navy's fifth fleet and a close u.s. ally in the region. we'll have more on the protests later in the broadcast. in the united states, nearly 50 people were arrested wednesday in front of the white house calling on president obama to reject the keystone xl pipeline. the pipeline would deliver tar sands oil from canada to refineries in texas. but critics who've joined a mounting campaign of civil disobedience say it will bring climate disaster. on tuesday, a group of protesters including leading scientists, activists and celebrities sat down and refused to move. some zip-tied themselves to a fence. those arrested included environmentalist bill mckibben, actress daryl hannah, and nasa climate scientist james hansen and former chair of the naacp julian bond. the protest was a landmark for the sierra club environmental group after its board endorsed an act of civil disobedience for the first time in its 120-year history. director michael brune was among those arrested. >> so we know we cannot win on climate change if we continue to talk about i

navy's fifth fleet how much does its geography and oil play a role in this it plays a role although it's very difficult to i'm sorry you happen to live in the wrong in the wrong country where you live is so politically sensitive that you can't expect the same rights as people live somewhere else in the world either you're in starts at the same human rights as people in other countries we all know and society is just a bit sensitive you will be unlucky in even the place which hosts the fifth fleet where you live in a place which is so class the saudi and similarly threatened by iran we call do much to support your calls for democracy where as we can in egypt or in libya or in syria or elsewhere. it's obviously double standards and people in bahrain see that so either the us is consistent about human rights across the region across the world or pick favorites and the problem is over the last two years. he is being seen to have been picking some favorites and he hasn't pushed for democracy and human rights in bahrain as it has a subsidized other similar countries doesn't it interesting to s

posture in the persian gulf -- as you know, our fifth fleet is located in the persian gulf. we have a couple of carrier battle groups in that area. our military posture their is very strong. it is very ready and very capable. if these are contingencies and options the secretary of defense, working with these chiefs and combat and commanders have to give them make sure we are prepared. i may have missed some of the specific things he wanted to discuss. >> i'm understanding to say you are not ready to discuss redlines in a specific way, and my hearing that right? >> i don't think that is my role now to start with. i am not the secretary of defense, but i think the president is wise in his course of action in not discussing that publicly. i think it is a far smarter way to handle it and i think he has said what he needs to say. i think it has been understood in iran and i think the world understand his position. i've just been handed a note that i misspoke and said i supported the president's position on containment. if i said that, i meant to say we don't have a position on co

you know we have the fifth fleet, and bahrain, two little battle groups in that small area.ar defense, all the capabilities are within the navy. so i am a strong supporter of advancing our navy technology and our efforts. and i will continue to do that if confirmed. >> now, that word re-balancing. that is an important word there. so what does it have to do with the navy? >> it has everything to do with it. everything that obama is trying to do in terms of grand u.s. national security strategy hinges on the navy in some way or another. we're talking about getting out of -- wars that seem to last forever. in the middle east and south asia and move towards where obama and now hagel is committing himself to that there, as well. a more central understanding of u.s. economic and security interests. and that is basically where things are blue and wet. and that -- you know is not really something you ever heard hagel express. it is not really something that somebody from his military background. he was an army sergeant, is really, you know, expecting to have a lot of understanding o

ally and home of the navy's fifth fleet. tensions remain high after a teenager was killed last week on the second anniversary of pro- democracy protests. since february 2011, at least 87 people have died at the hands of u.s.-backed security forces. while talks are taking place this week between the bahraini government and opposition groups, several of the nation's leading human rights defenders remain in prison. >> attorney abdulhadi al- khawaja, co-founder of the bahrain center for human rights, is serving a life sentence. nabeel rajat, another prominent human rights defender, is serving a three-year sentence. sharif abdel kouddous has just returned from bahrain. his latest article is, "scenes from a bahraini burial." he joins us from his home in cairo, egypt. and welcome to "democracy now!" talk about what you found in bahrain. how difficult was it to get in? >> i was granted at the last moment a journalist visa for three days. therefore, the uprising, the anniversary of the uprising on february 14. really, on that day and

in bahrain, home of the navy's fifth fleet -- i met with admiral john miller. he took me on these ships and i met with the men and women in our naval forces who are keeping america safe and watching some of america's most threatening enemies. they've already canceled deployment of a second aircraft carrier to the gulf. we were going to have the truman come to the gulf and supplement our naval forces in the fifth fleet. it's been canceled because of sequestration. why? because the truman was supposed to be in depot under repair and ready to steam out to meet with the fifth fleet. the depot had to lay off employees in anticipation of sequestration. the carier won't be ready. there will be one carier. should be two. because of budget cutbacks, that won't be possible. as secretary panetta stated, the pentagon is facing a perfect budget storm. sequestration halfway through the year coupled with a year-long -- it will impose senseless across-the-board cuts on almost every account in the department of defense. as a result of congress's inability to devise a more respo

navy, particularly the fifth fleet that i visited, cannot be overstated.tic difficulties. it experienced its own arab spring in early 2011, one that started with peaceful protests, calling for a more open political process. that process, unfortunately, broke down and many demonstrators were killed or jailed. others, sadly, were tortured. the government of bahrain did what few other countries in the region would be willing or brave enough to do. they created an outside commission to look into the issues around the uprising. a blunt and sober report was issued. it's my hope the government of bahrain will abide by its many recommendations. at the same time, i hope the opposition will seriously explore the latest attempt at dialogue offered by the government as a means to address the current political impasse. bahrain has so much promise, it can continue to be one of the shining lights of the gulf. both sides must renounce violence and work toward a peaceful political solution. mr. president, let me also note -- madam president, let me also note that overarchi

ally and it houses our fifth naval fleet but its government is accused of gunning down innocent pr protesters, torturing those in police custody and arresting thousands to preserve power. so why aren't the country's graphious killings and actions cause for divestment? the calpers fund supports anheuser-busch and they make budweiser, among other beers. alcohol abuse is linked to 75,000 deaths a year in the u.s. according to the cdc more than double the 32,000 people killed by firearms in 2011. so, again, we ask, where do you draw the line? now calpers'fficial policy states investment in a company does not it necessarily signify they approve of the company's policies, products or actions, but in this case fund administrators have made public safety a key priority and as we just outlined to you the public safety impact of other investments, certainly in the case of alcohol, is just as dangerous as assault weapons. when we made that observation to the treasurer's spokesperson he paused and said, yes, and the world has changed after sandy hook. i'm sam brock and that's today's "re "reality check.

as you know, senator, our fifth fleet is located in the persian gulf, bahrain, and as you also know,we have a couple of carrier battle groups in that area. our military posture in there is a very strong. it is very ready. it is very capable. these are contingencies and options that the secretary of defense, working with his chiefs and the combatcommanders always have to give with the president to make sure we are prepared, so let me stop there, and i may have missed some of the specific things you want to discuss. >> i am understating you saying you are not ready to discuss red lines and a specific way. am i hearing that right? >> i do not think that is my role now, to start with, as i am not the secretary of defense, but i think the president is wise in his course of action in not discussing that publicly. i think it is a far smarter way of handling it, and i think he has said what he needs to say. i think it has been understood in iran. i think the world understands his position. by the way, i have just been handed a note that i misspoke and said i supported the president's positio

the fifth fleet is there. what a magnificent group of individuals. admiral john miller took me around on the ships and introduced me to the men and women in uniform. couldn't have been prouder as an american to say hello to these people who were literally giving their lives, risking their lives for our country. how are they protected while we're out there? we have a great aircraft carrier while they're out there. it's there if needed. it's only one of the two carriers that are supposed to be there. the u.s.s. truman was supposed to go out and join the other carrier to protect our troops and our interest in the persian gulf. but it won't be there. why? because sequestration cut the jobs at the depot in the shipyard to repair the truman. the truman is sitting in that yard waiting for repairs because of sequestration, and our sailors, our men and women in uniform are out in the persian gulf literally in a much riskier situation because of it. so when you talk about how easy it is to cut spending in government, it can be easy if we do it in a thoughtful

as you know, senator, our fifth fleet is located in the persian gulf, bahrain, and as you also know, we have a couple of carrier battle groups in that area. our military posture in there is a very strong. it is very ready. it is very capable. these are contingencies and options that the secretary of defense, working with his cheeks, and the combat commanders always have to give with the president to make sure we are prepared, so let me stop there, and i may have missed some of the specific things you want to discuss. >> i am understating you saying you are not ready to discuss red lines and a specific way. am i hearing that right? >> i do not think that is my role now, to start with, as i am not the secretary of defense, but i think the president is wise in his course of action in not discussing that publicly. i think it is a far smarter way of handling it, and i think he has said what he needs to say. i think it has been understood in iran. i think the world understands his position. by the way, i have just been handed a note that i misspoke and said i supported the president's posi

fifth. investigators are still trying to figure out what caused the battery fire. current flights will be postponed until at least may the 12th. the world's fleeto put more modern equipment on the land p.m. ion batteries as well as fireproof protective layers are round of the batteries. >> supreme court justices are preparing to hear arguments next one on gay marriage. to same-sex couples arguing that the constitution prohibits discrimination against them in california and elsewhere in the country. papers were filed with the high court yesterday, the couples and laid out several options for the justices to consider as it evaluates california's proposition 8. the court is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on march 26th. >> laura bush has voiced support for same-sex marriage, but says, that she does not want to be used in that campaign. the former first lady has asked the of respect for marriage coalition to take her out of their ads. among those also in that include former vice president dick cheney and former secretary of state: paul. colin powell. >> still ahead, scary incidents on the uc santa clear campus, police are beefing up efforts

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