Iran, the Sanctions and the Bomb
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The prospect for a military strike against Iran's nuclear program is now part of the presidential campaign. The candidates disagree about where to draw the "red line." But Iran's economy is in serious trouble, partly due to economic sanctions. Will that alter the nuclear program? What do we really know about Iran's capacity or its intentions? Also, with a month to go, Romney looks to have momentum, and how apps, iPods and smart phones are revolutionizing modern medicine.
Banner image: A customer changes Iraqi dinars to Iranian rials at a money changer in Baghdad, October 4, 2012. The Iranian rial has lost nearly two-thirds of its value to the US dollar over the last year. Photo by Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters
Making News
Romney Looks to Have Momentum, but Still a Month to Go ()
With exactly a month until Election Day, the Romney campaign is elated over new polls showing him creeping into the lead, with supporters more engaged and enthusiastic after last week's debate. The Obama campaign has responded, in part, with humor in a TV spot ridiculing Romney for threatening to pull funds from public broadcasting. Sesame Workshop says it's a nonpartisan organization that stays out of politics, and has asked the Obama campaign to take down the commercial. Michael Shear is trying to keep a straight face as he covers politics for the New York Times.
Guests:
- Michael Shear: New York Times, @shearm
Links:
Main Topic
Iran: the Economy and the Bomb ()
When it comes to Iran's nuclear program, Mitt Romney sounds more hawkish than President Obama, agreeing with Israel about where to draw a "red line." The President has said it should be an actual nuclear weapon But neither candidate has been specific about what to do if the "red line" is crossed. Would it mean an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities? Meantime, the Iranian people are suffering, partly due to economic sanctions. Will that, or even the threat of military action, affect the nuclear program? How much do we really know about how close Iran has come to building a bomb? Do we even know for sure that it wants one?
Guests:
- Thomas Erdbrink: New York Times, @ThomasErdbrink
- Hooman Majd: journalist and author, @hmajd
- Reuel Marc Gerecht: Foundation for Defense of Democracies, @followFDD
- Robert Jervis: Columbia University
Links:
- IAEA and Iran
- David Rothkopf on a US-Israeli 'credible military threat' to Iran
- Erdbrink on new Iranian restrictions on currency trading
- Erdbrink on Iranian officials' denial of plan to end nuclear standoff
- Majd's 'The Ayatollahs' Democracy: An Iranian Challenge'
- Gerecht's 'Know Thine Enemy: A Spy's Journey into Revolutionary Iran '
Reporter's Notebook
How Apps, iPads, and Smart Phones Are Revolutionizing Medicine ()
Today's New York Times describes a doctor exhausted after 24 hours on call, faced with potentially risky treatment of an elderly patient. Where does he find the answer? On his iPhone. "The history of medicine is defined by advances born of bioscience. But never before has it been driven to this degree by digital technology." That's from a story by the Times' Katie Hafner.
Guests:
- Katie Hafner: New York Times, @katiehafner
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