and representing the united states in prague is a family effort. and i believe the czech people have come to appreciate my family as much as i do. well, almost as much as i do. when i was last before the committee, i reflected upon my extraordinary good fortune as a first generation american from the vantagepoint of our small fast food restaurant in los angeles where i grew up. my mother, a czech, czech holocaust survivor and my father, an immigrant from poland, could never have imagined that their son would someday serve as the united states ambassador. as senator lieberman noted, and my mother put it recently, just little more succinctly, the nazis took us away in cattle cars and now my son has returned representing the mightiest nation on earth. as that sentiment suggests, my mission in the czech republic is strongly informed by my deep sense of obligation to this country. to the united states. since ply arrival in prague in january, i worked with a talented embassy team in three principal areas. first, the defense and security relationship betw

of course, the president has made prague the centerpiece of these issues going to prague twice including -- i had the privilege to accompany him last year for the signing of the s.t.a.r.t. treaty with president medvedev. i was very pleased, i think, as a token and indeed more than a token a recognition of the importance of these issues that my czech colleagues affirmatively embraced the so-called prague agenda. and took the bull by the horns and scheduled an international conference on the prague agenda not long after i arrived in the czech republic to commemorate the one-year anniversary and the two-year anniversary of the president's speeches there. we had representatives from russia and from the united states come and also dr. gary singer to think about what the long-term benefits can be for the region and for the world. so i think we've made good progress. i could give other examples but i think we've made good progress on these grounds that it's important to have an ambassador there to help convey communications in both directions on this subject. and i'm very pleased where we are o

and took the bull by the horns and scheduled a conference, an international conference on the prague agenda. not long after i arrived in the czech republic to commemorate the one-year anniversary and the two-year anniversary of the president's speeches there. we had representatives from russia, from the united states, and from around the worldcom, including dr. gary seymour from the white house, one of the principal advisors to the president on this these matters to think about what the long-term benefits can be for the region and the world. i think we've made good progress. i could give other examples. but i think we've made good progress on these grounds and it is important to have an ambassador there to help convey communications in both directions on this subject. i'm very pleased with where we are on the reset now. >> thank you very much. senator casey or senator coons do either of you have questioners in panel? i have a few other questions we'll present in writing for each of you and the record will stay open until close of business on friday for further questions from members

since my arile in prague, we have made strong progress on all those issues, afghanistan, iran, israel, the nuclear contract and many other important areas in the relationship. those remain as vital as ever. i believe that progress, the energy that not only i have put in, but the entire embassy team in prague, together, have put in, and the good works that they and we have done, i think, is the best case for the continued presence of an ambassador in the czech republic. >> thank you. mr. ricciardoni. >> thank you for the opportunity to address that question. as you pointed out yourself, senator lugar pointed out, turkey is a pivotal country, a critical place geographically and very tense moments of conflict throughout the region. it has influence in all of those issues that are of strategic concern to the united states. moreover, internally, it is going through a hugely important and deliberate process of change. the turkish people deciding their own direction and future. they do look to us as they go through this, they care about what we think. we have an extraordinarily talented emba

of course, the president has made prague a centerpiece of these issues going to prague twice including having the privilege to accompany him last year for the signing of the s.t.a.r.t. treaty with the president, and i was very pleased, i think, in a token of the, and indeed more than a token, a recognition of the importance of these issues that my czech colleagues affirmatively embrace the so-called prague agenda and took the bull by the horns and scheduled a conference, an international conference on the prague agenda, not long after i arrived in the czech republic to comeme rate the one year and two year anniversary of the president's speeches there. we had representatives from russia, from the united states, and from around the world come including dr. gary seymour from the white house, one of the principle advisers to the president on these matters to think about the long-term benefits can be for the region and for the world, and so i think we have made good process. i could give more examples, but we have made good progress on the grounds and important to have an ambassador there

the president has made prague a centerpiece of these issues, going to prague twice. i had the privilege to accompany him last year for the signing of the stark treaty with president medvedev. in a recognition of the importance of these issues that might check colleagues firmly embraced the so-called prague agenda and took the bull by the horns and scheduled an international conference on the agenda and not long after i arrived in the czech republic to commemorate the one-year anniversary and a two-year anniversary of the president's speeches there. we had representatives from russia, the united states, and from around the world come including one of the principal advisers to the president on this matter to think about what the long-term benefits can be for the region and for the world. i think we have made good progress. i can give other examples. i think we have made good progress on these grounds. i am very pleased with where we are on the reset now. >> do either of you have any questions for this panel? >> i have a few other questions that we will present in writi

. >> 12 more rested than their share them last year on dui arrest in san mateo county in prague it 77e this time we will be right back is the kron 4 morning news continues, this is sold from our los m camera and you can see the tower sticking up for in the fog. fashio [ male announcer ] get ready for the left lane. the volkswagen autobahn for all event is back. right now, get a great deal on new volkswagen models, including the jetta, awarded a top safety pick by the iihs. that's the power of german engineering. hurry in and lease the jetta s for just $179 a month. ♪ visit vwdealer.com today. ♪ but thieves can steal your identity. turning your life upside down in a matter of seconds. hi. hi. you know i can save you 15% today if you open up a charge card account with us. you just read my mind. [ male announcer ] just one little piece of information and they can open bogus accounts, stealing your credit, your money, and ruining your reputation. that's why you need lifelock. lifelock is the leader in identity theft protection. relentlessly protecting your personal information to help sto

first up tonight, a conversation with kenneth prague. thanks in numerous films he has acted in and directed, starting this week he is out with something something decidedly different, "thor." ice-t has a new memoir called to everyone making a difference, you help us all live better. >> nationwide supports tavis smiley. we are proud to join him in working to improve the plans to literacy and of removing the obstacles to economic empowerment one at a time. >> and from contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> we are pleased to welcome kenneth brannagh to this program. out this weekend with what promises to be one of the biggest films so far this year. natalie portman and chr hens worth, now here seen in "thor." >> through your arrogance and stupidity you have brought these peaceful realms and innocent lives the horror and desolation of war. you are unworthy of these powers, unworthy of this title. you are unworthy. i take it from you in the name of my father and his father of four -- and his father before. i ca

toyota, prague supporters of the washington, d.c., who -- crowds of supporters of the martin luther king >> and by contributions to your thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] kcet public television] belonged to your grandmother, right. yes, it was her ashtray, actually. - her ashtray. - her ashtray, yes. it was on her bedside cabinet. goodness me. what an amazing ashtray. - do you think that's what it was made for? - i have no idea. it's got a few stains on the back. looks as if it might be some nicotine - that's crept in there. - and it seems terribly uneven - and crude. - yes, remarkably crude, isn't it? yeah. so i suppose you thought it might just be a bit of old junk. - i hadn't really thought. just a quirky item. - you hadn't really thought. and did you notice this in the center? i had noticed. it looks like an anchor of some sort. an anchor, yeah, that's exactly what it is. it's the mark of a chelsea factory. - chelsea? - chelsea, and chelsea porcelain is amongst the earliest porcelains produced in this country. - is it? - indeed. so its crudeness is reall

since my arrival in prague in

before the game julie boosted the whole nation's merong group that's dominated from the offer deed in prague with a have not lost a test to australia since nineteen eighty six and new zealand were seventeen zero up at half time if it turns from one not they have been mail-o. meter and city of any city run to put the match beyond fourteen minutes into the second half they bring connecting with conrad smith for a spectacular run tonight twenty five seven to me i on me and rocky elsom did get on the scoreboard through all of this in the second period but the visitors never looked at getting back into this new zealand and now two winners from two in the trying nations following that opening success against a depleted south africa last week. and finally sorry seems to be the hardest word for a short tempered chinese speed skater the country's greatest winter olympian wang wang has apologized to her and. people but not to the officials after a drunken brawl with the two manager menke was a story sliced off to being once again expelled from the team behavior the twenty six year old punched her boss

titles ready to his name a few seasons in the bunch the less i think for me says the still ring from prague . i was seven i mean i was playing well. returning right so i think the basics but it was. but i got it back in march i think he took his chances he broke in the second set at the time and then you know i started. you know decreasing a little bit the speed of the ball from baseline and it was a very even match of the green wall serena williams the women's former number one continues her comeback she won the women's rogers cup in toronto a six four six two win over strategy some studies that even the american the second time since returning to the sport i was being out of action for a year through injury and illness and is definitely in form now and that match point with an ag said there isn't time grand slam winner must believe she's a real chance at the us i think the finance committee is happy for the weekend. to cuba has had all this is one term and in the beginning of the year i said i want to win toronto don't ask me why but is true totally and i did it so i am excited about wome

they have been serving as ambassadors in prague and ankara.an appointment only lasts for one calendar men so these two men have been renominated and the committee will reconsider their nominations. as the subcommittee chair on european affairs, i was supportive of those nominations last year, and i intend to support their nominations once again. since both men have already been serving in these roles we'll have an excellent chance to hear from them directly about the challenges they've already seen and their plans for the future. so welcome back to the committee, gentlemen. thank you both for being willing to go through the nomination process again and to continue to take on these difficult responsibilities at a very important time for our country. so first today we will consider the u.s. relationship with the czech republic. as an important ally of the united states in central europe, the czech republic has demonstrated exceptional leadership in europe, particularly in engaging the region's eastern neighborhood and pressing for further europe

the checks point of the euro zone struggles for a solution to its climate currency prague thanks twice about signing up saying it's not sure what it would be joining that's our to dot com and you can head to our youtube channel for more of our video reports. it's. the. let's look at some of the world's other main news this hour and india the anticorruption campaigner who is on hunger strike has struck a deal with police to move his protest from behind bars had been allowed to leave jail but refused to go until he was given permission to for his protest will now continue his longer strike in a park the rays of his release was greeted with cheers from hundreds of supporters who had gathered outside his cell. pope benedict has arrived in the spanish capital to mark world youth day and you're looking at live pictures from madrid at the pope's visit to madrid saw thousands of protests on the streets over the cost of paying for it eight people were arrested and eleven others injured during the scuffles as protesters chanted the post visit with my taxes over the seventy million viewer cost of

and you look for those places, and i'm sure they go on today, like prague was about ten years ago after the communist downfall; it became an explosive place. i'm waiting for the next one to look up when it happens. i love those places; they're really exhilarating. it's like whitewater rafting. you know, you're in a craft going down this whitewater-- a few curves. you have not the slightest idea of what's gonna be around the next corner. and you're trying to keep the boat in. you're in there with a bunch of people, and you're--whatever. and you could crash on a big rock at any moment. but i have never had any fear of going down in flames. you know, it's almost like world war i fighter pilots; it's almost your destiny. if you don't, then you're condemned to an old-age life-- in an old-age home where you really don't want to be, you know? so [exhales]. one of the areas that record companies and television companies and others censor often, as you've mentioned, has to do with language. sometimes it has to do with drugs. and there was a song brought to you by david crosby, when the the byrds

a greater degree of economic and political liberalism to his country and the answer is not ok of prague spring but his comments talking to us from london many thanks and they still thank you. ok coming up on r.t.e. rewriting history veterans of hitler in fact to rally in a stone mia after being found in other countries tearing fears of that revive nonces i'm in here. now in israel for industrial action and protest against the government intel of the plan strikes follow a weekend of massive demonstrations in the rising house prices and an escalating cost of living people are demanding social justice and better working conditions but all that is causing it is a policy whose intel of the force appalling developments there paula was also one hundred fifty thousand demonstrators take to the streets of israel over the weekend does today's protests promise to be on the same sort of scale. well it does stage it certainly doesn't seem as if tonight's protest here in tel aviv will reach the kind of numbers we saw over the weekend some twenty four thousand people have signed up on facebook and lik

reinvention obama seems at a loss regarding his political skills he turns out to be a odd case of a praguearn from his mistakes and adapt. >> listen it's that time of year in washington. we're in august the president's going to take some hits. i found that poll very good news for the president. if you look at it closely he's ahead in 16 states in the district of columbia and ahead in the sense he has a 50% job approval or better. that's 215 electoral votes. and to find the other votes you need to win the presidency there are a lot of options for him. as i see it right now, there's a lot of talk about the president being weak on the back foot. i see the president with a solid foundation to build on in terms of lek trorl college support. if he runs a great campaign as he did last time, i think he's going to win it. >> what about florida, what about ohio what about winning north carolina and virginia? >> listen one or more of those states is going to have to be in. ohio's lost a couple of votes. florida has picked up some votes. if you start with the base that he has a very solid base, if you

for more than two years before embassador eisen arrived in prague, the u.s. had no ambassador there which spurred doubt along our czech allies about our commitment to their country. this is not a situation that our international interests should repeat. i hope we give a full nomination this time. the czech republic has been an extraordinary ally from the war in iraq, afghanistan, to the promotion of democracy worldwide. they are among our best friends and allies in europe and they deserve to have an ambassador from our country that is confirmed by the full senate. finally, as you may know, norm eisen has a deep connection to the czech republic. his mother was born there. both she and his father survived the holocaust and it is an act of justice that the ambassador's residence in prague, which was originally built by a jewish family that was forced to flee prague by the nazis who, in turn, to cover the house as their headquarters. 70 years later, it is occupied by norman and his family. a point of personal privilege, he and they observe the sabbath of there. i

guest: we saw people going out to prague -- protest as they always do on fridays. calling for overthrow of the regime. we heard -- the government is struggling. all they want to do is crash of this revolt completely. host: are they using the argument that protesters are shills for other forces trying to overthrow the government? -- shields for other forces trying to overthrow the government? guest: -- in some parts of the country on some occasions, people have used weapons to defend themselves in some way. the overwhelming majority want a peaceful end. host: when it comes to potential resources not going out of the country because of embargo trade and otherwise, can the government a sustain themselves with that happening? guest: we have indications that the eu is going to stop purchases of gas and other items, which would be a huge blow. it would have an effect on people's behavior. upper-middle-class this that have turned against the regime -- once they see their life styles have been affected, to change their attitude towards the regime. if they are worthless, th

the great novel in which the hero of the prague spring who was totally discredited when the government recorded his conversations with friends and broadcast them as a radio series and bowl country is this guy telling dirty jokes and saying outrageous things that all of us do in private relaxing in to -- totally discredited. i wonder if this world is one that is irresistible and as it is it makes me gloomy indeed. >> i share some of your concerns particularly the invasion of privacy that may be possible without meeting big brother to do it because everything is recorded and played out. that is a problem with or without assiduously and forced espionage act but one piece of optimism is the prospect that our most precious secrets, i don't want to lump our secrets together because the minute it leaks your nuclear analogy comes in. you announce a zero tolerance policy. i understand that for nukes which is what the procedure for handling them look snow -- it would be better to do it this way. here is a manual and like that mcdonald's, you take the fries out. you don't say they should be a lit

this broadly speaking discursive not quite pluralistic but the word that comes through clearly is prague that -- pragmatic. you use it, this pragmatic philosophical element in the obama, this understanding that there is more than one way to come to an issue that the summer delete qassam may be greater than the parts that we imagine was there is the heart of the approach to the political leadership. my question then is the question not only for obama and for you about the pragmatic approach in the first place and it is this in my reading of pragmatism which goes from william james and on, it presumes or requires should the willingness of all parties in a constitutional debate, legislative caucus to agree on something at least on the premise that there is a common good and both you cut the data could say and all i, republican, are going to have a conversation that is framed in is about us achieving that, in good. what happens when you have a political faction like we have today that doesn't share that assumption that thinks you must be some sort of demon, a strange person or you they met t

so, my first day after college was actually working with an ngo based in prague and using the new mediato promote an immediate change but also the critical to the colonel democratic in the form of solid space and the local positions aligned i can the director of the new media. so my job was actually traveling around the region meeting with activists, journalists who are mostly in the position and talking to them the power of the media and how they can use blogs and social networks and to mobilize people, you know, it was a very optimistic kind of who take on how you can actually put the internet to good use. of protest but also small things like when the corruption or blogging about the environment. i mean, it all differ from country to country and i spent roughly three and a half or two years getting to know very closely with a lot of the founders who work in this case and i actually got to know a lot of people who were eager to the free agenda where there's the national endowment for democracy more open society. so i got to know a lot of people who were making assumptions about the po

guest: we saw people going out to prague -- protest as they always do on fridays. they're calling for overthrow of the regime. we heard -- the government is struggling. all they want to do is crash of this revolt completely. host: are they using the argument that protesters are shills for other forces trying to overthrow the government? -- shields for other forces trying to overthrow the government? guest: -- in some parts of the country on some occasions, people have used weapons to defend themselves in some way. the overwhelming majority want a peaceful end. host: when it comes to potential resources not going out of the country because of embargo trade and otherwise, can the government a sustain themselves with that happening? guest: we have indications that the eu is going to stop purchases of gas and other items, which would be a huge blow. it would have an effect on people's behavior. upper-middle-class this that have turned against the regime -- once they see their life styles have been affected, to change their attitude towards the regime. if they are worth

and i think of the great novel where it's described the hero of the prague spring who was totally discredited when the government recorded his conversations with a friend and broadcast them as a radio serial and all of a sudden the whole country hears this guy telling dirty jokes, saying outrageous things he didn't mean and all the things we say to let off steam and he's discredited and i wonder if this world is irresistible and if it is, it's one that makes me very gloomy indeed. >> well, i just want to say i share some of your concerns particularly in the invasions of privacy that may be possible with peer-to-peer without needing a big brother and everything can be recorded and that's a no, ma'am problem we've got with or without the good assiduously enforced espionage fact but the one piece of tech nooptimism you're right i'm clinging to is the prospect that four of our most precious secrets and i don't want to lump everything marked secret together because the minute leaks your nuclear analogy comes in and announce a zero tolerance policy and i get zero tolerance for nukes which is why th