The Syrian War and Secret U.S. Support
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As crisis grows more dangerous by the day, nobody yet knows what the Obama Administration is doing to help Syrian rebels against the al-Assad regime. We’ll have reports from inside the country and ask if it’s time for the US to become more directly involved—whatever the risks might be. Also, Bo Xilai’s Wife Reportedly Confesses to Murder Charges and we take a look at who gets what in public tragedies.
BANNER IMAGE: Free Syrian Army members shout Islamic slogans as they prepare to move into Aleppo's district of Salah Edinne (Zohra Bensemra / Reuters)
Making News
Bo Xilai’s Wife Reportedly Confesses to Murder Charges ()
In a political trial behind closed doors in China, the wife of a deposed Communist Party official reportedly has confessed to poisoning a British businessman.
Guests:
- Adam Minter: Bloomberg World View, @AdamMinter
Main Topic
The Syrian War and Secret U.S. Support ()
As crisis grows more dangerous by the day, nobody yet knows what the Obama Administration is doing to help Syrian rebels against the al-Assad regime. It's more dangerous to smuggle medical supplies than weapons and there are vast stores of chemical weapons. The struggle between Shiites and Sunnis creates the threat of regional instability, even a new Cold War, and the UN has become a non-factor.
Since the beginning of peaceful demonstrations in March of last year, some 21,000 people have now died in Syria's crackdown against rebel forces. What's at stake for the region and the rest of the world, including the US?
On a grim historical note: seldom have medical personnel been so systematically targeted. It's reportedly more dangerous to smuggle humanitarian aid than weapons.
Is it time for the Obama Administration to get directly involved in helping Syrian rebels against the al-Assad regime?
Guests:
- Vivienne Walt: Time Magazine, @vivwalt
- Jon Lee Anderson: Staff Writer for The New Yorker, @jonleeanderson
- Steven Cook: Council on Foreign Relations, @stevenacook
- Brian Katulis: Center for America Progress, @Katulis
Reporter's Notebook
Who Gets What in Public Tragedies ()
Victims of the attacks of September 11th were compensated with public money. Victioms of the Oklahoma bombing were not. How come? Is there a single, appropriate policy? Why are the victims of some disasters compensated from public coffers while others are not?
We’ll talk to the man who’s handed out a lot of the money. Kenneth Feinberg was special master for the September 11thVictim Compensation Fund and the administrator of BP’s payments to victims of the Gulf Oil Spill. He’s now written a book called, “Who Gets What: Fair Compensation For Tragedy and Finacial Upheaval… “
Guests:
- Kenneth Feinberg: Author
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