PBS NewsHour; June 7, 2012 6:00pm-7:00pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Brown: SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON CONDEMNED A NEW MASSACRE IN SYRIA, SAYING THE KILLING OF AT LEAST 78 PEOPLE IS UNCONSCIONABLE. GOOD EVENING, I'M JEFFREY BROWN.

>> Woodruff: AND I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. ON THE "NEWSHOUR" TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE LATEST ON THE VIOLENCE AND EFFORTS BY THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO MAKE A CEASEFIRE HOLD.

>> Brown: THEN, WE TURN TO POLITICS AND TALK WITH FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY- - A CO-CHAIR OF THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN-- ABOUT THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL RACE.

>> MITT ROMNEY HAS A SPECIFIC SET OF PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE, THE PRESIDENT IS DUCKING, HIDING, WEAVING, BOBBING ON THOSE ISSUES. WON'T LEAD, WON'T PROPOSE AND HE IS HIDING ON ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF THE DAY AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

>> Woodruff: AS CONGRESS INVESTIGATES LEAKS ABOUT WAR TACTICS, FROM DRONE STRIKES TO CYBER ATTACKS, WE TALK WITH A JOURNALIST WHO HAS REPORTED ON THE SECRET PROGRAMS.

>> Brown: SPENCER MICHELS LOOKS AT ONE CITY'S PLAN TO COMBAT OBESITY AND DIABETES BY DISCOURAGING PEOPLE FROM DRINKING SODAS.

>> PEOPLE IN RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, ARE DEBATING A CONTROVERSIAL MEASURE ON THE BALLOT, TO TAX SUGARY BEVERAGES.

>> Woodruff: AND WE CLOSE WITH A PROFILE OF THE NEWLY NAMED 19th U.S. POET LAUREATE-- PULITZER PRIZE WINNER, NATASHA TRETHEWEY.

>> Brown: THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S "NEWSHOUR." MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY:

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>> Brown: A NEW WAVE OF INTERNATIONAL CRITICISM FOLLOWED THE NEWS OF MORE HORRIFIC VIOLENCE IN SYRIA. THAT CAME AS U.N. OBSERVERS ON THE GROUND WERE FIRED UPON AS THEY TRIED TO ACCESS THE SITE OF THE LATEST MASS KILLING. RAY SUAREZ HAS THE STORY.

>> Suarez: AMATEUR VIDEO SHOWED WHAT'S BELIEVED TO BE THE AFTERMATH OF SHELLING IN THE CENTRAL PROVINCE OF HAMA, AT A SMALL FARMING TOWN CALLED MAZRAAT AL-QUBAIR. THE FACES OF THE VICTIMS HAVE BEEN BLURRED. AFTER A SIX-HOUR ARTILLERY ASSAULT, OPPOSITION ACTIVISTS SAY GOVERNMENT-BACKED MILITIA'S ENTERED THE TOWN AND EXECUTED MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, LEAVING AT LEAST 78 DEAD. SPEAKING TODAY IN TURKEY, SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON RENEWED HER CALL FOR SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD TO STEP ASIDE.

>> THE REGIME-SPONSORED VIOLENCE THAT WE WITNESSED AGAIN IN HAMA YESTERDAY IS SIMPLY UNCONSCIONABLE. ASSAD HAS DOUBLED DOWN ON HIS BRUTALITY AND DUPLICITY, AND SYRIA WILL NOT, CANNOT BE PEACEFUL, STABLE OR CERTAINLY DEMOCRATIC UNTIL ASSAD GOES.

>> Suarez: THIS LATEST ATROCITY COMES LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE SLAUGHTER 30 MILES SOUTH IN HOULA. 108 DIED THERE. THOSE KILLINGS LED TO INTERNATIONAL CONDEMNATION AND THE COORDINATED EXPULSION OF SYRIAN DIPLOMATS FROM THE U.S. AND COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD. THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT, HOWEVER, HAS DENIED RESPONSIBILITY FOR EITHER INCIDENT AND MAINTAINS THAT ARMED REBEL GROUPS AND TERRORISTS ARE TO BLAME. AT THE U.N.'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK, SECRETARY GENERAL BAN KI-MOON DESCRIBED THE ACTS IN HAMA AND HOULA AS UNSPEAKABLE BARBARITY. AND HE SAID U.N. OBSERVERS-- THERE AS PART OF AN EIGHT-WEEK OLD CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT-- WERE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER TODAY.

>> THEY ARE WORKING NOW TO GET TO THE SCENE, AND I JUST LEARNED A FEW MINUTES AGO THAT WHILE TRYING TO DO SO THE U.N. MONITORS WERE SHOT AT WITH SMALL ARMS.

>> Suarez: SPECIAL ENVOY KOFI ANNAN, FORMER U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL, MET WITH PRESIDENT ASSAD JUST DAYS AFTER THE HOULA MASSACRE AND HAD STRONG WORDS FOR THE REGIME.

>> PRESIDENT ASSAD BELIEVED THAT THE MAIN OBSTACLE WAS THE ACTIONS OF MILITANTS. CLEARLY ALL PARTIES MUST CEASE VIOLENCE, BUT EQUALLY CLEAR IS THAT THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

>> Suarez: ANNAN WARNED THAT THE TIME TO IMPLEMENT HIS PEACE PLAN IS RAPIDLY DWINDLING.

>> IF THINGS DO NOT CHANGE, THE FUTURE IS LIKELY TO BE ONE OF BRUTAL REPRESSION, MASSACRES, SECTARIAN VIOLENCE AND EVEN ALL OUT CIVIL WAR. ALL SYRIANS WILL LOSE.

>> Suarez: FOR HIS PART, SYRIA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS QUESTIONED THE U.N.'S ACCOUNT OF EVENTS.

>> ( translated ): WHAT'S OCCURRING IN CERTAIN PARTS OF MY COUNTRY IS TRULY AN ATROCIOUS MATTER. IT IS UNJUSTIFIABLE, BUT CERTAIN THE ANALYSIS IS BASED ON MEDIA AND POLITICAL WORK WHICH DOES NOT RELATE TO WHAT'S OCCURRING ON THE GROUND.

>> Suarez: RUSSIA AND CHINA-- PERMANENT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL-- HAVE BACKED THE SYRIAN GOVERNMENT'S VERSION OF EVENTS AND CALLED FOR MORE TIME TO ALLOW ANNAN'S PEACE PLAN TO WORK. BUT IN WASHINGTON, ARIZONA REPUBLICAN JOHN McCAIN, THE RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, SAID IT'S TIME TO USE FORCE.

>> HOW MANY MORE HAVE TO DIE, HOW MANY MORE YOUNG WOMEN HAVE TO BE RAPED, HOW MANY MORE TORTURED, HOW MANY MORE BEFORE WE WILL ACT.

>> Suarez: MILITARY ACTION WAS NOT ON THE AGENDA AT THE U.N. JUST A SHORT TIME AGO BAN KI-MOON WARNED THAT CIVIL WAR IS IMMINENT AND REAL. FOR THE LATEST ON THE DIPLOMATIC MANEUVERING ON THE UNITED NATIONS WE CHECK IN WITH COLUM LYNCH OF THE "WASHINGTON POST." COLUM, THE PEACE PLAN PUT FORTH BY KOFI ANNAN AND APPROVED BY U.N. MEMBERS HASN'T CHANGED THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN SYRIA. IS THERE A NEW INITIATIVE CIRCULATING? A NEW ANNAN PLAN AND, IF SO, HOW IS IT DIFFERENT?

>> WELL, I MEAN, THERE IS A FEELING THAT THE ANNAN PLAN, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO START A POLITICAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE OPPOSITION AND THE GOVERNMENT, HAS HIT A DEAD END. THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT WILLING TO TALK. THE OPPOSITION IS NOT WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN TALK. WE'RE SEEING ALL THE VIOLENCE UNFOLDING. KOFI ANNAN HAS BEEN LOOKING FOR SOME WAY TO RECHARGE THE DIPLOMACY AND HE SEEMS TO BE EXPLORING THIS IDEA OF SETTING UP A CONTACT GROUP THAT WOULD INVOLVE MANY OF THE MEMBERS ALREADY IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL, THE UNITED STATES, THE EUROPEANS BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND RUSSIA. IT WOULD ALSO-- AT LEAST HE'S TRYING TO INCLUDE SOME OF THE KEY REGIONAL PLAYERS WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE REGION, TURKEY, SAUDI ARABIA HE FLOATED THE IDEA OF IRAN BUT THE AMERICANS ARE NOT THAT KEEN ON SITTING DOWN WITH THE IRANIANS. BUT THE IDEA IS TO ACHIEVE THE SAME THING BUT BRING IN PLAYERS WHO HAVE MORE INFLUENCE ON SYRIA. HOWEVER RUSSIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF THE POLITICAL MEDIATION. IT HAS, PERHAPS, MORE INFLUENCE THAN JUST ABOUT ANYONE ELSE. MAYBE NOT IRAN OR BOTH OF THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE SO I THINK THAT THE WHOLE GAME NOW IS TO TRY AND PUT TOGETHER A NEW PROCESS TO TRY AND GET PARTICULARLY RUSSIA TO USE ITS INFLUENCE TO PUT PRESSURE ON ASSAD TO ACCEPT A POLITICAL TRANSITION. ONE THAT WOULD LEAD TO HIS REMOVAL, HIS WILLINGNESS TO STEP DOWN FROM POWER. THEY HAVE SENT SOME HITS THEY MAY BE SOFTENING A BIT. THE RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT RUSSIA IS NOT WEDDED TO ASSAD TODAY. HE SAID THAT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. SAID IF THERE'S SOME POLITICAL TRANSITION THAT LEADS TO HIS DEPARTURE THEY WOULDN'T SORT OF CRY OVER THAT, THEY WOULD BE PERFECTLY WILLING TO GO ALONG WITH THAT BUT THEY SAID IT WILL HAVEj PARTIES TO DECIDE THEMSELVES AND THAT'S A BIG QUESTION MARK. WOULD ASSAD EVER BE WILLING TO AGREE TO A PROCESS THAT WOULD LEAD TO HIM STEPPING DOWN. AND SO FAR HE LOOKS LIKE A MAN WHO WANTS TO STAY WHERE HE IS. RAY RAY KOFI ANNAN IS ALSO A PRETTY RESTRAINED GUY, VERY CARE INFORMAL THE WAY HE USES LANGUAGE. IT ALSO SOUNDS BACK IN NEW YORK HE'S SAYING THIS IS A PRETTY SERIOUS SITUATION IN SYRIA.

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE FOR SYRIA, FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY. THERE'S REAL CONCERNS. WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS REALLY AWFUL, VIOLENT MASSACRES TAKING PLACE. THERE'S A REAL CONCERN THAT THIS COULD EXPLODE, THAT IT WOULD NOT ONLY AFFECT SYRIA BUT THAT IT WOULD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE REGION. THAT IT COULD PLAY INTO THE REGIONAL TENSIONS BETWEEN RELIGIOUS SUNNIS AND SHI'A. THAT YOU COULD SEE A LOT WORSE THAN WE'RE SEEING NOW AND I THINK THAT HIS... YOU KNOW, HIS SORT OF DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN REALLY FOCUSED ON TRYING TO GET EVERYBODY TO FOCUS ON HOW BAD THINGS COULD GET. AND PART OF THIS IS A WAY OF TRYING TO SPOOK SOME OF THE KEY PLAYERS, INCLUDING RUSSIA, AND THE OTHERS, TO GET BEHIND A CONCERTED STRATEGY THAT WOULD PUT PRESSURE ON THE PARTIES TO ACCEPT SOME SORT OF TRANSITION. I MEAN, THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU HEARD KOFI USING THE WORDS THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE CONSEQUENCERS IF ANYBODY WHO STANDS IN THE WAY OF A POLITICAL TRANSITION. AND THAT COULD MEAN THINGS LIKE SANCTIONS. I DIDN'T THINK ANYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT USE OF MILITARY FORCE HERE BUT OTHER MEANS OF PRESSURE. RAY RAY COLUM LYNCH COVERS THE U.N. FOR THE "WASHINGTON POST." THANKS A LOT.

>> ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR HAVING ME, RAY.

>> Woodruff: STILL TO COME ON THE "NEWSHOUR": ROMNEY CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIR TIM PAWLENTY; THE DANGERS OF LEAKS ABOUT DRONE WARFARE AND CYBER ATTACKS; A TAX ON SUGARY DRINKS AND THE NEW POET LAUREATE OF THE UNITED STATES. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S KWAME HOLMAN.

>> Holman: FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN BEN BERNANKE SAID TODAY THE CENTRAL BANK IS PREPARED TO TAKE FURTHER STEPS TO REVIVE THE U.S. ECONOMY. BUT HE DID NOT SAY ANY ACTION WAS IMMINENT. BERNANKE ACKNOWLEDGED TO CONGRESS'S JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE EUROPE'S ON-GOING DEBT CRISIS DOES POSE SIGNIFICANT RISK TO U.S. FINANCIAL MARKETS. HE SAID THAT UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR THE U.S. TO PUT ITS OWN FISCAL HOUSE IN ORDER.

>> THE MAIN THINGS THAT CONGRESS COULD DO WOULD BE TO HELP STRENGTHEN OUR OWN ECONOMY. THE MORE MOMENTUM, THE STRONGER OUR ECONOMY, THE BETTER ABLE WE WOULD BE TO WITHSTAND THE FINANCIAL SPILLOVER FROM PROBLEMS IN EUROPE. WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE TO MONITOR IT VERY CAREFULLY. I THINK THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE STRONG AND PREPARED HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Holman: STOCKS ON WALL STREET TODAY LOST STEAM IN THE LAST HOUR OF TRADING AND ENDED THE DAY MIXED. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE GAINED 46 POINTS TO CLOSE JUST UNDER 12,461. THE NASDAQ FELL MORE THAN 13 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 2,831. THE U.S. STEPPED UP PRESSURE ON PAKISTAN TODAY TO DO MORE TO ROOT OUT THE AL-QAEDA-LINKED HAQQANI NETWORK IN THEIR COUNTRY. DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA SAID THE U.S. IS NEAR THE LIMIT OF ITS PATIENCE WAITING FOR PAKISTAN TO ACT. VISITING NEIGHBORING AFGHANISTAN TO ASSESS THE WAR THERE, PANETTA SAID IT'S TIME FOR PAKISTAN TO MOVE TO PREVENT INSURGENTS FROM CROSSING THE BORDER TO WAGE ATTACKS IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> WE ARE REACHING THE LIMITS OF OUR PATIENCE HERE. AND FOR THAT REASON IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT PAKISTAN TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT THIS KIND OF SAFE HAVEN FROM TAKING PLACE AND FROM ALLOWING TERRORISTS TO USE THEIR COUNTRY AS A SAFETY NET IN ORDER TO CONDUCT THEIR ATTACKS ON OUR FORCES.

>> Holman: THE MOST RECENT CROSS-BORDER ATTACK HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY. HAQQANI FIGHTERS FROM PAKISTAN DETONATED A TRUCK BOMB IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN AND ATTEMPTED TO STORM A U.S. BASE THERE. NEARLY 2,000 FORMER PRO FOOTBALL PLAYERS ARE SUING THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOR DELIBERATELY CONCEALING THE RISK OF PERMANENT BRAIN INJURIES. THE COMPLAINT, FILED TODAY IN A FEDERAL COURT IN PHILADELPHIA, CONSOLIDATES MORE THAN 80 SIMILAR PENDING LAWSUITS. THE PLAINTIFFS HOPE TO HOLD THE N.F.L. RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF PLAYERS SUFFERING FROM BRAIN DAMAGE CAUSED BY FOOTBALL- RELATED HEAD TRAUMA. N.F.L. OFFICIALS SAID THE SUIT WAS GROUNDLESS AND MAINTAINED THEY NEVER INTENTIONALLY MISLED PLAYERS. A NEARLY 70-FOOT LONG DOCK TORN LOOSE DURING LAST YEAR'S TSUNAMI IN JAPAN HAS TURNED UP ON A BEACH IN OREGON. THE DOCK TRAVELED ROUGHLY 5000 MILES ACROSS THE PACIFIC OCEAN SINCE LAST MARCH FROM THE FISHING TOWN OF MISAWA, JAPAN TO AGATE BEACH, OREGON. IT'S THE FIRST KNOWN LARGE PIECE OF DEBRIS FROM THE TSUNAMI TO TURN UP ON THE U.S. MAINLAND. THE DOCK DREW CURIOUS ONLOOKERS TO THE BEACH. AN OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION OFFICIAL EXPLAINED HOW IT WAS IDENTIFIED.

>> THERE WAS A PLAQUE ATTACHED TO THIS DOCK, THAT HAD IN JAPANESE, INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY THAT MADE IT, THE COMPANY THAT INSTALLED IT, THE DATE AND WHERE IT WAS USED IN JAPAN. WE TOOK PHOTOS OF THAT, SENT IT TO THE JAPANESE CONSULATE, THEY TRANSLATED IT AND USED IT TO TRACE THIS BACK TO A SPECIFIC AREA IN JAPAN, ON THE NORTHEAST COAST.

>> Holman: OREGON OFFICIALS ALSO ORGANIZED VOLUNTEERS TO SCRAPE THE DOCK CLEAN OF MARINE ORGANISMS TODAY. SCIENTISTS ARE CONCERNED THE TINY SPECIES OF CRAB AND STARFISH NATIVE TO JAPAN THAT WERE ATTACHED TO THE DOCK COULD TAKE HOLD ON THE WEST COAST. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO JUDY.

>> Woodruff: AND WE TURN TO THE ELECTION, WITH BOTH PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS RELEASING FUNDRAISING FIGURES TODAY. AS MITT ROMNEY WAS OUT FRONT CLINCHING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT LAST MONTH, HE WAS RAKING IN MILLIONS BEHIND THE SCENES. THE ROMNEY PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE REPORTED TODAY THAT THEY RAISED A COMBINED $76.8 MILLION IN MAY-- FAR OUTPACING THE $60 MILLION RAISED BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRATS LAST MONTH. IT'S THE FIRST TIME IN THE 2012 CAMPAIGN THAT FUNDRAISING FOR GOVERNOR ROMNEY HAS SURPASSED THAT OF THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN. ROMNEY AND THE R.N.C. HAD $107 MILLION IN THE BANK, THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN HAS NOT YET DISCLOSED THAT FIGURE. WITH A STRENGTHENED CAMPAIGN ARSENAL, ROMNEY CONTINUED TO POUND THE PRESIDENT ON THE ECONOMY AT A MILITARY CONTRACTING PLANT IN ST. LOUIS.

>> OVER THE LAST THREE AND A RECORD NUMBERS OF AMERICANS HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS OR SIMPLY RECORD NUMBERS OF AMERICANS ARE LIVING IN POVERTY TODAY, OVER 46 MILLION OF OUR FELLOW AMERICANS ARE LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. THIS IS NOT JUST A FAILURE OF POLICY; IT IS A MORAL FAILURE.

>> Woodruff: WHILE THE PRESIDENT'S CAMP WAS ALSO FOCUSED ON THE ECONOMY, HIS CAMPAIGN KEPT ITS ATTENTION ON CONGRESS IN A TV SPOT RELEASED TODAY IN NINE BATTLEGROUND STATES.

>> THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS PLAN WOULD PUT TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE OFFICERS, AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS BACK TO WORK RIGHT NOW. AND IT'S PAID FOR BY ASKING THE WEALTHIEST AMERICANS TO PAY A LITTLE MORE. BUT CONGRESS REFUSES TO ACT. TELL CONGRESS WE CAN'T WAIT.

>> Woodruff: AND IN LAS VEGAS TODAY MR. OBAMA REITERATED THAT MESSAGE TO A CROWD OF STUDENTS.

>> WE'RE STILL GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS OF RECOVERY FROM THAT CRISIS. WE'VE TAKEN SOME TOUGH STEPS TOGETHER AND THE GOOD NEWS IS OUR ECONOMY IS GROWING AGAIN. BUT WE NEED IT TO GROW FASTER.

>> Woodruff: EARLIER THIS WEEK, I SAT DOWN WITH FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, WHO DEFENDED MR. OBAMA'S RECORD ON THE ECONOMY. TO HEAR THE REPUBLICAN PERSPECTIVE, WE WENT TO FORMER MINNESOTA GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY -- A ONE-TIME ROMNEY OPPONENT WHO NOW SERVES AS NATIONAL CO- CHAIR FOR THE ROMNEY CAMPAIGN. GOVERNOR TIM PAWLENTY, THANK YOU FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> IT'S GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, JUDY, THANKS FOR HAVING ME. ROUGH ROUGH LET ME ASK YOU FIRST ABOUT THE ECONOMY. PRESIDENT OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON WHOM I TALKED TO TWO DAYS AGO SAY THAT DESPITE THE WEAK JOBS NUMBERS FROM LAST MONTH THAT THE UNDERPINNINGS OF THIS ECONOMY AND R STRONG AND THAT THIS IS AN ECONOMY THAT'S EVENTUALLY ON THE WAY TO FULL RECOVERY. HOW DO YOU AND GOVERNOR ROMNEY SEE IT?

>> WELL, WE CAN SET ASIDE THE PARTISAN SPIN AND LOOK AT THE NUMBERS, JUDY. YOU HAVE 40 MONTHS OF ABOVE 8% UNEMPLOYMENT. YOU HAVE 23 MILLION-- LET ME REPEAT THAT-- 23 MILLION AMERICANS UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED, OR HAVE GIVEN UP LOOKING FOR WORK AND THOSE NUMBERS ARE WORSE IN MANY OTHER CATEGORIES. SO TO LOOK AT THAT AND TO SAY THAT WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY OR SOMEHOW THIS IS A POSITIVE SITUATION IS POLITICAL SPIN OF THE HIGHEST ORDER. PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS HAD HIS CHANCE. HE'S BEEN IN OFFICE NEARLY FOUR YEARS. HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET IN ECONOMY IGNITED IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY. WE HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE HURTING AND HE'S FAILED IN THAT REGARD SO IT'S TIME FOR A NEW PRESIDENT MITT ROMNEY HAS THE DEEP BUSINESS PRIVATE SECTOR ECONOMIC EXPERIENCE. HE'LL GET ECONOMY MOVING AGAIN.

>> BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT ABOUT THE POINT THEY MAKE THAT THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY UNDERPININGS ARE STRONG. THAT THE U.S. IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST EXPORTER. THAT MANUFACTURING IS COMING BACK. WHAT ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, JUDY, THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE. THERE'S BELOW 2% G.D.P. GROWTH IN THE LAST QUARTER. ANEMIC G.D.P. GROWTH OR NEARLY NON-EXISTENT G.D.P. GROWTH IN THE QUARTERS PRECEDING THAT. SO TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY THAT SOMEHOW THAT'S A STRONG ECONOMY WITH POSITIVE MOMENTUM JUST ISN'T ACCURATE. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT PRESIDENT OBAMAñ BURDENS OF OBAMACARE AND THE DETERRENCE TO JOB GROWTH THAT THAT'S CAUSED, KILLING AMERICAN ENERGY EXPLORATION THROUGH CANCELING THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE AND DETERRING FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL GAS AND OIL EXPLORATION IN THIS COUNTRY, REFUSING TO DO TAX REFORM, TRYING TO ADD TAX INCREASES TO ECONOMY. IF YOU GO TALK TO THE BUSINESS LEADERS IN THIS COUNTRY THEY'LL TELL YOU HIS INITIATIVES AND HIS DIRECTIONS HAVE DRAMATICALLY HURT THE ECONOMY, NOT HELPED IT. SO BOTH OBJECTIVELY ON THE NUMBERS AND IN TERMS OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF TRYING TO GET THIS ECONOMY MOVING UNTIL THEN ALL OF THE INDICATORS SUGGEST THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NOT WORKING. HIS PRESIDENCY HAS FAILED WITH RESPECT TO THE ECONOMY. ROUGH ROUGH WELL, ONE OTHER POINT THE WHITE HOUSE HAS MADE IS THAT IF THE ECONOMY AND REPUBLICANS IN THE CONGRESS HAD GONE ALONG WITH THE PRESIDENT'S JOBS PLAN THAT INCLUDED INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING AND SPENDING ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT MORE JOBS WOULD HAVE BEEN CREATED BY NOW. ED INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING AND SPENDING ON STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT MORE JOBS WOULD HAVE BEEN CREATED BY NOW.

>> THAT'S ALMOST LAUGHABLE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROJECTS AND GIVE AWAYS TO SUBUNITS OF GOVERNMENT AND THAT DIDN'T WORK. REMEMBER WHEN THEY PASSED THAT? THEY SAID IF WE DON'T PASS THE STIMULUS BILL UNEMPLOYMENT COULD GO AS HIGH AS 8%. OF COURSE, IT WENT TO 10% OR MORE AND IS STILL ABOVE 8%. SO TO SUGGEST ANOTHER ROUND OF STIMULUS LIKE THAT, MORE CASH FOR LOCAL UNITS OF GOVERNMENT, INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMS AS THE WAY FORWARD, IT WAS TRIED IN A VERY LARGE WAY, DIDN'T WORK, IT FAILED AND IT BELIES WHAT PEOPLE ARE TELLING US, THEY HAVE SIX MILLION PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY. ABOUT THIS 5.9 MILLION OF THEM HAVE 500 EMPLOYEES OR FEWER. REQUEST F YOU ASK THEM WHAT'S BOTHERING THEM, WHY THEY'RE DETERRED FROM INVESTING AND GROWING THEIR BUSINESS THEY SAY GET THE GOVERNMENT OFF MY BACK, TAXES ARE TOO HIGH, THE INSURANCE COSTS ARE TOO HEAVY, THE REGULATIONS ARE TOO HEAVY AND SLOW, THE ENERGY COSTS ARE TOO HIGH AND DOWN THE LIST. AND PRESIDENT OBAMA'S APPROACH ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES MORE GOVERNMENT, MORE COSTS, MORE BURDEN AND IT'S EXACTLY WRONG DIRECTION.

>> Woodruff: WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IS THE ESSENCE OF GOVERNOR ROMNEY'S PLAN TO CREATE MILLIONS OF PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS IN THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES?

>> WELL, I'M GLAD YOU ASKED. HE'S GOT THE MOST EXTENSIVE ECONOMIC PROPOSAL OF ANY CANDIDATE IN THE RACE, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, AND IT HAS THESE KEY FEATURES. FIRST OF ALL, HE'S CALLED FOR DRAMATIC TAX REFORM AND RESTRUCTURING. LOWERING THE CORPORATE TAX RATE IN THIS COUNTRY WHICH IS THE HIGHEST IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD DOWN TO 25% TO SOMETHING TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE. REDUCING INCOME TAX RATES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE BOARD BY A 20% REDUCTION. HAVING A HEALTH CARE REFORM THAT'S REAL HEALTH CARE REFORM FOCUSED ON THE PRIVATE MARKETS AND CONTROLLING COSTS, STARTING WITH REPEALING OBAMACARE THEN INSTITUTING PRIVATE SECTOR REFORMS IN THAT REGARD. HAVING AN AMERICAN ENERGY POLICY SO WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL GAME-CHANGING OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE WITH NATURAL GAS AND OIL WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL REACH OF THE UNITED STATES. REFORMING OUR LABOR LAWS AND REGULATIONS IN THIS COUNTRY SO THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE AND STILL FAIR IN THAT REGARD. AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. BUT THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE EXAMPLES THAT STAND IN CONTRAST TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ADDING MORE BURDENS RATHER THAN TAKING AWAY BURDENS TO THE PRIVATE ECONOMY.

>> Woodruff: YOU MENTIONED THE ROMNEY TAX PLAN. AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOME ANALYSTS OUT THERE WHO SAY THAT WHAT IT WOULD ACTUALLY DO IS RAISE TAXES ON LOWER INCOME PEOPLE AT THE SAME TIME IT CUTS TAXES FOR THOSE WHO ARE VERY WEALTHY, PEOPLE EARNING OVER $200,000 A YEAR.

>> WELL, KEEP IN MIND HIS PROPOSAL IS TO CUT TAXES ACROSS THE BOARD SO THERE WOULDN'T BE A TAX INCREASE IN THAT ARRANGEMENT OR THAT PROPOSAL. NUMBER TWO, HE ALSO HAS A SERIES OF SPENDING CUT PROPOSALS SO HE WANTS TO REDUCE SPENDING IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM 25% OF G.D.P. AS IT IS CURRENTLY DOWN TO THE HISTORICAL RANGE OF 19% OR 20%. HE'S CALLED FOR SPECIFIC SPENDING CUTS WITHIN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO IT'S NOT JUST CUTTING TAXES, STIMULATING GROWTH BUT ALSO GETTING SPENDING UNDER CONTROL AND, BY THE WAY, IT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE, YOU HAVE TO PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO REFUSES TO PROPOSE ANY MEANINGFUL REFORM ON ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING FISCAL ISSUES OF THE DAY AND THAT IS HOW TO CHANGE AND REFORM AND SAY OUR ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS IN THIS COUNTRY. SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE AND MEDICAID. MITT ROMNEY HAS A SPECIFIC SET OF PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE. THE PRESIDENT IS DUCKING, HIDING WEAVING, BOBBING ON THOSE ISSUES WON'T LEAD, WON'T PROPOSE AND HE'S HIDING ON ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING ISSUES OF THE DAY AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.

>> Woodruff: GOVERNOR, ONE OTHER THING. COMING OFF THE RECALL VOTE, THE VICTORY FOR GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER, WHAT IS GOVERNOR ROMNEY'S POSITION ON EFFORTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RESTRICT COLLECTIVE BAR GAPING FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS?

>> WELL, HE'S TAKEN THE POSITION THAT EACH STATE SHOULD TAKE THEIR OWN APPROACH WITH RESPECT TO THOSE ISSUES FOR STATE EMPLOYEES. SO WHILE HE'S SUPPORTED GOVERNOR WALKER GENERALLY IN WISCONSIN HE HAS SAID EACH STATE CAN TAKE ITS OWN PATH. BUT YOU HAVE THERE, JUDY, AN EXAMPLE OF A GROUP THAT GOT CARRIED AWAY WITH WHAT THEY RECEIVED AND WHAT THEY ASKED. NAMELY, THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS IN WISCONSIN SAY FOR POLICE OR FIRE. NOW GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE THEY HAD AN ARRANGEMENT IN WISCONSIN WHERE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAD TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE FROM ESSENTIALLY A MONOPOLY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER THAT WAS RUN BY THE TEACHER UNIONS. AND ONCE THEY OPENED IT UP TO COMPETITION AND MARKET FORCES SCHOOL DISTRICTS SAVED TENS IF NOT HUNDREDS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND TO HAVE A UNION HAVE SO MUCH POWER THAT THEY USE THE FORCE OF LAW TO DEMAND AND REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO BYE HEALTH INSURANCE FROM A MONOPOLY PROVIDER OF HEALTH INSURANCE, THAT'S THE TEACHER UNION RUN HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN IS ONE MEASURE OF HOW OUT OF CONTROL THEIR POWER WAS IN WISCONSIN. SO I APPLAUD GOVERNOR WALKER'S EFFORTS. I KNOW GOVERNOR ROMNEY HAS AS WELL GENERALLY. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF OUT-OF-CONTROL SPENDING SYSTEMS THAT HAVE TO BE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. PRESIDENT OBAMA WON'T DO IT, MITT ROMNEY WILL.

>> Woodruff: FORMER GOVERNOR ROMNEY TIM PAWLENTY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> YOU'RE WELCOME, JUDY, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

>> Woodruff: ONLINE YOU CAN WATCH MY EARLIER INTERVIEW WITH FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON. ALSO ON OUR SITE, WE KEEP UP WITH THE CAMPAIGNS WITH GWEN'S TAKE AND IN MY WEEKLY POLITICAL BLOG. TO HELP US GIVE MY BLOG A NAME, SEND YOUR SUGGESTIONS TO ME, MY TWITTER HANDLE IS @JUDYWOODRUFF.

>> Brown: NOW, CYBER-WAR, DRONE STRIKES AND VERY PUBLIC REVELATIONS.

>> OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS THERE'S BEEN A DISTURBING STREAM OF ARTICLES IN THE MEDIA AND COMMON AMONG THEM IS THAT THEY CITE LEAKED, CLASSIFIED OR HIGHLY SENSITIVE INFORMATION.

>> Brown: STARTING WITH COMMENTS FROM SENATOR JOHN McCAIN ON TUESDAY, A DEBATE HAS INTENSIFIED OVER RECENT REVELATIONS OF NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAMS, ACCOUNTS DRIVEN BY WHAT APPEAR TO BE HIGH-LEVEL GOVERNMENT LEAKS. ONE STORY CITED BY McCAIN, PUBLISHED IN FRIDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" PROVIDED A DETAILED ACCOUNT, BASED ON MOSTLY ANONYMOUS SOURCES, OF WHAT WAS TERMED "AMERICA'S FIRST SUSTAINED USE OF CYBERWEAPONS." THE SO-CALLED STUX-NET PROGRAM AGAINST IRAN'S NUCLEAR ENRICHMENT FACILITIES. OTHER NEWS REPORTS HAVE LOOKED AT SECRET DRONE ATTACKS AGAINST MILITANTS IN YEMEN AND ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING PRESIDENT OBAMA'S PERSONAL ROLE. SENATOR McCAIN SAW A POLITICAL MOTIVATION BEHIND THE REVELATIONS.

>> ONE COULD DRAW THE CONCLUSION FROM READING THESE ARTICLES THAT IT IS AN ATTEMPT TO FURTHER THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL AMBITIONS FOR THE SAKE OF HIS REELECTION

>> Brown: YESTERDAY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNEY RESPONDED, SAYING "ANY SUGGESTION THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS AUTHORIZED INTENTIONAL LEAKS OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION FOR POLITICAL GAIN IS GROSSLY IRRESPONSIBLE." BUT THERE WERE BI-PARTISAN CONCERNS EXPRESSED TODAY BY TOP MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES, WHO SAID THEY WOULD PUSH FOR TOUGHER LEGISLATION TO CRACK DOWN ON THE LEAKS.

>> THIS HAS TO STOP. WHEN PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK WITH THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THEY CAN'T TRUST US TO KEEP A SECRET. THAT'S SERIOUS.

>> IT PUTS LIVES IN DANGER AND IT INFRINGES UPON THE ABILITY OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO DO THEIR JOB.

>> Brown: FRIDAY'S "NEW YORK TIMES" ARTICLE WAS IN FACT ADAPTED FROM A NEW BOOK, TITLED "CONFRONT AND CONCEAL: OBAMA'S SECRET WARS AND SURPRISING USE OF AMERICAN POWER." ITS AUTHOR, DAVID SANGER, IS CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT FOR THE PAPER. AND DAVID SANGER JOINS US NOW. DAVID, THE CYBER WEAPON ATTACK ON IRAN WAS CODE NAMED "OLYMPIC GAMES" RIGHT? STARTED UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA BUT RAMPED UP UNDER... STARTED UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH AND RAMPED UP UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA. YOU REFER TO IT AS A FAR MORE SOPHISTICATED ATTACK THAN EVER BEFORE. IN WHAT WAY?

>> THE CODE ITSELF WAS VERY LARGE BUT SECONDLY THIS IS NOT THE USUAL CYBER ATTACK OF MY COMPUTER ATTACKS YOUR LAPTOP OR YOU GO AFTER AN A.T.M. MACHINE OR VISAS SUBSCRIBER LIST. THIS WAS AN ATTACK THAT WENT THROUGH THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT IS IN THE ENRICHMENT PLANT WHERE THEY MAKE NUCLEAR FUEL. IT'S WALLED OFF FROM THE INTERNET. SO THEY HAD TO GET IT BASICALLY OVER AN ELECTRONIC MOAT AND THEN IT WENT IN AND ATTACKED THE ACTUAL CENTRIFUGES, SPEEDING THEM UP, SLOWING THEM DOWN AND ULTIMATELY MAKING MANY OF THEM BLOW UP. ALL THE WHILE SENDING SIGNALS TO THE IRANIAN CONTROL ROOM THAT EVERYTHING WAS OPERATING NORMALLY.

>> Brown: UP TO THIS POINT WE ALWAYS TALKED ABOUT THIS AS AN ISRAELI OPERATION, AT LEAST SPECULATION. RIGHT? SO YOU'RE SUGGESTING THAT... YOU'RE LAYING OUT THE DETAILS HERE ABOUT HOW THIS WAS ORIGINALLY A U.S. OPERATION?

>> IT WAS A U.S. AND THE ISRAELIS TOGETHER AND WE RAN A STORY IN JANUARY OF 2010 THAT SAID AS MUCH. THAT SAID THAT LOOKING AT THIS CODE AND FROM THE REPORTING WE DID WE BELIEVED IT HAD BEEN4Mo A U.S./ISRAELI OPERATION. WHAT I DID AS I STARTED WORKING ON CONFRONT AND CONCEAL WAS PULL ON THAT STRING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND REALLY THE BIG REVELATION HERE, THE FIRST BIG BREAK IN THE STORY WASN'T ANYBODY TALKING ABOUT IT, IT WAS THE ESCAPE OF THIS COMPUTER CODE, THIS COMPUTER VIRUS.

>> Pelley: WHEN YOU SAYS....

>> Brown: WHEN YOU SAY ESCAPE...

>> LITERALLY IT ESCAPED. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY INSIDE THE PLANT AND THERE WERE REPEATED ATTACKS ENGINEERED IN WASHINGTON, IN ISRAEL. THEY BROUGHT A NEW VERSION IN. IT HAD A SLIGHT FLAW IN IT. WE'VE ALL GOTTEN SOFTWARE OVER THE YEARS THAT NEEDED A LITTLE BIT MORE WORK AND THIS ONE LEAPT ABOARD A LAPTOP COMPUTER OF AN IRANIAN ENGINEER WORKING INSIDE THE PLANT DOING MAINTENANCE WORK. HE GOES HOME, PLUGS INTO THE INTERNET AND IT PROPAGATES AROUND THE WORLD. SUDDENLY EVERYONE-- INCLUDING THE IRANIANS-- REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A CYBER CODE ATTACK SO THE IRANIANS MAYBE FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS THOUGHT THEIR EQUIPMENT WAS JUST FAILING. THEY HAD BOUGHT PRETTY BAD DESIGN NOW THEY REALIZED THE TRUTH.

>> Pelley:.

>> Brown: WHEN YOU PUT THIS INTO THE DRONE ATTACKS, HOW MUCH DEBATE WAS IN THERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE? DEBATE OVER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS THING? BECAUSE WHEN YOU WRITE ABOUT IT, THIS MAKES IT SO INTERESTING, THIS WAS WAS... WITH CYBER WEAPONRY IT'S LIKE THE EARLY DAYS OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS, RIGHT? EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THE BOUNDARIES ARE AND WHAT'S EFFECTIVE.

>> AND THAT'S THE FASCINATING PART OF THIS DEBATE. IN NUCLEAR WEAPONS IT TOOK US 20 YEARS TO COME UP WITH RULES AND WHEN THEY WOULD AND WOULDN'T BE USED. MacARTHUR WANTED TO USE THEM IN KOREA. THERE WAS DEBATE ABOUT USING THEM DURING DO T CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS 50 YEARS AGO THIS YEAR. IN THE DRONES DEBATE, THERE'S BEEN DEBATE FOR TEN YEARS ABOUT WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO DO DRONE ATTACKS AND WE'RE STILL HAVING THAT DEBATE. IN CYBER IT HASN'T BEEN A PUBLIC DEBATE BUT IT'S BECOMING ONE. PRESIDENT OBAMA SITTING IN THE SITUATION ROOM GETTING BRIEFED ON THESE ATTACKS WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE COULD BE COLLATERAL DAMAGE. WHETHER YOU'D BE SHUTTING DOWN HOSPITALS, FOR EXAMPLE. HE WAS QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT COUNTRIES MIGHT USE THE FACT THAT THE UNITED STATES IS USING CYBER WEAPONRY TO ATTACK BACK AT THE U.S.

>> Brown: AND THAT'S VERY INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU QUOTE PEOPLE ABOUT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHETHER YOU'RE OFFERING A JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHERS TO USE IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THAT'S RIGHT. NOW, MANY SAID TO ME THE CHINESE, THE RUSSIANS, THEY'VE FIGURED OUT BY NOW THAT WE HAVE CYBER WEAPONS AND THEY'VE FIGURED IT OUT BECAUSE OF STUXNET ESCAPED. BUT THESE DEBATES TOOK PLACE... WE'RE AT THE INFANCY. WE'RE IN THE EQUIVALENT MOMENT OF 1945 TO '49 WE WERE FIGURING OUT NUCLEAR, WE'RE AT THAT MOMENT RIGHT NOW WITH CYBER.

>> Brown: SO YOUR REVELATIONS AND OTHER RECENT STORIES HAVE, AS WE'VE SEEN, STIRRED UP DEBATE AND CONTROVERSY AND EVEN ANGER. DO YOU THINK THE REVELATIONS SUCH AS THIS ARE PUTTING PEOPLE AT RISK?

>> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS A VERY BIG CONCERN, PARTICULARLY AT THE "NEW YORK TIMES." WE DEAL WITH A LOT OF NATIONAL SECURITY STORIES EVERY MONTH. WE ARE FAILLY EXPERIENCED AT HOW TO DO THIS. WE DEALT, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH WIKILEAKS WHICH WAS THOUSANDS OF SECRET DOCUMENTS SO I DID IN THIS CASE WITH THE NEWSPAPER'S UNDERSTANDING EXACTLY WHAT WE DO IN THE OTHERS. WE WENT TO THE GOVERNMENT, WE EXPLAINED THE OUTLINES OF THE STORY AND WE SAID IF THERE ARE DETAILS HERE THAT AFFECT OPERATIONAL EVENTS, COULD PUT SOMEBODY'S LIFE AT RISK LET'S DISCUSS IT AND WE'LL SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO MAKE SURE THOSE DON'T GET INTO PRINT.

>> Brown: YOU'RE CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT.

>> WE HAD THOSE DISCUSSIONS AND IN THE END I BELIEVE, AS I SAY IN A NOTE ON SOURCES AT THE END OF THE BOOK I DELETED SOME TECHNICAL DETAILS THAT THEY HAD. EVERYTHING THEY ASKED TO BE DELETED WE DELETED.

>> Brown: WHAT ABOUT ADDRESSING SENATOR McCAIN'S OTHER POINT, WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME THAT IN SOME WAYS YOU RUN THE RISK OF BEING USED BY IN THIS CASE THE WHITE HOUSE FOR POLITICAL REASONS. THE ARTICLES MAKE IT SEEM AS THOUGH PRESIDENT OBAMA IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED, VERY ACTIVE. A STRONG LEADER.

>> JEFF, I CAN JUST TELL YOU WHAT MY EXPERIENCE WAS IN REPORTING THIS. THIS WAS AN 18 MONTH LONG PROCESS BECAUSE THE STUXNET WORM FIRST MADE ITS OUT IN 2010. I WAS DOING THIS AS PART OF A MUCH LARGER LOOK AT THE OBAMA NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY WHICH IS WHAT MOST OF THE BOOK IS ABOUT, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, CHINA AND SO FORTH. AND I REPORTED THIS FROM THE BOTTOM UP, SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR THE WORD "LEAKS," IT REALLY DOESN'T DO JUSTICE TO THE PROCESS OF PIECING THINGS TOGETHER OUT IN THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY OF DOING REPORTING. AND....

>> Brown: BUT YOU ARE QUOTING PEOPLE WHO ARE INSIDE THESE MEETINGS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT BUT THAT BY AND LARGE COMES ONLY AFTER YOU'VE PUT TOGETHER THE ESSENCE OF A MEETING... THE ESSENCE OF THE STORY. AND THAT'S... THERE'S AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC POLICY PURPOSE THAT IS SERVED FOR THIS. PEOPLE AREN'T JUST PUBLISHING STORIES LIKE THIS BECAUSE THESE ARE COOL REVELATIONS. THEY'RE PUBLISHING IT BECAUSE IT MEETS THE TEST OF A SUBJECT MATTER THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE TO DEBATE HOW YOU WANT TO GO USE THESE WEAPONS, WHETHER IT'S DRONES, WHETHER IT'S CYBER, WHETHER IT'S SPECIAL FORCES. THESE ARE THE BIGGEST DECISION IT IS UNITED STATES HAS TO MAKE AS IT PRESENTS A NEW FACE TO THE WORLD AND THE TRICK IS CAN YOU DO THAT WITHOUT ENDANGERING LIVES?

>> Brown:.

>> Brown: YOUR BOOK IS "CONFRONT AND CONCEAL." DAVID SANGER OF THE "NEW YORK TIMES," THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: NOW, THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST SODAS AND SUGARY DRINKS IN THE NAME OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THE MOST PROMINENT EXAMPLE OF LATE: NEW YORK CITY MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG PROPOSED BANNING THE SALE OF SWEETENED DRINKS LARGER THAN 16 OUNCES AT MANY VENUES. AND TODAY, HEALTH OFFICIALS AND RESEARCHERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE MEETING IN WASHINGTON D.C. TO COMPARE STRATEGIES. ONE CITY IN CALIFORNIA MAY BE POISED TO GO FARTHER THAN ANYONE HAS SO FAR, WITH A NEW TAX. "NEWSHOUR" CORRESPONDENT SPENCER MICHELS REPORTS.

>> Reporter: AT THE FAMILY MARKET IN WORKING-CLASS RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, OWNER MOHAMMED ELZOFRI IS DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT A NEW CITY COUNCIL BACKED MEASURE WHICH WOULD PLACE A PENNY-PER-OUNCE TAX ON SUGAR-SWEETENEED BEVERAGES. THE CONTROVERSIAL PLAN-- DESIGNED TO CUT CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR-- GOES BEFORE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER. ELZOFRI SAYS ABOUT 80% OF HIS CUSTOMERS BUY SOME KIND OF SUGARY DRINK AND THE TAX, HE SAYS, WOULD ADD ABOUT 68 CENTS TO A POPULAR TWO LITER DRINK.

>> THIS WILL JUST HURT THE POOR PEOPLE AND HURT THESE BUSINESS OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. IF PEOPLE THAT WANT TO DRINK SODAS, THEY DRINK. I MEAN, EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE IS GOING TO YOU KNOW, GAIN SOME WEIGHT.

>> Reporter: IN FACT THE RISING RATES OF DIABETES AND OTHER WEIGHT RELATED ILLNESSES ARE AT THE HEART OF THE DEBATE NOW RAGING IN RICHMOND OVER THE PROPOSED TAX.

>> WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN RICHMOND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW AND IT'S A HEALTH DISPARITY ISSUE FOR US. FULLY A THIRD OF OUR LATINO FIFTH AND SEVENTH GRADERS, AND A THIRD OF OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN FIFTH AND SEVENTH GRADERS ARE OBESE.

>> Reporter: CITY COUNCILMAN JEFF RITTERMAN, A CARDIOLOGIST, PROPOSED THE TAX, WHICH WOULD BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY. HE WANTS PEOPLE TO REDUCE THEIR CONSUMPTION OF SODAS, WHAT HE CALLS THE BIGGEST CULPRIT OF THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE MOST OF OUR ADDED SUGAR IS COMING FROM, IT'S COMING FROM THE SUGAR SWEETENED BEVERAGES AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT FROM SOLID FOODS. SOLID FOODS PRODUCE SATIETY, YOU GET FULL. YOU GET FULL WHEN YOU EAT A PIECE OF CAKE. YOU DON'T GET FULL WHEN YOU DRINK THE SODA EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF CALORIES. IT'S ACTUALLY A POISON FOR YOU BECAUSE YOUR LIVER CAN'T HANDLE THAT HUGE AMOUNT OF FRUCTOSE.

>> Reporter: RITTERMAN SAYS MONEY FROM THE TAX, WHICH EXEMPTS DIET DRINKS AND FRUIT JUICES WOULD RAISE AN ESTIMATED $3 MILLION FOR LOCAL SPORTS FIELDS, DIABETES TREATMENT FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN, AND SCHOOL BASED NUTRITION CLASSES. THAT'S WHAT RICHMOND NEEDS, SAYS DORIA ROBINSON, A THIRD GENERATION RICHMOND RESIDENT WHO RUNS A PROGRAM THAT SUPPORTS SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY GARDENS.

>> RICHMOND ISN'T SO MUCH A FOOD DESERT, IT'S ACTUALLY A CORNUCOPIA OF JUNK FOOD. IT BASICALLY TRANSLATES INTO PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE KNOWING SOMEBODY WITH DIABETES, WHETHER THEY'RE A CHILD OR AN ADULT, AND REALLY STRUGGLING WITH IT.

>> Reporter: THE TAX, SHE SAYS, COULD BREAK THE ADDICTION TO SODA SO COMMON IN RICHMOND.

>> AT LEAST HALF THE KIDS START THEIR DAY WITH A COKE AND A PACK OF HOT FRIES. LIKE THAT'S BREAKFAST. THEN THROUGHOUT THE DAY DRINKING SODA LIKE IT'S WATER. THOSE EMPTY CALORIES HAVE AN ENORMOUS CUMULATIVE EFFECT ON OUR SOCIETY. WE PAY THE PRICE IN THE MEDICAL BILLS AND YOU KNOW ALL THE KIND OF HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Reporter: RICHMOND IS THE LATEST IN A RECENT STRING OF CITIES AND STATES CONSIDERING SPECIAL TAXES ON SUGARY BEVERAGES. SO FAR, ALL HAVE BEEN DEFEATED. CITY COUNCILMAN CORKY BOOZE-- A FORMER AUTO RACER-- TOOK US FOR A DRIVE AROUND HIS COMMUNITY, TO SHOW WHY HE OPPOSES THE TAX.

>> RICHMOND IS A VERY DIVERSE CITY. I WOULD SAY IT'S WORKING, LOW ECONOMICALLY SUPPRESSED COMMUNITY. MOST OF THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE CARS. KIDS CAN'T GET OUT OF HERE. THE KIDS ARE BASICALLY STUCK PURCHASING FROM THIS CORNER STORE. AND THE TAX IS DEFINITELY GOING TO AFFECT THEM.

>> Reporter: BOOZE SAYS SOME RESIDENTS WILL SHOP ELSEWHERE TO AVOID THE TAX, BUT POOR PEOPLE WON'T BE ABLE TO.

>> IT'S UNFAIR TO PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE MEANS OF GETTING OUT OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD STORE TO GO INTO THE NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES TO AVOID THAT TAX. IF WE WERE GOING TO SPEND OUR TIME WORRYING ABOUT SOMETHING WITHIN THE CITY OF RICHMOND THAT WE CAN FIX, WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON OUR STREETS AND WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON OUR JOB SITUATION.

>> Reporter: AND BOOZE SAYS HE DOESN'T THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE IN THE BUSINESS OF DICTATING WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD DRINK OR EAT.

>> I THINK THAT WHEN WE GET INTO THE POINT OF BEING A DICTATOR TO PEOPLE, I THINK IT'S WRONG. PEOPLE ARE HEAVY FOR ALL KINDS OF REASONS. IT COULD BE HEALTH, IT COULD BE THE STYLE OF FOOD THEY EAT AT HOME. I JUST DON'T THINK THE SODAS ARE GOING TO CHANGE THAT.

>> Reporter: THAT'S ALSO THE POSITION OF THE AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION-- THE INDUSTRY TRADE GROUP, REPRESENTING COMPANIES LIKE COKE, PEPSI, RED BULL, AND GATORADE. IT HAS LOBBIED HARD AGAINST SIMILAR EFFORTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. AN AFFILIATE GROUP, AMERICANS AGAINST FOOD TAXES RAN THIS SPOT IN THE SUPERBOWL LAST YEAR.

>> THEY WANT TO PUT TAXES ON A LOT OF GROCERIES I BUY LIKE SOFT DRINKS, JUICE DRINKS, SPORTS DRINKS, EVEN FLAVORED WATERS. GIVE ME A BREAK. I CAN DECIDE WHAT TO BUY WITHOUT GOVERNMENT HELP.

>> Reporter: IN A STATEMENT PROVIDED TO THE "NEWSHOUR," THE BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION CALLED THE PROPOSED RICHMOND TAX REGRESSIVE, AND ADDED:

>> Reporter: BUT FOR MANY IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY, SUGARY BEVERAGES ARE A HEALTH ISSUE. DR. KIRSTEN BIBBINS-DOMINGO, AN INTERNIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO, CO- AUTHORED A RECENT STUDY WHICH FOUND A NATION-WIDE PENNY-PER- OUNCE SODA TAX WOULD REDUCE CONSUMPTION BY 15% AND WOULD OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD PREVENT SEVERAL MILLION DIABETES CASES AND NEARLY 100,000 HEART DISEASE CASES, AS WELL AS SAVING $17 BILLION IN MEDICAL COSTS. DR. BIBBINS-DOMINGO SAYS SIMILAR TAXES ON CIGARETTES HAVE HAD A DRAMATIC AFFECT ON PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> IT WAS A FEW DECADES AGO WHEN WE HAD HIGH RATES OF TOBACCO AND WE HAD HIGH RATES OF TOBACCO RELATED ILLNESSES. THOSE MEASURES REALLY TURNED THE TIDE AND REALLY LED TO LOWER RATS OF TOBACCO ACROSS THE COUNTRY. I THINK THE SAME HAS THE POTENTIAL TO HAPPEN IN THIS CASE. RICHMOND IN ISOLATION IS UNLIKELY TO ACHIEVE A BIG EFFECT, AND RICHMOND HAS TAKEN BOLD MEASURES TO REALLY BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS, BUT MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE.

>> Reporter: THE CAMPAIGN TO OPPOSE RICHMOND'S SODA TAX IS ALREADY UNDER WAY. A LOCAL GROUP WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE AMERICAN BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION AND THE LOCAL TEAMSTERS UNION IS GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO FIGHT THE TAX. FOR HIS PART, COUNCILMAN RITTERMAN SAYS HE'D PREFER TO HAVE A NATIONAL OR EVEN A STATE TAX PASSED. BUT FOR NOW HE'S TRYING TO ENCOURAGE BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS INCLUDING OAKLAND, BERKELEY AND SAN FRANCISCO, TO JOIN HIM IN THE FIGHT AGAINST SUGARY BEVERAGES.

>> Woodruff: ACROSS THE ATLANTIC, THE FRENCH ARE ALREADY PAYING HIGHER TAXES ON COKES AND PEPSIS AND THE DANES ARE PAYING A TAX ON BUTTER. FIND THAT ON OUR WEBSITE! AND OUR NEXT BROADCAST REPORT LOOKS AT AMERICAN JUNK FOOD AS THE SOURCE OF TOOTH DECAY AMONG CHILDREN IN EL SALVADOR.

>> Brown: WE'LL BE BACK SHORTLY WITH A PROFILE OF THE NEW POET LAUREATE OF THE UNITED STATES. BUT FIRST: THIS IS PLEDGE WEEK ON PBS. THIS BREAK ALLOWS YOUR PUBLIC TELEVISION STATION TO ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT. AND THAT SUPPORT HELPS KEEP PROGRAMS LIKE OURS O

>> Woodruff: FINALLY TONIGHT, A NEW POET LAUREATE HAS BEEN NAMED FOR THE U.S., BUT SHE IS NOT NEW TO "NEWSHOUR" VIEWERS. NATASHA TRETHEWEY WILL BE THE 19th LAUREATE APPOINTED BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. WE FIRST PROFILED TRETHEWEY IN 2006 FOR HER THIRD BOOK OF POEMS, "NATIVE GUARD."

>> THIS IS MY FIRST TRIP BACK TO GULFPORT SINCE HURRICANE KATRINA. IT'S BEEN OVER A YEAR SINCE I'VE SEEN THE PLACE, AND IT'S ODD TO COME BACK HERE AFTER HAVING WRITTEN THIS BOOK, SEEING THE PLACES THAT I WAS TRYING TO ELEGIZE YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST STARTED WORKING ON THESE POEMS, IN A VERY FIGURATIVE SENSE, BECAUSE I WAS DISTANT FROM THESE PLACES, NOT THAT THESE PLACES WERE ACTUALLY GONE. AND NOW, AS I WALK AROUND HERE TODAY, I REALIZE THAT THOSE POEMS THAT I WROTE HAVE BECOME QUITE LITERAL, THAT GULFPORT REALLY IS DESTROYED, AND SO MANY OF THOSE PLACES THAT I CONNECT TO MY CHILDHOOD AND GROWING UP ARE NO LONGER HERE. WHEN I WAS BORN HERE IN GULFPORT IN 1966, MY PARENTS' INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE WAS STILL ILLEGAL AND IT WAS VERY HARD TO DRIVE AROUND TOWN WITH MY PARENTS, TO BE OUT IN PUBLIC WITH MY PARENTS. WE'RE GOING TO SHIP ISLAND, THE HOME OF FORT MASSACHUSETTS, WHICH IS JUST OFF THE COAST OF GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI, MY HOMETOWN. WE'RE GOING OUT THERE TO TRY TO REMEMBER THE LOUISIANA NATIVE GUARDS, WHO WERE THE FIRST OFFICIALLY SANCTIONED REGIMENT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIERS, UNION SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR, WHO WERE STATIONED AT THE ISLAND. I USED TO COME OUT HERE EVERY FOURTH OF JULY AS A CHILD TO PICNIC AND TO SWIM ON THE ISLAND, TO TOUR THE FORT AND WANDER THROUGH IT. AND ALL OF THAT TIME, I NEVER KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF BLACK SOLDIERS ON THE ISLAND. AND SO, FOR ME, THIS WAS A WAY OF TRYING TO TELL ANOTHER HISTORY, A LOST OR A FORGOTTEN OR A LITTLE-KNOWN HISTORY ABOUT THESE BLACK SOLDIERS WHO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN AMERICAN HISTORY. "THE DAUGHTERS OF THE CONFEDERACY HAS PLACED A PLAQUE HERE, AT THE FORT'S ENTRANCE EACH CONFEDERATE SOLDIER'S NAME RAISED HARD IN BRONZE; NO NAMES CARVED FOR THE NATIVE GUARDS 2ND REGIMENT, UNION MEN, BLACK PHALANX. WHAT IS MONUMENT TO THEIR LEGACY? ALL THE GRAVE MARKERS, ALL THE CRUDE HEADSTONES WATER, LOST. NOW FISH DART AMONG THEIR BONES, AND WE LISTEN FOR WHAT THE WAVES INTONE. ONLY THE FORT REMAINS, NEAR 40 FEET HIGH ROUND, UNFINISHED, HALF-OPEN TO THE SKY, THE ELEMENTS-- WIND, RAIN-- GOD'S DELIBERATE EYE."

>> Brown: IN 2007 "NATIVE GUARD" WAS AWARDED THE PULITZER PRIZE.

>> Brown: TRETHEWAY OFFICIALLY TAKES UP HER DUTIES IN THE FALL. YOU CAN WATCH MORE OF HER, AS WELL AS READINGS, PROFILES AND INTERVIEWS WITH 11 OTHER FORMER U.S. POETS LAUREATE ON OUR ART BEAT PAGE.

>> Woodruff: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: U.N. OBSERVERS IN SYRIA SAID THEY WERE BLOCKED FROM ACCESSING THE SCENE OF AN ALLEGED MASS KILLING AND EVEN FIRED UPON BY GOVERNMENT FORCES. LATE TODAY BAN KI-MOON WARNED THE THREAT OF CIVIL WAR IS "IMMINENT AND REAL" AND SPECIAL ENVOY KOFI ANNAN SAID THERE COULD BE CONSEQUENCES IF HIS PEACE PLAN IS NOT IMPLEMENTED. AND, THE FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN SAID THE CENTRAL BANK IS PREPARED TO TAKE MORE STEPS TO REVIVE THE U.S. ECONOMY BUT WOULD NOT SAY IF ANY ACTION WAS IMMINENT. ON OUR WEBSITE, IT'S SCIENCE THURSDAY. KWAME HOLMAN HAS THE DETAILS.

>> Holman: CITY DWELLERS USUALLY CAN'T SEE THE MILKY WAY OR THE BIG DIPPER. ON OUR SCIENCE PAGE, WE EXPLORE HOW LIGHT POLLUTION AFFECTS NOT JUST STARGAZERS AND ASTRONOMERS, BUT PEOPLES' HEALTH. ALSO, FROM THE PUBLICATION OF AYN RAND'S "THE FOUNTAINHEAD" IN THE 1940s TO CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO OF TODAY. OUR PARTNERS AT THE PUBLIC INSIGHT NETWORK HAVE ASSEMBLED A TIMELINE OF TOUCHSTONE MOMENTS IN AMERICAN CONSERVATISM. FIND A LINK ON OUR POLITICS PAGE. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE: newshour.pbs.org. JEFF?

>> Brown: AND THAT'S THE "NEWSHOUR" FOR TONIGHT. I'M JEFFREY BROWN.

>> Woodruff: AND I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING WITH MARK SHIELDS AND DAVID BROOKS AMONG OTHERS. THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT. MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE PBS NEWSHOUR HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY: AND BY THE ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION. SUPPORTING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND IMPROVED ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL LITERACY IN THE 21ST CENTURY. AND WITH THE ONGOING SUPPORT OF THESE INSTITUTIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. AND... THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. AND BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU. THANK YOU. Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org