Can US Get Out of the Green Zone?; Reaction to Chavez
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The President's New Way Forward will not only increase American troops in Iraq, but get the civilian reconstruction effort out of the Green Zone. Is it about time or too little too late? Also, Hugo Chavez claims he'll nationalize major industries and make Venezuela a socialist state. Can he accomplish his populist goals? Is he a threat to America's interests in Latin America?
Making News
Rice Heads to Mideast Pushing a Hard Line towards Iran ()
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is about to leave for a high-stakes tour of the Middle East, starting in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. She'll then meet with leaders in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait before winding up in Berlin and London. Martin Sieff of UPI previews the challenge she'll face.
Guests:
- Martin Sieff: security and terrorism correspondent for UPI
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Main Topic
Bush's New Way Forward in Iraq; Chavez's Venezuela ()
One of the promises of the President Bush's New Way Forward in Iraq is deployment of "provincial reconstruction teams" to work with local leaders. Echoing the President's plan at yesterday's news conference with the Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice affirmed that success will depend on the US getting civilians out of the embassy and green zone and into the field to support local leaders and structures. We hear how America's original occupying force walled itself off from the Iraqi people. Is there still time for a change or is the new plan too little too late? Also, today, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he'll nationalize communications, electricity and oil companies and turn his country into a socialist state. Should the US be worried? Has the war on terror diverted the Bush administration from America's interests in Latin America?
Guests:
- Rajiv Chandrasekaran: assistant managing editor of the Washington Post
- Joel Arends: company commander for the Army's 1st Cavalry Division
- James Dobbins: director of International Security and Defense Policy Center at the RAND Corp
- John Felmy: director of policy for the American Petroleum Institute
- Phillip Gunson: freelance journalist, based in Venezuela
- Mark Weisbrot: co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research
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Transcripts of To the Point are available from The Transcription Company, (818) 848-6500, or www.transcripts.net. A CD copy is available by calling 1.888.600.5279
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