. >> because of the african union, the future of this country is definitely determined. taking power by force, this is what someone should understand. >> the area controlled by the government has been steadily shrinking. they hold just small parts of the capital now. the government has been in retreat since the beginning of the year. there was a departure of the ethiopian forces 2.5 years ago. >> they have left, so why are they killing each other? the answer is some groups are not interested in peace. they are desirous to promote trade and business. >> the unceasing violence has added to overwhelming levels of hunger and security. the u.n. estimates that 3 million are in need of support. that figure is expected to rise as seasonal rains fail again. >> minimum stability that we cannot adapt on. these victims are taken hostage by the marquee of the elite, whoever they are. we have to free the population from hostage takers. >> the african union has 300 troops in somalia, less than the 8000 that they promised. the united nations is supporting the mission, resisting talks. t

for example, as you probably know, the african union is steadily increasing its influence and its role on the continent. so we are establishing a liaison office, and we're talking just a few people that work in the area, so that we can improve that communication with the african union. >> one very quick question. what are some of the unique challenges in operating in africa? >> it is first of all, huge. i just took a flight from cape town up to frank fort, 11 and a half hours. and i think most americans forget how big a continent it is. the second challenge is its infrastructure. they do not have an interstate system like we do. they have rail, bits mainly limit -- but it's mainly limited to the outlying areas and not the interior. really their best mode of transportation is air transportation. and even that is an area, i think, the air force in particular can help with. even that needs improvement. either the air fields, security, or enroute radar control and information like that. >> sir, thanks very much for joining us. we appreciated having you. >> my pleasure. thank you. >> next,

he recommended that america increase the number of african union monitors and today the african union monitoring mission has been merged into the united states peacekeeping mission. i can tell you from first-hand gift as well as the data that we get, they are making a difference but it is yet to be fully deployed or full tactical mobility. millions of people remain in camps. under conditions made even worse when khartoum expelled 13 humanitarian organizations placing over a million people in potential jeopardy. general gration was right to make his first priority a special envoy the restoration of life saving assistance but we need to go further. when i was in khartoum, i emphasized to the sudanese that restoring lost aid was imperative but also insufficient. our goal should not be to recreate the conditions that existed before the ngo expulsion. it should be to move beyond those conditions. maintenance of a miserable status quo is not a solution. i strongly support the efforts of the african union, the foundation, and others, to bring the voices of civil society into the discussion a

he recommended that america increased the number of african union monitors and today the african unionmonitoring mission has been merged into the united nations peacekeeping mission. i can tell you from personal visit to the data that began to it is making a difference but it has not to be fully deployed or require full tentacle liability. the millions of people remain in camps. under conditions made even worse with the khartoum expo 13 humanitarian organizations placing over a million people with potential japanese. gen. gratian was right to make his first priority a special envoy to the restoration of lifesaving assistance. but we need to go further, when i was in the khartoum i emphasize to the sudanese that restoring lost aid was imperative but also insufficient. our goals and should not be to recreate the conditions that existed before the ngo expulsion, is to be to move beyond those conditions. maintenance of a miserable status quo is not a solution. i strongly support the efforts of the african union, the foundation and others to bring the voices of civil society into the discus

the italian president and a host of new guests. african leaders, including libya, representing the african union, poised for tomorrow's session is devoted to aid and food security. it's another chance for president obama to show his emergence on the world stage can make a difference. >> a key issue in the debate on climate change is the fate of tropical rain forests. it is estimated deforestation produces one fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions. logging goes on. donna for example has lost most of its forests. -- ghana for example has lost half of its forests. we have this exclusive report. >> a unique view from a tree that is about to be felled. in the heart of the forest, bloggers are showered with sawdust. this felling operation is legally, but many are beyond the law and ghana has now lost most of its forests. so another massive tree taken away toe used for timber. this process is going on not just in ghana, but tropical rain forests are on the world. deforestation contributes one fifth of all greenhouse gases. in this poor country, the question is how to stop it. >> ghana needs the trees. ghana needs the money. the environment mus

and for he first timeroops from the african union peacekeeping rce intvened to supporthese somalian forces. >>> president oba was in aar more stale part of africa this weekend. ghana. this was the scne when first visited a castle acoast from which slaves were once shippe to the new worl the outpouring wasescribed as -- >> joining us for more built president's ip and the state of u.s./african retions is yaw nyarko. professor of economics a director of africa hous at new york university. welcome. >> thank you. >> you were in ghana when the president wasthere. >> that's right. >> what was themo? what was the aicipation like? well,verybody was excited that he was coming. there were these billboards with ghana's president next t obama all over the city a people re very, very cited. very, very prd of obama. everybody h this empathy wth the united states now because of obama. it was vy exciting. very exciting >> why ghana? why do you thinthat that countrwas elected? >> wel for a variety of reasons. the first of course that ghana just finied a razor-thin very close elections. i mean the winner won

the g8's, all of these founding countries, the new economic partnership for african development, who will be present, as well as the leadership of the african union, the new economic partnership founded in the early 2000's was moved by african leaders to take responsibility for governance and so forth. i think he'll use that opportunity to reinvigorate african leadership on the questions of governance which has been neglected over the last eight years or so. he'll have a strong emphasis on food security. i think steve morrison is going to talk about that major initiative that would probably be a large focus within the g8. and a refocus on agriculture. despite the expansion of u.s. engagement in africa over the last eight years agriculture and sustainable food security has been missing from u.s. policy. really since the late 1970's when we did do much more in that front. the food crisis last year woke a lot of people up to this issue. i think we're going to see a shift in food security from kind of emergency measures to hopefully longer terms, sustaining engagement in building african capacities in agricultural growth. surely there will be a stron

and abroad, for example we of the east african community, there is the south african community, central african community, this is effort especially by them, the african union to help move africa towards a more united africa. but you cannot have a more united africa when you are still struggling with united micronation. so the leadership here, the need to bring the african people together, not by force, not by encouraging them to be ashamed of who they are, of their micronation, not by encouraging them to deny what they are because that will not happen and you will get people who are not any better. but by encouraging them to come together to appreciate their strength and diversity and to embrace this diversity at the national level, and then we will be able to produce leaders that are committed and not to the micronation, but to the nation as a whole. and that is a big challenge, because if we have that, we will have fewer national conflicts that are based under competition between these micronations and because the fact is the competition between these micronations is actually a competition between the leaders, what i sometimes would call the lead then ei

we welcome the steps tat are being taken organizatns like the african union to better resolve conflicts, to keep the peac and sport those in need. we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effectivtrans national forces to bear when needed. america has a rponsibility to work with you as rtner, to advance thisvision. just with words but with support that strengthens afrins. when tre's a genocide i darfur terroristsn somalia these are not simplyfrican problems. they are global securit challenges andhey demand a global respon. an that's why we st readyto partner through diplocy and technical assistance and logistical support and we will and behin effort toold criminals accountable. let me be ear. our africa command is focused not on establishing a foothold but on confronting these common chlenges to advance the security of america, afca, d the world. in moow i spoke of the ne for annternational syem where e universal rhts of human beings are spect ed. that must include commitments to support those who resolve conflicts peacefully. to sanction and sto

he is representing the african union as its charmt. he is here to sit on the sidelines global warming and economic regulation talks. the two had a very brief handshake. no substantive dialogue. point out kadafi and libya was once pursuing nuclear weapons. set that aside, they hope iran gets the message on that, too. rick? rick: major live in italy. thanks very much. now for confirmation hearings for sonia sotomayor. they are set to begin monday morning. 9:00 sharp. they could get very interesting. republicans say one of their witnesses will be frank reachy. he is one of more than a dozen white firefighters who sued the new haven connecticut fire department for discrimination. the city threw out the results of a promotion exam because minorities didn't do well on it. now, as an appellate judge, sotomayor rejected ricci's case but last month the supreme court overruled her and side with the firefighters. ruth bader ginsburg was one of four justices who disagreed with that ruling. now she is defending her for her wise latina quote. here it

founder of wilson global communications and an american advocate for africa and consultant to the african union. thank you very much for being with us. the president made his first visit as president to this continent in egypt to do a speech on muslim u.s. relations. this is his first to sub- saharan africa. they are calling it a two-day homecoming but she going to ghana, not the country of his father's birth. why gun ya? >> i'm excited that president obama chose to go to ghana first because it represents good governing and democracy and it is the beacon of hope for the continent and stands as an example for for the rest of the country to show that america supports democracy and good governments and i believe that's the reason the president chose ghana. i lived there during president clinton's visit and we promoted the top 100 businesses in ghana. ghana has wonderful people. they have an enthusiastic work force, well educate. they speak english, the crime rate is low. and it has a lot of riches agricultural, mining and one of the tenets of the obama administration u.s. africa policy is to help

really a complicated situation and i hope we can come up with a solution, but once again in the african unionn a country is taken over by the military, that country is suspended from the african union. they do not tolerate because once that happens here it will happen there and have been at the next place and you will have that way to take the president's. >> thank you. mr. bilirakis. >> thank you mr. chairman. this hits home with me because my hundred american constituents are particularly concerned that president zelaya was slowly stripping away the rule of law in honduras. they feared that hondurans would turn away from its democratically elected and constitutionally based institutions and evolved into hugo chavez type of autocratic state. hi think what is particularly disconcerting for me is the fact that no american official at the u.s. embassy in honduras or the state department has spoken with the current president of honduras. the obama administration has made it a feature of their diplomacy efforts to listen to all sites and it even displayed a willingness to talk with enemies of the

thing we just learned at the briefing, the current leader of libya who is now the chairman of the african unionjust arrived at the union tonight and he will be a dinner tonight with president obama. we asked, if given the opportunity, will president obama shake his hand? senior administration officials said it if given the opportunity, he would. they would also take note of the fact that a few years ago, it set aside a program could in the context of the brown, administration officials say that is something president obama may want to discuss. i would put that in the category of the latest developments here. heather: those are some serious developments. major garrett, thank you very much. jon: the upper midwest braces for a batch of powerful storms. janice dean is watching it in the fox weather center. >> we are starting to see some showers and thunderstorms popping up along the border of nebraska and iowa. severe thunderstorm watch is in omaha, neb., and just north of that. . hail, damaging winds, and isolated tornadoes. a final boundary moving back into florida again, bringing more rain to th

he's the current chairman of the african union and now on better terms with the u.s. other first-time meeting today with pope benedict xvi. the president says he hopes to find common ground with the pope on middle east peace, immigration, and the fight against poverty, but the two men hold very different views on such issues as abortion and stem cell research. >> the pope won't mince words. he's definitely going to bring up the question of abortion. he's going to bring up the question of conscience protection clauses in the law, and he'll also bring up gay marriage and embryo stem cell research. there will be, i'm sure, uncomfortable moments, and they'll do the best to reach an agreement there or at least a clarity of position. >> reporter: white house officials say that they are confident that the president will find common ground with the pope despite those disagreements. next stop after rome, ghana, subsaharan africa. they chose ghana over kenya, where mr. obama is from, and other powers like algeria because it has a history of democratic government. russ? >> bill

we welcome the steps that are being taken by org zagszs like the african union to better resolve conflictse peace and support those in need. and we encourage the vision of a strong regional security architecture that can bring effective transnational force to bear when needed. america has the responsibility to work with you, as a partner, to advance this vision. not just with words but with support that strengthens africans. when there's a genocide in darfur or terrorist in somalia, these are not simply african problems, they are global challenges and they demand a global response. that's why we stand ready to partner through diplomacy and technical assistance and logistical support and we will stand behind efforts to hold criminals accountable. let me be clear, our africa command is not focused on establishing a foothold in the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of america, africa, and the world. in moscow, i spoke of the need for an international system where the universal rights of human beings are respected. that must include commitment to sup

really a complicated situation and i hope we can come up with a solution, but once again in the african union a country is taken over by the military, that country is suspended from the african union. they do not tolerate because once that happens here it will happen there and have been at the next place and you will have that way to take the president's. >> thank you. mr. bilirakis. >> thank you mr. chairman. this hits home with me because my hundred american constituents are particularly concerned that president zelaya was slowly stripping away the rule of law in honduras. they feared that hondurans would turn away from its democratically elected and constitutionally based institutions and evolved into hugo chavez type of autocratic state. hi think what is particularly disconcerting for me is the fact that no american official at the u.s. embassy in honduras or the state department has spoken with the current president of honduras. the obama administration has made it a feature of their diplomacy efforts to listen to all sites and it even displayed a willingness to talk with enemies of the

must be willing to work with the united nations, the african union and nongovernmental organizations to help stabilize somalia and create an atmosphere in which governance and security are again possible. this will be a long and difficult process and in the main it must be driven by the somalis themselves. but i was gratified that the bill includes aid above the president's request to foster economic growth and encourages the state department to continue its support of somali refugees in neighboring countries and most importantly provides $102 million to support both the african union mission in somalia and security sector reform within somalia itself. in this bill, even as we have provided funding for important initiatives like that, and we provided robust funding to increase the size of our foreign service and usaid professionals, to revamp aid to pakistan and better confront the threat to al qaeda, to provide crucial aid to middle eastern allies, to ramp up our efforts to fight the scourges of malaria, hiv-aids and tuberculosis and fully meet our obligations to the united nations,

the african slave trade. it's a remarkable interview with america's first african-american president. that's all ahead in this hour of state of the union.

. >> still to come, once very stormy seas to seek a better life in the european union. why are africanerican immigrants to europe dwindling? a number of displaced people are heading back to their homes in the northwestern swat valley. the army opened roads leading into the valley on monday. 2 million people uprooted by fighting and the army -- by fighting between the army and the taliban have been displaced. >> in the main town, mingora, people routinely carry white flags to signal they are no threat to security forces everywhere. this man has just returned and says the only problem is that the market has shut down. it is hard to get things to eat and drink. but otherwise, it is peaceful. those returning to find the weather in the hills and familiar after living in tents and planes in recent weeks. tempers were raised as people lined up for food and supplies before leaving. this man said he could not have dreamt that things could be so bad. he blamed the government for the conditions they face. the government has had strong support for its military action against the taliban in swaps a

the president purchased directly in comments he made to the g8 and the african union nations who gatheredk about hosting food aid throughout the world, predominantly in africa, $20 billion was pledged. he said 50 years ago my father came from kenya to the united states, kenya's grossness to roddick was larger than self areas. it's not even close now the president said and the reason is every way everything in kenya operates on the basis of her option. the president even told the leaders, look at my cousins in kenya who cannot get a job unless they pay a bribe to it's that personal attachment to, as with corruption and mismanagement at the commercial level the president identified. he did yesterday and we're led to believe he will do so at least overly late in a speech today talking about if you don't reform your business practices, you don't get foreign investment reason to believe in its future here, it's never going to come. >> clayton: critics in the united states said the resident the first american -- african-american president and white house and yet he has only invited to african l

and i hope we can come up with a solution, but once again, in the african union when a country is takener by the military, that country is suspended from the african union. they do not tolerate. because once it happens here it will happen there and it will happen at the next place and you will have that way to take up residence. >> thank you. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> this hits home with me because my honduran american constituents are particularly concerned that president is alive was slowly stripping away the rule of law in honduras. they fear that honduras was going to turn away from its democratic elected and constitutionally based institutions and evolve into a hugo chavez type of otto track. i think what is particularly disconcerting for me is the fact that no american official at the u.s. embassy in honduras or the state department has spoken with the current president of honduras. the obama administration has made it a feature of their diplomacy efforts to listen to all sides, and have even displayed a willingness to talk with and about enemies of the united states. and yet

but i want to thank all four of the senators for joining us on "state of the union." >>> president obama back home after an overseas trip, including ghana. he was in african nation and spoke to the president. we'll bring you anderson's exclusive interview, and that's ahead on "state of the union." ...against enamel loss by forming a micro-thin shield against acid attack. only crest pro-health toothpastes protect all these areas. new crest pro-health enamel shield. i felt amazingly boxed in. (announcer) joe uses the contour meter from bayer. (joe) my meter absolutely adapts to me and my lifestyle. i'm joe james, and being outside of the box is my simple win. (announcer) now available in five vibrant colors. >>> i'm wolf blitzer, and this is "state of the union." here are stories breaking this sunday morning. a source confirms to cnn, the cia withheld information about a secret terrorism program from congress on direct orders from the then vice president dick cheney. the cia director leon panetta has informed lawmakers about cheney's role and his program. efforts to contact the former vice president for reaction so far have been unsuccessful. >>> confirmati

at the g-8, all these founding countries, new economic partnerships for african development, will be present as well as the leadership of the african union. this new economic partnership founded in the 2000's, the early 2000's, was moved by african leaders to take responsibility for governance, peer review and so forth and i think he'll use that opportunity to try to reinvigorate african leadership on the questions of governance which have been neglected over the last eight years or so. he'll have a strong emphasis on food security, i think steve morrison is going to talk about that. a major initiative that will probably be a large focus within the g-8 and a refocus on agriculture. despite the expansion of u.s. engagement in africa over the last eight years, agriculture and sustainable food security has been missing from u.s. policy, really since the late 1970's when we did do much more on that front. the food crisis last year woke a lot of people up to this issue. i think we're going to see a shift in food security and -- from kind of emergency measures to hopefully longer term, sustained engagement in building african capacities in agr

at the g-8, all these founding countries, new economic partnerships for african development, will be present as well as the leadership of the african union. this new economic partnership founded in the 2000's, the early 2000's, was moved by african leaders to take responsibility for governance, peer review and so forth and i think he'll use that opportunity to try to reinvigorate african leadership on the questions of governance which have been neglected over the last eight years or so. he'll have a strong emphasis on food security, i think steve morrison is going to talk about that. a major initiative that will probably be a large focus within the g-8 and a refocus on agriculture. despite the expansion of u.s. engagement in africa over the last eight years, agriculture and sustainable food security has been missing from u.s. policy, really since the late 1970's when we did do much more on that front. the food crisis last year woke a lot of people up to this issue. i think we're going to see a shift in food security and -- from kind of emergency measures to hopefully longer term, sustained engagement in building african capacities in agr

the european union. why is the number of african immigrants to europe dwindling? first, in pakistan, officials say the number of displaced people heading back to their homes in the northwest has increased greatly. the army opened roads leading into the valley on monday. up to 2 million people uprooted by fighting between the army and the taliban could return. we have this report from islamabad. >> the taliban may have been pushed back, but there is still fear everywhere in the swat valley. people here routinely carried white flags to signal they are no threat to security forces who are everywhere. >> this man has just returned and said the only problem is the market shutdown. it is hard to get things to eat and drink, but is otherwise peaceful. those returning find the weather rather easier to take any unfamiliar heat they have endured living in tents and in the plains. in a camp, tempers were raised as people queued up for food and supplies before leaving. this man says they could not have drawn things would be so bad and blamed the government for the conditions

ghana is an active participant in the united nations and the african union. been extremely active in international peacekeeping. ghana, the first state to gain its independence, has shown it's a stable nation whose government and people are accountable to one another. these acts are a good first step in developing future relationships between us and ghana. one of my constituents, five-time karate champion, fulfilled his lifelong dream by visiting ghana in 1998. the champ visited acra and its changed life. after returning to memphis, he developed his education and enlighting people about the cultural and importance of africa as a continent and ghana. showcased african artifacts, fabric and art. this weekend on friday and saturday both, he'll be honoring africa at his home and inviting the public and having a fashion show and an african dinner. i'll be there. next week -- next year i'll visit ghana and hope to develop trade between our city, ghana, and our nation. the speaker pro tempore: the time of the gentleman has expired. for what purpose does the gentlema

at the g-8, all these founding countries, new economic partnerships for african development, will be present as well as the leadership of the african union. this new economic partnership founded in the 2000's, the early 2000's, was moved by african leaders to take responsibility for governance, peer review and so forth and i think he'll use that opportunity to try to reinvigorate african leadership on the questions of governance which have been neglected over the last eight years or so. he'll have a strong emphasis on food security, i think steve morrison is going to talk about that. a major initiative that will probably be a large focus within the g-8 and a refocus on agriculture. despite the expansion of u.s. engagement in africa over the last eight years, agriculture and sustainable food security has been missing from u.s. policy, really since the late 1970's when we did do much more on that front. the food crisis last year woke a lot of people up to this issue. i think we're going to see a shift in food security and -- from kind of emergency measures to hopefully longer term, sustained engagement in building african capacities in agr

speaker, the day of the african child has been celebrated on june 16 each year since 1991 when it was first initiated by the organization of african unity, the precursor of the after coon union. according to the united nations children's funds, subsaharan africa remains the most difficult place in the world for a child to survive. every year in subsaharan africa, more than 1.2 million babies die in the first month of life. roughly one in every six children fail to reach their fifth birthday. despite significant overall progress in decreasing mortality rates for children under age 5, each year an estimated 9.2 million newborns and children die from preventable and treatable causes. the top five killers of children under 5 include neonatal causes such as respiratory infections, pneumonia, malaria, diarrhea and hiv-aids. according to ministers of health, the high level of maternal and childhood level of mortality are atrbletted to weak health systems, a low level of skill attendance at birth, poor health infrastructure and inadequate financial resources. progress in reducing maternal, newborn and child deaths can be achieved through increased coverage of proven solutions. over

this means the joint african union peacekeeping mission, which expired today, will continue through july010, to maintain security in saddam's were-torn region. -- sudan's wartorn region. militants there are responsible for murdering thousands of black africans. since then, the u.s. has campaigned hard for international action to stop the killing, but the allies in china and russia and the arab league have hampered efforts. atrocities continue, with a staggering toll in the hundreds of thousands despite the peacekeeping mission. had the peacekeepers pulled out, it could spell disaster, as african troops would have to take over. over the past years, some u.n. personnel have been killed in the violence. but pulled out of the region, only 9000 less affected african troops would remain. -- less-effective african troops. 2.7 million people have been displaced from their homes. >> as you may remember, since day one as secretary general, i made this crisis number one. we made progress in terms of deploying these forces, but it has been quite a long delay. >> of that interview came right before t

the hotel manager said that they had registered at journalists. >>> as we mentioned yesterday, african union peacekeepers got involved over the weekend in the fighting between somalian government forces and islamic militants close to the presidential palace. today, uganda, whose troops make up part of that peacekeeping force, asked for a change in its mandates so that the troops can engage in battle. a spokesman said, right now we're engaged in peace kaiping where there is no peace. >>> the former president of liberia testified at his war crimes' trial today. charles taylor said the case against him was built on lies and misinformation. prosecutors say taylor led an armed rebels to gain control of neighboring sierra leone in the civil war in that country from 1991 to 2002. the aim to strip from its vast mineral well. taylor is charged with 11 counts including murder, torture, rape and using child soldiers. today he denied the charges. >> i'm a father of 14 children, humanity i have fought all my life to do what i thought was right in the interest of justice and fair play. i resent that chara

the slave trade. it is a remarkable interview with america's first african-american president. that's all ahead this hour on "stast the union." while president obama spent the past week overseas attending to global matters, his administration pressed ahead with its effort to revamp the health care system. the vice president joe biden announced a new agreement with the hospital industry to help pay for reform. there are still major issues to resolve, including whether to tax health care benefits in order to finance a final reform plan. here to outline the obama's view is kathleen sebelius. madam, secretary, thank you very much for joining us. >> president obama has outlined his preferred payment plan, about $660 billion in savings out of the existing system. so money that is already in the system that's not making us healthier and going to procedures and practices that work very well. and about $330 billion in a proposal that would cap the itemized deductions that the wealthiest americans take. return them to level they were in president reagan's day's. they would tax the wealthiest americans, additional tax to pay for the h

from the exact location where millions of africans were sold into slavery. we'll see it right here on "state of the union." - hello! - ha! why don't you try a home cooked meal... with yummy hamburger helper? oh! tada! fantastically tasty, huh? ummm, it's good. what would you guys like? hamburger helper. what?! one pound... one pan... one tasty meal! i'm showing my helping hand by partnering with hamburger helper®. our goal is to help feeding america deliver more than three and a half million meals to food banks. more information is available at showyourhelpinghand.com. a heart attack at 53. i had felt fine. but turns out... my cholesterol and other risk factors... increased my chance of a heart attack. i should've done something. now, i trust my heart to lipitor. when diet and exercise are not enough, adding lipitor may help. unlike some other cholesterol lowering medications, lipitor is fda approved to reduce the risk... of heart attack, stroke, and certain kinds of heart surgeries... in patients with several common risk factors... or heart disease. lipitor has been extensively studied... with over 16 y

south--th--about 40 percent of virginia's population, which is a--far and away the largest state in the union was african-american. south carolina had a slave majority--more like 60 percent of the population. so there were many more complicated problems associated with abolishing slavery in the south. and as i said, it didn't have the same group of--of reformers--anti-slavery reformers. but there was anti-slavery agitation in the south. north and south the contradiction between slavery and the declaration of independence was evident and spoken about, but it was just a much more difficult--th--in so many different ways it would have been harder because in the s--the north, there was a--a small free black population to grudgingly integrate into the white population. one thing--interesting things about northern abolition is that it was gradual. it was peaceful and it was gradual. typically, a state would, you know, pass a law that would say: all slaves will be--born after this date will be free when they reach the age of 21 for women, or 24 for men. so it was a gradual way. they--there--it would have been d

as we know, the african union is critical of the rights of women ratified by 23 countries.w, if we were to turn to some of the work itself, and i'm just going to briefly talk about two points before i stop. one is the whole logic of the creative theatrical. what i argued in her work is that she acts are sometimes put forward some of the major theoretical positions that she would also argue in some of her shorter essays. and she does this marvelously in a work called and a walk which really theorizes the middle passage. and it is actually might be one of those works which has to be addressed seriously if we look at the whole iraqi were russians that come from middle passage sexuality. and she also along with that has really an amazing way of incorporating within that same text the logic of the woman caught as it were between traditional expectations and then of course the logic that sort of keep her back in a particular position. so i wanted to really make sure that the question of reclaiming the self for ama ata aidoo has to do with reclaiming the african for herself, the a

for example we have the east african community there is the south african community, central african community. this is an effort by them, african union to help move africa towards a more united africa, but you cannot have a more united africa when you are still struggling with united macronation. so the leadership here in order to bring the african people together not by encouraging them to be ashamed of who they are, of their micronesian, not by encouraging them to deny who they are because that will not happen and he will get people who are not any better but by encouraging them to come together to appreciate their strength and diversity and to embrace this diversity at the national level and then we will be able to produce leaders that are committed not to the micronesian, but the nation as a whole and that is a big charity because if we have that we would have fewer national conflicts on the competition, between these micronation's and because the fact is the competition between the micronations is actually a competition between the leaders would sometimes i would call the lead man, the leaders of in these micronations and the re

moammar kadafi dictator here as chairman of the african-american union. o the last day here at the g-8 conference. shook hands with the president last night. a picture you don't often see. so, guys, if you want to get to substance, i'm already for you. i wanted to get that juicy stuff off the top. brian: g-8 summit. what is solved? what is signed, what is delivered? have we handled the issue of global warming yet? >> well, the g-8 conference is historically famous for statement upon statement upon statement. lots of talking. but historically not so much follow-up. now, the obama administration argues that this g-8 conference is different and will be different on the topic of global warming because for the first time all the member nations have agreed to long-range specific targets to reduce co 2, carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere cut by 2050. the problem is that's 40 years ago. all committing to it will not be in office and some will not be alive. the developing nations like india and china are not going to sign on to anything until nations like t

the presidential palace. dozens of people have been killed. african union peacekeepers have finally intervened to support the government forces for the first time. the united nations says civilians are being targeted in all of this, women and children suffering the most. >>> and back here in the states, senate confirmation hearings begin tomorrow for supreme court nominee sonia sotomayor. president obama nominated her to fill the seat of retiring justice dave vi individual souter and the talk ever since a 55-year-old new yorker, puerto rican decent. graduated from yale and worked as an assistant district attorney in new york for five years. she has been a federal judge since 1992 and on the u.s. circuit court of appeals since '98. over the past few days, the debate over judge sotomayor has been heating up a great deal. president obama called her this morning answered wish herd good luck as it all starts off. cnn's kate bolduan has a preview of what might be coming up. >> thank you, mr. president, for the most humbling honor of my life. >> reporter: a journe

it's a remarkable interview from the exact location where millions of africans were sold into slavery. you're going toe see it right here on "state of the union." thh >>> well, we just heard the obama administration's view of health care reform, now let's turn to four u.s. senators who are playing a key role in crafting a plan. in his home state of new hampshire, republican judd gregg and from her home state of michigan, democratic senator debbie st debbie stabano, here with me in washington, lamar alexander of tennessee, and democrat of north dakota, senator conrad, let me start with you. you just heard kathleen sebelius the secretary of health and human services say the obama white house is open to this house proposal that charlie wrangle, the chairman of the ways and means committee has put forward to put additional taxes on the richest american families to pay for health care reform for everybody else who doesn't have it yet. is that a good idea? >> look, everything does have to be on the table. you can't negotiate properly without that rule in place. but i don't think the house proposal as i've heard it will be what's part of the final p

the union in the civil war. thousands fought for the confederacy. 1.2 african-americans served in world war ii. fense department says 10,000 mexican americans fought for the union during the civil war. hundreds of thousands of hispanics fought in world war ii. 12 hispanics awarded the medal of honor. 24 asian americans received the medal of honor. >> this is a country basically built by white folks. >> that's just not true. i love white folks. i'm white folks. yeah, white folks. it's just not factually true to generalize from white experience how america came to be. a clarification. pat said over and over again in our discussion that he is against affirmative action. rick pearlstein turned up a memo in 1971 which pat actually suggested an affirmative action program to richard nixon's white house. i was an affirmative action program for catholics. "instead of sending the orders out to all our agencies, hire blacks and women, the order should go out hire ethnic catholics, preferable women for visible posts. one example, italian americans, unlike blacks never had a supreme court member. give those

the wife he adore a decision some will understand, which -- but will appall hers. >> still to come, once ere were -- a risk stormy seas for a better life in e european union. why i theumber of african immigran to europe dwindling first, in pakistan,fficials say the numbeof displaced people heading back to their home in the northwestas ncreased greatly. t army opened roads leading intothe valley ononday. u to 2 million people uprooted by fighting between e army and the taliban could retu. we have this repo from islamad. >> the talib may have been pushed back, b there is still fear everyere in the swat valley people here routinely carried white flags to signal ey are no threato security forces who are everywhere >> is man has just returned ansaid the only problem is the market shutdown. it is hard to get this to eat and drink, butis otherwise peaceful. those returning find t weather rather eaer to tke any unmiliar heat they have endured living inents and in the plains. in a camp, tempers re raised as people qued up for food and supplies before leaving. this man says they coulnot ha drawn things wld be so bad and amed the governme for the conditio they face. the govnment has had stron

the to of civil war unknowns-- over 2,000 confedate and union soldiers commingl in one grave since 66. another little-kwn tribute to civil w soldiers liescross town inhe shaw neighborhood washington, d.c.-- the naonal africanrican civil war memorial. suounding the sculpture are the nameof over 200,000 afrin american soldiers who fought in the vil war. lee w. jacon's great great grandfatr was one of them. he joined grant's army aft the emancipation proclamion. it isn just the history oflack americans; it's a part of the htory of the fabric of thicountry. ["tapsplaying] narrator: there are 20 to military funerals a day in arlinon cemetery. and if music can be a memorial, thentaps" must be that mody. man: i've bn sounding "taps" here at arlington national cemeter for over 22 yes. sounding "taps" is scial cause when that family comes into arlington to bury their loved one, th're hearing "taps" fothe first time. i've seen ma families break downn tears when the first note arts, so i always strive to make it perfect. narrator: jacent to arlington cemetery is the u.s. marine corps war memorl, betternown as the statue ofwo jima. the toweri statue is based on e pulitzer prize photograph by j rosenthal, taken atop mo

for example, we have the african community, south african to many, central african community. we need african union to help move africa toward a more united in africa but you cannot have a more united africa when you have still struggling with united micro nation. and so the leadership here and the need to bring the african peoples together not by force, not by encouraging them to be ashamed of who they are, of their micro nations, not by encouraging them to deny who they are because that should not happen and you get people who are not any better but by encouraging them to come together, to appreciate their strength and diversity. and to embrace this diversity and then we will be able to produce leaders that are committed not to their micronesian but to the nation as a whole. and that is the biggest challenge because if we have that we will have fewer national conflicts that are based on the competition between these microbe nation's and because the fact is the competition between these micro nations is actually a competition between the leaders would sometimes i call with the lead manage a, the l

the african-american writer from yale law school spoke at tapis smiley -- at tavis smile's state of the black union in february. president obama was listening. jones has left oakland and is now in washington working in the administration, using green jobs as part of the stimulus bill to target people. we employ unskilled workers, semiskilled workers, and unskilled workers. these are people that had barrier to admission. the stimulus package is designed to do that. green jobs helps everybody. jones' work was very important. at that is why he is out there now making sure this becomes an issue. we will have many more sort of environmentally conscious efforts to address these issues. it reaches the committee we described. >> that is it, thank you very much. >> this took place in aspen, colorado on june 30. you can see this program again at c-span.org. in to join us next week for "america and the court's." saturday evenings at 7:00 eastern on c-span. on "newsmakers" this week, james clyburn gave his thoughts on the arrested at harvard professor. >> he can be no more or less of what our experiences have