the decision has not gone down well in khartoum. from there, we have this. >> president bashir may never actually face genocide charges, but his supporters are outraged that the possibility has been opened up by the international criminal court. >> this was implementing justice, following justice. saying they are serving as special agenda, a political agenda for these countries that have hostilities with the government of sudan. i do not think the government will be affected by this. >> to make that point clear, president bashir flew away. that is despite the international all breast warrant. he has been able to travel to many african and arab countries. he is charged with crimes against humanity allegedly committed in darfur. it is also believed meant to commit genocide. several groups reacted with joy at the decision. one called it a victory for darfur. >> to add the new charge, i think it will prove to be rights. -- it will prove to be right. justice has no race or religion. we support the decision, regardless of from where it co

we then went to car tiewrnlings which is a -- we then went to khartoum, which is an historic city inrica. we talked about the status of darfur today which is more peaceful than in years gone by. one of the more interesting conversations that we had in khartoum was with one of the ministers, and i brought up the issue of global warming, wondering if this man in the middle of africa near the equator felt that there was a need for us to be concerned about global warming. he said, i can it atake you 300 meters from where we're meeting now. i'll shoi the nile river and show you the impact of global warming. we can walk out onto stretches of lands that used to be under the nile river. so many people in that part of africa depend on the nile for irrigation, for their agricultural crops and water to live on. they said, we believe in global warming and if you want to know one of the causes of the genocide in darfure darfur, it s because that area was a desert and people are fileting over the land that can be cultivated. i think about the debates we've had on the floor of the senate. there are

and then he will be in khartoum on for bilateral meetings with both the splm and the national congressty to discuss the census, referendum, abyei, and all and post-referendum issues. i think like all sports fans tonight, we're looking forward to the start of the winter olympics, and we will be rooting for team usa of course, but for team usa of course, but the9 olympics and sports in tes of promotion of our joint international goals. we are grateful to our friends in canada for hosting this great event. with that. yes. >> can i ask you about bill burns going to syria? can you put that in some context? is he the highest-level official to go in some time, and why now? does it have to do with the ambassador choice or -- >> well, it doesn't have to do with the ambassador per se; it has to do with what a return of the ambassador to syriab. represents, which is further steps in terms of our bilateral relations. ñwhile there, i think he'll reflect on a number of issues in terms of regional issues obviously, what how syria continues to view the situation with respect to the middle east peace