The Border Fence with Mexico: What's the Rush?
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Congress wants to fence off the Mexican border by the end of this year. So, the Bush Administration has waived the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts along with some 30 other environmental laws. Will completing the fence mean better border enforcement? Will it be worth the environmental costs? Also, Muqtada al-Sadr offers to disband his Madhi Army, and after being extinguished four times today in Paris, we hear what's expected for Olympic torch in San Francisco on Wednesday.
Banner image: The urban landscape of Tijuana, Mexico ends abruptly at the US-Mexico border on April 3, 2008 in the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area southeast of Chula Vista, California. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images
Making News
Sadr Consults with Clerics about Disbanding Mahdi Army ()
As General David Petraeus prepares this week's testimony to Congress, the Green Zone is under deadly rocket attack. But the Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has offered to disband his Mahdi Army if the highest Shi'ite religious authority demands it. Liz Sly is Baghdad bureau chief for the Chicago Tribune.
Guests:
Main Topic
The Border Fence with Mexico: What's the Rush? ()
Late last week, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff waived more than 30 environmental laws to complete the fence on the Mexican border before the end of this year. About 300 miles have been completed, with 370 left to go. The Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts are among those that won't apply for 361 miles along the Texas-Arizona border. Significant parts of several wildlife refuges will be on the Mexico side. Private lands will be subject to eminent domain. The Mayor of Eagle Pass, Texas says it's a waste of money that conveys a false sense of security. Why is the government moving so fast? Will better enforcement be enough to justify long-term environmental costs?
Guests:
- Laura Keehner: Press Secretary, US Department of Homeland Security
- Chad Foster: Mayor, Eagle Pass
- Terry Ross: Editor, Yuma Sun
- Brian Milsap: Assistant Regional Director for Ecological Services, US Fish and Wildlife Service
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Reporter's Notebook
The Olympic Torch: Down and Out in Paris and London ()
What was started by Hitler's Nazi regime at the 1936 Olympics has morphed into an international symbol of unity and good will. This year's Olympic torch will be carried 85,000 miles by hundreds of people who have competed for the honor. But today in Paris, the torch had to be extinguished four times and the city cancelled its welcoming ceremony after protesters disrupted the torch's 18-mile journey, which started at the Eiffel Tower. San Francisco, where hundreds of police officers will be in the street, is gritting its teeth for the torch's arrival on Wednesday. We hear about the protests in Paris from Charles Bremner of the Times of London, and get a preview of San Francisco's preparations from Wyatt Buchanan of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Guests:
- Charles Bremner: Paris Correspondent, Times of London
- Wyatt Buchanan: Reporter, San Francisco Chronicle
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