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Israeli-Hezbollah Violence; States on Immigration Politics Jul 17, 2006

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Segment #1: More Violence--and Hesitant Diplomacy--in the Middle EastThere is international talk--but no action yet--on how to reduce the deadly exchange of bombs and rockets between Israel and Hezbollah. At the G8 summit in Russia, Britain's Tony Blair expressed support for international peacekeepers on the Israeli-Lebanese border. Russia's Vladimir Putin said he might contribute troops. At the United Nations, Secretary General Kofi Annan supported the idea, but US Ambassador John Bolton had reservations. Annan has sent an envoy, who's in Beirut with plans to go to Jerusalem, where Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made a formal speech to the Knesset. We have updates from Jerusalem, Beirut, Damascus and Cairo. Segment #2: Capitol-Hill Talk--but No Action--on Immigration ReformIllegal immigration sounds like a federal issue, but even with all three in Republican hands, the House, Senate and White House can't agree on what to do about 11 million undocumented workers already here and more coming into the country everyday. Meantime, virtually every state--not just those who share international borders, must shoulder heavy burdens for education, health care and law enforcement. In at least 30 state capitols, legislators are taking things into their own hands. We hear how American states are trying to fill the federal vacuum on illegal immigration.

Russia and the G8 Summit; Israeli-Lebanese Violence Escalates Jul 14, 2006

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Segment #1: President Putin and the G8 The G8 is often called the club of rich nations. Some US Senators have called for Russia's expulsion because of human rights and purported backsliding on democracy, but this weekend, Russia is hosting the summit for the first time. In the run-up to this weekend's G8, President Bush and Vice President Cheney are playing good-cop and bad-cop with Vladimir Putin. In Lithuania recently, Cheney made a pointed public speech on Russian democracy, provoking Putin to make a snide reference yesterday to Cheney's infamous hunting accident. Can they overcome their differences on Iran, energy security for Western Europe and Russian democracy? We hear from three Russia experts, including a leading scholar who's recently met with both Presidents. Segment #2: Israel and Hezbollah Escalate Military Campaigns"There can be no illusions: Israel is at war." That's from analysis in today's Jerusalem Post, as Israeli bombs continue to fall in Lebanon and Hezbollah rockets strike cities in northern Israel. Hezbollah's headquarters appears to have been destroyed. Israel says incoming rockets were made in Iran. President Bush today called on Israel to "limit damage to Lebanon... and spare civilians from harm." Arab nations denounced what they called "a barbaric military campaign;" countries from China to Europe expressed concerned about destabilization of the entire Middle East. French President Jacques Chirac called the Israeli offensive "totally disproportionate." What are the prospects for diplomacy before the violence escalates out of control? We have updates from the Middle East and the United Nations. Making News: Update on the Northern Israel-Southern Lebanon SituationIsraelis in Haifa and other cities have been warned to stay off the street as Hezbollah rockets continue to fall. In Beirut, Hezbollah says its headquarters have been destroyed and its leader, Sheik Hassan Nazrallah, has declared war on Israel in a televised speech. Greg Myre, Jerusalem Correspondent for the New York Times, joins us from the Israel-Lebanon border.

Fallout from Bomb Blasts in India's Financial Capital Jul 13, 2006

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Mumbai, formerly Bombay, has been resilient in the wake of eight simultaneous bomb explosions on the city's public train lines that killed more than 200 and injured 700 more. The trains were back on schedule less than 24 hours after the attacks and the Bombay Stock Exchange climbed a healthy three percent the following day. Indian authorities have rounded up 350 possible suspects. Similar to the 2004 bombings in Madrid and public transportation bombings in London last summer, Monday's explosions preceded peace talks--both the G8 Summit in Russia, to begin this weekend, and ongoing talks between India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf. Was it an act of international terrorism or a statement by homegrown terrorists, protesting India's quick growth toward globalization? Diana Nyad guest hosts. Making News: Israel Bombs Lebanon after Hezbollah Kidnaps SoldiersYesterday, Hezbollah militants attacked several towns in northern Israel, wounding civilians and capturing two Israeli soldiers. The Lebanese group has demanded an exchange of Arab prisoners in Israeli jails for the soldiers. Today, after Israel's concentrated attack on Lebanese airports, aimed at crippling civilian and military air access, Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel's populous port city of Haifa. We get an update from Nicholas Blanford, who's in Beirut for the Christian Science Monitor, and Kevin Peraino, who's in Jerusalem for Newsweek.Reporter's Notebook: Wider Flaws Found in Boston's Big Dig TunnelIt was conceived as a $14.6 bill engineering marvel to replace the city's central highway with an underground system. But over the course of 15 years of construction, Boston's Big Dig was fraught with trouble, from leaks and defective panels to accusations of using inferior quality concrete. On Monday, a section of tile fell and crushed a car. The driver escaped but couldn't save his wife. Joe Dwinell is assistant metro editor of the Boston Herald.

More Middle East Violence; New Tactics in War on Terror Jul 12, 2006

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Segment #1: Israel Launches Assault in Southern Lebanon after Soldiers' AbductionCalling Hezbollah's capture of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of seven more an "act of war," Israel today sent tanks, bombers and troops into Southern Lebanon, after Hezbollah captured two Israeli solders and killed seven more. In Washington today, Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon faulted Lebanon's government for its repeated pattern of attacks, followed by request for negotiations. Lamenting Israel's occupation of Gaza, Lebanon's ambassador to the US, Farid Abboud, suggested that the situation could have been avoided had Israel agreed to a requested prisoner exchange. At the United Nations, Kofi Annan condemned the Israeli action "without reservation." We update the action and the prospects for diplomacy. Segment #2 Changing Tactics in the War on TerrorIn 2002, President Bush signed an executive order saying the Geneva Conventions did not apply to suspects captured in the war on terror. Yesterday, after a US Supreme Court decision, the White House says they do after all. While there's disagreement about whether that really amounts to a change in policy, there's little dispute that other policies have changed, that what Time magazine calls a "muscular... unilateralist vision of US power" has been replaced by multilateral diplomacy and less confrontation. Reporter's Notebook: Petting Zoo and Popcorn Factory on Terrorist Target ListThe National Asset Database is the list of likely American targets in the war on terror. Indiana has more potential target than any other state--50% more than New York, twice as many as California. Included are Old MacDonald's Petting Zoo, the Amish Country Popcorn Factory and the Sweetwater Flea Market. It sounds like a joke, but that's the finding of the Department of Homeland Security's own inspector general, according to Eric Lipton of the New York Times.

A Major Turnaround on Guant--namo Bay Jul 11, 2006

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After last week's Supreme Court decision on inmates at Guant--namo Bay, White House spokesman Tony Snow said today, "We want to get it right." He released a Defense Department memo saying that terrorist suspects are entitled to the protections of the Geneva Conventions. As the Bush White House was reversing its stand, the Senate Judiciary Committee was taking its own look at last week's decision. Meantime, the horrors of the war in Iraq continue with release of a videotape on Islamic web sites purporting to show the mutilated bodies of two American soldiers kidnapped and killed last month south of Baghdad. At least 47 more people were killed in bombings and shootings around the country. The increased violence is creating an average of 90 new widows a day in Iraq. We update a Senate committee debate on what the rules ought to be for the treatment and trials of suspects in the war on terror and hear about the plight of Iraqi widows and the chance of help from Iraq's new laws and police forces amid sectarian differences.Reporter's Notebook: Indian Commuter Trains Bombed During Rush HourMumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is India's financial capital and one of its major cities. Today, its commuter rail network was hit with seven bombs in rapid succession. The latest death toll is 147, with more than 439 injured. India's major cities are on high alert and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is placing the blame on "terrorists." Anuj Chopra reports for the Christian Science Monitor in southern India.

Iraq Puts Seat of Senator Joe Lieberman in Jeopardy Jul 10, 2006

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Joe Lieberman coasted to an easy reelection victory six years ago, when he was also on the ballot as Al Gore's running mate. But now, his ardent support for the war in iraq has made him Public Enemy Number One among left-wing Internet bloggers who are targeting him for defeat in next month's Connecticut primary election. Will division's over the war hurt the party's chances of reclaiming Congress in November? And could there be ramifications for the party's presidential hopes in '08? Conan Nolan guest hosts.Making News: Baghdad Erupts in Violence as Saddam Boycotts TrialSeven people were shot and killed on a bus today in a Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad. The attack came a day after two car bombs exploded outside a Shiite mosque in the capital, killing at least 12. That attack came hours after Shiite gunmen went on a rampage in another Sunni neighborhood, killing at least 40. Dan Murphy is a staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor in Baghdad.Reporter's Notebook: Disputed Mexican Election Felt by US, Mexican AmericansIts historic second free presidential election has left Mexico bitterly divided along political lines. National Action Party candidate Felipe Calderon won only 220,000 votes of 41 million cast, but leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has demanded a recount, claiming fraud and voting irregularities. Political scientist Fernando Guerra considers the impact of election results on Mexican Americans and relations with the US.

Israeli Troops Return to Gaza Jul 07, 2006

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Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit is still being held by Palestinian militants who attacked his tank brigade on June 25, killing two soldiers. Israel has responded with a major military incursion in Gaza, less than a year after its forces formally withdrew. But there may be signs of a break in the escalating violence triggered by the kidnapping. A top Israeli official said today that Israel might be willing to exchange Palestinian prisoners for the soldier, something it has refused to even discuss until now. What are the options for ending the crisis? What affect is the situation having on moderate voices in the region? Where do Israelis and Palestinians go from here? What are the prospects for a prisoner exchange, which is what the Palestinians want? What political issues are helping drive the crisis on both sides? What are the options for ending the escalating violence? Guest host Sara Terry explores the possibilities for a resolution to the escalating violence. Making News: President Bush Holds a Full News Conference in ChicagoPresident Bush held a press conference in Chicago this morning, addressing everything from the economy and the war on terrorism to immigration and North Korea. It was an unusual event as President Bush rarely holds out of town news conferences. Peter Wallsten is White House Correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and co-author of the forthcoming One-Party Country: the Republican Plan for Dominance in the 21st Century. Reporter's Notebook: First Anniversary of London BombingsTwo minutes of silence fell across Great Britain today, in memory of the 52 killed and 700 wounded in the July 7 terrorist attacks carried out on London's transit system last year. In the aftermath of London's deadliest attack since World War II, relations have grown increasingly strained between Britain's large Muslim community and the wider population. Ihtisham Hibatullah is the organizer of Islam Expo, a showcase of Muslim culture in North London.

Mexican Election Jul 06, 2006

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It's a vote too close to call, with contested ballots and left versus right. It's not Florida, 2000, but Mexico, 2006. With more than 99% of the vote counted, it appears that Harvard-educated Felipe Calder--n, of President Vicente Fox's conservative PAN Party, has won Mexico's cliffhanger presidential election. Supporters of Andres Manuel L--pez Obrador were weeping in the streets and the leftist rival has vowed to challenge the count in court. How will Mexico cope with the aftermath of a bitterly contested election? Will the new president be able to govern effectively? How will the election affect the divide between rich and poor? What will it mean for Mexico's relations with the US? Sara Terry guest hosts. Making News: New York Supreme Court Upholds State Gay Marriage BanThe New York State Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to the state's ban on gay marriage. The judges' narrowly-divided decision said the state's constitution "does not compel recognition of marriages between members of the same sex." Also today, Georgia's State Supreme Court upheld that state's ban on gay marriage. Anemona Hartocollis covers the courts for the New York Times. Reporters Notebook: Destroying Stockpiles of Chemical Weapons in US, RussiaIt's taking much longer and costing far more than expected to destroy thousands of tons of chemical weapons, the second-largest stockpile in the world. In fact, the US Army says it wouldn't even be able to meet a five-year extension of the 2007 deadline, set under a 1997 international treaty. The Russians, who have the largest number of chemical weapons, are facing the same problems. Craig Williams sits on the board of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation, a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for the international campaign to ban land mines.

North Korea Tests Missiles Despite Warnings Jul 05, 2006

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In the past day, North Korea has fired seven missiles, triggering concern and condemnation around the world. The rockets all fell harmlessly into the Sea of Japan, but there are concerns that the defiant Pyongyang regime could launch more missiles. One of the missiles fired had the capacity to reach the western United States, but failed. How should the United Nations Security Council respond? What will China, North Korea's close ally, do to calm the situation? What kind of threat does the nation named by President Bush as one-third of the Axis of Evil actually pose to its neighbors and to the United States? Guest host Sara Terry explores the missile shots heard ---round the world, what North Korea's up to and why.Making News: Enron Founder Kenneth Lay DiesKen Lay, the man at the center of one of the biggest financial scandals in US history, has died, his family said today. Lay, the founder of Enron, was recently convicted on fraud charges, but was still awaiting sentencing. The Wall Street Journal's Rebecca Smith is co-author of 24 Days: How Two Wall Street Journal Reporters Uncovered the Lies That Destroyed Faith in Corporate America.Reporter's Notebook: New Jersey Closes Casinos and ParksFirst it was road construction and the state lottery, now it's the casinos. Five days into New Jersey's budget stand-off, non-essential government offices are closed. At the heart of the conflict between the governor and the legislature is a proposed sales tax increase. Meanwhile, the state is losing millions of dollars a day in revenue. Is there an end in sight? Ingrid Reed is director of the Eagleton New Jersey Project at Rutgers University.

Should Reporters be Forced to Reveal 'Confidential' Sources? Jul 04, 2006

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In recent weeks, there's been much debate about news stories that revealed secret strategies in the war on terror. The issue of confidential sources is just as timely as it was in January, when we first broadcast this program. Confidential sources provide reporters with information only if they're promised they won't be identified. But in 1972, the US Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment does not protect the reporter's promise of anonymity in federal cases. For the past 30 years, prosecutors have been reluctant to pursue reporters unless there's no other way to obtain information they need. Now, that appears to be changing. Why do sources demand anonymity? What will be lost if they have to come out of the closet? Who should decide what the public has a right to know? (This segment was originally broadcast January 11 on To the Point.) Making News: Charters of Freedom Survive Flood at National ArchivesThis 230th Fourth of July will be celebrated today on the steps of the National Archives building, but the building itself is closed because of flooding. What about the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence? Are they safe? We hear more about recovery efforts at the National Archives from Paul Schwartzman, who's following the story for the Washington Post.Reporter's Notebook: America's Promise RestoredHarlan Ullman, senior advisor to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, is no fan of how the war in Iraq--or the war on terror--are being conducted. In broader terms, he says America's government is "dysfunctional," a crisis that's "easy to define" but "difficult to fix." Now, the man who made "shock and awe" a household word offers some proposals for engaging an apathetic citizenry to demand accountability in America's Promise Restored.

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