Has Time Run Out on President Bush's Surge in Iraq?

Making News

Germans Foil Alleged Chemical Attack on US Interests ()

German police today say that they've broken up a plot to launch a string of terrorist bombings against Americans. The suspected terrorists, two Germans and a Turk, were arrested as they prepared to move what the police said was an enormous volume of bomb materials. They also said the men appeared to be linked to al Qaeda. Is homegrown terrorism a growing threat in Europe? Philipp Hedemann reports from Hamburg for Bild Zeitung.

Guests:

• Philipp Hedemann: Reporter for Bild Zeitung

Links:

• PRI/Reuters on arrests

Main Topic

The Looming Political Battle over Iraq ()

Although Congressional Democrats failed to prevent President Bush's military surge in Iraq last year, they won a concession. They funded the increased deployments, but demanded that the administration report on the success of its operations by September 15. With that day of reckoning almost here, the political battle lines have been drawn. Many Democrats, and a growing number of Republicans, are demanding a withdrawal. The military is stretched to the breaking point, but terrorism remains a threat and the President says the surge needs more time. When General David Petreaus makes his report next week, Bush will face one of his toughest decisions since he launched the war: does the US stay or go? Can Bush continue to fight and still bring some troops home? Guest host Jim Sterngold explores the chaos of Iraq that's taking center stage in the chaotic political arena in Washington.

Guests:

• Doyle McManus: Washington Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times
• Andrew Kohut: President of the Pew Research Center, @pewresearch
• Larry Kaplow: Baghdad Correspondent for Newsweek
• Peter Galbraith: Senior Diplomatic Fellow, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
• Wayne White: Adjunct Scholar at the Middle East Institute

Links:

• Government Accounting Office (GAO) report on Iraq
• Senator Webb's (D-VA) redeployment amendment
• Senator Lugar (R-IN) on Iraq
• Washington Post on readiness of Iraqi security forces
• McManus on upcoming collision over Iraq
• Pew Research Center survey on Iraq
• Kaplow on Shiite domination of Baghdad
• Galbraith's 'The End of Iraq'

Reporter's Notebook

Serena Williams Bad Sport over Loss at US Open ()

Professional athletes spend their whole lives preparing to win. They're expected to throw themselves physically and emotionally into their sports, fighting with all they've got to the finish. They're also expected to be cheerful and good sports, even when they lose. Yesterday, at the US Open, one loser had the nerve to do something that sportswriters hate. After her loss to Justine Henin, a very sullen Serena Williams addressed the press. Do we expect too much from our sports heroes? Doug Robson, who writes on tennis for USA Today, has more on the hoopla surrounding Williams' dour mood.

Guests:

• Doug Robson: Tennis writer for USA Today