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The Decline of the American Empire? Jul 03, 2006

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The Bush years have been marked by a vigorous debate on whether America has moved from superpower to empire. When she was National Security Advisor, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice clearly said the United States had no imperial ambitions. But with no other superpowers in sight, what is the role of the US in the world today? How have President Bush's strategies on national security and the "war on terror" affected America's actions on the global stage, and how is it regarded by others? What about the challenge from growing economic giants such as China? At home, does a decline in civic involvement signal a weakening from within? Guest host Sara Terry guest explores the forces shaping America's identity.Making News: No Clear Winner in Mexico's Presidential ElectionIn Mexico today, both the PAN's Felipe Calder--n and the PRD's Andr--s Manuel L--pez Orbrador declared themselves the victor in Saturday's presidential election. The voting was so close that the Federal Electoral Institute said it will not announce a winner until after an official count of more than thirty-six million votes, which is set to begin on Wednesday. Hugh Dellios, Mexico correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, says a winner probably won't be announced until Sunday.Reporter's Notebook: Taliban Resurgence in AfghanistanFive years after being driven from power, the Taliban are waging an aggressive comeback in southern Afghanistan, engaging western forces in deadly combat. Though western commanders predicts ultimate success, the conflict threatens the stability of President Hamid Karzai's fragile regime and raises questions about whether military action fans the flames of longstanding local animosity against foreign intervention. Carlotta Gall is covering the story for the New York Times.

When is National Security News Unfit to Print? Jun 30, 2006

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The Republican majority in Congress has passed a resolution condemning "certain media organizations" for disclosing how the Bush Administration follows terrorist money. Today's Wall Street Journal weighs in with an editorial attacking the New York Times for "obstructing" the war on terror. But in a Times op-ed, former national security aides say the paper just printed "a secret the terrorists already knew." The argument is as old as the First Amendment: when does a free press endanger national security? Are politicians bashing the media for political gain? We talk with journalists, journalists who cover the journalists and media ethicists.Making News: Pentagon Investigates Alleged Rape and Murder in IraqAssociated Press is reporting that the military is investigating another alleged atrocity by American troops in Iraq. This time the claim is that 5 soldiers raped her and killed her and three members of her family, after which they burned the woman's body. Gordon Lubold is Pentagon Correspondent for Army Times, an independent weekly in Washington, DC.Reporter's Notebook: Shuttle Discovery Set to Re-launchNASA Administrator Michael Griffin and other officials "are rolling the dice" with tomorrow's scheduled launch of Shuttle Discovery, "but they think their odds are good." "They have a rescue Shuttle if their luck runs out." That's from an e-mail sent by an investigator to NASA's Inspector General during this month's safety review. Excerpts are published along with parts of other e-mails by today's Orlando Sentinel, under the byline of Space Editor Michael Cabbage.

Back to the Drawing Board for Prisoners at Guant--namo Bay Jun 29, 2006

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The US Supreme Court says President Bush cannot try so-called "enemy combatants" before special military tribunals. It'll have to be federal courts or courts martial. The court did not decide what to do in the meantime with hundreds of prisoners at Guant--namo Bay. But its 5-to-3 decision was a constitutional rebuke to the President and to the Congress. President Bush has said he'd like to close the detention center, pending guidance from the high court. Today's decision came down while Bush was meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan. We unravel the complex ruling, hear President Bush's response and hear about his meeting with the Prime Minister Koizumi. Making News: Israel Arrests Hamas Leaders, Buzzes Home of Syrian PresidentAs the quid pro quos continue, Israel has rounded up at least 64 ministers and lawmakers from the Palestinians' ruling Hamas Party. Ilene Prusher, Jerusalem Bureau Chief for the Christian Science Monitor, has an update.Reporter's Notebook: Foreign Correspondents in AmericaIn the age of globalization, America's image matters more than ever before. It is shaped in large part by foreign correspondents in the US. Who are they? How has technology changed the way they report their stories? What are they saying about America? Stephen Hess, who's worked for Presidents of both parties, is senior fellow emeritus at the Brookings Institution and author of Through Their Eyes.

The Supreme Court on Redistricting; Israel Moves into Gaza Jun 28, 2006

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Segment #1: Israeli Troops Move into Gaza to Save Kidnapped SoldierIsraeli warplanes fired missiles at the only power station in Gaza, cutting electricity for 700,000 Palestinians. Other planes took out three bridges, effectively cutting the strip in half. Still others buzzed the home of Syrian President Bahsar Assad, to get his help in recovering a kidnapped Israeli soldier. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert threatens "extreme action" if that's what it takes. We update Israel's actions in Gaza, which Palestinians call "collective punishment" with journalists and Middle East experts. Segment #2: The US Supreme Court Steps into the 'Political Thicket'The US Supreme Court ruled today that state legislatures can re-draw Congressional district boundaries whenever they want. That's a victory of sorts for former Republican Congressman Tom DeLay, whose redrawing of Congressional districts in Texas gave Republicans six new seats but ultimately cost him his job. Even though he still insists he's innocent, DeLay resigned after being charged with laundering money he raised for other candidates' campaigns. In today's decision, the Court ruled that DeLay's redistricting was not "an unconstitutional political gerrymander," as Democrats claimed. What's the real impact on Texas? Will it mean political chaos in other states? We hear more about the decision and its unintended consequences. Reporters Notebook: New Rules Require States to Move Welfare Recipients into JobsAfter President Clinton signed the "welfare to work" law in 1996, the number of recipients dropped faster than anyone expected--from 12 million to about four--taking pressure off states to prove that those getting checks were working or in work-training programs. Today, the Bush Administration established new rules designed to reduce welfare roles even more. New York Times reporter Jason De Parle is author of, American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and the Nation's Drive to End Welfare.

Iraqi Amnesty, Troop Withdrawal and the November Elections Jun 27, 2006

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Today's New York Times reports that Sunni insurgent groups have approached the Iraqi government about Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's offer of amnesty. It's is not clear if the amnesty will extend to rebels who've killed American soldiers or to former members of Saddam Husssein's Baath Party regime. Neither is it clear how the terms will play in the US where Iraq is becoming the major issue in this year's elections. Will a "stable" Iraq require Americans to hold their noses as rebels who killed US soldiers get a free pass? Meantime, as the US Commander was talking troop withdrawal at the White House, Republicans were accusing Democrats of wanting to "cut and run." What's the difference? Can Republicans turn their biggest political liability into an asset? Making News: Hamas Makes Deal with FatahIsrael troops are massed on the borders of Gaza demanding release of a kidnapped soldier. Meantime, rival Hamas and Fatah factions have agreed on a plan that implicitly recognizes Israel's right to exist. Dan Ephron is following the story for Newsweek magazine.Reporter's Notebook: Security Leaks and Political StrategyPresident Bush has joined Vice President Cheney, Treasury Secretary John Snow and Congressman Peter King in denouncing the New York Times and other papers for printing stories about supposedly secret anti-terrorist programs. Warrantless wiretaps by the National Security Agency set off a political furor just weeks ago, but few Democrats have criticized the Bush Administration for subpoenaing banking records to follow terrorist money. Wayne Slater is senior political writer for the Dallas Morning News.

The Politics of Wealth and Poverty in November's Elections Jun 26, 2006

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Republicans in the House and the Senate are moving to cut the inheritance tax while refusing to increase the minimum wage. Some Democrats call that an "obscene" combination, which ought to help them in November. Republican leaders say they're protecting economic expansion and safe-guarding low-level jobs. What do the polls show about issues of rich and poor? Will they unite Americans behind "basic fairness" or divide the electorate by inflaming class-consciousness? We speak with journalists, business experts, economists, pollsters, Democratic and Republican political strategists about what one Democratic leader calls, "the ultimate values debate." Making News: Supreme Court Divided on Campaign Finance Law, Death PenaltyThe US Supreme Court is wrapping up this year's session with some major decisions. Today, the justices divided on campaign spending limits and capital punishment. Warren Richey, who writes on the Court for the Christian Science Monitor, and Charlie Savage, who covers legal affairs for the Boston Globe, have more on today's decisions.Reporter's Notebook: Warren Buffett Gives It All AwayIn an exclusive interview, Warren Buffett has told Fortune magazine he'll donate most of his own fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In another exclusive, both men will appear together tonight with Charlie Rose on PBS. Buffett's promise of $31 billion will double the Gates' Foundation's current assets to $60 billion. Jim Ferris is director of USC's Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy, which calls the donation the biggest such gift in history.

Collateral Damage or Premeditated Murder? Jun 23, 2006

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In 2004, the US military paid families of Iraqi civilians $5 million in compensation for civilian deaths and injuries. Last year that number quadrupled to $20 million. When that increase was reported by the Boston Globe, Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy said it served "as a warning sign." It's also raised questions about the extent of civilian casualties at a time when ground troops are being charged with murder. But what about the so-called "collateral damage" when civilians are killed by bombs dropped from high-altitude aircraft? Is there a double standard? Which civilian deaths are acceptable under the rules of war; when is prosecution required? We hear from journalists, legal experts and human-rights advocates.Making News: Homegrown Terrorist Ring Busted in MiamiUS Attorney General Alberto Gonzales today announced the arrest of seven men in Miami, accused of wanting to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago and FBI offices in Florida. The Deputy Director of the FBI said the plot was more "aspirational than operational." The US Attorney in Miami said the defendants were stopped before they had the capacity to carry out their threats. Bobby Block reports on terrorism and security for the Wall Street Journal. Reporter's Notebook: Will the Voting Rights Act Be Reauthorized?The Voting Rights Act, signed by Lyndon Johnson in 1965, is widely credited with making blacks in southern states part of the political process. Some provisions will expire next year, and last month, House and Senate leaders of both parties appeared on the Capitol steps to endorse their extension for 25 years. But on Wednesday, House Republicans pulled back because some members claim the act is unfair. Tom Baxter is Chief Political Correspondent for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Countdown to Mexico's Presidential Election Jun 22, 2006

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Mexico has three major political parties, but all the attention in this year's presidential campaign has been on two candidates. One is a populist who appeals to the poor. The other a conservative free-marketeer preferred by the business elite or, as American-style negative ads would have it, a dangerous leftist against a corrupt administrator whose family got rich on government money. Andr--s Manuel L--pez Obrador of the left-leaning PRD, the Party of Democratic Revolution, and Felipe Calder--n of the PAN, the conservative National Action Party of current President Vicente Fox. Roberto Madrazo of the PRI--the Institutional Revolutionary Party, which ruled Mexico for 70 years--appears to be out of the running. We hear about security, trade and immigration, and why Americans north of the border should care about an election that's just over two weeks away but still too close to call. Making News: Senate Rejects Dems' Calls for Troop Pullout from IraqAs expected, the Senate today defeated two Democratic proposals to establish timelines for withdrawing troops from Iraq. Much on the minds of both parties: elections this November and in 2008. Jim Kuhnhenn covers Congress for the Knight-Ridder newspapers.Reporter's Notebook: Ghana Moves Up at the World Cup, US Is OutFour years ago, America's team made the quarter finals of the World Cup in the best showing since 1930. This year's team had high hopes and a high ranking, but it's all over. The Black Stars of Ghana, which has never been in a World Cup before, have advanced to the second round after defeating the US team 2-to-1 today in Nuremberg, Germany. We hear more from Frank Dell'Apa, who writes for the Boston Globe and ESPN.com, and Maurice Quansah of Ghana's Graphic Sports.

President Bush Goes Back to Europe Jun 21, 2006

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In Vienna today, where he is meeting with leaders of the European Union, a few hundreds demonstrators carried signs calling President Bush the "Number One Terrorist in the World." At a heated press conference, the President dismissed as "absurd" polls showing that Europeans think the US is more dangerous than Iran. The President also said he wants to close the Guant--namo Bay prison, and the Chancellor of Austria signaled possible help in re-locating prisoners. What about Iran, Iraq and Europe's own problems with radical Islam? We hear more from political scientists and journalists in the US and Austria on the latest attempt to mend fences with America's most important allies. Making News: Seven Marines, One Sailor to Be Charged in Murder of IraqiAs the Senate debated timetables for troop withdrawal today, the Pentagon announced that 21,000 soldiers will be sent to replace those who are coming home. Meantime, the Marine Corps plans to charge seven Marines and a sailor with murder. They're being held at the Camp Pendleton Marine Base in Southern California, where Tony Perry is reporting for the Los Angeles Times.Reporter's Notebook: Embryonic Stem Cells Found to Reverse Paralysis in RatsResearchers at Johns Hopkins University have found a way to use stem cells to re-grow the circuitry needed to move a muscle. The result has been that partially paralyzed rats are able to walk. The breakthrough is being called a "first step...a proof of principle," though application to human beings might be a long way off. James Battey heads the Stem Cell Task Force at the National Institutes of Health.

Financial (Mis)management at the Pentagon Jun 20, 2006

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On September 10, 2001, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress that waste in the Pentagon is "a matter of life and death." He said some estimates show "we cannot trace $2.3 trillion." Then came September 11. Though Pentagon waste is hardly news, a new study has business leaders dropping their jaws. They say the Defense Department's financial management would put any civilian company out of business. "No one is accountable"... and nobody cares. The US spends more on defense than the rest of the world combined, but nobody knows if GI's in Iraq receive the equipment they need or whether it's ever been paid for. Has the War on Terror replaced the war on waste? We hear from experts in international relations, a former national security advisor and two members of the House Government Reform Committee. Making News: Bodies of Two Abducted American Soldiers RecoveredThe remains of two kidnapped American soldiers are being returned to the United States after Iraqi authorities said they showed signs of "barbaric" torture. Major General William Caldwell told reporters the area where they were found was booby-trapped. Rod Nordland, Newsweek magazine's chief foreign correspondent, joins us from Baghdad.Reporter's Notebook: Why Would North Korea Launch a Long-Range Missile?Satellite photos reportedly show that, for the first time since 1998, North Korea has fueled a ballistic missile system in the eastern part of North Korea. There's disagreement about whether it will have to be fired within a day or two or up to a month from now. The Taepodong-2 is thought to have the capability of reaching American shores. Daniel Pinkston directs the East Asia Program at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Monterey Institute in California.

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