Doctors say ariel sharon is in a critical situation. If all goes well, well be off in an hours time. The longawaited rescue from a vessel frozen in the antarctica gets underway. [ music ] we begin the newshour in iraq. The surge of violence has had devastating consequences. We know that 2013 had the highest civilian death toll in five years. The United Nations says that over 7,000 civilians have died, a further 1,000 Security Force personnel died in attacks. Thats double the number killed in 2012 when just over 3,500 died. The violence is still, though, not at levels seen at the height of insurgency in 2004 and 2007, but Al Qaedalinked groups appear to be enjoying a resurgence. A subdivision between the sunni and shia muslims seems to be at the crux of the matter. Its been a vicious year for iraqis, and the new year is not looking better. Sunni fighters in anbar are attacking police station, releasing prisoners and seizing weapons. Theres anger over the arrest of a prominent sunni lawm
The president stood up using some pretty blunt language, saying that anyone whos got a problem with her has a problem with him. Instead, there wont be a confrontation because late today, ambassador rice took herself out of contention, writing the president shes honored to be considered for the office, writing i am fully confident that i could serve our country ably and effectively in that role. However, if nominated, i am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly. That tradeoff is simply not worth it for our country. I made the decision that it was the best thing for our country, for the American People that i not continue to be considered by the president for nomination as secretary of state, because i didnt want to see a confirmation process that was very prolonged, very politicized, very distracting and very disruptive, because there are so many things we need to get done as a country, and the first several months of a secondterm president s
The president stood up for her saying anyone that has a problem with her has a problem with him. Instead there wont be a confrontation because late today ambassador rice took herself out of contention writing the president that shes honored to be considered for the office saying, quote, i am fully confident that i could serve our country ably and effectively in that role. However, if nominated, i am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disrupt ive and costly. That tradeoff is simply not worth it to our country. She said more to abc news. Today i made the decision that it was best for our country, for the American People that i not continue to be considered by the president for secretary of state because i didnt want to see a confirmation process that was very prolonged, very politicized, very distracting and very disruptive because there are so many things we need to get done as a country, and the first several months of a second term president s agenda is real
After the murder of four americans in libya. You will recall the president stood up for her using blunt language saying anyone who has a problem with her has a problem with him. Instead there wont be c confrontation because ambassador rice took herself out of contention writing the president she is honerred to be considered for the office saying, i am now convinced that the con pir fashion process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly and that tradeoff is simply not worth it to our country. Today i made the decision that it was the best thing for our country, for the american people, that i fn continue to be cred by the president for nomination of secretary of state because i didnt want to see a confirmation process that was very prolonged, very politicized, very distracting, and very disruptive because there are so many things we need to get done as a country and the first several months of the president s agenda is really the opportunity to get the crucial things done, were talking
Confrontation because ambassador rice took herself out of contention writing the president she is honored to be considered for the office saying, i am now convinced that the confirmation process would be lengthy, disruptive and costly and that tradeoff is simply not worth it to our country. Today i made the decision that it was the best thing for our country, for the american people, that i continue to be cred by the president for nomination of secretary of state because i didnt want to see a confirmation process that was very prolonged, very politicized, very distracting, and very disruptive because there are so many things we need to get done as a country and the first several months of the president s agenda is really the opportunity to get the crucial things done, were talking about comprehensive immigration reform, balanced deficit reduction, job creation. Thats what matters. And to the extent my nomination could have delayed, distracted or deflected priorities impossible to achie