Ellen Ratner interviews Patricia Dandonoli, President & CEO of WaterAid America, about World Toilet Day, November 19, and about the global water and sanitation crisis. (5:46)

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Alan Doss, Special Representative to the UN in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), briefed reporters via telelink from Kinshasha, DRC. He explained the main focus for the UN mission now is to provide support to the President by working to stabilize conflict areas. A number of convoys have successfully been able to get to parts of the country that had been deeply affected by the fighting. Rebel groups have agreed to a ceasefire in partial areas (termed “zones of separation,” in the north of Goma) to allow MONUC (United Nations Mission in the Congo) to care for the internally displaced. In many areas, the national armed forces have disintegrated.
Doss said there is ongoing discussion between governments in Rwanda and Congo and he hopes the political and diplomatic process can produce lasting peace. The Security Council will tomorrow be asked to give its support for 3,000 additional peacekeeping troops. If the Council approves, Doss estimates troops will be provided in the next several months. Doss indicated there are some discussions that the CNDP (Congress in the Defence of the People) and government may meet in Nairobi in the coming months to discuss a way forward.
Doss was asked whether he wanted to see more troops on the ground and if a mandate were moved toward peace enforcement, but the Security Council has yet to approve. There are 6,000 troops in North Kivu where fighting is the most active. Doss could not confirm whether Angolan and Rwandan troops were in fact in the DRC. Doss said: “The Angolan government does not have the immediate intention to send troops regardless of what is being reported in the international media.” There are continuous media reports of Portuguese speaking troops in the conflict zones.
Pakistan is intending to stay on to support peace-building during the coming months until more troops are secured. A team of conflict experts is currently being assembled.

UN Correspondent Tala Downlatshahi will attend the noon briefing at the United Nation. This morning, the Washington Bureau will cover President Bush’s remarks to the Department of Transportation. We will also attend the full committee hearing on “Oversight of Implementation of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and of Government Lending and Insurance Facilities; Impact on Economy and Credit Availability.”
A 3 pm, the bureau will cover a hearing on the U.S Auto Industry at the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.
We will also attend the all-day Real Investment in America Conference.

The National Iranian American Council held a discussion on “Can Obama Untangle the Iranian Challenge?” in which they discussed the past history of U.S.-Iranian relations and how the incoming administration could improve those relations. Three members of Congress, Chairman John Tierney (D-Mass.), Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Senator Thomas Carper (D-Del.), made appearances and gave speeches in support of the National Iranian American Council’s initiative.
Ambassador James Dobbins, former Assistant Secretary of State, spoke about how the Iranian government repeatedly tried to open up negotiations with the U.S. during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, but were given the cold shoulder by the Bush administration. Dobbins pointed out that the United States engages in discussions with other adversaries, but that they have made no effort to do so with Iran.
Iran doesn’t like the the “sticks and carrots” approach the U.S. practices, said Dr. Farideh Farhi of the University of Hawaii. The United States needs to accept that Iran’s foreign policy system is complex and that Iran’s political system is full of conflicts and competition between various factions, she said. Farhi continued, saying that the U.S. needs to stop thinking of Iran as if it is a unified body that can be controlled by a head.
Iran is “on a must-do list” for Obama, said Joseph Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund. Though Cirincione wanted to open up discussions, he emphasized that Obama should not rush into negotiations with Iran. Instead, he should wait to see the results 2009 elections in Iran. Cirincione also said the U.S. should engage in Iran multilaterally, pointing out the need for other countries in the Middle East to show respect for Iran. Holding multilateral talks was also necessary in the peace process for Israel and Palestine. “Not involving Iran guarantees failure” in the Israel-Palestine conflict, said Cirincione.

The House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on “Oversight of Implementation of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and of Government Lending and Insurance Facilities; Impact on Economy and Credit Availability” on Tuesday in which they questioned Secretary of Treasury Henry Paulson, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chairman Sheila Bair.
“At this point, public confidence in what we have done so far is lower than anyone would have wanted it to be,” said Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA), “it is essential that we do something to use some of the TARP’s (Troubled Asset Relief Program) funds” to stop the tide of foreclosures in the country. Chairman Frank and other Democrats were critical of how Secretary Paulson had decided to use some of the $700 billion bailout money to buy preferred stocks in banks rather than buy “toxic assets” for which Congress initially called for.
Paulson defended his position by arguing that the best way to save the credit market was by injecting cash directly into banks. “It is very, very important to stay with the purpose of the TARP,” said Paulson. “This is all about protecting the financial system, avoiding collapse, and recovery.”

Although weeks have past since the Program was approved and $290 billion of the first $350 billion has already been pledged, the President has announced his nomination: Neil Barofsky, Assistant United States Attorney in the Souther District of New York. Appearing before the Senate Finance Committee, Barofsky outlined his professional background and explained how he would utilize his position to bring about proper oversight.
“This past summer, our United States Attorney asked me to supervise a newly created Mortgage Fraud Group to respond to the havoc that mortgage fraud has caused to countless homeowners and lenders in our district…we attacked at the roots of those who have contribute significantly to the current housing and financial crisis through wholesale fraud of homeowners, lenders, and investors,” said Barofsky.
“‘[It] has given me the tools to identify the markers of fraud throughout the financial industry, the necessary expertise in investigating such frauds, and the experience of establishing a plan of attack on those committing these fraud.”
Committee member Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) elaborated on Barofsky’s previous experiences.
“Mr Barofsky demonstrated great personal bravery when he investigated the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, FARC, the narco-terrorist group that controls more than half the world’s annual cocaine production. He successfully indicted the FARC’s top 50 leaders at great risk to his own personal safety,” said Schumer.
Following Congress’s initial rejection of the Troubled Assets Relief Program, the bailout bill was subjected to numerous alterations. One important change was the addition of an inspector general to provide the program with oversight.
Barofsky described how he would bring his investigative experience to the position, stating “We will need to establish an investigative arm, which I can assure this committee will tirelessly investigate and refer for prosecution any individual or entity that tries to criminally profit from the Program.
Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) warned that banks and those high up in financial institutions have ways of “slipping things by” and essentially asked if Barofsky would be a tough enough inspector general to provide proper oversight to which Barofsky responded, “I won’t give you empty words. Instead I’ll just point to my record and what I’ve done as a prosecutor in the Southern district of New York. Whether it was attacking the FARC in the jungles of Columbia or Refco on Wall Street, all I’ve done is to go after those who violated the law. And I will take that exact same tenacity and dedication to this job as I’ve done with every prosecution I’ve worked on.”

During a House Finance Committee Hearing TARP Inspector General nominee Neil Barofsky was asked if he will be a strong enough inspector general. He responded that by pointed to his record as a tenacious prosecutor and said that he will apply the same dedication to the inspector general position (0:29)

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During a Senate Finance Committee hearing Neil Barofsky was asked why President Bush chose Barofsky, who is a Democrat and Obama supporter. Barofsky responded that he was not asked about his political beliefs and assumes he was nominated because the President found him the best person for the job (0:30).

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For guidance on energy policy in the current transition to power, U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) looks at history, specifically the aftermath of World war II.

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The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s (USCC) Institute for 21st Century Energy today announced a “Transition Plan for Securing America’s Energy Future,” an energy policy roadmap with 88 concrete recommendations and detailed timelines for President-elect Barack Obama and the 111th Congress.
In order to implement a new energy strategy, the Institute recommends that President-elect Obama create a new office within the Executive Office of the President to coordinate the implementation of all aspects of energy policy, both foreign and domestic. The head of this office would have a seat on the National Economic Council and National Security Council.
According to the USCC press release, the transition plan builds on 13 fundamental pillars that the Institute released in July in an “Open Letter” to the next President and Congress that was signed by 27 national leaders and has received broad bipartisan support.
According to the Institute’s plan, the 13 pillars include: aggressively promoting energy efficiency, improving environmental friendliness, increasing R&D funding, expanding domestic oil and gas exploration and production, increasing nuclear energy use, using clean coal, increasing renewable electricity sources, transforming our transportation sector, addressing the critical shortage of qualified energy professionals, reducing “burdensome regulations and opportunities for frivolous litigation, and demonstrating global leadership on energy security and climate change.
The Open Letter and Blueprint are available at www.energyxxi.org