Is the US Gearing Up for War with Iran?

Making News

Pressure on Bush to Address Global Warming in State of the Union ()

There's national and international pressure on the Bush Administration to take action on global warming. The White House says the President will address the issue in next week's State of the Union message, but he won't advocate limits on greenhouse-gas emissions. Andrew Revkin reports on the environment for the New York Times.

Guests:

• Andrew Revkin: reporter for the New York Times

Links:

• Doomsday Clock

Main Topic

Will America's Next War Be with Iran? ()

Iran is expanding its influence in Iraq, supporting Hamas and Hezbollah and threatening Israel's right to exist. This week, the President, Vice President and Secretaries of State and Defense have warned Iran to back off. At the same time the US is doubling its air and sea power in the Persian Gulf, a move one calls "gunboat diplomacy" aimed at Iran.  What is the likelihood of a wider war in the Middle East? Would the President need the approval of Congress for strikes against Iran?  If the US fails to attack Iran's nuclear installations, will Israel do the job? We hear from journalists, economists, political scientists and Middle East experts.

Guests:

• John Kifner: reporter for the New York Times
• Ray Takeyh: senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
• Efraim Inbar: Director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies
• Angus McDowall: Tehran Correspondent for the Independent

Links:

• US State Department on Iran
• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran
• Sunday Times of London on Israel's plan to attack Iran's nuclear facilities

Reporter's Notebook

Castro's Health and Cuba's Medical System ()

Despite Cuba's economic troubles, its health system has been called "one of world's best public services" by the BBC, "a shining example" by the Kaiser Family Foundation, and "the envy of other nations" by former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. So what's the significance that 80 year-old Fidel Castro, who's believed to be on the brink of death, is reportedly being diagnosed and treated by a Spanish doctor? UC Berkeley reserach economist Kamran Nayeri has studied Cuba's healthcare system.  Journalist Ann Louise Bardach has covered Cuba for many years.

Guests:

• Kamran Nayeri: economist at UC Berkeley
• Ann Louise Bardach: journalist and author