Clooney on Cnn

Clooney on Cnn (transcript):

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BLITZER: The Academy Award-winning actor and peace activist George Clooney is standing by to talk to us about his efforts to keep an eye on a region long gripped by fighting, famine and mass atrocities.

Sudan is Africa's biggest country, a quarter of the size of the United States, but it may soon be split in two. Sudan's Darfur region is the scene of what the United Nations has called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Hundreds of thousands have died. Millions have been displaced.

Now there is some hope that a national vote could turn a framework peace agreement into a permanent solution. Ballots are being distributed for Sunday's referendum, which will give people in mostly Christian Southern Sudan the choice to break away from the Muslim North.

Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, says he will accept the referendum results, but he's wanted for genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.

And the world will be watching all of this unfold from space, thanks to the Satellite Sentinel Project. It's being spearheaded by the actor George Clooney, who is joining us now from Los Angeles. Here in Washington, also joining us is the human rights activist John Prendergast. He's the co-founder of the Enough Project.

Guys, thanks very much for coming in.

And, George, let me start with you. What's the point of the satellite project?

GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: Well, we want to get some -- some actual view of what we're doing.

The problem is, over the period of time, what we have learned specifically from Darfur, in particular in the Sudan, there's a bit of deniability of their own involvement. They can say that they're rebel groups that have nothing to do with the government, when we know in fact they are. So we want to have some proof, not just to try and stop this, but also in case we are unable to, in case something goes forward, to be able to take it to the ICC as evidence.

BLITZER: Because the embassy of the Republic of Sudan, you probably saw the statement they issued going after you, saying: "George Clooney, in a typical Hollywood fashion, is advocating for installing watchful cameras on Sudan. Not withstanding the legality of the matter, it is baffling what such an action will accomplish. This action reeks of an ulterior motive that has nothing to do with peace."

Go ahead and respond to that.

CLOONEY: Well, I would say that any time a government that's been charged with genocide by the ICC says bad things about you, I don't really consider that a scarlet letter.

I feel perfectly fine. And they seem to be pretty upset about it, to write such a long piece and put it up on their own Web site.

BLITZER: Yes, I read that whole long statement, really going after you and a lot of others who have been trying to do something about this genocide that has been going on.

John, the State Department spokesman, P.J. Crowley, he said this about the referendum that's scheduled for Sunday. Let me play this sound bite.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

P.J. CROWLEY, SPOKESMAN, STATE DEPARTMENT: I would say at this point that we are optimistic about the referendum this coming weekend. Sudan and Southern Sudan have come a long way over the past few months. But we also, you know, are very sober, in that depending on the choice made by the people of south Sudan this weekend, we know there's still a long way to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Do you share that optimism?

PRENDERGAST: Well, I think P.J. is rightly -- right to be balanced in his assessment. On the one hand, the world has invested a lot in having a peaceful referendum really determines what the Southern Sudanese people want for their future, whether they want a free Southern Sudan or whether they want to stay within the united Sudan.

But they also -- but he also said there are tremendous dangers, some real snakes in the grass. And we've got to keep our eyes -- that's part of the reason why we've got the satellite project. We've got to keep our eyes on those potential spoilers who will undermine, who will attempt to undermine the process and the aftermath of the process in order to keep the Sudan united and keep the oil flowing from Southern Sudan into the coffers of Northern Sudan.

BLITZER: Because George, what really intrigued me was what you've been saying about this satellite project, because a lot of us only after the fact knew what was going on in Rwanda, in Burundi back in the '90s or in Cambodia, or during the Holocaust, for that matter. And you're now saying what, that the world will no longer have an excuse to say, "We didn't know"?

CLOONEY: We can't say we didn't know. That's an important part of this. You know, people say, well, there's a lot of other atrocities that go on, and we'll see it on camera. And we've seen it in the -- on lens.

It's not necessarily true. Not -- certainly not at this level. They have been very good at keeping this sort of on the back burner and out of the press. Particularly keeping all the press out. There's a reason why you keep the press out. And so we're going to make it much more public. And that's -- I think it's much harder to commit any sort of atrocities if everyone is watching.

BLITZER: John, are these atrocities, specifically genocide, is that still going on in Darfur right now?

PRENDERGAST: What we've seen over the last couple of weeks: attacks on villages. We've seen burning villages. We've seen aerial bombardments. You know, it's not at the scale and scope that we saw in 2004, '05, and '06 when full-blown genocide was occurring, when -- when ethnic cleansing was, those 3 million refugees that are sitting in camps now were all displaced from their homes.

But in areas where there are pockets of resistance, you see the same kind of tactics, using the militias and using the aerial bombardments, the very tactics that earned the government a genocidal arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.

BLITZER: George, yesterday you suggested that the Obama administration, the president was doing enough. I know you met with the president on this issue back in October.

Nicholas Kristof, who writes a lot about this in the "New York Times," he wrote back in August, he said these words. I know it was painful, I'm sure, for some in the Obama administration to hear. He says, "These days Mr. Obama is presiding over an incoherent, contradictory and apparently failing Sudan policy."

A, was Nicholas Kristof right then? And is he right now if he's -- I don't know what he believes right now, but it he still believes that?

CLOONEY: I think that -- I think that Nicholas was right, that it was not working. That was in August.

By September, I think everyone looked around in the administration and said, this is going to -- there's a referendum coming, and this could become a big problem.

Since then, they've been incredibly active, sending John Kerry, really stepping it up considerably. And, you know, from what we've seen and from the meetings we've had, it feels very much like they have a real grasp of the issues now and are really involved.

BLITZER: Because back in April, John, you said this. And I'll put it up on the screen. "Each time the Obama administration does not stand on principle and build international consequences for further abuses of human and civil rights, a powerful signal is sent to the Sudanese parties. The stakes continue to get higher in Sudan, and the administration's bar for moving forward continues to get lower."

That's what you said in April. Do you still believe that now?

PRENDERGAST: Absolutely. You know, you have to establish clear consequences, clear costs for committing horrible human rights abuses. And if, indeed, the government of Sudan, over the next six months and during the referendum and its aftermath, attempts to undermine its peace there, and if it steps up its campaign of attacks against civilian populations in Darfur, there need to be consequences.

And if we don't act in that manner, if we aren't clear about what those consequences are to the government of Sudan, why should they change their behavior if it's worked in the past?

BLITZER: Well, tell us, John, what you want the president of the United States to do right now to help those people.

PRENDERGAST: Well, as George said, they've initiated a fairly robust diplomatic effort. And it's been very important. By sending John Kerry and other U.S. diplomats to the region to help support a peace deal between the north and the south. Because there's all kinds of issues that are still dividing those two peoples.

But now, we need additional -- a stand on human rights issues. When there are attacks in Darfur, for example, we need to see the president, the secretary of state, the White House speak out against those terrible human rights abuses.

And when there are -- if, indeed, we see actions that undermine the peace in the south, then escalating sanctions need to be placed on the parties who are responsible, whether they're from the south or whether they're from the north.

BLITZER: Well, they're watching you at the State Department, the White House, George, right now. Is there anything you want to add? What would you like the president and his top aides to be doing to help?

CLOONEY: Well, I think John's point is the most important point, which is that not only -- when you say a robust diplomacy, it means we're now in the process of actually negotiating with people that aren't very nice. That's part of what this kind of diplomacy requires. That means giving in on things. That's a very difficult thing to do when you're talking about making deals with someone like Bashir.

On the other hand, there have to be -- there have to be substantial sticks. There has to be a real punishment for not fulfilling the things -- you know, Bashir said yesterday that he would support this Sudan -- Sudanese -- the south. He says a lot of things. He never sticks to them. We need to make sure we hold him to it.

BLITZER: You're heading back to the region, George. Is that right?

CLOONEY: Tomorrow, yes.

BLITZER: And tell us what you hope to accomplish.

CLOONEY: Well, you know, we're going to be there. There's going to be a lot of news coverage there at that point. We're going to be there to -- to try and make sure that -- that we can keep the attention on it. This is a very important time. For the -- not just now.

What's also important about this is that this doesn't just, you know, stop and everybody go home on the 9th. This is going to be an ongoing thing for months and probably years to -- to make sure these people are safe. We have a long, long journey.

BLITZER: How dangerous is this -- how dangerous is this for you to go, George?

CLOONEY: Probably a lot less dangerous than the times we go when there isn't any press there. Probably a lot less dangerous now. It's a...

BLITZER: But do you -- do you have security? And do you have -- because a lot of our viewers are probably worried about you going over there now.

CLOONEY: I have John, and John is a very, very athletic man.

BLITZER: Yes. All right, John. You better take care of George Clooney. Because we need him, as you know.

PRENDERGAST: Next movie is going to really suffer if he's not in it. BLITZER: Yes, I know.

PRENDERGAST: We'll have to get Brad Pitt on this -- on the case.

BLITZER: We don't only need him for the movies. We need him...

CLOONEY: Wait a minute, wait a minute.

BLITZER: ... for what he's doing on these other issues, as well.

And good luck to both of you. We'll talk -- we'll talk with you guys when you get back. We really appreciate, obviously, all that you're doing. And the world hopefully will never again have an excuse to say, "We will not -- we did not know what was going on and that's why we allowed it to go on."

Thanks very much. I know you're going to be speaking when you get back with Anderson Cooper. Is that right, George?

CLOONEY: That's right.

BLITZER: That's going to be Friday night. Is that Friday night here on CNN?

CLOONEY: I'm not quite sure about that, because I'm sort of confused about the days we get back, but I think so.

BLITZER: All right. Well, I'm told Friday night you'll be back. You'll be here on CNN.

CLOONEY: Good.

BLITZER: You'll speak with Anderson. John, I know you'll be with George, as well. Be careful over there, and good luck. Because not only will the whole world be watching, but they'll be counting on you guys to do some good, as I know you'll probably do. Appreciate it very much.

PRENDERGAST: Thank you, Wolf.

CLOONEY: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: You're heading back to the region, George. Is that right?

CLOONEY: Tomorrow, yes.

it's me wrote:BLITZER: You're heading back to the region, George. Is that right?

CLOONEY: Tomorrow, yes.

that would mean he and John are there since yesterday

my stomach

since yesterday????

on air on 3
.... pre-recorded ?

it's me wrote:on air on 3
.... pre-recorded ?

no - if it was on 3 then they will go today

but it makes no difference

I don't want that he goes NOW to this dangerous region

we can do nothing
nothing but him when he came back !

on Friday he will be back, no?

it's me wrote:on Friday he will be back, no?

we have to wait until friday to spank him ?

I wish!
I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO
but he wont came TO MY HOUSE!!!!

it's me wrote:I whish!
but he wont came TO MY HOUSE!!!!

then go to his house it's me

I haven't had a official invitation
from Mr Clooney

and he is the one who wants to have the control of the situation

anyway Como is not so far
or you mean US?

it's me wrote:I haven't had a official invitation
from Mr Clooney

and he is the one who wants to have the control of the situation

anyway Como is not so far
or you mean US?

you know he wants to control everything - but the last months it hasn't worked - not really

if you want then wait for an official invitation

and then it doesn't matter if it's Como or LA

I suppose we could follow him on:

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So George has gone back already? That was quick, it isn't like him to announce it either so he clearly wants people to know.

it's me wrote:I haven't had a official invitation
from Mr Clooney

and he is the one who wants to have the control of the situation

anyway Como is not so far
or you mean US?

I know he little red bannerets

and he it to post them all over the world

maybe you should wave with a little red banneret ?

Vi - ciao

Thanks Lucilla. Our George looks much more refreshed in this interview with Wolf than he did with Sunday's interview. My prayers for their safety.

Good luck George.

Good luck George
and all with you
and all there



that said
what are little red bannerets ?

bandierine?

anyway
the last months his control hasn't worked
I PERFECTLY KNOW
but, even if I'm not so sure, in some way he was still in control
BUT he needs to learn HE CAN'T ALWAYS BE in control

bec
what we say CANNOT necessarily be what we DEEPLY think
and hide

nothing new, no?


now: cncu forum? AGAIN????

Control is just an illusion.

I agree that George seems to be more alert and together in this interview. Maybe he got a good nights sleep. Where was George when this interview took place? Sudan?

this is a much better interview then Sunday morning - I cant wait to see him with Anderson Cooper once he and John return safe

Deb, I think that maybe he was at the CNN studio, or some other studio, as you can see "studio stuff" in the background. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think he has that kind of stuff at his house where the Sunday interview was.

Katiedot wrote:Control is just an illusion.

tell George

WB would say we need a group hug

standing all together

I am holding George and John close to my prayers while they are there.

I fear for both of them,especially since all the publicity over the last trip.I don't care how many cameras are there with them, they have made enemies of powerful men.So I hope for their safety.

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Clooney: 'Real excitement' for peace in Sudan
By Phil Han, CNN
January 6, 2011 -- Updated 1805 GMT (0205 HKT)
George Clooney is confident there will finally be peace in Sudan.

George Clooney expressed real excitement at peace in Sudan
Clooney says international community need to keep eyes on country, even after vote
Southern Sudanese will vote soon on whether to create the world's newest nation
(CNN) -- As people in Sudan head to the polls in three days to vote on whether Southern Sudan should become an independent country or remain part of Sudan, Hollywood superstar George Clooney has expressed his excitement at the possibility of peace during an interview with CNN.
"For the first time since I've been here, there's a real excitement here that there's a feeling that a new nation is going to be formed," Clooney told CNN's Becky Anderson.
"It's inevitable and I think everyone is very excited about that."
Clooney also told Anderson that people around Sudan remained optimistic at the prospect of peace, but that the international community needed to remain vigilant at what happens in the coming months.
Hopes for a brighter future in Sudan Southern Sudan capable of independence?

"We're all optimistic, I don't think there's many people who thought that the government of South Sudan would be able to put together a coalition of many of their past enemies and to put this together to make it work," Clooney said.
"We need to remember there's about a six month to a year process where this will continue to go on and we're hoping that everyone will keep the cameras on and keep covering it because that's when bad things happen."
At the end of December, Clooney also launched a satellite surveillance project in the country to help monitor violence during the January.
The program will use satellite images to assess the situation on the ground for any signs of conflict, monitor hotspots in real time and post the findings online.
"The idea we had is to be one of many tools to monitor specifically troop movements and humanitarian issues along the border where it's really disputed and where the real danger lies," Clooney said.
"We're just starting to get the first images tonight and that's when we'll try and get actual footage of tanks, or planes or helicopters or troop movements so we can continue to keep people honest about what's going on over there."