What's the Immediate Future of the Middle East?

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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.

Making News

Rumsfeld's Last Town Hall Meeting at the Pentagon ()

Donald Rumsfeld is the only person to lead the Pentagon twice, and he's one of the longest serving defense secretaries in history.  Today he made a tearful last appearance at a forum with several hundred Pentagon employees.

Guests:

• Gordon Lubold: Pentagon Correspondent for Military Times

Links:

• Armed Forces Information Service on today's town hall session
• Lubold's article on upcoming Pentagon farewell for Rumsfeld

Main Topic

What's the Immediate Future of the Middle East? ()

With the United States bogged down in Iraq, and President Bush, the Congress and leaders around the world debating the Iraq Study Group's report, there's talk that the "American era" in the Middle East has ended.  Without Iraq to offset it, Iran is becoming the strongest Islamic nation—with Israel the region's other major power. We get several views on the changes to come and how they'll affect American interests. Can increased democracy counter radical Islam and be a vehicle for peace and prosperity? Should the US put less emphasis on the military and more on diplomacy?

Guests:

• Richard Haass: President of the Council on Foreign Relations
• Walid Phares: Senior Fellow at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
• Abderrahim Foukara: Managing Editor of Al Jazeera Arabic News
• Yossi Alpher: Co-Editor of BitterLemons.org
• Michael Young: Opinion Editor for the Daily Star

Links:

• Haass' Foreign Affairs article on the new Middle East

Reporter's Notebook

Will Borat's Release Forms Prevent a Slew of Lawsuits? ()

A new mock-documentary is making big money, but some of its unwitting co-stars claim they were duped into making fools of themselves for the entertainment of others.  Now a court has taken notice of their complaints. Borat, which is on track to earn more than $100 million, stars zany British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen masquerading as a journalist from Kazakhstan who wants to know more about American life. Yesterday, a Los Angeles County Judge viewed a scene featuring two South Carolina fraternity brothers.

Guests:

• Richard Charnley: Attorney with Ropers Majeski Kohn & Bentley

Links:

• Charnley's article on fraud charges and 'Borat'

Host

Warren Olney

Considered the dean of Southern California broadcast journalists, Warren tackles the issues Southern Californians care about. Expanding that concept, To the Point deals with issues of national concern and is on air in most major metropolitan markets across the country. On any day, you’ll hear a fast-paced, news-based talk show featuring multiple perspectives on a single major issue, with Newsmaker and Reporters Notebook features, as well. 

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Produced by

Christian Bordal, Karen Radziner, Dan Konecky

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