Radiation Poisoning Casts Spotlight on Putin's Russia
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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.
Making News
President Meets with Iraq's Sunni VP as Violence Continues ()
From Washington today comes news that there will be no change in Iraq policy, at least this year. Meantime, in Saudi Arabia more than 30 prominent Sunni clerics said Shiites are taking over Iraq and called on Sunnis around the Middle East to support the insurgency. In Iraq itself, dozens of day laborers from the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City where killed and wounded by car bombs.
Guests:
- Andrew North: Baghdad Correspondent for the BBC
Links:
Main Topic
Russia, Radioactive Poison and International Affairs ()
Polonium 210--the substance that killed Alexander Litvinenko--has turned up in Hamburg, and Interpol and German police are on the case, with Chancellor Angela Merkel saying such killings are not "a good sign." As the investigation into the radioactive poisoning of the former Russian spy continues, there's growing dispute about Litvinenko's London death-bed accusation that Vladimir Putin had a role in his killing. Though Russia's President scoffs, the incident has created alarm about what's happened to that county since the end of the Cold War. With former KGB agents running both the Kremlin and vast private interests, is Russia going fascist? Should the Soviet Union have been left in tact? We hear about internal corruption and international bullying.
Guests:
- Carrick Mollenkamp: Reporter for the Wall Street Journal
- David Satter: Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution
- Edward Lozansky: Founder and President of American University in Moscow
- Stephen F. Cohen: Professor of Russian Studies at New York University
Links:
Reporter's Notebook
Corruption Probe Can't Defeat New Orleans' William Jefferson ()
Members of Congress from both parties were knocked out of office this year by various scandals. Earlier this year, Democratic Congressman William Jefferson became famous when the FBI found $90,000 in marked bills stored in his Washington freezer. Although fellow Democrats are keeping their distance, in a run-off this weekend, he easily won a ninth term from New Orleans voters.
Guests:
- Bruce Alpert: Washington reporter for the Times-Picayune
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