To the Point
To the Point
Bookmark and Share

Wire Tapping and National Security

Host:
Produced by:
Subscribe to this Podcast:
Podcast iTunes Podcast
Listen to/Watch entire show:
Listen Download Add to My Shows
Legacy Player: Listen

Britain's highest intelligence officer has gone public with details of extensive surveillance of terrorist plots. President Bush wants Congress to approve his program for wiretaps without warrants. How serious is the threat in this country? Do US agents need the freedom their British counterparts have? Will civil rights still be protected? Plus, America's top general in Iraq says more troops are needed in Baghdad, and one of the world’s most controversial news outlets will now be in English.  We hear the latest on al-Jazeera.

Making News

General Abizaid Recommends Maintaining Troop Levels in Iraq ()

For the first time since Donald Rumsfeld's resignation as Secretary of Defense, America's top general in Iraq appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee.  Arizona Republican John McCain said yesterday's brazen kidnapping of workers from a government building means more American troops are needed in Baghdad.

Guests:
  • Jonathan Broder: Defense and Foreign Policy Editor, Congressional Quarterly
Links:

Main Topic

The War against Terror and Civil Rights ()

It's been less than a week since Britain's MI-5 intelligence service said 1600 people are under surveillance for 30 terrorist plots linked to al Qaeda in Pakistan. Today, Queen Elizabeth presented Tony Blair's last program to Parliament, indicating that the Prime Minister will ask for new legislation to address the terrorist threat.  Meantime, President Bush still wants Congress to approve his program of wiretaps without court warrants. Democrats say wait until next year. While everybody agrees it's essential to monitor communications between terrorist suspects, how much oversight is required to prevent abuse?  We look at surveillance in Britain, assess the severity of the threat in this country, and consider whether intelligence agents are hampered by too many rules.

Guests:
  • Neil Ellis: Homeland Security Expert at the Royal United Services Institute
  • John Schmidt: Former US Associate Attorney General
  • Lisa Graves: Deputy Director of the Center for National Security Studies
  • Ron Suskind: Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
Links:

Reporter's Notebook

Al-Jazeera Launches English Language TV Channel ()

CNN and the BBC now have a new rival for international news on English language television. Al-Jazeera has become vastly influential in the Arabic-speaking world and has ended the monopolies on news held by governments in the Middle East. It's won viewers with reports that have angered those same governments, as well as those in the western world. Will its frankness and willingness to discuss taboo issues win a new English-language audience?

Guests:
Links:

Engage & Discuss

Further the conversation with your thoughts and comments. Agree, disagree, present a different perspective -- engage.

For information and guidelines click: Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Please note, comments are moderated. KCRW reserves the right to edit and or remove posts deemed off-topic, abusive or not in accordance with KCRW's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.