To the Point

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Finding a Strategy for the War on Terror Dec 22, 2006

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As President Bush looks for a new strategy in Iraq, some experts say the military has not come to terms with a new kind of warfare. Will new military leadership re-examine the complex challenges of the "war on terror?" Is it really a "war" at all? Plus, weather problems trap thousands of holiday travelers, and LA's Democratic Mayor Villaraigosa loses a battle despite the support of Republican Governor Schwarzenegger.

Time Person of the Year Award Is 'You' Dec 21, 2006

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Instead of a single Person of the Year 2006, Time magazine has picked the entire community of the Internet. Are Internet users "changing the way the world changes" or is Time trying to get back the readers it's losing to alternative media? Plus, Denver is shut down by a major snow storm, and news about the growing number of active-duty military personnel who've signed a petition to bring the troops home from Iraq.

US Military Options in Iraq; The Waiting Game in Cuba Dec 20, 2006

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President Bush has held what’s likely his last press conference of 2006. We get the highlights and talk about his long-term military plans. Also, the waiting game in Fidel Castro’s Cuba. Should the US relax its embargo or get tougher still?

Meatpacking Raids Re-Ignite Immigration Debate Dec 18, 2006

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Meat-packing plants in six states were involved last week in the biggest workplace-enforcement operation in US history. Were legal workers caught up in raids that divided parents and children? Will Swift & Company be charged for hiring illegal immigrants? Plus, Robert Gates is sworn in as Defense Secretary, and the National Basketball Association's leading scorer is suspended for 15 games.

With Tim Johnson Critically Ill, What Next for the Senate? Dec 15, 2006

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Unexpected brain surgery has focused attention on the delicate balance of power in the US Senate. Is the Democrat's one-vote margin in jeopardy? We hear about politics and advancements in medical treatment. Plus, friction increases between rival factions after an assassination attempt on the Palestinian Prime Minister, and televised soccer unifies Iraq, if only for a single moment.

Note: Today's edition of To the Point will not be heard on KCRW as it is pre-empted by special holiday programming.

The Future of the News Dec 14, 2006

Show notes

Newspaper circulation is falling from coast to coast. Are they about to go extinct? With Democratic Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota in intensive care, the control of the Senate hangs in the balance. Plus, who's up and who's down in the early 2008 presidential polls. Marc Cooper guest hosts.

The US and India: Nuclear Power and Atomic Weapons Dec 13, 2006

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India defied the US and the rest of the world when it tested an atomic bomb. Now, Washington's agreed to sell India nuclear fuel and technology. The world's largest democracy is growing fast and needs energy badly. Will this be a bonanza for business and a boost for security? Will it mean the end of efforts to stop the spread of nuclear weapons? Plus, President Bush and the Pentagon discuss strategies for victory in Iraq, and former President Jimmy Carter's being called "cynical" and "anti-Semitic" for a new book that criticizes Israel's treatment of the Palestinians.

Radiation Poisoning Casts Spotlight on Putin's Russia Dec 12, 2006

Show notes

Links to the murder of a former Russian spy have now spread from London to Hamburg, not to mention Moscow. We update the investigation and talk about what's happened to Russia since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Plus, Washington announces that there will be no imminent change on Iraq policy, despite increased violence in Baghdad. And, despite $90,000 in marked bills in his freezer, a Democrat has won re-election to Congress. We talk about political scandal in Washington and New Orleans.

Enduring Questions about Diamonds Dec 11, 2006

Show notes

At the height of the holiday season, the Hollywood film Blood Diamond is raising questions about a $60 billion industry. What are the human costs of diamond production? Are diamond profits still used to fund brutal conflicts? How important are diamonds to the economies of many African countries? Plus, Secretary General Kofi Annan delivers his farewell speech to the United Nations, and a conversation with an American journalist all too familiar with the late Agusto Pinochet's brutal reign in Chile and how he came to power.

What's the Immediate Future of the Middle East? Dec 08, 2006

Show notes

The Middle East is changing fast, with US influence waning and Iran challenging Israel as a major regional power. We hear about democracy, radical Islam, and anti-Americanism. Should US interests depend more on military action or diplomacy? Plus, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld holds his last town hall session at the Pentagon, and the mock-documentary Borat--and the law.

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