Peace Talks in Afghanistan: The Promise and the Reality
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President Karzai's effort at reaching out to the Taliban may have failed before it began. We update this week's "peace jirga" with 1600 tribal leaders and politicians. Is it building support for Karzai's government? Will it make any difference for US soldiers? Also, BP cuts a leaking pipe, as the oil slick heads eastward, and the 21st perfect game in Major League history won't be in the record books after all.
Banner image: Delegates look on as Afghan President Hamid Karzai delivers a speech to the National Consultive Peace Jirga in Kabul on June 2, 2010. Photo: Shah Marai/AFP/Getty Images
Making News
BP Cuts Leaking Pipe as Oil Slick Heads Eastward ()
After six weeks of continuous failures in the Gulf of Mexico, technicians today successfully cut what's called the "riser pipe" that is spewing oil into the ocean. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, who's commanding the federal response, called it "a significant step forward" on the part of BP. Bryan Walsh has been covering the ongoing disaster for Time magazine.
Guests:
- Bryan Walsh: Staff Writer, Time Magazine, @bryanrwalsh
Main Topic
Karzai Convenes Peace Jirga, Reaches Out to the Taliban ()
Sixteen hundred handpicked delegates, tribal leaders and politicians, agreed today that President Karzai's traditional jirga, is the last chance for peace in Afghanistan. But his effort to reach out to the Taliban has already been met with rockets and suicide bombers, and the jirga includes none of his political opposition. If Karzai's government is too corrupt to earn public confidence, is there a credible alternative? Can more US troops make a difference? We hear different views on the chances of winning one of the longest wars in American history.
Guests:
- Alissa Johannsen Rubin: Kabul Bureau Chief, New York Times, @alissanyt
- Peter Galbraith: former Deputy Special Representative in Afghanistan for the UN Secretary General
- Michael O'Hanlon: recent member, Secretary of State's Advisory Board
- Hasan-Askari Rizvi: Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Punjab
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Reporter's Notebook
Blown Call Steals the Tigers' First-Ever Perfect Game ()
In a game against Cleveland yesterday, pitcher Armando Galarraga threw the first perfect game in Detroit Tigers' history – but Jim Joyce took it away. Cleveland batter Jason Donald hit a ground ball to Detroit first baseman Miguel Cabrera, who tossed it to pitcher Armando Galarraga, who touched the base before Donald. It should have been the last out of the last inning of Major League Baseball's 21st perfect game, but the umpire called Donald safe. Michael Rosenberg is a sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press.
Guests:
- Michael Rosenberg: Sports Columnist, Detroit Free Press
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