journey was terrifying. it is crucial that humanitarian agencies have access to the border regions. the neighboring states including your eye will work with people freeing libya. we expect the situation to worsen. for the surprise running dangerously low, in my conversations with the leaders and the world, in my public and private statement, i have spoken out. the virus must stop. those responsible for shedding the blood of a person must be punished. human rights must be respected. the challenge for us now is to protect and do all we can to

halt the ongoing violence. that is why i urged the security council to consider the wide range of options for action. those include proposals for trade and financial sanctions against the leadership such as a ban on travel and the freezing of financial assets. some member states called for an arms embargo. others drew attention to the clear and egregious foundations of human rights taking place in libya and the urging of the security council to take action to ensure real accountability. i urge the council to consider concrete action. in this context, i welcome the resolution by the human rights council to establish an

independent commission of inquiry. i also recommended that libya be suspended from the human rights council. as you know, that would require a 2/3 majority vote of the national assembly. they have informed me that this matter will be taken up early next week. ladies and gentlemen, i will continue to engage leaders on this issue. on monday, i traveled to washington to discuss these and other matters with the u.s. president obama. let me conclude by saying that whatever the security council and general assembly does the

side, we must be mindful of the urgency of the moment. in these circumstances, the loss of time that means the loss of lives. this is the time to act. thank you very much. >> mr. secretary general, it did not have any particular effect when you try to talk to him. how are you going to try to talk to him again? >> after having spoken extensively with the colonel on whether he would oppose the international community, he will do anything to protect the civilian population and stop the violence. but he has been trying to justify in defending his

position. i have been trying to talk to all of the leaders in the region. >> he said that this is an urgent time. the draft resolution details embargoes, freezing accounts. is that enough to stop the violence? should there be military intervention? >> i have urged the security council to take a look at a wide range of options. they are considering all possible options. and that is up to the member states of the security council. what course of action should be taken at this time? >> general, you expressed the importance of accountability. there is one member that is against it. another member did not receive

instructions. how important is a cure for this to the icc and told people -- hold people responsible. >> crimes of such a slae -- scale must be held accountable. i think they will consider all possible means. i have urged the members of the council to consider a wide range of options. thank you very much. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright na >> the white house and now suspended embassy operations in the libyan capital of tripoli. it also announced sanctions against the libyan government to stop using violence against protesters.

the state department talked about this in a briefing today. this is about 55 minutes. >> if we delay this any further, it could be happy hour. in malta is definitely happy hour. will wait one moment. -- we will wait one moment. good afternoon and welcome to the department of state. as was just announced in the white house press briefing, given security conditions in libya, coupled with our inability to guarantee fully the safety and security of our diplomatic personnel, the department of state has temporarily withdrawn embassy personnel from tripoli and suspended all embassy operations effective today.

the safety of the american community remains paramount to the department and we will continue to provide assistance to the greatest extent possible through other missions. greatest e to the other missions. today, we are gratified that the erry was able to disepart libya andas arrived in malta, as well as the departure of one last charter that carried our remaining diplomatic personnel from the mission as well as other american citizens and third country nationals. two of the hardest working people through t last several days, actually, probably the last several weeks, are the undersecretary for management patrick kennedy and janet from dna bureau. we thought we would bring them

down -- from the na bureau. we thought we would bring them down now to discuss what it means to have diplomatic relations and suspended. we will discuss ongoing events with the libyan leadership, but to go through a few of the mechanics of how we got to this point. patrick has been essential in the logistics of moving american citizens out of harm's way. jane has been involved in all of the interagency meetings and conversing every day with our counterpart in libya. cress is for coming down. -- thank you for coming down.

>> as you may be aware, one of the major responsibilities of the state department is to ensure assistance to american citizens if at all possible. since the 15th of february we have issued over 10 warning notices of various kinds to american citizens and starting on the 20th, if we announced to the community that we had authorized the departure of family members, and then on 21st -- the 21st we increased that by ordering the departure of all family members and non-emergency personnel. a number of the american citizens have departed via commercial means or by half corporate -- charters arranged by their companies or set assistance, mutual assistance, provided by other governments. even though flights were operating, the airport was somewhat chaotic with the large numbers of people there, and therefore the u.s. put a chartered ferry vote with a 600- person capacity into the port on wednesday morning.

during the course of the day on wednesday, we loaded about 250- 270 people, about half american, half third-country nationals. we had planned to sail from the port that evening. there were 15-18-foot waves, which made sailing unsafe, and so we held the ferry over yesterday. and the waves did not abate and we loaded another dozen or so individuals onto the ferry yesterday, again planning to sail last night, again could not. finally, after long consultations with u.s. armed forces weather experts, we knew that the weather would probably break this morning, and so again loaded another few people onto the ferry who presented themselves this morning and the ferry departed. at the same time we also announced yesterday to the

american community that we would be making a charter aircraft available today. we brought the charter aircraft them, loaded the remaining official american employees on it and about another dozen or so american citizens and a number of third-country nationals as well. and that aircraft has now departed. as p.j. has said, we have now suspended operations at the embassy. again as p.j. has said, that does not mean that diplomatic relations are broken. we will continue to carry on work with the government of libya. janet can address that in more detail. but essentially we move to get out american citizens -- as many american citizens as we could. we will continue to work to assist american citizens. the bureau of consular affairs has a 365 day a week capability. if additional american citizens are needed -- are needing

assistance, they can contact or their families can contact the state department, and we will so we can do. but we have put in the last charter flight that we intend to at this time. and we do know that the airport, in spite of it being overcrowded still, is moving some commercial planes in and help. -- in and out. you. in addition to the responsibilities we have to the american community and to our mission on the ground, one of the things this department has been doing is a full-court press in terms of trying to develop a set of options for the president and his decision makers in regards to the continuing and indeed, intensifying islands on the ground, violence against -- violence on the ground, violence against the libyan people and increasing problems with the regime and the way it is handling the governments of its country. you have seen, of course, the

secretary of state has made a number of calls to her counterparts around the world in the last couple of days. those calls are continuing. she has consulted with african foreign ministers, european foreign ministers and others who are interested in the state of libya. the secretary has echoed what the president has said. we are shocked and appalled by what we have seen on the ground in libya. we told the libyan government accountable for its actions and the -- hold to the libyan government accntable for its actions and the actions of its military. we're deeply concerned about the fate of the libyan people, and we're looking at a variety of options in addition to sanctions, unilateral, the ones announced this morning by the white house. in conjunction with our friends and like-minded allies in the area, we're looking at other options, and of course there is a multiteral track. i do not have a lot of details for you right now. are having those

conversations. there are oning. but i think the important thing to take away is that the international community is speaking with one voice about what is happening in libya. we are all concerned and shot, and we're looking at ways not only to change the behavior of the government, but also to hold it accountable for what is happening on the ground. the secretary will go to the human rights council meeting in geneva on sunday. the meeting is on monday. bill burns has been dispatched to europe. he is now their consultation with some of our closest european allies about what is -- he is now there for consultation with some of our closest european allies about what is next. our embassy is not closed. we have suspended operations. we still continue to reach out to the libyans where appropriate, both directly and thugh third parties. the libyan embassy here is up and running.

weave not been informed of any change of the status of the ambassador. i will be meeting with representatives of the libyan embassy shortly after this meeting. i will convey our decision about the suspension of diplomatic activity on the ground in libya. but the relationship remains, and we do have channels of communication that speak directly to the libyan government about our concern about what is happening on the ground. >> a couple of things logistically. one come in terms of the embassy being temporarily closed -- one, in terms of the embassy being temporarily closed, [unintelligible] out? >> the flag is still flying. the embassy is not closed. operations are suspended. >> how many people were on the last plane out? >> 19 americans. >> a dozen private citizen

>> a dozen private citizens and nine foreign nationals. craigslist be protecting power? -- >> who is be protecting power? >> that iset to be worked out. >> to have you approached? >> that is a matter for diplomatic discussion. we will get back to yo on that one. >> what country are you aware of that intent -- which countes are you aware of that intend to keep their embassies open? >> it is a fluid situation. we will give you an answer when we have one. they can contact the state e-mail ort' via telephone. the bureau ofonsular affairs will do what it can to assist them. >> why are you not suspending relations, diplomatic relations,

with libya? would that not be a far stronger sign? >> as the secretary and president have said, we are looking at a range of options. obviously, everything is on the table, as the president said. i do not want to prejudge what is going to happen then the road. at ts point, we thought what was most appropriate was to suspend operations. >> what was the main concern that pushed the state department to evacuate all of officers? >> the chaos in the streets, the gunfire at night, beginning in the last couple of days there was gunfire during the day. will always executed due prudence when we engage in diplomatic activity. we are there to represent the united states. we are there to advance our economic interests. we are there to assist and

protect american citizens, but when the situation becomes significantly and secure, it is at that point prudent to continue our diplomatic activities with the country via other means. >> is there anyone left at the embassy,ny sort of security personnel? was there notification provided to the libyans prior t leaving the country? >> yes come up capone -- yes, our locally engaged staff is still on duty at our compound. >> what does that mean? >> our libyan employees are still -- we did not break diplomatic relations. our libyan employees are still on the payroll and working at the chancellor. >> are there any american security personnel?

>> know, all american employees were withdrawn today. >> what about the notification? >> the undersecretaries spoke to the libyan foreign minister this morning. as i said, i will meet with the representative of the libyan embassy this afternoon to formally give them a diplomatic notice. >> are any of t libyan employees working at the embassy security? >> yes, we have local and national security guards and employees, libby and emploes who work in other sections of the embassy -- libyan employees who work in other sections of the embassy. >> at this point, are you saying that you have gotten out all of the americans who needed help getting out? >> we can never say that. as you know, or maybe you do not, there is no requirement that an american citizen register at an embassy when he

or she travels. we certainly encourage american citizens to register at the embassy, and that 10 warning notices we put out since the 15th of february have encouraged individuals to register. many of those individuals may have left on commercial flights. they may have left on flights -- we know of at least one that le on a dutch flight. and number of others left on a british warship out of the city. we do not have that kind of trouble control on american citizens. i cannot say we started with x and these many left and these many, therefore, remain behind. but as i said earlier, it american citizens are in need of assistce, there are ways for them to reach us, both via telephone and on the website. >> given how difficult it was -- i know it was largely whether, but given how difficult it was

to get americans out of libya, in retrospect, would you have ordered the departure earlier? >> they do not believe so. we've -- i do not believe so. we measured the situation on the ground very carefully. we considered our ability to continue to operate fully, and then as the situation deteriorated, it is a multistage process. the first potentially go to an authorized departure for family members. then you authorize the departure of non-emergency personnel. we jump to that step and went to the ordered the departure of all family members and non-emergency personnel. each situation is calibrated against the political environment,he security environment, and u.s. national interests. >> there has been some criticism, because here we have

a ferry that was stuck there for three days because of weather problems, and yet the british and some other countries were able to evacuate their citizens while our american citizens were trapped aboard that ferry. is this a case where we did not have the access in place that we needed? were we caught short? what were the issues? >> i do not think so. canadian aircraft wt in today and left empty because of the chaos at the airport. we sent the ferry in deliberately because we cage, starting on tuesday, that the situation at the airport was becoming sufficiently chaotic th we were worried about moving people through the airport. erefore,e decided to use another means of transportation, having excluded overland transportation to the west. we thought, because the ferry terminal is a different location, it was a little bit easier to obtain space there, we

had cooperation from the government of libya in doing that. we put the ferry in with every intention of taking it out. the weather turned bad. i would not describe the people less trapped on the ferry boat. this is not a ferry boa -- people as trapped on the ferry boat. this is not the staten island ferry. it is a mediterranean ferry with gavin's, food and restroom facilities. food and restroom facilities. would i have like to be able to leave the first day? of course. but the determination was made that be -- that reveal whether was unsafe, we decided to wait. >> having grown up with the s.i. ferry, i will ignore that

ander. [laughter] >> the r i f got out. the canadians lynn but were not able to get anyone loaded. -- flew in but were not able to get anyone loaded. >> without stepping on the pentagon's two, we also has a military assets over the horizon, that if the situation was concerning in any way, we had some options available. we did get cooperation from every element of this cooperation except for the weather. we did not fee at any time that the people on the ferry were in any other danger than anyone who was currently in libya.

>> can i ask when your coordination with the military assets began? >> from the moment we have high level meetings on the situation in libya. the military has been fully involved in this process. trueoordination has bennien of egypt, of bahrain, of tunisia. this is how we function as a government. >> when the decision -- when was the decision to suspend operations made? was it after gaddafi posole grant? rant?dafi's >> this had been the recommendation of the experts. the real question was, today was the day that all the pieces fell into place. we were able to move the ferry

out. we were not going to take this action while the ferry was there. >> the triggers for the ferry and the planeeaving. when was the decision made that once those triggers were polle that those would be the triggers for the closure of the embassy. >> that decision was made today based on the fact that we cod actually -- >> you had to know what some point ahead of time that you were going to tell the remaining diplomats in libya, get to this plame. >> this has been a daily conversation throughout this -- >> when was the decision made for all of those diplomats to show up at the airfield to get on this airplane. >> today. >> the decision was made day? >> the plans were in place before today, but the decision to execute was made today. >> in your standpat budget [laughter] -- i understand that but [laughter]

are you telling me the decision was made just today? >>he decision was made once we understood that we could get as many american citizens as we were able to assemble and transport out. >> obviously, the decision was made perhaps before the plane even landed or the ferry even left. when was the decision made? was it yesterday? last night? overnight? >> i do not want to par's things. i think we can say tt the decision was made yesterday's that should all of the pieces fall into place, we would move today. if all of the pieces had not fallen into place today, we might have moved to umaru. or, if the situation had all of the sudden reversed itself, it never would have been made.

>> yesterday, when you decided that if all of the pieces fell into place -- was that after gaddafi's speech? >> i do not know that that was a factor. we looked at the totality of the situation and made a decision. >> who made that decision? >> decisions like that are made by the secretary of state. >> when you expect to resume operations in the embassy? >> we would resume american operations at the embassy when the security situation permits it. >> c i ask about remaining pockets of americans who may be outside of tripoli who may want to leave? can you give us a sense of the

size of those pockets and how they plan on leaving? >> we have been in contact -- our task force, which has a heavy component from the bureau of consular affairs -- we've been in contact with the oil companie the other businesses, the bureau of diplomatic security, the security advisor recounts all. are inking -- advisory council. we are in contact with companies that did not know to be in contact with us. many of them are making arrangements to reach those individuals, some of the nomura brought into tripoli and subsequently have left -- some of who were brought into tripoli and subsequently have left. others of who left on a british naval vessel late yesterday. >> of the ones that are left, how many are u talking about?

a dozen? >> perhaps if i could elaborate on that answer. we have similar task forces in capitals around the world. between us and our friends, particularly inurope, we have been able to trade off, for want of a better term. the number of people in the oilfields that we have identified over the last 96 hours have either moved and gotten on the charter today, or more likely were evacuated out by their companies, or by friendly nations who have offered us seats. according to the last thing the task force told me, they believe that there are no significant pockets of americans in the oilfields that we have not identified. let me be honest. there may be ones out there that we have not decided to contact -- been able to contact or they have decided to take shelter for the time being. we are in the process of confirming that.

>> how many are those? can you give us a sense? >> dara 6 here, for year, five here. we know that at least -- there were six here, four here, five here. we will have to get back to you on that. >> do you have a sen of how many americans have been evacuated? >> i think we can say that there were about 200 private american means,s taken out by our but many other american citizens left commercially, on company charters, or via dutch or british means, just as we -- it has been a mutual assistance pact, brought out nationals of

other nations as well both on the ferry and the chartered aircraft as well >> what measures are being taken to secure communications, documents, etc. inside the embassy? >> i am not going to go into our processes on security, but i can assure you that there is nothing left behind that could be compromising. they're still working. the guards are still there. but they are not authorized to do any business between the u. government and the libyan government, correct? >> unless instructed by as. >> they are not issuing visas. it essentially, the embassy is closed f business. >> operations are suspended, and

those activities that could only be carried out by american personnel are suspended. >> the white house used the word shuttered. would you agree? >> of course. [laughter] >> did the secretary of state have to sign a document or was this a verbal order? >> she does not have to sign a document. >> have you been given any assurances that the embassy will rein intact, untouched? >> we had a brief conversation with the foreign minister this morning and we did not go into detail on that. i will take the opportunity this afrnoon in my meeting wh the libyan embassy to put down some markers in regards to the maintenance and protection of our facility. >> you said that you had not been notified of any change in the ambassado's status, but he seems to be doing his own and

notifying. is i your understanding that he represents the government of libya? >> we have nothing to the contry at this point. >> if it is true that he has resigned, as he says he has, you can tell them all you want that you want your embassy to be protected but he cannot do anything. >> that is true, but he has not informed us that he has resigned. til we have been told by him or the libyan government otherwise -- >> thank you. >> thank you. >> just to touch on a couple of things regarding libya, and then we can move on to any other subject you have, let's go through some specific numbers. on the airplane today, there

were 41 passengers, 19 officials, 13 american citizens, and nine citizens of other countries, and on the ferry, there were three under 38 passengers, including 183 -- 338 passengers, including 183 american citizens, including 40 official americans -- tt might be technically incorrect. it might be 39. we took one passenger -- 39 official party. we took one passenger off the ferry this morning and she has been transportedo italy via an italian evacuation. she is eight and a half months pregnant, and 155 citizens of other countries.

>> the 183 includes the 39? >> yes. >> what was the total international? >> if my math is correct, it would be 155. there were more international -- >> so there were more international citizens and private americans? >> know, 183 americans. >> did you take any other officials from other embassies? >> yes. i do not have a breakdown of that, but there were members of official parties and other embassies. >> where did the plane take off from? >> the military airfield. >> there had been reports,

unconfirmed, that that had fallen to the opposition. >> as far as i know, those reports were not corre. it was a commercial charter. >> it went where? >> is stempel. it is perhaps in the air or hat -- istanbul. it is perhaps in the air war has landed a i don't know. -- or has landed, i do not know. we have established an independent international commission of inquiry to investigate human rights violations and look at accountability measures for those responsible. we've asked the un security council to suspend libyan council membership. that will be considered by the

general assembly next week, probably on tuesday. we are already working with a partner regarding this issue. just to clarify, i know we have a question of whether expulsion vs suspension was the correct term. it is in factuspension. this would be the first time a council member has been suspended since the council was founded in 26. >> that is not that long. could you go back to when it was the commission? that might be more revealing. >> there were meetings today in toronto with several senior offials. in sarajevo, he met with members

of the tri-presidency and other political leaders to discuss the formation of a government. during his previous two days, he had visits to armenia, georgia and azerbaijan. he had meetings with e seval leaders. next week, under secretary will be in nigia to discuss the promotion of democratic institutions and processes as nigeria continues to work toward an important election. >> it seems a bit unusual that you would shut down -- suspend the operations of an embassy without having a protecting power line up. -- lined upp. i know that in the two other

cases where you had protecting powers, things were different. it took awhile and iran because things happen so quickly. can you discuss why if you went ahead and decided to suspend operations if you did not have someone lineup >> the situation on the ground was the reason for that. i think that hinted at it. we are still sorting out with other countries what their plans are as well. we will be working to establish a protective power, but given the uncertainty of the situation, of bell was the direction we wanted to go in. >> -- that was the direction we wanted to go in. >> is the united states government in contacted all with any part of the oppositioin libya? >> i cannot say that we, the united states, have had any

ntact with the opposition at this point. we have had discussions with otr leaders who have been in touch with opposition figures to try understand what is happening on the ground. >> what other leaders are those? >> i am not going to catalog. i can go back over the discussions the secretary has had today. she talked to the forgn minister of canada. she also talked to tony blair. yesterday she talked to president ping-pon. >> she spoke to tony blair about libya? >> yes. she spoke with the president of chad. these are collectively figures who have far closer contacts and

broader ties -- let me reverse that. closer ties and broader contacts then we do. we are talking to a wide range of people, trying to do our best to understand fully what is actually happening on e ground. >> should it be a source of concern the we have no direct contact with the opposition in libya? >> this is done unfolding situation. i am not going to -- this is still an unfolding situation. i am not going to rule out bed at some point we will have contact with the opposition -- rule out that at some point we will have contact with the opposition. >> presumably, the u.s. is already using its fall

intelligence capabilities to monitor gaddafi. >> in terms of our pledge to hold mr. gaddafi, his family, his regime, fully accountable for what is happening on e ground, we will have to build a case. there has been a meeting in the u.n. today to assess what is actually known. we will be watching very closely, intensively, to see what is happening on the ground, as part of our efforts not only to understand, and to the extent that we can, to shape future decisions, but also to hold the libyan government responsible for the actions it has taken and will take. >> i was looking at this speech

by joe biden at the holocaust museum in which he said,, "when a state engages in an atrocity, it forfeits its sovereignty." is the u.s. preparing to make the case that the libyan government has forfeited its sovereignty, therefore action can be taken internationally ? >> is certainly think that the legitimacy of the libyan government is basically gone, based on its turning its weapons against its own people. going forward, obviously we will look for ways to support the libyan people. we're looking at and studying the humanitarian situation on the ground. that is something we will be focused on in the coming days. but our broad message to libya

today, just as it has been throughout this time, is to stop the violence, stop the bloodshed, and we will continue to find ways to communicate that to the libyan officials. >> when you say build a case, it sounds like a warning to libyan officials that they might find themselves before the icc or something of that nature? part of what the human rights council did today was to the established public -- to establish an international commission of inquiry. we will contribute to gathering the facts and evidence of what has happened in libya. those facts will determine what the appropriate steps are. ahead.ot jump as you yourself have --

>> but the icc, which you're not a member of, and have taken great pains to make clear that you're not a member of, are you looking at an ad hoc criminal counsel? >> as i am tryg to say, you are leaping ahead of the process. we will be gathering facts as an international community about what has happened in libya and the responsibility of the government for the violence a violations of human rights that have occurred. once we have a consensus on what has occurred and who is responsible, then the international community, working through the un, will determine the next steps. >> to really push this beyond where you want to go, is it conceivable, looking again at

what is being hinted year, that the international community, that the u.s. could be looking at the possibility of working with the international community to launch some kind of concerted military action to go into libya and protect those people in spite of gaddafi, because he has given up his sovereignty? as -- >> as i said, at the senior leaders of this government have developed a range of options. we are concerned about the situation on the ground. that would be one of the number of areas the we focus on in the coming days. as we have said, the military is a full participant in the policy development that is going on. may have not ruled out any

options at this point. >> your comments reflect the fact that the united states has made a determination that the libyan government has lost legitimacy. have you also made a determination about the actual degree of control that gaddafi maintains over his territory? >> well, that is something -- one of the reasons why we are increasing intelligence assets -- without getting into intelligence matters, to fully understand what is going on, it is clear that gaddafi in the libyan government do not control major swaths of the country at this point. >> what about tripoli? what is your assessment about the control of the city? >> at this point, i believe that the situation in tripoli differs somewhat from the situation in other parts of the country but it is obviously a

very fluid situation. i do not know that i can do a play by play. >> i'm not asking you to redistrict tripoli, but does he appear to be in control of the majority? >> that is a hard judgment to make from here. country.fferent c >> the situation today in tripoli was described as relatively stable in itself. obviously, we were able to get some citizens to the airfield to depart. we are able to get some citizens to the dock to join others who were on ferries. there is the ability to function within tripoli itself. cannot speak for how far outside of tripoli does that situation changed dramatically, but it is clear that the gornment no longer has control of major population centers in

the country besides tripoli. >> in regards to the security concerns for american personnel, did you also have a rationale for your decision to evacuate, ed was it some sort of nod to the protesters to say -- was it some sort of nod to the protesters to say, we cannot tolerate this treatment of your citizens? >> cigna not see those as mutually exclusive. -- i do not see those as mutually exclusive. the decision to suspend operations was one, about our security and the safety of american citizens there. as far as we can tell, we have successfully evaluated as many american citizens as have identified themselves to us. -- evacuate many american

citizens as have identified themselves to us. what else could be accomplished on the ground? we do maintain diplomatic relations so that we can continue to try to understand what is going on, and to the extent the we can, working with others in the international community, try to influence future decisions by the libyan government. that is something we can do, obviously, from outside the country. >> the ones in that no one has said, now that all the americans are at -- the one thing that no one has said, now that all of the americans are out, no one is calling for gaddafi to step down. why is that? >> this is a situation that continues to unfold. ultimately, as we have said, who leads libya in the future is not for the united states to determine. >> i am not asking you to

determine it. >> i am understand that. we are consulting broadly it with others in the international community about how we assess the situation on the ground. but that is an issue that we continue to handle. >> just to be clear -- >> his legitimacy. that would suggest that the united states -- >> ultimately -- >> cannot stay on -- >> that ultimately will be determined inside libya, not outside libya. >> the your determination -- >> do you feel you can still lead knowledge him as the leader of libya? >> i believe from -- still acknowledge him as the leader of libya?

>> i believe from a legal standpoint he is still the leader. he has obviously lost >> next that democratic governors winter meeting on job growth. then the edward kennedy tribute. then governor sean parnell of arkansas on job production. >> this weekend governors will talk about how to grow their states' economies, education, and cybersecurity as they gather in washington for the annual meeting of the national governors' association. we will have this for you live on c-span. >> on "road to the white house," might cut the be promoting his current book, "a simple government." he talks about barack obama, social and fiscal issues, and his possible run for the gop to

help -- gop republican nomination. >> now the democratic governor association discusses the future of the u.s. work force with several ceo's and labor leaders for the discussion in this moderated by john podesta who served as white house chief of staff during the clinton administration. this is about 50 minutes. >> please welcome the chair of the democratic governors association, martin o'malley. >> thank you for coming here to be part of the democratic governors association and this conversation we are about to have about serving a modern and innovative work force.

we have two panels we will have this afternoon parade of lot of ground to cover. we just came from a meeting at the white house with president obama and vice-president by then. and we talked about the things we can to has governors on the front lines to bring people together, to bring the work force to get a, with dark innovative companies, our leading ceo's, to create jobs. let me introduce everyone around here. we are joined in this panel by northrop grumman and ceo, and next to him is seiu president, mary kay hagan. i know there is a lot of work force abuse going on right now in wisconsin and other places, so i appreciate you taking your place with us today.

we are with you. [applause] from the show me state of missouri, judge nixon judgejay -- jay nixon. one of our newly elected democratic governors from connecticut. john podesta is our moderator, coming back to you and once again. to my immediate left is from the great state, the lincoln state, illinois, gov. pat quinn. our immediate past chairman of the dga who did a terrific job in a challenging year for all of us, a great leader of this transformation into a new economy. he is judgment -- gov. jack martell.

from the great state of arkansas, recently reelected, one of the more popular rumble of governors in the united states, mike beebe of arkansas. everyone in arkansas understands that education and employment of together like eggs and bacon. david stanislaus joins us. interlock president and ceo don little. i'm very grateful you took the time to be our moderator today. john was president clinton's long time chief of staff in the white house. he helped implement policies that led to unprecedented use of growth for our nation, more than 20 million jobs created, a

record low unemployment rates, unprecedented opportunities for women in my on a business owners. -- and minority business owners. he was counsel to the democratic leader of senator daschle, and senior positions in the agricultural and judiciary committees. he is the ceo of american progress -- of the center for american progress. thank you very much for joining us. >> thank you for that kind introduction. i'll give this to minutes of introductions and set the tone for conversation and then i will turn to the governors and then turn to our president and ceo's. long before the great recession began, the labor market in the united states was undergoing a series of fundamental changes. of the past 30 years, the

demographics of the work force had changed in shifted rapidly, both in racial composition and gender. now of 49.6% of workers are women, 2% of households are the primary builders of the cobra breadwinner.



[applause] even during those difficult years when his political opponents dominated congress or the white house, senator kennedy worked tirelessly to do everything he could to protect the most vulnerable people of our society from the ravages of social neglect. it is worth remembering with all the discussions about bipartisanship in the media these days that senator kennedy said the higher standard in this regard. although he remained firmly committed to this progressive convictions, senator kennedy always negotiated in good faith

and with great skill. if not for his phenomenal negotiating skills, many important loss would not have been enacted. we certainly need that spirit in congress today. i doubt that we would have a health care reform on the books today if not for senator kennedy bawdry long years of advocacy and his courageous endorsement -- senator kennedy's long years of advocacy and his courageous endorsement. [applause] what i have said here tonight really just scratches the surface just barely as the many contributions of this great, great man -- senator edward kennedy. i want to ask you to stand and

join me in saluting the great american leader who did so much for america and to perpetuate mortally to king's legacy and teaching. i ask you to join me in welcoming to the podium his beloved wife and parker and co- worker in the great cause, mrs. victoria kennedy. [applause] we have a video first. >> at the seed for me has always been the medical life. the seed is constantly evolving, it's changing, shifting the aspects of both

nature and of life. that sort of exposure is both enriching and enhancing. i grew up in a family that made a difference in people's live. >> i know that ted kennedy has always been unbelievably sensitive to the accomplishments of his brothers. if they were his inspiration. the what did you pick up where his brothers left all. >> sustained by their memory of our priceless years together, i shall try to carry forward the special commitment to justice, courage, the distinguished their lives. >> the check and because of those who had been left out --

the poor, the elderly, the children, those without education. >> he was brought up to believe that to those much is given, much is required. he really feels a moral obligation to do everything possible to make this world a better place. >> i heard senator kennedy say on many occasions at health care is not a privilege, it is a right. >> as long as i have a voice in the united states senate, it will be for the democratic platform. [applause] >> because of ted kennedy, people have things today, are able to do things today, they are able to reach for the american dream in ways they have never imagined. >> ted kennedy has given an

opportunity for our children to serve in the committee. >> the believe that committed these services should be part of the everyday life for every american. >> he made it possible for young people all over our country to serve our country. >> the deeply believed in service. he read every tuesday at a local school in washington, d.c., as part of an "everybody wins" program. >> despite all the progress, senator kennedy would tell us that we still have a great distance to go. the year i was born, president kennedy brought word that the torch had been passed to a new generations of americans. from the battles of the 1960's,

due to date -- the as carry that torch, riding the wave for all who share his american ideals. >> we finally made health care what it should be in america -- a fundamental right. >> senator kennedy taught me that government can function for the common man. >> as i look ahead, i am strengthened by families and friendship. so many of you may in the happiest days and the hardest days. together we had no success and seen setbacks, victory, and defeats. but we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world. i pledge to you that i will be

there next january on the floor of the united states senate. [applause] [applause] >> here to present this year's martin luther king salute to greatest award -- please welcome to the stage dr. martin luther king jr., dr. kris king, mrs.

andrea king, and we will present this to mrs. victoria kennedy. and of course, ambassador andrew young. let's give them a big round of applause, will you? [applause] while you are all taking pictures, let me take the microphone. [laughter] our college would not have a medical school it's senator kennedy had not definitely -- deftly crafted a one sentence on in the that put $10 million up to create a medical school. it was defined in such a way

that it could only go to our house. we want to thank him for that. [applause] >> thank you. to martin luther king iii, to elder bernice king, to andrea ador andrewbass young, to all of you, thank you

on behalf upcast ted kennedy, thank you on behalf of our family, thank you from the bottom of my heart. i am deeply moved. to bill and gery, congratulations. congratulations on this well deserved recognition. on behalf of teddy, let me thank you for many happy spoonfuls. [applause] i also want to say to all of the alphas here, that i have just for you this evening. [applause] thank you. thank you. i am privileged to be here on

the birthday of a man i so admire to accept an award given to the man i love. no tribute would have moved teddy more. to his husband's heroes brother in spirit, dr. martin luther king, jr. maiden speechy's as a young united states senator was a demand to make real the ideal of america and secure the civil rights of every american. nearly a half century later, the last speech of his life was a call to complete the journey. wordsre edward kennedy's

in december, 2008. "we have elected a 44 president to, by virtue of his race, could have been owned by the first 16 presidents of the united states. we just him as martin luther king said not by the color of this again, but by the content of his character and his capacity for leadership. for america, this is not just the culmination, but a new beginning." by that december, dr. king had been gone for four decades, but for teddy, he was always a begin to like the way. as he is for countless millions today at home and around the globe.

we now observed the 25th anniversary that is both a celebration and a summons. i noted that in the long struggle for this national holiday, edward kennedy was so proud to lead alongside coretta scott king. she was a friend and counselor. she was dr. king's wife, but she was a force for right in her own right. this is our day, too. [applause] it also belongs to all americans. my husband saw it that way. at the time, not merely to mark the memory of martin luther king, but even more to advance the march of martin the 13 towards a pledge as old as the revolution and the civil war

that all of us are created equal. in his first term in the senate, edward kennedy wrote the bigotry of the past out of our immigration laws. he fought for civil rights and the bidding rights, for fair housing and fair employment, for education and equal access to health care. in all the time in public life, he was proud to speak for those who had no voice and to fight on even when it was out of fashion to make sure that no one was left without help were hope. he was a sponsor of the sanctions that brought down the mighty walls of apartheid in south africa. [applause] he was so proud of that.

on affirmative action, on the rights of the majority who are women and the minorities to are of different ethnicity, ability, or sexual orientation -- he sought to fulfill dr. king bawdry vision that we are caught in an inescapable network. that, as both men knew, was true not alone for our own country, but everywhere on earth. martin luther king, jr. had faced that we could break the chain reaction of evil, of hate begetting hate. edward m. kennedy saw in america where we can contend freely and vigorously, but where we can treasure and guard the standards of civility which alone can make this nation safer for both democracy and diversity. on this day, let us rededicate

ourselves to what is best in our country. surely we know it when we lived it as these two men lead not just for themselves, but for others. one of them told us, "i have a dream." the other of firms, "the dream shall never die." [applause] in the name of that dream with a full and grateful heart, with a sense of the humility he would feel tonight, on behalf of my husband, i accept this salute to greatness award which above all else express's the legacy of the greatest visionary our nation has ever known, dr. martin luther king, jr. [applause]

next, alaskan governor john cornell on oil production. after that, maryland governor's mark o'malley and rick perry discussed [unintelligible] at 7:00 a.m., your calls and comments on "washington journal." >> with congress in recess and a march 4 deadline for funding the federal government, hear what house members said about the deficit. the entire debate is online at c-span's congressional chronicles with complete online

and transcripts for every session. the c-span networks -- we provide coverage of politics, public affairs, nonfiction books, and american history. it is available to you on television, radio, online, and social immediate networking sites. find our content any time at cs and's video library. we take c-span on the road with our mobile content vehicle bring our resources to your community. it is washington your way. the c-span network. created by cable, provided as a public service. >> now, alaskan republican governor john parnaz all calls on the alas -- on the obama administration to urge more production in alaska in order to generate u.s. jobs. the governor says recent unrest in egypt and other countries could impact america's energy

security. he made the remarks at a national press club conference. this is about 40 minutes. >> gasoline prices at the pump are surging. if you think about the cost of goods sold and bought by americans, they will be going up as transportation costs increase. this is the moment that our government must reexamine its no new wells policy when it comes to oil exploration and development here at home. the u.s. foolishly imports 63% of our oil. that leaves us to economic shock.

it drives down the economic recovery such as it is at this point. the revolution began in tunisia and spread to egypt. you see it on tv today. yemen and beyond. it is central to the harsh truth that we as a nation -- we have allowed our national security and our economy to become tangled up in the middle east and north african oil. let's face it -- we are dependent on an open, free- flowing suez canal. the security of which has been purchased with our tax dollars for decades. america has forgotten the lessons of the time. think about the early '70s. think about the opec oil embargo. americans waiting for hours to buy gas, lines of cars, people bringing their gallon cans to fill up. odd numbered license plates

filling up on even days and even numbers filling up on odd days. in just a few short months, the price per barrel rose by one of its 30% and the power of the opec became clear and indisputable. one of the forgotten outcomes of that embargo was the trans alaska pipeline system. back then americans knew we needed to develop domestic energy to balance the power wielded over them by the cartel power. for 40 years, the oil coming from alaska has allowed our nation to have some degree of energy independence. it seemed a smart strategy at the time. in hindsight, building a pipeline in alaska was positively brilliant. it was certainly a fallback position if everything went awry in the middle east. i see secretary donald rumsfeld

talk about his memoir. you have heard him talk about "there are no known as an unknown unknowns." sometimes alaskans feel like the unknown unknowns. here is what we do know. our oil supply line from the middle east and north africa is at risk. our military is stretch. our national debt is $14 trillion and counting. our economic recovery is completely dependent on the access to affordable energy. what could possibly go wrong? the suez canal is at one end. at the other is yemen -- a known exporter of international terrorism. 30,000 ships pass in yemen each year with millions of tons of oil. to the southwest of that, sudan.

warlords known and unknown and civil war. further east, pirates seizing u.s. ban on oil tankers with $2 million worth of crude. oil and gas journal quotes industry leaders same piracy in the indian ocean is spiraling out of control and is threatening oil going to markets around the world. libya is in revolt. iran is sending warships to the suez canal on the way to syria. egypt and career -- controls the suez. what could possibly go wrong? that is another unknown. a poll conducted last july from the university of maryland reveals that 85% of egyptians hold an unfavorable attitude towards the u.s. 87% have no confidence in the u.s. 92% of the egyptians believed the u.s. is one of the detonations being -- one of two

nations that are a threat to them. the other is israel. we cannot ignore the overwhelming number. america does not have a seat at this table for the fledgling democracy in egypt. if we think about what could arise in egypt, think about a population that is anti- american. the next leader in the stands up in egypt will have to take some act, even a symbolic, to demonstrate that she or he is with them in this. for over three decades, the u.s. has effectively help foster peace in the region between two year important nations -- egypt and israel.

american tax bills for middle east oil has been estimated at $7.30 trillion of the past decade -- at the size of our national debt. this reminds us that cheap oil comes with a big military pricetag. it is coming to an end. for the past 30 years, america has had a domestic bopper to the uncertainty of the middle east. we are an oil-producing nation. means american jobs are tied to our energy sector. oil and natural gas will be part of our energy profile for decades to come. our own federal government has not fostered oil development at home. some may have heard that we are past our peak production in alaska. i am here to address the reality. we ship over 600,000 barrels of oil a day. it contributes 11% of national

oil production. we have supply oil to this nation for more than 40 years. there is much more available if the federal government will allow us to access it. but alaska and the gulf states have been blocked from developing america's oil through a misguided policy, much of it aided through misinformation and political agendas. with real americans and having to pay $4 a gallon or $5 a gallon at the pump. the federal government's no new wells policy will be our achilles' heel. thehe present's state of union speech, he made it clear he wants to increase taxes on domestic oil production. anything you tax more you get less of. less domestic production is the functional equivalent of

creating more dependence on unstable foreign oil strain. the department of interior and the epa appear to be driving u.s. foreign policy in the middle east and north africa. the state department is forced into a reactive, mitigating role because of the increasingly hostile stance that the interior and the epa have taken. there is a direct link. these are agencies that can lock down domestic oil with no responsibility for consequences. they can force americans to depend more heavily on foreign oil at the cost of lives, tax dollars, and economic opportunity. they do this by blaming leasing and by attempting sweeping lock ups of land without congressional approval or authority. the department of interior in the past few years has acted like a chocoholic with a stolen credit card and a taste for

empire building. keep salazar decided to evaluate a 7 million acres of land in alaska. that designation if implemented would lock up alaskan oil without congress having any input at all -- at all. putting such a sweeping motion into effect is unfathomable. large areas of alaska, areas the size of the eastern seaboard, or already out when they did for resource development. congress passed the alaska and conservation act. that set aside several acres of wilderness. the interior is shopping for more. it creates a small -- strong presumption of wilderness

protection. another example, the interior has set aside a polar bear critical habitat that is larger than the state of california. picture an area north of buffalo that runs down to georgia. that is the sleeping area of the critical habitat. that action will lead to costly losses and a lack of resource development. let's say you want to protect the butterfly habitat. the butterfly migrates so you protect the whole habitat of the monarchs. you set aside every inch of land east of the rocky mountains. any construction in that habitat has to get to interior. the irrational land set aside up for polar bears should be challenged by the state of

alaska. it allowed to stand, it could have a severe effect on our country's ability to produce more american energy making us more reliant on foreign oil. cover at the epa, this is the agency that received 8 $3 billion increase in its budget last year. it produced 42 significant regulation packages in the first 18 months of the current federal administration. in each of those packages cost our economy when there dollars million or more. in alaska, an oil company can bite federal leases, spent over $3 billion in permitting and capital cost, applied for a permit from the epa, and five years later still not get it. the same thing can be issued in the gulf of mexico in a matter of months. this has delayed the creation of 54,700 jobs and one under $45

billion in payroll. -- $145 billion in payroll. federal agencies will not call a moratorium. that raises the question -- if it looks like a moratorium and what such a moratorium, maybe it is. the epa delayed another oil development on alaska's's north slope. they refuse to allow a bridge across the river. the effect halted future exploration and development in a national petroleum reserve alaska. do not get lost on that one. federal land designated national petroleum reserve alaska, but we cannot access this lands. here's the reality. the most promising federal lands for development are blocked by federal agency actions.

the national petroleum reserve, base all language under the federal "no new wells" policy. they are driving greater dependence on foreign oil at great cost to americans. alaskans are frustrated. we are frustrated to what's the nation's fuel prices rise. we are frustrated to watch -- we wonder why the federal government has become openly hostile to the specter of our economy today is created hundreds of thousands of jobs. it produces a commodity we all use every day. like many americans, we are asking our federal government "do we matter?"

turned with me now to fax to get lost sun-times. america is only one of five arctic lotion -- arctic ocean nations. alaska has 2,000 miles of arctic ocean coastline. we are seeing a global shift from all on shore -- onshore exploration to offshore. offshore drilling has a lock on it. 33% of the arctic and tapped recoverable oil. exploration and air permits languish in the interior and the epa gathering dust. energy companies are not going to wait on u.s. policy. they are voting with their feet. they are exploring the western siberia basing -- basin. they are exploring north of

norway, russia, and canada. we are an arctic nation. our antar -- entire polar nation is being explored. it the department of interior and epa continue these policies of not permitting exploration and development in our arctic, the other arctic nations will move ahead without us. a been china had a ship in the arctic ocean exploring possibilities. only the united states, which is sitting on the largest technically recoverable arctic resources and has the greatest environmental oversight is sitting this one out. in conclusion, every aspect of america's recovery depends on affordable energy. there is a limit to what we can know and of that to what we do not know. we do know that more domestic

oil production, not less, better secures our nation and grows our jobs at home. we do know that more private sector work generated year as a positive multiplier effect on the economy as capital dollars and wages circulate at home rather than being sent overseas to pay for foreign oil. we also know that our national security is at stake. alaska is one of america's storehouses of petroleum and other natural resources. these resources will be left in the ground that the federal government's's policy continues. that federal policy means greater in gasoline prices at the pop for every american. it means more costly goods at the supermarket. it means more job opportunities are migrating overseas rather than staying here at home.

i spoke with a shipping company that operates. they're going to send two to alaska this summer before the permitting class's declined the opportunity. they also operate ships in the gulf of mexico. they are sending three-quarters of their ship to nigeria and brazil and staffing it with nigerian in brazilian crews because they cannot get to the gulf either. rather than have an uncertain policy in this nation, we need to focus on developing and drilling responsibly here than -- in a more secure environment them what is overseas. we stand ready to create more jobs. i am here to say let alaska help put america back to work. let's take positive steps to slash our dependence on foreign oil. if we are willing to do that, we will no longer be dependent on

the gyrations of international dictates and problems. we will no longer be subjected to being a spectator of what happens to us rather than making it happen for us. that is what i am here to do, to urge more domestic exploration and production across this nation generating jobs for americans. thank you. i will take a few questions as we move forward. >> the use see any prospects for increased domestic oil production in the coming months or years or will it take a change in administration in washington? >> it will be a change of mindset in the regulatory agencies. that comes directly from the president. he can look at what is happening overseas and take control of this at home and have more

exploration and production here at home. it was a regulatory agencies that are given that mandate. make a decision. state by the decision and move. to me, it is very difficult to watch the national petroleum reserve locked up. it is not just happening to us. it is happening across this nation. >> can you talk about whether you think that legislation was a mistake? >> this is an example of what the president should be doing with the international picture. i am still working my heart al to open up state lands to development. that means lowering taxes, creating more certain and consistent permanent systems,

and building access to those resources on state land. i have taken my own advice and said hear what i know and here is what we can control. when it comes to aces, that is alaska's's oil tax relief. it is an acronym for alaska clear and equitable share. i believe all last it needs to make itself more competitive. we are looking to lower taxes to do that. we are hearing -- having hearings the last three weeks. we are taking a menace on the bill on wednesday. i have the state house will be able to move the bill to the state senate and we can create a more competitive environment in alaska, creating more jobs there. does that answer your question? >> would you say in general it is not working? it had a lot of support at the

time, right? >> alaska can become more competitive. we are working to make it more competitive. i am proposing an adjustment to alaska's oil tax. >> i have two questions. you mentioned that you have some frustrations with the regulatory process, but there is obviously a clear concern from the administration over what happened in the gulf this summer. how'd you reconcile what is clearly a concern on the part of this administration about regulation? two, who are you meeting with and you are you talking to while you're here to move these things along? >> the that to your first question. it had to do with -- state your first question again? >> there are obviously concerns about regulation from the administration and being careful

with resources. on one hand you are asking to speed things up in alaska, but there is a mess on their hands. >> alaskans are familiar with messes created when oil is not developed and shipped responsibly. date back to the exxon valdez in 1989. the deepwater horizon was a significant tragedy to americans, no question. the fact remains that america has developed its resources in a more responsible manner that other -- any other place in the world. we live in alaska. we have someone who represents the northern tip of alaska. in years past, it has been difficult to get him to agree to

something off shore. he says that offshore alaska is 100 feet of water. we're not talking deep water. there are much stiffer safety factors. testimony says that shell oil has earned the right to drill offshore. that represents a significant change when an alaskan native of a north slope community is willing to step forward and say that. what i am telling you is that waiting five years for an air permit is unreasonable and has nothing to do with try to act dutifully. it has everything to do with the federal government and willing to make a decision. that is what i am trying to get at here. >> can you also talk a little bit about the use that with? >> i just arrived.

i am here for the national governors' association meeting which i will be participating in. many of the secretaries will be participating in that meeting. we should have a chance to me with the president as well. >> during your remarks you made mention of the crisis in the '70s and the rationing of oil. are you suggesting something similar will happen real cent? >> i am not suggesting economic restriction -- destruction. when american consumers are faced with $5 a gallon gas in urban centers, -- when millions of americans are confronted with that, when our economy is confronted with that -- what little economic recovery we have right now will go into the tank. people stop driving cars.

that will slow the economy down more. our dependence on foreign oil lease to destruction of our economy and our individual lives. it is complicated to be dependent. the fame in try to strike here is let's look to what we know and can't control and that is our domestic oil production at home. >> use a gas prices going up with because they release. >> i will not advise the president of what to do with the reserves. if we had more productive -- domestic production, we would have to rely less on our reserves. >> your democratic colleagues -- i have no doubt that one of the issues that will come up will be about pensions. that has been a topic of

interest in indiana, wisconsin, and other states. as he said, in alaska, what you see on that matter? >> we have two areas in our budget that are clearly unsustainable. one is medicaid and the second has to do with the unfunded liability from an earlier pension system that we had. alas get wet from a defined benefits to a defined contribution system. we still have a significant unfunded liability. it is effectively a $10 billion unfunded liability. in alaska in terms, it is hugely significant. that is the one area of our budget that will eat us alive over time unless we address it. we are adjusting it down by making annual payments. it might divest this year. we have to write a check for

about $500 million as a payment against the past, not to mention making contributions and now for our current pension obligations. >> your holding on to the right for collective bargaining? >> we are in the midst of negotiating agreements. we are working to the collective bargaining process. that is the direction we are taking at this time. >> the gas pipeline is looking increasingly unlikely. >> i do not acknowledge that. here is why -- the alaska gas line is one of the president's five top projects for this nation. we are speaking to a gas source where every day underground we are getting about 8 billion

cubic feet part of gas. we effectively need to hook up a pipeline to that source that is coming out of the ground every day. effectively no new wells have to be punished. we need to shift we have coming out of the ground. last summer we closed what we call an open season rate company can't nominate gas in the pipeline. that is the first step towards securing commitments towards the flight line. it is the first time in alaska this happened. both companies are negotiating agreements with the oil producers -- with the pipeline project to come to terms on how to build the pipeline. they are still in the timeframe that was anticipated under alaska's's legislation. i still believe we have that opportunity, but i will not be

wed to one project. you can count on me to find a way to commercialize alaskan gas. i just happen to believe you have to let the private sector work. i would like to see the president stepped forward and mention it even more sense he has already made it one of his top five priorities for this nation. >> how does that compete against shell's gas? >> i remember seven years ago when everybody said america was going to be a wash and we would not get another three gas facilities like them in any significant numbers. we know that shell gas certainly has changed the economics of today. pipelines are built on long-term economics. shell gas is potentially a short-term situation.

for example, it has great environmental risk compared to a natural gas pipeline. it takes capital to keep punching holes for a shell gas where with a pipeline you make the investment and you [unintelligible] i think companies can use the shell gas as a buffer of supply and for pricing as well as the anchor tenant. i think there is room for both of those in terms of demand. >> what is your outlook for the pipeline? do you have to have the federal land to get it back up to capacity? >> for those of us who have

boilers in our home with hot water, if the flow of hot water slows, the bell starts to leak. if it goes cold, the bell starts to leak. that pipeline helps to keep the pipeline working in and environmentally friendly manner. ickes cost lower when that oil is flowing. -- it keeps costs lower when the oil is flowing. there is some to white in there where it is no longer -- where companies are no longer able to keep costs. i am working to open state lands and make our state and empowerment -- i am also calling on the federal government to open up plants like the national petroleum reserves and like the

arctic continental shelf to help keep that pipeline full and keep tabs working as supplying america's energy needs. that oil is set by tankers to refineries on the west coast and is used by americans. >> would you object if congress [unintelligible] >> my understanding is that is what is happening right now. the markets are in the u.s. and that is where it is headed. i have not given thought beyond where else it might head. at this point, it is headed to the west coast. >> if your predecessor does decide to run, would you support her? >> you're going to get me in

ethical trouble. i cannot speak to political races. i can tell you that i think governor pailin is qualified to serve and to do that if she chooses. for me to make any kind of political statement, i am obligated not to. anybody else? >> i appreciate the time. thank you for being here. [inaudible conversations]

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>> sunday on c-span aids "road to the white house" former arkansas governor and presidential candidate mike