? hello? ok, good evening, everyone. when is sky led johnson. i'm a junior economics major my expectation for after college, which will be in the next year, preferably, is to become a u.s. economist and being bilateral relations between the united states and china. so, it is to have a job, actually. [laughter] >> so you want to work towards improving the bilateral relations between china and the

united states. >> yes, sir. >> looking at it, and economic standpoint, china is one of the big dogs on the block economically in this country. how did you see that coming about for you? how do you see yourselves taking the steps outside of howard university? is it graduate school? is it going right into service? what are the options and the opportunities that you see? >> hopefully, after howard university, i will attend school in georgetown and attend law school or stanford university in california and hopefully it obtain a lot of finances and bring it back to my communicate and to a broader aspect of the united states, to be able to become the voice of not only the african-american community, but to become the voice of my generation which will then, hopefully, transpire into a bigger voice that will influence not only america but also the world in respect to china.

>> excellent. anybody else? >> hi, i missed to get -- my name is taylor. i hope to go to law school and pursue a career in business law. >> more money. >> yes, sir. >> and business law. when you get out of business law, is it doing a law firm or doing something else? >> contract law, writing contracts between companies. >> excellent. how about you? >> my name is brandon cooper. i am a double major in french and political science. i plan on attending law school after howard. i have a couple of years of school and hopefully getting into politics. >> god bless you. >> i want to get into politics

eventually and get back to the community. >> tibet to the community? >> yes, sir. >> what do you want -- give back to the community? >> yes, sir. >> what do you want to give back? >> my mind. >> in a sense, to be an example of how we can continue the legacy that started a long, long time ago of creating a pathway to opportunity in. >> exactly. >> once you do that, what do you do with the road blocks apart in the way? what do you do with the lack of a job opportunity or the lack of your ability to create a job, like starting your own business? how you deal with the frustrations and the challenges of that will come, potentially, when the global marketplace is changing so rapidly? how do you see yourself as a young man stepping into that, making a difference, and trying to push against that kind of

pressure? >> taking examples from you and obama, just not giving up. we have to work for it. people that re-electon to what this is very important because they affect their lives. -- people that we elect into office is very important because they affect our lives. >> do any of you have expectations as you get ready? yes, ma'am. once you leave these hallowed halls, what are your expectations? >> i am a junior in political science major. i plan to attend yale law school and a plan to run for senator for the great state of maryland. [applause] >> that would be a democrat

senator, right? >> yes. a democratic senator. [applause] >> and she is bipartisan good that is a good point. because what do you think happens when you are on the pathway toward becoming the next u.s. senator from maryland? i am a resident of the state of maryland. i am a republican. and you may say some things that i may agree with, but a lot of it suspect about because, you know, how democrats are -- because, well, you know how democrats are. ok, you win, right? you are standing up there in the senate chamber with your hand on the bible and your hand in the air swearing deal flow office. what should my expectation be of your leadership? >> your expectation should be diplomacy.

i said, i am bipartisan but it is not about a party. it is about the people. [applause] i want to go into politics to be a public servant. i feel like that has gotten lost. being a public servant is observing all of your constituency. >> i do not want to put you on the spot, but since you are a public official -- [laughter] here we are on a national debate on health care, ok? and it is a very good and a very important debate, regardless of where you are on the spectrum and but your present me and a lot of folks in the state -- on the spectrum. but you represent me and a lot of folks in the state. where do you draw the line between what you believe, personally as a u.s. senator, and what you should do as my elected representative? i believe that my beliefs should

guide me, that i shall also take into consideration the guidance of my constituency, because they give me my job. i should explain my beliefs and make sure that they understand my beliefs and will take their input and mix it together. waxman sit together. mix it up. >> -- >> mix it together. mix it up. >> and, in that way, come up with a solution. >> whether you're republican or democrat, you have the responsibility as an elected official or representing the people in this room and across the country. you have to first respect the fact that they put you there. >> yes. >> and then you have to be able to negotiate, literally sometimes, your personal use with the reality on the ground. maybe in the state or the district that you are from, the general collective view on the issue is over here and you are

over there. and you have to navigate and work your way through so that, at the end, you come to a position where the people in your district or your state respect the fact that, while they may disagree with you and while you may cast a vote that they will disagree with, and they know that, on the shithis e and others, you're going to be true to yourself and true to them and they can say, ok, i and stand. one of the challenges you're going to have -- i understand. one of the challenges you're going to have is being able to understand where that line is and in doing what you need to do to bring everybody to some sense of consensus. the debate we're having right now in this country on health care is lacking the simple approach toward not bipartisanship.

in washington, bipartisanship is, if you get something, that means i have lost something. unless i am willing to give that something up, i am not in the mood to be bipartisan,'. it is consensus. what is at stake is not my reelection, it is not my personal views, but the idea that they have that i am going to represent them ultimately in this fight. i am going to work toward some level of consensus on the issues. >> yes. >> and that is a challenge. what you see now and why the young people have reacted the way they have and why americans have reacted the way they have is because they moved past this a battle. they want to see leadership actually engaged.

the frustration that a lot of folks in washington have right now is that you still have this tension between democrats and republicans. i am a partisan guy. i can be as partisan as the next fellow. i like beating up democrats as much as they like beating me up. that is one aspect. when you're talking about something that is in -- that is what to impact your parents, is going to impact you, is known to impact your children and your children's job and, that complicates the amex. how are you going to engage in a way -- complicates -- is going to impact your children and your children's children, that it complicates things. how're you going to engage in a way that you can gain consensus?

your voices or a variable import of this. you can sit back and be partisan and say that we have to do this and that appeared that is great. but are you moving the ball -- this and that. that is great. but are you moving the ball? her goal is to try to work towards some consensus so she can at least achieve, ultimately, what people think they're going to get. some people are going to have to give up something to get something. that is part of this discussion that we are now engaged in across the country i do not know how it is good to turn out. do you know how it is going to turn out? >> i do not know, but i hope it is good to be good. >> i hope so, to. -- i hope so, too. who has another question? yes, sir. how're you doing.

nice to me to. what is your name? >> and jerry garland. i am from memphis, tenn.. upon graduation from howard university, i want to enter law school. i am not sure where i want to go. >> in georgetown is good. [laughter] that is just off the top of my head. >> my main goal is to choose a career, most likely in public service, that can impact people most at the local level and instill an idea in them that you can make it. no matter your situation, always try to find the good in it, to never fail. >> what is important about that is something that thurgood marshall said. we'll have the ability to pull

ourselves up by our own bootstraps. but every once in awhile, you have to bend down and help somebody else. part of the legacy in the african-american community, in particular, has been that, reaching back and pushing forward. you will find, ladies and gentlemen, as you matriculate through this institution and start walking through the various doors that you have outlined for yourself and others have, you're going to run -- two kind of people. it is when to be the person begin going to run into to kind of people -- you're going to run into two kind of people it is going to be the person -- two kind of people.

another kind of person you're going to find it is the kind of person who keeps their foot jan the door and tries to push as many barefoot and jammed in the door and tries to push as many people -- the kind of person who keeps their foot jammed it in the door and tries to push as many people through. i wish you well. when you get there, i'm going to need people who are going to be pushing people to the side. there are challenges. the challenges, particularly, when you look at statistically where we are as a community. when you look at the aids infection rate. when you look at the recidivism rate with drugs and presentpris.

these are the things that people make presumptions and assumptions. your course, like mine many years ago, should be corrected at best, certainly rocky -- should be crooked at the best, certainly rocky. you are already so from power, by the time you're -- by the fact that you are here, to become a lawyer and do it however you want to do it. i spent a lot of time as lieutenant governor of maryland visiting with 13-year-old to 17- year-old young men in the baltimore detention center. my frustration was not so much that they were there. everyone was telling them that this was all they could do, that this was it. i remember talking to these young men in.

-- i remember talking to these young men. we talk about the possibilities, that this is not the final definition of view, that you have the opportunity to take some steps that everyone else is denying and say do not exist. that is what my mother was told about me and that is what i was told about myself. i want you to appreciate what it means to be here at the school at this time. there are generations of young kids right now who will be looking to you, not to bill them out of jail, not to sit in front of them in some correctional institution, but they're going to be looking to to oppose that $10 million deal that they're trying to get it done. they're going to be looking to you to help them build their new home. they're going to be looking to you to help them achieve what everyone talks about as the

american dream. and that is the opportunity. that is also the challenge. i wish to the best. wells has something they want to put out there? -- who else has something they want to put out there? yes, ma'am. i will come to you. >> [unintelligible] [laughter] >> hello. how are you? hanging in there. it is so nice to have you here. >> my name is ashley torrez. made second year doctoral student. >> that is a mouth student could a doctoral student of mass comm media's buddies. -- media studies. i am going into my 19th year of school. during that time, i have only

had two black instructors. that speaks freely about the disparity of blacks in not only grammar school, but higher education. i am interested in what you would do or what the republican party would do to increase the numbers of more african- americans in education to alter the perception of who is capable of educating the masses? >> that is a very important question. i am sorry. nice to meet you. [laughter] nice to see you. excellent. that is an important question because there are two pillars that you need to appreciate. one is economic and the other is educational. some people think that you can

survive with one and not the other and you probably could. i think it is important to appreciate that you need both. if you have that educational foundation, if you have that killer in place, then your ability to do the economic think -- if you have that pillar in place, then you have the ability to do the economic thing. we can afford more than one individual who rises above and creates wealth. a lot of folks gave me a hard time when i talked about hip-hop republicans. i tell you what was interesting about the response that i got when i made that statement. people went to a stereotype. black and white. it was interesting, the

responses, because what i said was not talking about republicans walking around with the whole bling thing and the pants. that was not it. it was not glorifying what many in the community were talking about the violence and some of the aspects of the music. it was about the ability to create wealth. it was about the ability to create a legacy well. you have, among steer right now, a generation of african- american entrepreneurs that are creating incredible wealth. and they are investing in the back into themselves and into the community. they are controlling that wealth. how are they doing it? instead of the publishing or the record company owning the rights to their music, they on the record company.

that is a big difference. instead of someone else controlling the decisions they are making when it comes to their bottom line, they are the ultimate to determiner of what that bottom line is. there is a very interesting challenge when you talk about education, in particular, because, to get to that point, you're going to need a that foundation. more importantly, it is important to have us in that process. one of my frustrations, as a chairman, is that, when i look around and looking for folks to help build the farm teams, i do not see a lot of folks that look like me. right? and it is a real frustration. it says that the party has not done what it needs to do to engage you and others to be a part of this effort to build this relationship between the

republican party and the black community. it is also true for someone like you, who has been in school for a long time, and was to give back by teaching, to stand there as a symbol of black progress and education and to be, hopefully, an example for generations behind you who say, i want to do that. people talk to me about the party and say, one of the problems i have with the gop is that i do not see me represented in it. you're absolutely right. david ecb national convention in 2008? -- did any of ucd national convention in 2008? -- did any of you see the national convention in 2008? there were 38 out of 40,000.

that is going to change. i do not know what field will ultimately look like, but it has to change. similarly, what can we do to educate our own within our community? how do we bend down, reach back to do that? we need to those role models? it is tougher now to find them because they are not there. they are not there. it is going to be up to you and your peers to begin to change that dynamic. i do not know if you are ready to do that. the future is of such chaos that it is not very clear whether the job will be there, whether the opportunities will be there, and that is why it is important that we'll begin to engage right now, in this great national

debate, about the progression of the country and the consequences to you and your family as you move through this institution and move out into the world. there will be consequences. and they will be big. in some cases, they will not be pretty. you are a generation of young people who have never seen inflation. you have never seen double-digit interest rates. york college alone probably max is out at 7%? 8%? maybe 9%? but you're not spending 15% and 20% on that money. that is a real prospect in the future. why? because of the way the economy is changing and how we balance

right now the flow of funds, the creation of debt matters. it is not just a political game in. it is not just michael steele and barack obama going back and forth. there are real consequences on how the next generation of teachers are going to get paid. it is on how the next generation of entrepreneurs are going to create a legacy wealth. that is you. that is not 20 years from now. that is literally 20 minutes after you graduate from this institution. so while you are engaged now in getting this education, that will lead to your ability to create wealth later on and think how your engaging and ask ourselves what is going to mean to you and yours. again, i have my philosophical perspectives. the republican party believes

very firmly that the government has a very limited role here, that you are the true engine of wealth creation. how many it of you know or knew that over 70% of the jobs in this country are created by whom? ibm? xerox? small business. that is you. that is you when you wake up one morning and say, you know what? i think i am going to do that they have always wanted to do and start my own business. you're going to file some papers and put some money in the bank and you may or may not tell your spouse that you took out a second mortgage. i have been there. and you're going to make an investment in your going to take a risk. all of a sudden, it is your money because it comes out of the property you own. the question you have to ask yourself is how much of that do you want the government to take from you? how much of that do you want the

government to control? that is part of the debate we are seeing unfold today. my coming here is to stimulate the discussion to engage in this generation in the battle of ideas, yes, but to think of what the future's going to look like for you. i think it is a great opportunity irrespective of party differences and party lines and all of that. but it is a chance for you to be involved and to engage in a way that is unprecedented, that we have not seen before. this matters to you, whether you like it or know it or not. yes? >> we have a couple of questions that were written ahead of time and as people came in trade we are running a little short on time. >> ok. >> in the first question is from

gary -- from gregory. he asked if republicans opposed to the public option in health care, what alternatives do you propose that all americans are cared for when it comes to the cost of their health care? >> the public option is the center of the debate right now in health care for a host of reasons. the president has outlined, along with speaker pelosi and majority leader reid, what that should look like in turns of the opportunity for you, the individual -- in terms of the opportunity for you, the individual, to take the public option. you can opt into whatever government-run health plan if

you want to. or, as the president says, if you like your current insurance, you can keep it. let me give you a very interesting sidebar. a few days ago, my son graduated from boston university's school of design and digital parts. my wife and i were sitting in the car. we were talking and were very happy and very congratulatory of him and his work. it was an intense program and he got through it. i wife looks at him and says, you're going to have to get your own insurance now. and he said, what do you mean? >she said, you are over 18 and you are out of school and the law will not allow us to keep you on our insurance. you're going to have to get your own. you could see the look in his eye, why? how much does that cost?

all of a sudden, that reality began to set in. it will set in for all of you. there will be a point where all of those 19 years of education and and you're doing your thing and you have to take responsibility for providing yourself with health care. i know a lot of young people have this mindset that says, i do not need it. there are up to 12,000,020- something and 30-something-year old -- there are of to 12,000 20-something year-old and 30- something year-old who think the same thing. the party's position is that that is ok -- >> she died of cancer. everyone in this room should

have health care. [applause] 96 million people in health care -- 36 million people without health care supper without insurance let my mom. no one in this room should suffer that way. >> my aunt is losing her house because she can afford to pay for health care. >> i am sorry >. >> how about the fire department? >> once again, we are going to ask that you honor the procedure that we said we would use here and anybody got an opportunity to submit their questions. we will be respectful to the chairman as he is answering gregory's question. mr. chairman.

>> thank you. again, i understand that there's a difference of opinion. the stakes are high. this is part of the discussion. the problem with the discussion is that, when you close your ears off and you are not prepared to listen, you do not learn, whether you agree or disagree. whether you agree or disagree. what those who dissent do not understand is that i, fundamentally, agree. everyone in the country needs hairhealth care. while you have personal stories, so do i.. but you do not know that. i do not need to shout it to you for you to understand it. [applause] what you need to understand --

and this is the lesson for all of you who are going to engage -- if you're going to engage, you're going to get serious. you can shout and have people ignore you or you can engage and have people pay attention and learn from you. you present something that they might not know, they may not appreciate, they may not have ever heard before. when people go to town halls and go out to the community and they are like this, it makes for great tv. you will probably make it tonight. enjoy. [applause] but you have not furthered the debate. and that is what institutions of higher learning are all about.

they are about further in the debate, engaging in ideas. i may disagree with you all along, but i respect your ability to stand up and engage me to teach me something i do not know. [applause] with that in mind, let me ask you a question. and the answer is very simply this. the problem that the republican leadership has with the public optioin is, number one, it is not defined in what it will exactly look like and what it means. no. 2, the problem with it is that, for small-business owners, think about it this way. i have had this conversation with a major company in this country who said, if there is a public option, why would i carry

the costs to provide health care for 30,000 employees if the government is presenting an option? in it is cheaper for me to pay the 8.5% penalty than to have to carry the health-care costs for 30,000 employees. the same is true for a small employer of 300, for a small employer of three. the concern is, unless you put in the language, the triggers a that will prevent businesses from offloading people into a system, you have created a back door to single-payer system. they are not going to carry that

cost. you would not carry that cost, would you? if you have the difference between what you pay, what your employees pay for health care in your company and what you pay as the employer, that the difference -- if the government says, we now have that, would you pay it? would you pay $100,000 additional to your bottom line? would you pay $100 million additional to your bottom line? we can discuss the intricacies and the back-and-forth about that, but that is part of the debate. getting clarification. understanding the personal stories that are involved. but recognizing that those personal stories can be impacted in a negative way as well. it is not just about getting universal health care. it is about what it looks like, what it does, and what choices you will or will not have if the

government, like insurance companies right now -- have you tried to call an insurance company and ask about your claim? imagine it now being the federal government and the bureaucracy that they have set up? that is one aspect of it. the other aspect is that we do not know who pays. who pays? are you going to pay? if you do, how much are you going to pay? how much are you willing to pay? are you when to pay? you do not have a choice. uri student. that is the other part of this -- you are a student. that is the other part of this equation. that is an aspect of it that we have to debate as well. yes, ma'am. >> [unintelligible] >> nothing the government has ever done is deficit neutral. do not believe that allied. name one program that the

federal government has run that has been deficit neutral. amtrak is how much in debt to? amtrak is how much in debt? the post office is how much in debt? even the government -- even the president himself has a admitted that particular problem everything that this is government done, not just barack obama's administration, george bush's administration, jimmy carter's administration, nothing the government ever does is deficit neutral. congress is visited by special- interest and of those who have something in stake -- something at stake. they changed the rules.

then they spending for programs that you were told were deficit neutral. unless you put to the check in place in the legislation that actually locks that in, that is not going to happen. yes? >> this will be our last question. terrance williams asked, with the current state of the economy, business, and the battles, and legislation going on on capitol i'lhill, do you tk we college students will inherit the political climate and should we be optimistic about our future? [no audio] >> regardless of circumstances [unintelligible] [laughter] this is not easy.

i want to run for office of maryland. that will do it. that is not easy. i have always been a glass half full person. whether it is on health care or the environment or energy or whatever the issue is, i believe, at the end of the day, but that view, americans, are going to make the difference. it is on. can you hear me? i have a big mouth your going to make that difference. -- i have a big mouth. you are going to make that difference. you're going to engage in the debate in such a way that is going to make a difference. you have a chance to help engage in a way that changes the outcome if you want to. you have an opportunity and that is why i wanted to come here to shape this debate, whether it is on health care or anything else, if you want to.

it is not just to react, but to take command and to lay out a different perspective. someone is going to disagree with you, right? that happens. but others may still agree with you and work with you. however it comes about, recognize you have an opportunity to make a difference. if i never believed that, i would not be standing here. i would not have been lieutenant governor. i would not have had my own business. i would not have gone to johns hopkins. i would not have gone to georgetown law school. someone told me that the glass was half empty. that is the difference. i think the future is bright because you're going to be a part of it, because you're going to have something to say about it, you are going to have something to bring to the table

that is of value to me, my kids, and this country. that is what last year was about. that is why you engaged the way you did. i would have loved to have you all look for john mccain and the republican party, but we did not earn your vote for your support. we did not earn your trust in our leadership. and now we have to for the benefit of the country that is how empowered you are. that is how much you have changed in this debate, the nature and the course of politics in this country already. if you don't take anything away from this moment, take that. the glass is half full and tomorrow's going to be better regardless of what anyone else says. i am proud to be here at howard university because, like a lot of hsbcu's in this country,

you don't get the recognition, the kudos, the glamour, the televisions and cameras coming appear and seeing exactly how you learn and how you change and how you make a difference. when they are cutting funding to hsbcu's, to scholarships,, the very dollars that it will take you to reticulate through this institution -- the very dollars that it will take for you to matriculate through this institution, you find a way and you make it work. it is important for you to be a part of this political landscape, of this economic landscape, of this american landscape. do not let anyone, democrat or republican, tell you otherwise. thank you. [applause]

>> again, we thank you so much for having us here. kamen is when to close us out with some remarks. >> thank you to everyone -- cameron is going to close us out with some remarks. >> thank you to everyone grea. once i began the leadership of the organization, i never thought that this day would be possible. i am so grateful for all of you coming out [unintelligible]

we want to thank mrs. carey and hamilton and the media relations here at howard university. we want to thank all of the howard university student politicians. faq to. malek -- thank you to mr. malek thomas. we have present also this evening the d.c. federation of college republicans, mr. james barnes, the chair of the d.c. young republicans, mr. sean connery, the former chair of the d.c. young republicans, mr. marcus skelton. thank you so much to ms. crystal corker. if christo, sean, and marcus and

michael could stand, i want to show the howard university community and that these are young people. none of them are even close to the age of 30 who are active in the party and are holding leadership capacities nationwide. thank you so much to them. thank you also to the university -- the howard university democrats who came out tonight. the college republicans are in the lobby. importantly, for those of you who are registered republicans who are not active in our chapter, the republican national committee is here. the coordinator is outside in

the lobby. she has a table set up and has information on how you can become an intern with the national republican committee. they are accepting interns for the fall semester, this current semester, and the spring semester of 2010. one stipulation is that you have to be a registered republican appeare. again, they do so much for coming out. thank you so much to the howard university student body. of course, we had some dissenting voices that are not part of our student body. but we think the haters as well. thank you so much and have a -- we thank the hitters as well. thank you so much and have a wonderful night.

>> in october, c-span's original documentary on the supreme court. here is something -- here's some of what you will see. >> mr. chief justice and may it please the court, the government can see that the destruction of documents in anticipation of a proceeding was not a proceeding in the fall of 2001. >> something different is going on here than what goes on in the capitol building or in the white house and you need to appreciate how important it is to our system of government. >> this is the highest court in the land. the framers created it after

studying the great lawgivers in history and taking a look at what they thought, worldwide, was important for the judicial branch to do. >> i put in as much blood sweat and tears -- as much blood, sweat, and tears on the little cases as the big ones. we decide who wins under the law that the people have adopted. >> you would be surprised by the high level of collegiality here. >> if the four-nine of us want to hear these cases, we will hear it. >> why is it that we have done elegant, astonishingly beautiful, imposing, an impressive structure? it is to remind us that we have an important function and to remind the public, when it sees the public, of the importance and centrality of the law.