u.s. department of state the investment climate of russia has strengthened in recent years but corruption how stable legal framework and economies dependence on natural resources are all clashes that are eroding confidence among potential investors economic forum in st petersburg otherwise known as the russian glamorous is hoping to improve the country's financial reputation the return of thousand foreign business people have turned up to find out about last night's opportunities and strike dozens of multi-million dollar deals. well most of you can thank you very much for coming all share this if you can there was a time when when the economic forum in st peter's group was overshadowed by the learned economic from every starting at the to take it taking place simultaneously now the russians are no longer envious. however of the london gallery why is it a sign of. maturity or does this reflect the rising interest are far enough or in businesses and politicians to the events in russia to the. russian market. russian economic forum in london has started to form for mostly discussion of russi

u.s. department of state to be investing time in his russian has strengthened in recent years but corruption and unstable legal framework and economies dependence on natural resources are old patches that are only confidence monkey time from glasgow's economic forum in st petersburg otherwise known as the russian glamorous is hoping to improve the country's financial reputation into two thousand and four and business people have turned up find out about investment opportunities and strike dozens of multi-million dollar deals. hell most of you can thank you very much for coming on the show. and there was a time when when the economic forum in st petersburg was overshadowed by the london economic reverie starting at the two taking taking place actually simultaneously now the russians are no longer envious. however of the london gathering why is it a sign of. maturity or does this reflect the and raising interest of foreign of foreign businesses in the politicians to the event to russia . to russian market. russian economic forum in london a starter for foremostly discussion of russian shares.

u.s. department of state the investment climate russia has strengthened in recent years but corruption and all stable legal framework and economies dependence on natural resources are all packages that are eroding confidence among potential investors the economic forum in st petersburg otherwise known as the russian babbles is hoping to improve the country's financial reputation with two thousand foreign business people have turned up find out about rescued opportunities and strike dozens of multi-million dollar deals. how most of you can thank you very much for coming a little shell miss if you can there was a time when the when the economic forum in st petersburg was overshadowed by by the london economic from ever he's talking about the to take it taking place simultaneously now the russians are no longer envious and. the london eye gathering why is it a sign of. maturity or does this reflect the rising interest far enough for a. business is in the politicians to the event in russia to be catered to russian market our russian economic forum in london has started for for mostly discussio

u.s. department of state and usaid as they move forward on this that we might prod them on this issue and their ambassadors -- and they all have projects that they can fund little stipend that they could do and they don't even know that but if ambassadors' wives could have the women perhaps of the countries and courage them to have a meeting and then encourage the african community to, therefore, approach the hierarchy of the church, i think that we could, as you mentioned -- we don't need a lot of money. we just need to use the resources and everyone needs a home, you're absolutely right. because i was late and i've taken enough time, i will yield back and ask no more questions. and i thank you very much. >> thank you, mr. chairman. just as a brief follow-up, ms. kobenan. you mentioned regarding your son and the brain mapping that was done and it seemed to really shed light on what his -- you know, his strong and what he was going to have difficulties with. can you expand upon that? is that an mri or sorts? >> it's an eqg that they do. they put a lot of -- how do you call this, electro,

of the international affairs and trade team for the u.s. government accountability office. she began her professional career in the gao in 1978. she has also been the inspector general of the u.s. department of state and u.s. arms control and then disarming the agency and it's a pleasure to have you here today. the international affairs of the department of homeland security was responsible for coordinating the department international programs and policies. prior to joining he served in the u.s. foreign service concentrating a counter terrorism and security issues and it's an honor to have you here today as well. we have the deputy cord meter for regional affairs of the u.s. department of state. previously she served as the chief of mission in burma and her expensive foreign service career included overseas assignments in thailand, brazil and ecuador among others. next we have mr. james roberts who served as a principal director for the special operations and combating terrorism and the office of secretary defense. mr. roberts began his government career as a u.s. army private in 1968 and served 24 years on active duty as a military intelligence officer. thank you for your service to the country

of the u.s. government, the arms control related to the state department. ambassador, i would like to ask you a brief question. the united arab emirates has been organizing an experiment to run an entire city on renewable, solar and wind. i wonder whether german authorities have looked at that and draw many conclusions from it if so. >> we believe this can easily be done. last year we had many days when we got all of our electricity from grenoble's in germany. you rarely see the sun. we had about coming from wind, sun, hydro. imagine many days when germany did not need any other energy source for electricity. we believe these things are doable. we have experiments like that ourselves that works extremely well. there are challenges that you have to invest heavily into the grid and storage and all of these other things. i must add that the energy supply of the future will be much more decentralized. it will be different than that of today. that is the duty of renewable energy. you can produce it where you use it. that is why examples like you mentioned are ve

of state, has died. mr. eagleburger rows of the ranks of the u.s. foreign service and state department, becoming a top aide to henry kissinger during the nixon and ford administration. he was ambassador to yugoslavia for jimmy carter and served as secretary of state during the george h.w. bush administration. the cause of death was pneumonia. he was 80 years old. in this week's youtube address, president obama discusses the state of the u.s. auto industry and its relation to the rest of the economy, including unemployment and the federal deficit. republican senator lamar alexander of tennessee delivers the republican response. talks about the role of unions, including auto industry, and praises the policies of so- called right to work states. this is 10 minutes. >> hello, everyone. i'm speaking to you today from a chrysler plant in toledo, ohio, where i just met with workers, including jill. jill was born and raised here. her mother and step-father retired from this plant. and she met her husband here, and now they have two children of their own. this plant has not only been central to

of the u.s. state department's recent actions in sanctioning, the purpose of this hearing is to review and better understand the role of the state department and treasury department in utilizing sanctions as an instrument of u.s. foreign policy. specifically, i'd like to concentrate on the sanctions available under u.s. law and discuss their potential application in cases where venezuela individuals, businesses and the government are able to be sanctioned. venezuela has become the wild west under thugocrat hugo chavez. this is true for the following reasons. first, there is rampant drug trafficking and corruption. second, terrorist organizations like hezbollah and the farc are officially linked to government officials. and, third, venezuela is supporting iran, and iran's desire for a nuclear weapon. under hugo chavez, venezuela has become a hub in our region for money laundering and transshipment of illicit goods. the relationship between drug trafficking and terrorist organizations has become closely intertwined. if you'll notice up on the screen, we have the definition from the state department

of the u.s. state department's recent actions inur sanctioning the purpose of thisr hearing is to review and better understand the role of the state department and treasuryiz department annualizing sanctions as an instrument of u.s. foreign policy.he specifically i would like to concentrate on the sanctions available under u.s. law andplic discuss their potential application in cases where sine venezuela, individuals, and thee government's are able to be sanctioned. venezuela has become the wild west. this is true for the followingfi reasons. first, there is rampant drugptn. trafficking and corruption. second, terrorist organizations like hezbollah are officially linked to government officials. third, venezuela is supporting iran and their desire from of au their weapons. under severe chavis venezuela has become a hub and our reason for money launder ing andmoney i transshipment of illicit goods.t in recent years the relationshir between drug trafficking and tes terrorist organizations has intertwined.y if you will notice, on the scre screen we have that definition from the state department of what

groups with strings that could be used to steer other states where america wants them and also has gone into counterparts of the u.s. state department now generously hands out cash and technology to dissidents throughout the world it's bureau of him are crissy human rights and labor has announced the request for proposals on how to foster change in a number of countries in the middle east and north africa as well as cuba the u.s. claims the best of intentions saying it wants to strengthen independent civil society groups in those countries it's just in really another form of provoking regime change they're just trying to do it under a different guise under a different facade saying that somehow with the best of intentions they're promoting democracy but in reality it's just promoting us agenda among other things the state department is financing the creation of stealth wireless networks that would enable activists to communicate outside the reach of governments in countries like iran and syria and libya according to participants in the projects other programs include a so-called internet in a suitcase a powerful portable wireless tr

the departments of state, homeland security, justice, and defense are all but a few of the u.s. agencies combining their efforts in countering this threat. i'm interested in hearing today from our witnesses, the level of cooperation that presently exists among the various agencies and whether this multiagency approach is producing positive results for our homeland security. i think cooperation is one of the challenges that we all face in a threat so complicated and serious as this, and it's important that the coordination exists as seemlessly as possible. i'm concerned that congress receive a full and comprehensive listing of the government's efforts especially in light of the risk safe havens pose to the safety and security of u.s. interest both at home and abroad. one hand needs to know what the other hand is doing and the production of this report in the manner intended by congress will allow that to happen. while today's focus is on physical safe hatches, we must also consider the broader safe hatches of the future. electronic infrastructure and global communications play an

of support. and other interviews in about twenty minutes time here on r.t. now the u.s. state department's plans for spreading democracy around the world have been greeted with speculation that washington is planning a program of foreign regime change it will provide finance and technology to opposition groups but the attached strings could be used to steer other states where america wants them. reports. the u.s. state department now generously hands out cash and technology to dissidents throughout the world its bureau of democracy human rights and labor has announced the request for proposals on how to foster change in a number of countries in the middle east and north africa as well this cuba the us claims the best of intentions saying it wants to strengthen independent civil society groups in those countries it's just in really another form of provoking regime change they're just trying to do it under a different guise under a different facade saying that somehow and with the best of intentions they're promoting. democracy but in reality it's just promoting u.s. agenda among other thing

of the u.s. state department's recent actions and sanctioning data, the purpose of this hearing is to review and better understand the role of state and treasury department in utilize sanctions ag as instrument of u.s. foreign policy. i want to talk about the sanctions under u.s. law and discuss their application in case venezuela, individuals, businesses, and the government are able to be sanctioned. venezuela has become the wild west under hugo. this is true for the following reasons. first, there is rampant drug trafficking and corruption. second, terrorist organizations like hezbollah and the farc are linked to government officials, and third, venezuela is supporting iran and iran's desire for nuclear weapons. under hugo chavez, there's been money laundering and goods. the relationship between drug trafficking and terrorist organizations has become closely intertwined. if you'll notice up on the screen, we have the definition from the state department of what a state sponsor of terrorism is, and i'll let you read that on your own. it is widely acknowledged that terrorists groups turned to dru

u.s. state department as of a lot of attention to russia lately including statements from michael posner our own assistant secretary of state for human rights perhaps it's because hillary clinton thinks the u.s. government's massive propaganda machine is losing the info war the russians have opened up an english language network i've seen it in a few countries and it's quite instructive as u.s. state department spokesman mark toner said in a statement on may thirtieth we know it was concern that a peaceful demonstration of russians advocating for the rights of gays and lesbians joined by international supporters was forcefully disrupted by kevin protesters in that russian security forces then detained people from both groups. well here's the disturbing part from posner about working with russia i want you to know that you have the support of barack obama's administration of secretary of state hillary clinton and of the american people and that's why we have the american people are supporting a foreign government violating human rights this is your tax money at work under obama i'm sure the r

today's hearing focuses on department of state contracting and u.s. contingency operations like those in iraq and afghanistan. the commission is interested in three major topics. first, the department of state response to the commission's report to congress. second, the treatment of contingency contract in in the most recent squadron heels the diplomacy reva development review and third and final, transition issues and iraq and afghanistan. the commissioners may of course raise additional issues as the question period unfolds. our sole witness today is a very distinguished official of the department of state, ambassador patrick f. kennedy. his current position as undersecretary of state for management puts him squarely at the center of the action on many issues that concern this commission. we appreciate the informed and helpful testimony he has provided another appearances before the panel and welcome him back. we also appreciate his informal response is to work as well. before we hear the investor kennedy's testimony, i will comment briefly on our th

of u.s. state department cables was some point out the obvious but dirty truths that the u.s. tries to interfere in the domestic politics of sovereign nations to suit america's agenda for the agenda of american corporations even have thoughts all detrimental to the economic development of the attempts to democratize those nations the ones which we claim to support through diplomatic announcements of foreign aid packages and all the grandstanding we do about spreading democracy and haiti is a perfect example of this as nearly two thousand new weekly leaks cables released this week for a partnership with the haitian weekly newspaper haiti live today are showing us the state department cables released so far details to glaring examples of u.s. arrogance and hawkers. the first story is one of the u.s. government working with oil companies companies like exxon mobil and chevron to sabotage a deal for haiti the joint petrarca rebate venezuela's oil alliance and the u.s. admits itself in these cables of the deal would have saved haiti one hundred million u.s. dollars a year money that

of the u.s. state department has estimated the drone attacks kill fifty non targeted persons for each intended target one of the things the united states kind of pretends is that we are morally superior we are better judge able to judge what is good for other people and therefore we are entitled to inflict our judgement on them and that we presume they will be grateful to us for it but that is not what happens ever and that's not what's happening in yemen it's not what's happening in pakistan they are furiously and raged with us washington is looking to increase the funding for drone development by seven times over the next ten years a large part of that will go towards on our surveillance drones the u.s. has for years been using them in another of its undeclared wars against drug traffickers in mexico the mexican government allows you. u.s. spy planes despite public discontent there's a lot of concern that the use of these drones by the u.s. government has more to do with u.s. control over mexican territory actually going out to the drug lords and winning the drug war while issues of international l

u.s. propaganda and even if they're not official state department propaganda outlets they're still gras casting a point of view of the united states in promoting u.s. agenda around the world to the u.s. actually has an apparatus a media apparatus much larger than just what's out what's coordinated by the baby and this is what i think as a as a broader impact in a much more powerful impact around the world in promoting us agenda and does it have an impact though i shaping public opinion in places like venezuela because commentary of heard from people in regards to these u.s. funded operations is that people in those countries know they're u.s. funded and as a result they don't put much credence into them but yet this is something that's supposed to shape image abroad and we heard in that report that there's accusations that all this funding really is just funny outlets that are falling on deaf ears what have you seen to be the reality i mean i think that b.g. and i voice of america again and the radio and t.v. marti i have been complete waste of millions and millions of u.s. taxpayer dollar. i mean absolut

u.s. department of state if as u.s.aid as they move forward on this that we might prod them on this issue and suggest to them their ambassadors and they all have projects that they can fund, little stipend they could do, and they don't need that, but ambassadors' wives could have the women perhaps of the country and encourage them to have a meeting and then encourage the african community to therefore approach the high remark ky of the church. i think as you mentioned, we don't need a lot of money, just have to use the resources, and everybody needs a home, you're absolutely right. because i was late and have taken enough time, i yield back and will ask no other questions. thank you very much. >> thank you, mr. chairman. just as a brief follow-up, mrs. kobenan, you mentioned your son and the brain mapping that was done, and it really seemed to shed light on what his strengths were and difficults would be. can you expand on that? >> it's an ekg that they put a lot of -- how you call this -- electrodes on his head, and th

saying that somehow and with the best of intentions they're promoting democracy but in reality it's just promoting the u.s. agenda among other things the state department is financing the creation of stealth wireless networks that would enable activists to communicate outside the region. governments in countries like iran and syria and libya according to participants in the project other programs include a so-called internet in a suitcase a powerful portable wireless transmitter that activists can use to set up their own networks in order to circumvent state control but at the same time american companies provide authorities in bahrain saudi arabia and kuwait with the technology to effectively block websites those double standards system everybody should be fully aware of things and understand the. us or united states government austrian regime change that's were essentially color of lucian's our technology is not all the us provides to instigate change in certain countries some opposition movements get a direct cash supply for example we can leaks cables show that the state department has for years secretly funded syrian anti-government groups it's do

u.s. department of state and deputy chief of staff to secretary clinton. prior to assuming his post as director february 20 11, mr. sullivan also served as deputy chief of staff for policy since january 2009. he also serves as deputy policy director on then senator clinton's presidential campaign and as a member of the debate preparation team for then senator obama's general election debates. in his past life before coming to these positions he also clerked for justice stephen breyer on the supreme court and was a rhodes scholar at oxford. he will talk to us on american foreign policies in age of uncertainties. for those of you who are here this morning this fits nicely with our conference theme on risks and rewards and i'm sure he will touch on topics related to middle east and afghanistan and tradeoffs involved we were talking about earlier. so please join me in welcoming jake sullivan. [applause] >> thanks, nora. good afternoon. at least one person said good afternoon. it's a privilege for me to be here to help celebrate the fifth anniversary for the ce

policy as we approach the official transition from department of defense to the department of state lead. june 1 will mark approximate six months until all u.s. troops, combat or otherwise, are scheduled to leave iraq. as of january 1, 2012, it will fall to the state department to oversee iraq's continued progress and implementation of the goals outlined in the strategic framework agreement. having just returned from iraq a little over a week ago, i appreciate how critical the work our military and our state department does as we continue to carry out the mission there. in conjunction with the iraqi partners on the ground, they have helped set iraq on the course to become a stable, secure and democratic country that respects human rights. but as we look with favor upon these hard-won gains, we must remember that we are not there yet. earlier today baghdad severed both a car bomb and a roadside bomb wounded 16 people so for. iraq's recent progress is regrettably as precarious as it is positive. it is far to easy to look at where we are today and forget where we were just several years ago. and although the administration's plan to transition

state department under the reagan and lustration. he became president of the consulting firm founded by henry kissinger. at his memorial service this week, officials from the u.s. state department, including hillary clinton and henry kissinger, honored his life and work. >> i am honored to speak on behalf of the rank and file of the state department foreign service, and particularly those who had the great privilege of serving under secretary eagle berger. i worked with him from 1989 through 1993. i came to fill part of his family. still, i always called him mr., where as he had multiple names for me. early on, my name was fully farley, as in "whatever your name is, get in here." i figured out his was the ferocious part of a deeply kind and good hearted man with an astonishing sense of humor that would not quit under almost any conceivable circumstance. those were momentous times in american foreign policy. i cannot recall a single day when he did not have us in stitches. the work was hard. he made it fun. it was serious, but he never took himself seriously. working for him was pure joy. there was nothing we would not do for him. he was funny to the point of c