PBS NewsHour; March 14, 2012 6:00pm-7:00pm PDT

Captioning sponsored by MacNEIL/LEHRER PRODUCTIONS

>> Woodruff: RICK SANTORUM TRIED TO POSITION HIMSELF TODAY FOR A TWO-MAN RACE AFTER WINNING THE ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI G.O.P. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES. GOOD EVENING, I'M JUDY WOODRUFF.

>> Suarez: AND I'M RAY SUAREZ. ON THE "NEWSHOUR" TONIGHT, WE GET THE LATEST ON THE STATE OF PLAY IN THE REPUBLICAN RACE FROM "NEWSHOUR" POLITICAL EDITOR CHRISTINA BELLANTONI AND DANTE CHINNI OF OUR PATCHWORK NATION PROJECT.

>> Woodruff: THEN, WE UPDATE THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN AS BRITISH PRIME MINISTER CAMERON AND PRESIDENT OBAMA OUTLINE PLANS TO DRAW DOWN FORCES AND HAND OVER SECURITY TO THE AFGHANS.

>> WE BOTH HAVE LOST A NUMBER OF EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THEATRE. WHAT'S UNDENIABLE THOUGH AND WHAT WE CAN NEVER FORGET IS OUR FORCES ARE MAKING REAL PROGRESS.

>> Suarez: GWEN IFILL LOOKS AT THE DEBATE OVER VOTER IDENTIFICATION LAWS, AS MORE AND MORE STATES REQUIRE PHOTO I.D.s AT THE POLLS.

>> Woodruff: WE SIT DOWN WITH ACTOR GEORGE CLOONEY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST JOHN PRENDERGAST, JUST BACK FROM A VISIT TO SUDAN TO DOCUMENT EVIDENCE OF GENOCIDE.

>> IT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD STREAM AND YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM. AND YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE TO GO BACK.

>> Suarez: AND WE TALK WITH ECOLOGIST BEN STRAUSS ABOUT RISING SEA LEVELS AND THE LOOMING THREAT OF FLOODING FOR SOME FIVE MILLION PEOPLE WHO LIVE ALONG THE U.S. COASTLINE.

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

>> AND BY THE BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION. DEDICATED TO THE IDEA THAT ALL PEOPLE DESERVE THE CHANCE TO LIVE A HEALTHY PRODUCTIVE LIFE. 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.

>> Suarez: THERE WERE STILL FOUR CANDIDATES TODAY IN THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL RACE. BUT INCREASINGLY, THE FOCUS WAS ON RICK SANTORUM AND MITT ROMNEY, AFTER SANTORUM BESTED THE FRONTRUNNER IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. RICK SANTORUM CELEBRATED HIS VICTORIES LAST NIGHT IN LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA AND SAID THEY MAKE HIM THE ONE TRUE CONSERVATIVE ALTERNATIVE TO MITT ROMNEY.

>> THE TIME IS NOW FOR CONSERVATIVES TO PULL TOGETHER. THE TIME IS NOW TO MAKE SURE... TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN THIS ELECTION, AND THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN THIS ELECTION IS TO NOMINATE A CONSERVATIVE TO GO UP AGAINST BARACK OBAMA, WHO CAN TAKE HIM

>> Suarez: FROM THERE, IT WAS OFF TO PUERTO RICO, AHEAD OF THE PRIMARY THERE ON SUNDAY, WITH 23 DELEGATES AT STAKE. IN SAN JUAN, SANTORUM ARGUED AGAIN THAT IT'S NOW BETWEEN ROMNEY AND HIMSELF. ROMNEY HAD SOUNDED CONFIDENT YESTERDAY, ON CNN, BEFORE LEARNING THAT HE FINISHED THIRD IN BOTH ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI.

>> SENATOR SANTORUM IS AT THE DESPERATE END OF HIS CAMPAIGN AND IS TRYING IN SOME WAY TO BOOST HIS PROSPECTS.

>> SOME WHO ARE CONSERVATIVE MAY NOT BE THIS MY CAM MANY BUT THEY WILL BE WHEN I FACE THE NOMINEE AND FACE BARACK OBAMA. AND THE CAMPAIGN ISSUED A PUBLIC MEMO THAT SAYS WHILE RICK SANTORUM IS TAKING A VICTORY LAP AFTER ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI, THE FACT REMAINS THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED OR ADVANCED HIS CHANCES OF GETTING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION. IN FACT, DESPITE SANTORUM'S VICTORIES ON TUESDAY, IT WAS ROMNEY WHO TOOK AWAY THE MOST DELEGATES FROM THE DAY'S CONTESTS. ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, ROMNEY EARNED AT LEAST 41 DELEGATES FROM CAUCUS WINS IN HAWAII AND AMERICAN SAMOA, PLUS PROPORTIONAL AWARDS IN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. THAT BROUGHT HIS TOTAL TO 495, MORE THAN HIS THREE RIVALS COMBINED. SANTORUM TOOK AWAY 35 DELEGATES ON TUESDAY, BRINGING HIS TOTAL TO 252. NEWT GINGRICH WON AT LEAST 24, GIVING HIM 131 DELEGATES OVERALL. RON PAUL PICKED UP JUST ONE DELEGATE ON THE NIGHT. HIS TOTAL IS NOW 48. GINGRICH FINISHED SECOND IN BOTH ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI, RAISING FRESH QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS ABILITY TO CONTINUE. BUT IN BIRMINGHAM LAST NIGHT, HE VOWED TO FIGHT ON.

>> THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WILL BE RAISING MONEY BECAUSE WE CAME IN SECOND, WHICH ISN'T AS MUCH AS WE WANTED, AND WE WILL HAVE GOTTEN DELEGATES. WE'LL GET-- BETWEEN SANTORUM AND MYSELF, WE WILL GET OVER TWO THIRDS OF THE DELEGATES, AND THE SO-CALLED FRONTRUNNER WILL GET LESS THAN ONE-THIRD OF THE DELEGATES.

>> Suarez: GINGRICH CAMPAIGNED TODAY IN ILLINOIS, WHERE 69 DELEGATES ARE UP FOR GRABS NEXT TUESDAY. THE CANDIDATES ARE ALSO POINTING TOWARD THE MISSOURI CAUCUSES ON SATURDAY WITH 52 DELEGATES TO BE WON.

>> Woodruff: FOR MORE ON THE CONTESTS AHEAD AND THE PATH FORWARD FOR THE REPUBLICAN HOPEFULS, WE TURN TO DANTE CHINNI, DIRECTOR OF PATCHWORK NATION, A REPORTING COLLABORATION WITH THE "NEWSHOUR" AND OTHERS THAT EXAMINES ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL TRENDS. AND "NEWSHOUR" POLITICAL EDITOR CHRISTINA BELLANTONI.

>> THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE. CHRISTINA, THERE WAS THINKING AHEAD OF ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI THAT MITT ROMNEY WAS IN THE HUNT HE HAD A GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING WHAT HAPPENED.

>> THE CAMPAIGN FELT THEY HAD A GOOD CHANCE OF WINNING. THEY DEVOTED A LOT OF TIME THERE, AND SANTORUM DIDN'T LEAD A SINGLE POLL HEADING INTO THESE TWO RACES. AND THEY THOUGHT OKAY, IF ROMNEY CAN WIN IN THE SOUTH OVERLY SUGGESTS THIS IS DONE AND DONE. HOWEVER, WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING WAS THE VOTERS IN MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA BASICALLY SAID THAT THEY WANTED TWO THINGS IN A CANDIDATE. STRONG MORAL CHARACTER AND TRUE CONSERVATIVE. WE'VE SEEN THAT PATTERN PLAY OUT IN ALL THESE STATES WHERE SANTORUM WINS THOSE TWO THINGS ACCORDING TO EXIT POLLS BUT ROMNEY WINS THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BEAT BARACK OBAMA. THERE WERE JUST FEWER OF THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP.

>> Woodruff: MILL MIL MITT MD SUPERIOR ORGANIZIONS AND ENDORSERS.

>> HE HAD SURROGATES ABOUT HIM. THE ROMNEY SUPER PACK, THE SUPER PACK THAT'S BACKING HIM IS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE CAMPAIGN, RAN 65% OF ALL THE ADS IN THESE TWO STATES AND ROMNEY RAN A LOT OF ADS AS WELL. THEY WERE PUTTING A LOT OF EFFORT. THE SUPER PACK FOR RICK SANTORUM, THEY ADVERTISED FAR LESS IN BOTH OF THESE STATES. THE SANTORUM CAMPAIGN DIDN'T ADVERTISE AT ALL ON TELEVISION IN THESE TWO STATES. THIS IS ALL HIM GOING OUT AND CAMPAIGNING. THE ORGANIZATION HAS MATTERED IN OTHER PLACES BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER AS MUCH LAST NIGHT.

>> Woodruff: DANTE, YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT ALL THESE STATES. TELL US ABOUT THE KIND OF VOTERS MITT ROMNEY IS WINNING OVER.

>> SO FAR EVERYWHERE HE'S GONE PRETTY MUCH. IF HE WINS USUALLY THIS NEXT POLL, BETTER EDUCATED, WEALTHIER, HE DOES WELL, YOU CAN GO UP THE INCOME SCALE AND LOOK THE ROMNEY'S PERCENTAGE WATCH IT GROW AND GROW. SAME IS TRUE WITH EDUCATION. THE WAY WE LOOK AT IT WE BREAK THE COUNTRY INTO DIFFERENT COUNTY TYPES. HE DOES WELL IN THE PLACES CALLED THE WEALTHY SUBURBS, BOOM TOWNS, URBAN AREAS THAT GREW VERY WELL. COLLEGE TOWNS HE DOES VERY WELL. HE OFTEN DOES WELL IN BIG CITIES. BIG CITIES IN GENERAL ELECTIONS WILL GO DEMOCRAT ALMOST ALWAYS BUT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, REPUBLICANS COME OUT TO VOTE, THERE ARE A LOT OF WEALTHIER BETTER EDUCATED FOLKS WHO LIVE IN THOSE COMMUNITIES AND THEY VOTE FOR MITT ROMNEY.

>> Woodruff: CONVERSELY ROMNEY IS LOSING WHICH KIND OF VOTERS.

>> HE'S STRUGGLING WITH TWO THINGS. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE PROBLEMS HE DOESN'T WIN THE CULTURAL ISSUES THAT SANTORUM DOES WELL IN THAT'S TRUE. BUT THERE'S A LOT OF DOWN INCOME PROBLEM THAT ROMNEY HAS. WHEN YOU GET TO THE LOWER INCOME PLACES WHAT WE CALL SMALL TOWN SERVICE WORKER CENTERS. HE DOESN'T DO WELL THE EVANGELICAL CENTERS. E ADVANTAGE COMES HEVANGELICALS. THESE EMPTY NESTS HE DOESN'T DO WELL IN THOSE PLACES EITHER.

>> Woodruff: SO OUR VIEWERS CAN SEE ALL OF THIS IN OUR WEBSITE, THE PATCHWORK NATION THE REGULAR FUTURE WE HAVE WHERE YOU'VE GOT THIS ALL BROKEN DOWN. QUICKLY, HAS ROMNEY EXPANDED HIS APPEAL AMONG THE ELECTORATES SINCE IOWA.

>> YOU CAN LOOK AT THOSE ON THE MAP THAT WE HAVE ON THE PATCHWORK NATION SITE. WE'RE PRETTY MUCH LOCKED IN A STALEMATE BETWEEN SANTORUM AND ROMNEY. IF YOU GO BACK TO IOWA, SANTORUM HAS WON THE COMMUNITIES HE'S WON AND ROMNEY'S WON THE COMMUNITIES HE'S WON. SANTORUM PICKED UP A LITTLE STEAM IN THOSE SUBURBAN AREA BUT THOSE ARE THE ONLY CHANGES.

>> Woodruff: CHRISTINA WHAT IS THE PATH FORWARD FOR RICK SANTORUM. YES HE WON YESTERDAY THESE TWO CONTESTS. HE HAS SOME MOMENTUM BUT ROMNEY'S WAY AHEAD IN DELEGATES.

>> IT'S NOT COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR RICK SANTORUM TO BE ABLE TO GET THERE WITH THE NUMBER IN THE SAME WAY THAT ROMNEY WOULD BE ABLE TO ALMOST GET THERE. BUT IT'S NOT AS LIKELY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE THINGS, THE ORGANIZATION. IT REMAINS A DIFFICULT THING FOR HIM. ONE THING I WOULD WATCH OUT FOR IS THE MONEY BECAUSE SANTORUM IS NOW ABLE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY BECAUSE OF HIS MOMENTUM PARTICULARLY BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE HAD TWO STRONG MONTHS IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY. HE'S PROBABLY RAISING A LOT NOW AND THEY'RE NOT SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY. HE HAS A PRETTY LEAN CAMPAIGN OPERATION AND ROMNEY IS SPENDING A TON OF MIC INTERNING THROUGH THAT WITH THE LONG RACE AHEAD.

>> Woodruff: SO AS YOU LOOK DANTE AT THE STATES THAT ARE COME UP, ILLINOIS AND A LITTLE BIT LATER WE'VE GOT PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW YORK, THE KINDS OF VOTERS, ARE THEY THE KIND THAT WOULD ADVANTAGE ROMNEY.

>> WHEN I LOOK AT ILLINOIS LOOK MISSOURI THIS WEEKEND. MISSOURI COULD BE VERY GOOD FOR SANTORUM, A LOT OF EVANGELICALS THERE, ILLINOIS IS NOT GOOD FOR HIM. THERE'S LOT OF BASE AROUND CHICAGO, IT'S A BIG CITY. THAT'S A ROMNEY VOTE. THAT'S BARACK OBAMA'S HOME TOWN AND YOU WONDER, I'VE GOT TO LOOK WHETHER OR NOT IT'S AN OPEN PRIMARY BUT IF DEMOCRATS COME OUT AND VOTE FOR SANTORUM JUST TO VOTE FOR HIM. SANTORUM SHOULD DO WELL IN PENNSYLVANIA BUT HE WILL HAVE STRUGGLE IN NEW YORK.

>> Woodruff: BECAUSE.

>> IT'S A MORE URBAN, WEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT. EVEN CONNECTICUT, YOU THINK A LOT OF CONNECTICUT, I DON'T KNOW, PEOPLE LIVE THERE, THAT'S SUBURBAN NEW YORK IN SOME WAYS AND THAT SHOULD BE GOOD FOR ROMNEY.

>> Woodruff: CHRISTINA WHEN WE HEAR NEWT GINGRICH SAYING, IN FACT I HEARD HIM SAY IN AN INTERVIEW VIEW HE SAID ALL FOUR OF US ARE GOING TUSH IN THE SAME PLACE WHEN WE ARE -- GOING TO BE IN THE SAME PLACE WHEN WE GET TO TAMPA. NONE OF US WILL HAVE THE DELEGATES TO CLINCH THE NOMINATION, IS HE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

>> IS HE'S PARTIALLY RIGHT IT'S REALLY ALL PROJECTIONS. BECAUSE IF YOU BASE WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND THE VOTERS ROMNEY HAS BEEN ABLE TO WIN AND PERCENTAGE TO WIN TO COLLECT THESE DELEGATES. THESE ARE PROPORTIONAL STATES FOR THE MOST PART. THE R AND C'S RULES THIS YEAR BASICALLY DOLLARED THEM OUT A FEW OF THE TIME. IF ROMNEY KEEPS GETTING A THIRD OF THE VOTERS HE'S NOT QUITE GOING TO GET THERE OR MAYBE HE'LL JUST BARELY PATS AT THE VERY END WHEN UTAH HAS ITS PRIMARIES.

>> >> Woodruff: UTAH.

>> YES. BUT IN THAT SENSE IF THE PROJECTIONS HOLD BUT THERE ARE A FEW CAVEATS TO THAT. TEXAS, THERE'S A NEW MOLL SHOWING SANTORUM HAS A LEAD THERE. HE'S ABLE TO GET A LOT OF DELEGATES IN THAT VERY BIG STATE IN LATE MAY THAT COULD SHIFT THINGS. WHAT THE GINGRICH PEOPLE ARE SAYING IS THE BROKERED CONVENTION METHOD AND IT'S FASCINATING. I'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING THEY'RE TREATING IT LIKE A WHIG OPERATION OR A SPEAKER'S RACE. THEY'RE TRYING TO TARGET THESE UNBOUND DELEGATES WHO ARE PARTY ACTIVISTS, ELECTED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL IN ALL OF THESE STATES TO SAY VOTE FOR US ON THE SECOND ROUND OF BALLOTING WE'RE GOING TO REPRESENT TRUE CONSERVATIVES. IT'S REALLY A LOBBYING CAMPAIGN ON INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE.

>> Woodruff: WHAT IS THE STORY ON THESE DELEGATES? TO WHAT EXTENT ARE THEY BOUND TO THE PERSON THEY HAVE SO FAR PLEDGED TO BE WITH.

>> THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION AND ONE WE'VE BEEN LOOKING A LOT ON THE SHOW. I THINK IN SOME STATES THEY'RE TOTALLY BOUND AND SOME STATES IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE AND SOME STATES THEY'RE NOT BOUND AT ALL AND THAT WAS THE CASE, WE SAW THAT WITH IOWA AND OTHER PLACES. AND THE RON PAUL PEOPLE ARE MAKING A HUGE EFFORT HERE. THEY'VE BEEN WORKING IN NEVADA, STATE PARTY LEVEL AND LOCAL PARTY LEVEL TO BE ABLE TO GET THEIR PEOPLE WITHIN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO TAKE THOSE PEOPLE TO THE CONVENTION THAT ARE GOING TO FAVOR THEM.

>> Woodruff: THE OTHER CANDIDATE IN ALL OF THIS, DANTE, IS OF COURSE RON PAUL, WHO, ARE WE HAVEN'T SPENT A WHOLE LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT HIM. WHAT KIND OF VOTERS IS HE PULLING? WE KNOW THE NUMBERS ARE SMALL BUT WHO IS HE PULLING AND IS THERE HOPE FOR HIM IN THESE STATES AHEAD WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE PROFILE OF THE ELECTORATE.

>> AGAIN, IF YOU'RE GOING BY WHAT'S HAPPENED SO FAR YOU CAN'T THINK A WHOLE LOT OF HOPE AHEAD BECAUSE HE HASN'T DONE VERY WELL SO FAR. HE TENDS TO DO WELL ACTUALLY WITH YOUNGER VOTERS, OBVIOUSLY. IF YOU GO TO RON PAUL YOU'LL FIND A LOT OF YOUNGER VOTERS THERE. HE TENDS TO DO WELL WITH A BRANCH THAT REALLY ISN'T ABOUT AGE OR INCOME OR ANYTHING, IT'S STRICTLY ABOUT THIS LIBERTARIAN POINT OF VIEW, AND LIKE ANTI-FED, ANTI-WASHINGTON. IT'S A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE. AND HE IS DOING VERY WELL IN THE PRIMARIES THAT ARE COMING UP. HE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE BUT HE'S NOT A MESSAGE CANDIDATE, GOING TO STICK AROUND.

>> Woodruff: THE ROLLERCOASTER CONTINUES, DANTE CHINNI, CHRISTINA BELL TONY, THANGEL TONY,THANK YOU BOTH.

>> Suarez: STILL TO COME ON THE "NEWSHOUR": AFGHANISTAN ON THE AGENDA AT THE WHITE HOUSE; VOTER IDENTIFICATION LAWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY; GEORGE CLOONEY AND JOHN PRENDERGAST ON SOUTH SUDAN AND THE COASTAL FLOOD THREAT FROM RISING SEA LEVELS. BUT FIRST, THE OTHER NEWS OF THE DAY. HERE'S HARI SREENIVASAN.

>> Sreenivasan: A JURY IN VIRGINIA FOUND VIRGINIA TECH NEGLIGENT TODAY IN THE CAMPUS MASSACRE THERE, NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO. A STUDENT-- SEUNG-HUI CHO-- KILLED 33 PEOPLE, INCLUDING HIMSELF, ON APRIL 16, 2007. THE JURY SAID SCHOOL OFFICIALS FAILED TO ISSUE SPEEDY ALERTS THAT MIGHT HAVE SAVED LIVES. IT AWARDED $4 MILLION APIECE TO TWO FAMILIES. STATE LAW CALLS FOR THE AWARDS TO BE CUT TO A MAXIMUM OF $100,000 APIECE. THE PRESIDENT OF IRAN-- MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD-- FACED AN UNPRECEDENTED GRILLING BY HIS COUNTRY'S LAWMAKERS TODAY. THEY ACCUSED HIM OF MISMANAGING THE ECONOMY AND OF DEFYING AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI, THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC'S SUPREME LEADER. THE IRANIAN PARLIAMENT HAS THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ASK A PRESIDENT QUESTIONS, BUT IT HAD NEVER EXERCISED THAT POWER UNTIL TODAY. TEN QUESTIONS WERE READ OUT IN A LIVE BROADCAST.

>> THANK GOD FOR HAVING THE CHANCE TO CARRY OUT ONE OF OUR KEY DUTIES AS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MAINLY SUMMONING THE PRESIDENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC'S HISTORY. THAT WILL LET PEOPLE KNOW IT'S A REAL DEMOCRACY AND NOT SUPERFICIAL AND PRETEND DEMOCRACY.

>> Sreenivasan: AHMADINEJAD WAS DEFIANT IN THE FACE OF THE ALLEGATIONS. AT TIMES, HE ANSWERED WITH SARCASTIC JOKES. AND, HE DENIED CHALLENGING THE AUTHORITY OF AYATOLLAH KHAMENI.

>> THESE FALSE LABELS CANNOT BE APPLIED TO THE GOVERNMENT. BUT MY LIFE SHOWS THAT I'VE ALWAYS TRIED TO DEFEND THE RELIGIOUS POSITION OF THE SUPREME LEADER THROUGH MY ACTION AND THROUGH PROPER RIGHT AND LOGICAL STATEMENTS. AND TO SHOW THAT IT IS A SYSTEM OF COMPASSION, JUSTICE, PROGRESS, HARD WORK AND SOLIDITY.

>> Sreenivasan: IF PARLIAMENT FINDS AHMADINEJAD'S ANSWERS UNSATISFACTORY, THE NEXT STEP COULD BE IMPEACHMENT. A TOURIST BUS CRASHED IN SWITZERLAND TODAY, KILLING 22 CHILDREN AND SIX ADULTS ON THEIR WAY HOME TO BELGIUM FROM A SKI VACATION. THE BUS SLAMMED INTO A TUNNEL WALL IN THE ALPS, LEAVING MANGLED WRECKAGE AND TRAPPING PEOPLE INSIDE. 24 OTHER STUDENTS WERE HOSPITALIZED. NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE U.S. SENATE HAS WRAPPED UP WORK ON A TWO-YEAR TRANSPORTATION BILL. THE MEASURE PASSED EASILY TODAY, WITH A BIPARTISAN MAJORITY. IT CONTAINS $109 BILLION FOR HIGHWAY PROJECTS AND RELATED ITEMS. CURRENT HIGHWAY FUNDING IS DUE TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF MARCH. BUT, IN THE HOUSE, REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO AGREE ON THEIR OWN, FIVE-YEAR BILL. THE HOUSE RETURNS NEXT WEEK FROM ITS CURRENT RECESS. WALL STREET WAS RELATIVELY QUIET, AFTER TUESDAY'S BIG GAINS. THE DOW JONES INDUSTRIAL AVERAGE ADDED 16 POINTS TO CLOSE AT 13,194. THE NASDAQ ROSE JUST UNDER ONE POINT TO CLOSE AT 3040.73. THOSE ARE SOME OF THE DAY'S MAJOR STORIES. NOW, BACK TO RAY.

>> Suarez: REAFFIRMING THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND UNITED KINGDOM, NOW FIGHTING TOGETHER BUT TRYING TO PLAN THEIR EXIT FROM AFGHANISTAN. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DAVID CAMERON WAS GREETED WITH FULL POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE ON THE WHITE HOUSE SOUTH LAWN THIS MORNING. HE ALSO CAME IN FOR GOOD-NATURED RIBBING FROM PRESIDENT OBAMA ON THE IMPENDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE WAR OF 1812, AND THE TORCHING OF THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> IT'S NOW BEEN 200 YEARS SINCE THE BRITISH CAME HERE, TO THE WHITE HOUSE UNDER SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. ( LAUGHTER ) THEY MADE QUITE AN IMPRESSION. ( LAUGHTER ) THEY REALLY LIT UP THE PLACE. ( LAUGHTER )

>> Suarez: BUT IT WAS THE WAR THAT BOTH COUNTRIES NOW FIGHT TOGETHER IN AFGHANISTAN THAT ANIMATED MUCH OF THE LEADERS' NEWS CONFERENCE THIS AFTERNOON.

>> I THINK BOTH DAVID AND I UNDERSTAND HOW DIFFICULT THIS MISSION IS.

>> Suarez: CAMERON'S THREE-DAY VISIT FOLLOWS ON THE HEELS OF DISASTROUS INCIDENTS IN AFGHANISTAN STARTING WITH THE KORAN BURNINGS BY U.S. PERSONNEL, WHICH LED TO RIOTING AND THE MURDERS OF SIX U.S. SERVICEMEN BY AFGHAN FORCES. THEN CAME THE DEATHS OF SIX BRITISH TROOPS LAST WEEK IN A ROADSIDE BOMB ATTACK ON THEIR ARMORED VEHICLE. AND ON SUNDAY, THE MASSACRE OF 16 AFGHAN CIVILIANS, MOSTLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ALLEGEDLY BY A U.S. STAFF SERGEANT BASED NEAR KANDAHAR. HE WAS FLOWN OUT OF AFGHANISTAN TODAY. SO FAR, THE KANDAHAR KILLINGS HAVE NOT AROUSED AFGHAN PUBLIC RAGE AS THE KORAN BURNING DID. AND TODAY, THE AFGHAN DEFENSE MINISTER SOUGHT TO RE-FOCUS ATTENTION.

>> THE STAKES ARE MUCH HIGHER THAN THIS INCIDENT WHICH WE HAVE ALL HAVE CONDEMNED, AND I THINK

>> Suarez: BACK AT THE WHITE HOUSE, THE PRESIDENT TAMPED DOWN TALK THAT THE KILLINGS, AND THE OTHER SETBACKS, ADD UP TO FAILURE FOR THE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> THE TRAGIC EVENTS OF RECENT DAYS ARE A REMINDER THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE A VERY DIFFICULT MISSION. AND OBVIOUSLY, WE BOTH HAVE LOST A NUMBER OF EXTRAORDINARY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THEATER. WHAT'S UNDENIABLE, THOUGH, AND WHAT WE CAN NEVER FORGET IS THAT OUR FORCES ARE MAKING VERY REAL PROGRESS.

>> Suarez: BUT THAT VIEW IS REJECTED BY LARGE MAJORITIES OF BOTH COUNTRIES' PUBLICS. 61% OF AMERICANS AND 73% OF BRITONS FAVOR IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL, ACCORDING TO RECENT SURVEYS. THE LEADERS ACKNOWLEDGED THOSE STARK NUMBERS, EVEN AS THEY PLEDGED A CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO AFGHANISTAN.

>> IF YOU COMPARE WHERE WE ARE IT'S A STILL A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES WE HAVE TO OVERCOME. BUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN AFGHANISTAN TODAY IS QUITE DIFFERENT TO THE SITUATION WE HAD THREE, FOUR, FIVE YEARS AGO.

>> WHY IS IT THAT POLL NUMBERS INDICATE PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN ENDING THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN? IT'S BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR TEN YEARS, AND PEOPLE GET WEARY. I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND BRITISH UNDERSTAND WHY WE WENT THERE

>> Suarez: THE CURRENT NATO TIMETABLE CALLS FOR PHASED WITHDRAWAL OF MOST FOREIGN TROOPS AND A TRANSITION TO AFGHAN CONTROL OF SECURITY IN 2014. AND THE PRESIDENT SAID TODAY HE'S SEEN NO REASON TO ALTER THAT SCHEDULE.

>> IN TERMS OF PACE, I DON'T ANTICIPATE, AT THIS STAGE, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MAKING ANY SUDDEN ADDITIONAL CHANGES TO THE PLAN THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE.

>> Suarez: EVEN SO, TENSIONS ON THE GROUND WERE EVIDENT, AS U.S DEFENSE SECRETARY LEON PANETTA, VISITED AFGHANISTAN TODAY. AS HIS PLANE LANDED IN THE SOUTH, A STOLEN VEHICLE SPED DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE DRIVER, AN AFGHAN, CRASHED IN A DITCH AND, SOMEHOW, EMERGED FROM THE VEHICLE ON FIRE. OFFICIALS SAID PANETTA WAS NEVER IN DANGER. LATER, AT NEARBY CAMP LEATHERNECK, AMERICAN TROOPS WERE ISSUED AN UNUSUAL ORDER TO DISARM-- AND LEAVE THEIR WEAPONS OUTSIDE A TENT THEY OCCUPIED-- SHORTLY BEFORE PANETTA ARRIVED. AFGHAN SOLDIERS WERE UNARMED, AS IS TYPICAL. AT THEIR NEWS CONFERENCE, MR. OBAMA AND CAMERON ALSO DISCUSSED IRAN AND SYRIA. PRESIDENT OBAMA SAID THE WINDOW FOR A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION TO THE IRAN NUCLEAR ISSUE IS RAPIDLY SHRINKING.

>> Woodruff: NEXT, TOUGH NEW MEASURES MANDATING THAT VOTERS PRODUCE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. GWEN IFILL HAS OUR DEBATE.

>> Ifill: OUR WISCONSIN JUDGE IN THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT MOVED SEPARATELY THIS WEEK TO DERAIL TWO NEW STATE VOTER IDENTIFICATION LAWS. SINCE LAST YEAR, EIGHT STATE SLOORTLEGISLATURES HAVE TIGHT IS BY REQUIRING VOTERS TO SHOW PHOTO ID BEFORE THEY CAST A BALLOT. OAFERL 16 STATES HAVE PASSED OR ACTIVATED A VARIETY OF POLL ACCESS LAWS. THE JUSTICE DENT TELLS THE TEXAS LAW PASSED LAST YEAR COULD DISENFRANCHISE HISPANIC VOTERS AND THE JUDGE DECLARED THAT STATE'S NEWER LAW AMOUNTED TO VOTER SUPPRESSION. COAST TO COAST THE DEBARRETT IS JUST BEGINNING TO HEAT UP. FOR AN UPDATE ON THE ONGOING DISPUTE WE TURN TO THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEMOCRACY PROGRAM AT THE CENTER FOR JUSTICE AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL, AND MANAGER OF THE CIVIL JUSTICE REPORT INITIATIVE AT THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION. HE SERVED IN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT DURING THE GEORGE W. BUSH ADMINISTRATION. WELCOME TO YOU BOTH. HANS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU WHETHER THIS CHANGE WE'RE WATCHING, THIS SHIFT WE'RE WATCHING IN THIS DEBATE IS PART OF A CONVERTED EFFORT WE SHOULD BE FOLLOWING.

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S A CONVERTED EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO TRY TO KEEP THESE VOTER ID LAWS FROM GOING IN PLACE. I THINK THEY'RE DOING THAT WITHOUT THE FACTS TO SUPPORT IT AND ALSO THEY ARE IGNORING LEGAL PRECEDENT. THEIR OWN LEGAL PRECEDENT AND IN FACT COURT DECISIONS THAT HAVE FOUND THAT THESE KIND OF VOTER ID LAWS ARE NOT DISCRIMINATORY.

>> Ifill: SO YOU'RE SAYING THE CONCERTED EFFORT IS NOT ON THE PART OF THE LEGISLATURE BUT TO ENACT THESE WHRAWZ BUT ON THE PART OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STOP THEM.

>> YES, I THINK ON THE PART OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. NOW WE DO KNOW STATES ARE INTERESTED IN THIS BUT WHILE MANY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURES HAVE PASSED THESE KIND OF ARE REQUIREMENTS WE KNOW IN RHODE ISLAND DEMOCRATS PASSED IT AND THIS KANSAS ALSO A MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATS VOTED FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF THE VOTER ID LAW IN KANSAS.

>> Ifill: WENDY, WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, WHAT WE'VE SEEN THIS YEAR IS BY FAR THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ROLL BACK OF VOTING RIGHTS SALUTELY SINC SALUTE LEG. THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS NOW OBJECTED TO SEVERAL OF THESE LAWS. WE SEE SOME STATE COURTS PUSHING BACK AS WELL, AND EVEN SOME LEGISLATURES ARE NOW BUCKING AT PASSING NEW RESTRICTIONS. SO WE HOPE THAT THIS NOW AUGERS A TURN AND THAT REGRESSIVE TIDE WE'VE SEEN THIS.

>> Ifill: EVERY TIME WE HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WE HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION. WHAT'S WRONG ASKING SOMEONE TO PROVE WHO THEY ARE AT THE POLLS.

>> THERE'S CERTAINLY ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH ASKING PEOPLE TO SHOW THEY ARE WHO THEY SAY THEY ARE AT THE POLLS. WHAT'S WRONG WITH THESE LAWS IS THAT THEY ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN THAT. THEY ASKED FOR ID'S THAT 10 TO 11% OF AMERICANS VOTING ELIGIBLE AMERICANS SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE. SO THAT'S REALLY WHAT THE DISPUTE'S ABOUT AND NOT ONLY THAT, THAT THE DATA ARE NOW COMING IN BUT THESE REALLY SIGNIFICANTLY HARM MINORITY VOTERS IN THE STATES THAT HAVE PASSED THESE. IN TEXAS FOR EXAMPLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT HISPANIC VOTERS WERE MORE THAN TWICE AS LIKELY. THE NON-HISPANIC VOTERS, TO LACK THESE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT ISSUES, ARE PHOTO ID'S. AND THESE LAWS ALSO CHERRY PICK THE KIND OF ID'S THAT ARE ALLOWED. YOU CAN VOTE IN TEXAS USING A CONCEALED HANDGUN CARRY LICENSE BUT NOT USING A STATE EMPLOYMENT ID OR A STATE STUDENT ID.

>> LET ME ASK HANS TO RESPOND TO THAT.

>> WELL, SHE'S JUST WRONG ABOUT THE DATA. IN FACT, THE DATA FROM STATES LIKE GEORGIA, LIKE INDIANA WHICH HAVE HAD PHOTO ID LAWS IN PLACE NOW FOR MORE THAN SIX YEARS SHOWS THAT IT DOES NOT SUPPRESS THE VOTE. IN FACT, THE TURN OUT OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS FOR EXAMPLE IN GEORGIA WENT UP SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE STATE AND THE TWO FEDERAL ELECTIONS HELD SINCE THEN. IN THE LAWSUITS FILED BY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE NAACP AND OTHERS AGAINST THE GEORGIA AND INDIANA LAWS. THOSE LAWSUITS WERE THROWN OUT BECAUSE THE COURTS FOUND THEY WERE RUN NOT DISCRIMINATORY, AND TWO BECAUSE THE PLAINTIFFS COULDN'T PRODUCE ANYONE WHO WOULD BE UNABLE TO VOTE BECAUSE OF THESE VOTER ID LAWS.

>> Ifill: PARDON ME. LET ME ASK ABOUT THIS. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT THESE NEW LAWS ARE ATTEMPTING TO FIX.

>> THEY PREVENT A SERIES OF THINGS. FOR EXAMPLE, IMPERSONATION FRAUD AT THE POLLS. VOTING UNDER FICTITIOUS VOTER REGISTRATION NAMES OR PEOPLE WHO ALREADY DIED. VOTING BY ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND THERE'S BEEN PLENTY OF CASES OF PEOPLE REGISTERING AND VOTING. ALSO, THEY CAN DETER INDIVIDUALS FROM VOTING WHO ARE REGISTERED IN MORE THAN ONE STATE.

>> Ifill: MS. WISER, ARE THESE PROBLEMS WHICH ARE WORTH FIXING.

>> CERTAINLY VOTER FRAUD IS A SERIOUS CRIME AND WHEN IT OCCURS, IT SHOULD BE PROSECUTED TO ITS FULL EXTENT. FORTUNATELY, VOTER FRAUD AND THE KINDS THAT ARE TARGETED BY THESE LAWS ARE SO EXTRAORDINARILY RARE THAT AMERICANS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTENING THAN TO COMMIT THAT KIND OF VOTER FRAUD. AND SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HE HAS MENTION AGAIN WHILE REALLY RARE ARE NOT AT ALL ADDRESSED BY VOTER ID LAWS. VOTING BY NON-CITIZENS FREQUENT IS NOT AT ALL ADDRESSED BY ASKING SOMEBODY TO SHOW A DRIVERS LICENSE WHEN NON-CITIZENS CAN OBTAIN A DRIVERS LICENSE. THE REAL PROBLEM HERE IS --

>> Ifill: I'LL GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND.

>> THANK YOU. SO THE REAL PROBLEM HERE IS THAT THERE'S A HUGE, A REALLY BREATH TAKING NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE CITIZENS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE KINDS OF ID THAT THESE NEW STATE LAWS WHICH ARE MUCH MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST ARE ASKING FOR.

>> Ifill: OKAY.

>> I'M SORRY, BUT A PHOTO ID LAWS CAN PREVENT ILLEGAL ALIENS FROM REGISTERING AND VOTING. AND IN STATES LIKE UTAH, WHICH PUT A NOTATION ON DRIVERS LICENSES ISSUED TO LEGAL NON-CITIZENS, THAT THEY ARE NOT A CITIZEN, IT CAN PREVENT THEM FROM VOTING. THESE ARE MEASURES THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OVERWHELMINGLY SUPPORT AND THINK IS A GOOD IDEA, AND DO NOT BELIEVE IS A PROBLEM. THERE'S A HUGE NUMBERS. LOOK, THE EXPERIENCED STATES WHERE YOU SHOW, THAT IS NOT TRUE. SOUTH CAROLINA WHERE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT JUST OBJECTED, THEY FOUND THAT ONLY ABOUT 1% OF REGISTERED VOTERS DON'T ALREADY HAVE A PHOTO ID IN THE STATE, AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS CAN EASILY GET THE FREE ONE THAT SOUTH CAROLINA AND EVERY OTHER STATE PROVIDES OF YOU.

>> Ifill: WHERE DOES THE BATTLE NEWS NEXT, MS. WISER. WE SEE IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI WHERE OBVIOUSLY THEY VOTED THIS WEEK. THEY ALSO ARE HEADED WITH THE SAME RULES TEXAS IS, IS THAT WHERE THE NEXT CHALLENGE HAPPENS?

>> WELL RIGHT NOW THERE ARE REALLY CHALLENGES GOING ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY. WE ARE AWAITING A RULING FROM A FEDERAL COURT IN FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE, AGAINST A LAW THERE THAT HAS BEEN SERIOUSLY CUT BACK ON VOTING RIGHTS, MAKING IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR GROUPS LIKE THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO CONDUCT VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVES. MAKING, CUTTING BACK ON EARLY VOTING ELIMINATING SUNDAY EARLY VOTING WHICH WAS USED REALLY SUCCESSFULLY BY AFRICAN AMERICAN AND LATINO CHURCHES IN PAST ELECTIONS. THAT'S REALLY THE NEXT DECISION WE ARE AWAITING.

>> Ifill: WHERE DO YOU SEE THIS HEADING NEXT?

>> I THINK THE VERY NEXT STAGE AFTER PHOTO ID IS GOING TO BE STATES PUTTING IN REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE PROVE OF CITIZENSHIP WHEN YOU REGISTER TO VOTE, TO ALSO TRY TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. WE ALREADY HAVE THREE STATES INCLUDING GEORGIA AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FOUND IT TO BE NOT DISCRIMINATORY. I THINK OTHER STATES ARE GOING TO BE ADDING THAT PROVISION AS THEIR NEXT STEP IN TRYING TO SECURE SELECTIONS.

>> Ifill: HANS FROM THE HAVIOR TIJ FOUNDATION ASK WENDY, THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>> Woodruff: NOW, AN UPDATE ON THE CONTINUED FIGHTING IN THE AFRICAN NATION OF SUDAN AND A WELL KNOWN VISITOR TO THAT COUNTRY. LAST SUMMER, PEOPLE IN SOUTH SUDAN CELEBRATED AS THEY BECAME CITIZENS OF THE WORLD'S NEWEST NATION. AFTER DECADES OF INTERNAL VIOLENCE IN SUDAN, THE SOUTH WON ITS INDEPENDENCE IN A 2011 REFERENDUM. BUT THE SOUTH'S HARD-WON FREEDOM HASN'T STOPPED THE FIGHTING FOR OIL-RICH TERRITORY AND OVER ETHNIC DIVISIONS. SUDAN IS A MAJOR OIL SUPPLIER TO CHINA AND OTHER NATIONS. SHORTLY BEFORE THE FORMAL BREAK, THE SUDANESE GOVERNMENT TOOK MILITARY ACTION IN THE BORDER AREAS OF ABYEI AND SOUTH KORDOFAN. THAT REGION HAD BEEN ALIGNED WITH THE SOUTH, BUT NOW LIES NORTH OF THE NEW BORDER. FIGHTING THERE HAS CONTINUED, WITH GROWING APPEALS FOR WORLD ACTION. ACTOR GEORGE CLOONEY IS A LONGTIME ADVOCATE FOR PEACE ACROSS SUDAN. HE JUST RETURNED FROM THERE, AT A U.S. SENATE HEARING TODAY, CLOONEY DESCRIBED REPEATED ROCKET ATTACKS, AND SAID THEY AMOUNT TO WAR CRIMES.

>> WHAT IT DOES IS IT CREATES THIS ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR. EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THE SOUNDS OF THOSE ENGINES AND IT TAKES ABOUT FIVE MINUTES FOR THEM TO GET THERE AND THEY CIRCLE. EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THE SOUND, EVERYONE RUNS AND RUNS TO THE HILLS.

>> Woodruff: CLOONEY AND PRENDERGAST CO-FOUNDED THE SATELLITE SENTINEL PROJECT, PRENDERGAST SAID TODAY THE GOAL

>> JUST INDIFFERENCE OR OFTEN IGNORANCE, JUST DON'T KNOW. SO THE THING THAT I FIND EXCITING ABOUT THE FIRST TEN YEARS OF THE 21ST CENTURY OF ACTIVISM IS THE CHANCE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHERS TO CREATE REAL PARTNERSHIPS. BETWEEN THESE WONDERFUL NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE WORKING SO DILIGENTLY ON THESE ISSUES.

>> Woodruff: I SPOKE WITH CLOONEY AND PREPARED GA PRENDERA WASHINGTON STUDIO FOLLOWING THE HEARING. GEORGE CLOONEY AND JOHN PRENDERGAST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US. YOU'VE BEEN CONSUMED WITH THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME. YOU'VE BEEN INTERESTED IN SUDAN FOR YEARS. THIS IS YOUR SIXTH TRIP THERE. GEORGE CLOONEY, WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? THERE ARE SO MANY PARTS OF THE PLANET THAT ARE IN CONFLICT, WHERE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING. AND WHY THIS TRIP?

>> WELL, BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THIS TRIP, INITIALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE POSITION I'M IN, PART OF YOUR JOB IS TO TRY TO SHINE A LATE IN AREAS. I'M NOT A POLICY MAKER. MY JOB IS TO TRY TO BRING ATTENTION TO PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE IT. WHEN I STARTED READING ARTICLES IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES" IN 2005 ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING O IT SEEMED LIKE THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE BRINGING A SPOTLIGHT COULD ACTUALLY HAVE SOME EFFECT OR AT LEAST THERE WASN'T ENOUGH OF A SPOTLIGHT ON IT. SO I GAWLD INVOLVED BECAUS GOT . THAT WAS DAUGHTE DAUGHTER DARFOT WORKING WITH THEM AND IT GETS IN YOUR BLOOD STREAM AND YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THEM AND YOU CONTINUE TO GO BACK. THIS TRIP IN PARTICULAR WAS IMPORTANT TO US BECAUSE THERE IS VIOLENCE FIRST OF ALL GOING ON AGAINST CIVILIANS, AND THERE'S ALSO A TICKING TIME CLOCK OF DANGER WHICH IS AS A RAINY SEASON COMES AND THESE PEOPLE ARE HIDING IN CAVES BECAUSE OF THESE BOMBS. THEY'RE UNABLE TO GROW ANY CROPS, AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET CROPS TO THEM, FOOD TO THEM BECAUSE OF THE ROADS WHEN IT STARTS TO RAIN. AND THERE'S A VERY GOOD POSSIBILITY OF A LOT OF PEOPLE STARVING TO DEATH.

>> Woodruff: IN THE VIDEO WE WERE JUST SHOWING, THEY ARE GENUINELY SCARED, THE BOMBINGS ARE VERY REAL TO THEM.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING THING. PEOPLE, SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE IN RECENT NEWS ARTICLES, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS AND YOU'LL SEE ALL THESE PEOPLE IN THESE CAVES AND SOME PEOPLE SORT OF ASSUME THESE ARE THE CAVE PEOPLE OF NUBA. THEY'RE NOT. THEY LIVE IN DILIGENCE. THEY ARE THE OLDEST SOCIETY ON EARTH PERIOD OF THE BIBLE. THEY'VE BEEN LIVING THERE A LONG TIME AND THEY'RE HIDING IN THOSE CAVES BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE DAY, PEOPLE ARE COMING BY AND DROPPING BOMBS. IF THEY'RE NOT KILLING THEM THEY'RE HURTING THEM.

>> Woodruff: JOHN PRENDERGAST YOU HOLD PRESIDENT BESHEER RESPONSIBLE. ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND THEY'RE BEHIND IT.

>> IT'S A PATTERN. IT'S THE WAY THEY FIGHT WARS. WE'VE SEEN A WAR BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND SUDAN IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF SUDAN, THE SOUTHERN THIRD OF SUDAN WHICH WENT ON FOR 20 YEARS AND COST TWO AND A QUARTER MINUTE LIVES. THE WAY THE GOVERNMENT IN KARTOON FOUGHT THAT WAR AND IN DARFOR AND THE WAY THEY'RE FIGHTING NOW IN THE MOUNTAINS WE JUST CAME BACK FROM IT'S THE SAME TACTIC. ATTACK THE CIVILIAN POPULATION. IT'S THE OLDEST IN THE BOOK DRAIN THE WATER TO CATCH THE FISH. THE FISH BEING THE REMEMBERRALS THREMEMBERRALSREMEMBERRAL REMEMS REBELS. IT'S MUCH EASIER TO TAKE THE WATER AND WIN THE WAR.

>> Woodruff: WHAT ARE YOU ASKING HIM TO DO, HIM AND THE OTHER PEOPLE AROUND HIM WHO ARE BEHIND THIS.

>> WELL IN THE FIRST INSTANCE WE'D LIKE TO SEE THEM HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITIES THAT HE'S COMMITTED AND WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOMEONE EXECUTE AN ARREST WARRANT THAT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT HAS ISSUED FOR HIM. IF THAT DOESN'T WORK, THOUGH, IN THE IMMEDIATE T TERM TO SAVE LIS NOW THE DIPLOMATIC PROCESS THAT LEADS TO A COMPREHENSIVE PEACE AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR TRANSFORMATION IN SUDAN OR PEACE IN SUDAN. AT THE VERY LEAST HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS TO GET TO THESE PEOPLE BEFORE THEY DIE. THERE IS A BIGGER ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST KEEP PUTTING BAND AIDS ON THIS. BUT THERE'S A BAND-AID THAT'S GOING TO BE PRETTY QUICKLY.

>> Woodruff: YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON THE GOVERNMENT, THE KARTOON GOVERNMENT, GETTING THE CHINESE INVOLVED. WHY IS IT IN THEIR INTEREST.

>> CHINA HAS BUILT ABOUT A $20 BILLION INFRASTRUCTURE IN OIL, OIL RIGS, PIPELINES, RETAIN RUIZ, MOSTLY IN SOUTHERN SUDAN -- REFINERIES MOSTLY IN SOUTHERN SUDAN WHERE THE OIL IS. FOR INSTANCE THE SOUTH WHO HAS THE OIL AND THE NORTH WHO GETS IT IN THE REFINERY AND KEEPS MOST OF IT AND KEEPS THE MONEY AND BUYS BOMBS AND BOMBERS AND EQUIPMENT TO ACTUALLY ATTACK THE SOUTH OR OTHER REGIONS. THE SOUTH JUST TURNED OFF ALL THE OIL. NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY GET BAD FOR BOTH BUT WHO IT'S REALLY BAD FOR IS CHINA, WHO GETS 6% OF THEIR OIL IMPORTED FROM THE SUDAN. NOW WHEN THEY'RE NOT GETTING IT FROM THERE, THEY'VE GOT TO GO GET IT SOMEWHERE ELSE. CHINA HAS A VESTED INTEREST IN THIS BEING SOLVED. THE FIRST TIME WE CAN GO TO CHINA AND NOT TRY TO PLAY ON HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND NOT TO SAY LET'S PLAY TO YOUR BETTER ANGELS, LET'S TALK ABOUT MAYBE WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO TRY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY TO INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT OF KHARTOUM FOR YOU ECONOMICALLY.

>> Woodruff: JOHN PRENDERGAST, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT OF KHARTOUM IS LOSING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN REVENUE IN OIL, WHAT'S IN IT FOR THEM TO RESALE- RESOLVE THIS.

>> TO TURN THE OIL TAP BACK ON. THE TREMENDOUS, THIS MOMENT WHERE BOTH THE GOVERNMENT OF KHARTOUM AND THE GOVERNMENT IN SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN ARE IN A VERY VERY SERIOUS HURT. OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS AS THEIR RESERVES, THEIR FOREIGN RESERVES SHRINK AND THEIR CURRENCY DEPRECIATE UNITED STATES, HYPER FLATION I INFLATIG TO RESULT AND PUTS BOTH REGIME AT A POLITICAL RISK SO THEY HAVE AN INTEREST TO GET THE DONE.

>> Woodruff: YOU'VE TIED IT TO GAS PRICES RIGHT HERE IN THIS COUNTRY. WOULD RESOLVING SOMETHING IN ONE COUNTRY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CONTINENT OF AFRICA REALLY AFFECT GAS PRICES.

>> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS. PRESIDENT OBAMA GAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE A WEEK AGO, AND IT WAS A POLITICAL QUESTION ABOUT THE GAS PRICES. AND HE SAID WELL THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS. THERE'S SPECULATION, SPECULATORS. THERE'S THE QUESTIONS OF SECURITY IN IRAN OR CONTINUED DEALINGS WITH IRAN. AND THERE'S ALSO THE SUDAN HAS TURNED OFF THE OIL. SO YES, AND HERE'S SENATOR LUGAR, SO IT'S NOT A POLITICAL QUESTION. SENATOR LUGAR TODAY BROUGHT IT UP AND SAID THE EXACT SAME THING. THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER IS THIS. IF CHINA IS NOT GETTING THAT 6% OF THE OIL, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO THE SAME PLACES WE GO TO GET THAT OIL. AND THAT RAISES THE PRICE. SO THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT DOES RAISE THE PRICE. FOR ME, AS AN ACTIVIST, OR AS AN ADVOCATE, IT GIVES ME THE ABILITY WHEN PEOPLE SAY WELL WHAT'S THIS GOT TO DO WITH US. IT GIVES ME THE ABILITY TO SAY WELL ACTUALLY NOW IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH US. FOR THE FIRST TIME WE'RE ABLE TO SAY THAT BASED ON THIS SUBJECT.

>> Woodruff: GEORGE CLOONEY, JOHN PRENDERGAST, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TALKING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Woodruff: YOU CAN WATCH MORE OF OUR INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE CLOONEY AND JOHN PRENDERGAST.

>> Suarez: WE'LL BE BACK SHORTLY WITH A LOOK AT A NEW STUDY ABOUT THE RISKS OF RISING SEA LEVELS. 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 PR FINALLY TONIGHT, NEW RESEARCH AND WARNINGS ABOUT THE RISK OF WORSENING FLOODING CONNECTED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE. A REPORT RELEASED TODAY BY THE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION CLIMATE CENTRAL FINDS THE RISE IN SEA LEVEL ALONG MANY COASTAL COMMUNITIES IS ACCELERATING. LIKE 2030, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, NEARLY 5 MILLION AMERICANS LIVING ALONG COASTAL SHORES COULD BE FACED WITH STORM SURGES UP TO FOUR FEET HIGHER THAN THE LOCAL TIDE LINE. TO HELP BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RISK, CLIMATE CENTRAL HAS CREATED INTERACTIVE ON-LINE MAPPING TOOL THAT SHOWS THE RISK IN CITIES UP AND DOWN THE COAST. YOU COULD FIND A LINK TO THAT TOOL ON OUR WEBSITE. FOR MORE ON THE STUDY, WE TURN TO ITS LEAD AUTHOR BEN STRAUSS. HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE GROUP'S SEA LEVEL PROGRAM. AND BEN, THE REPORT SAYS THAT GLOBALLY, THE SEA LEVEL HAS RISEN ABOUT EIGHT INCHES SINCE 1880. EIGHT INCHES IN 132 YEARS, IS THAT A LOT?

>> IT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT IT IS. IT'S BEEN ENOUGH TO ALREADY DOUBLE THE CHANCES FOR ONE CENTURY STORMS AT MOST LOCATIONS WE'VE STUDIED AROUND THE UNITED STATES.

>> Suarez: NOW THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT BOTH WARMING AND SEA LEVEL RISE ARE ACCELERATING AND THAT YOU EXPECT TO SEE MUCH MORE OF IT IN THE COMING YEARS. OTHER EXAMPLES OF PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES?

>> SURE. WELL WE'VE SEEN EIGHT INCHES OVER THE LAST CENTURY. SCIENTIFIC PROJECT SEAN NOW RANGE BETWEEN -- PROJECTION NOW RANGE BETWEEN TWO AND SEVEN FEET. THE MOST VULNERABLE PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES INCLUDE SOUTHERN-AND-A-HALFSOUTHERN FLOD SOUTH CALIFORNIA. AS WELL AS REALLY ISOLATED LOCATIONS ALL UP AND DOWN THE COAST. CZECH PEAK REGION, VIRGINIA, JERSEY SHORE, NEW YORK CITY.

>> Suarez: ARE THERE BIG POPULATION CENTERS. AS YOU MENTIONED NEW YORK CITY, LET'S USE NEW YORK AS AN EXAMPLE. IT'S NOT A PLACE THAT WE THINK OF AS BEING FLAT OR LOW LYING. IF THE WATER ROSE A COUPLE INCHES IN THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, WHAT WOULD IT LEAVE A PLACE LIKE THAT VULNERABLE TO?

>> YES. WELL WHAT SEA LEVEL DISL DOEST RAISES THE LAUNCHING PAD FOR COASTAL STORM. MANLT IS VULNERABLE TO COASTAL STORM. NEW YORK HARS HARBOR IS SHAPED A ANGLE. IF A STORM HITS AT THE WRONG ANNAL THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A STORM SURGE INTO LOWER MANHATTAN AND FILL THE SUBWAY SYSTEM MUCH OF WHICH IS BELOW SEA LEVEL AND DISABLE IT. AS THE SEA LEVEL CONTINUES TO RISE. THE ODDS OF THAT KIND OF EVENT CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND ONE DAY INSTEAD OF MEETING A CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE, WE MIGHT INSTEAD JUST NEED A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE AND SO FORTH.

>> Suarez: SO IF I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY, ON NORMAL DAYS A LOT OF THESE PLACES WITH THE REGULAR TIDES AND PREVAILING WINDS WOULDN'T BE IN TROUBLE BUT IF THERE IS A SEVERE WEATHER EVENT, THEY'RE IN BIG TROUBLE.

>> YES. AGAIN, IF YOU WERE TO RAISE THE FLOOR OF A BASKETBALL COURT YOU WOULD SEE A LOT MORE DUNKS. SEA LEVEL RISE IS RAISING THE FLOOR THAT STORMS LAUNCH FROM. IN THE LONG RUN I THINK PEOPLE SEE OF SEA LEVEL RISE, THEY THINK OF LAND BECOMING PERMANENTLY INUNDATED AND THE MAP'S CHANGING. THAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE LONG RUN. VERY UNFORTUNATELY. BUT IN THE NEAR TERM LEVELS GOING TO SEA ARE MORE AND MORE STORM, MORE AND MORE COASTAL FLOODS GETTING HIGHER AND HIGHER.

>> Suarez: A LOT OF CLIMATE SCIENTISTS SAY THE PUSH FACTORS THAT ARE RAISING WATER LEVELS ARE ALREADY BUILT IN TO THE ATMOSPHERE, BUILT INTO THE PHYSICS OF THE PLANET AND EVEN SHUTTING OFF EMISSIONS NOW WOULDN'T CHANGE THE NEAR TERM. SO WHAT CAN HUMAN BEINGS WHO ARE LIVING IN THESE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IN THE NEXT 10 AND 20 YEARS.

>> NOW I'M AFRAID THAT'S RIGHT. IF WE PRODUCE THE MISSION WE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE BY THE END OF THE CENTURY IN TERMS OF HOW AND HOW FAST THE SEA LEVEL RISE. BUT A LOT OF SEA LEVEL RISE IS ALREADY INEVITABLE. JUST LIKE IF YOU TAKE AN ICE CUBE OUT OF THE FREEZER AND YOU PUT IT ON THE STABLE TABLE IT TA WHILE TO MELT. WE'VE ALREADY WARMED UP THE CLIMATE ENOUGH TO CAUSE A LOT OF MELTING AND THE GLACIERS AND ICE SHEETS HAVEN'T CAUGHT UP. SO TO PREPARE FOR THE HIGHER WATERS THAT ARE INEVITABLE, COMMUNITIES CAN PROTECT THE BEACHES AND MAR MARSHES THAT THY HAVE THAT SERVE AS BUFFERS FOR FLOODING. THEY CAN ALLOW SPACE FOR BEACHES AND MARSHES TO MIGRATE INLAND AS THE SEAS RISE. THEY CAN BUILD SEA WALLS OR LEVEES BUT THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE. AND I THINK WE CAN ALSO LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT, WELL, TRYING NOT TO BUILD MORE THINGS IN PLACES THAT ARE VULNERABLE. AND SO THE PLACES THAT ARE INDEFENSIBLE OR TOO EXPENSIVE, NOT PRACTICAL TO DEFEND SADLY, SOME CAREFUL PLANS RETREAT SCHWARZNEGGER SCHWARZNEGGER A

>> Suarez: THEY TOLD US IT WAS FOOLISH TO PLAN BASED ON MODELS THAT HAVE LITTLE FORECASTING LEVELS THAT SEA LEVELS MAY RISE ONLY A FOOT IN THE NEXT CENTURY AND DOING THE KIND OF PUBLIC WORKS YOU'RE SUGGESTING TO DEFEND AGAINST IT MAY BE AN UNWISE EXPENDITURE. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> I RESPOND TO THAT IN A COUPLE OF WAYS. FIRST, THE MODEL THAT'S THE BASIS FOR OUR PROJECTIONS OF GLOBAL SEA LEVEL RISE HAS VERY ACCURATELY HIND KARLSE CASTED TA LEVEL RISE WHICH IS AS WELL AS YOU CAN DO FOR TESTING A MODEL. IT'S OUR BEST SCIENTIFIC JUDGMENT. SECOND OF ALL, CONSIDER A BULLET. A BULLET IS NOT DANGEROUS IF YOU'RE HOLDING IT IN YOUR HAND. IT'S NOT DANGEROUS IF YOU THROW IT BUT IT'S DANGEROUS IF IT'S FIRED FROM A GUN AT HIGH SPEEDS. WHAT WILL HURT US WITH SEA LEVEL RISE IS A RIDE RISE AT HIGH SPE. IF WE DON'T PREPARE FOR THAT, I WILL BE IN DEEP TROUBLE. I THINK THE RISK IS GREATER ON THE SIDE OF FOUGHT PREPARING.

>> Suarez: BEN STRAUSS OF CLIMATE CENTRAL. THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RAY.

>> Woodruff: AGAIN, THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS OF THE DAY: RICK SANTORUM TRIED TO POSITION HIMSELF FOR A TWO-MAN RACE WITH MITT ROMNEY, AFTER WINNING THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI. A STATE COURT JURY FOUND VIRGINIA TECH NEGLIGENT IN THE MASSACRE OF 33 PEOPLE THERE, NEARLY FIVE YEARS AGO. AND THE U.S. SOLDIER ACCUSED OF KILLING 16 AFGHAN VILLAGERS WAS FLOWN OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION. MEANWHILE, PRESIDENT OBAMA AND BRITISH PRIME MINISTER DEFENDED THE AFGHAN MISSION. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT RISING SEA LEVELS ONLINE. HARI SREENIVASAN EXPLAINS. HARI?

>> Sreenivasan: ON OUR SCIENCE PAGE, CHECK OUT THE NEW TOOL FOR TRACKING THE RISK OF FLOODING ALONG THE U.S. COASTLINE. ALSO THERE, YOU CAN SUBMIT YOUR OBSERVATIONS ABOUT CHANGES IN THE CLIMATE WHERE YOU LIVE. ON OUR POLITICS PAGE, DANTE CHINNI BREAKS DOWN HOW THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FARED IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITY TYPES IN TUESDAY'S CONTESTS. AND ON THE EVE OF THE MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, A NEW STUDY HIGHLIGHTS THE GAP IN GRADUATION RATES BETWEEN WHITE AND BLACK PLAYERS AND SHOWS HOW WOMEN ATHLETES HANDILY BEAT THE MEN WHEN IT COMES TO GETTING DEGREES. ALL THAT AND MORE IS ON OUR WEB SITE: newshour.pbs.org. RAY?

>> Suarez: AND THAT'S THE "NEWSHOUR" FOR TONIGHT. ON THURSDAY, WE'LL TALK WITH THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN, RYAN CROCKER. I'M RAY SUAREZ.

>> Woodruff: AND I'M JUDY WOODRUFF. WE'LL SEE YOU ONLINE AND AGAIN HERE TOMORROW EVENING. 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