Iraq's Future: The Battle Continues

Making News

Democrats Lose a Big Presence in the Senate ()

The so-called “Liberal Lion” of the US Senate, Democrat Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, succumbed to brain cancer last night at the age of 77. Speaking today from Chilmark, Massachusetts, President Obama interrupted his vacation to mourn the loss of "one of the greatest senators of our time." Jennifer Duffy is senior editor and analyst for the Cook Political Report.

Guests:

• Jennifer Duffy: Senior Editor, Cook Report, @jennifereduffy

Links:

• CNN poll on Kennedy

Main Topic

Bombs and Politics in Iraq ()

Last week two massive truck bombs killed 100 people in downtown Baghdad and wounded 1000 more, a serious blow to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. He'd been dismantling blast walls and claiming that Iraqi forces could maintain security now that US troops have pulled out of the cities. The death of rival leader Abdul Aziz Hakim, who today succumbed to cancer, has increased political uncertainty. In the aftermath of the US invasion, Hakim gained enough power to be a visitor at the Bush White House, but also had close ties with Iran. Is the time ripe for another Sunni insurgency? Will the Kurds start a civil war? Iran and the US are competing for influence in Iraq. Will American troops be dragged back in or are US interests best served by continuing to withdraw?

Guests:

• Rod Nordland: Staff Writer, New York Times, @rodnordland
• David Ignatius: Associate Editor and Columnist, Washington Post, @IgnatiusPost
• Juan Cole: Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, University of Michigan
• Peter Galbraith: author, 'The End of Iraq'

Links:

• Nordland's article on bombs hurting Maliki's case that Iraq can guard itself
• Ignatius' column on sectarian terrorism in Iraq
• Cole's 'Engaging the Muslim World'
• Galbraith's 'The End of Iraq: How American Incompetence Created a War without End'

Reporter's Notebook

Kennedy's Death Marks End of an Era in American Politics ()

James Sterling Young, director of the Kennedy Oral History Project at the University of Virginia, says, “Most people grow up and go into politics. The Kennedys go into politics and then they grow up.” Fitting words for Edward Kennedy, who died last night of brain cancer at the age of 77. Kennedy served in the US Senate longer than any one else except Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.  When he first took office, expectations were not so high. Richard Reeves, Senior Lecturer at USC’s Annenberg School of Communications, is author of President Kennedy: Profile of Power.

Guests:

• Richard Reeves: author, 'President Kennedy: Profile of Power'