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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Next Steps for Syria, Russia and the US

    Diplomacy has ended the US threat of force against Syria, at least for now, but requires Bashar al-Assad to destroy his chemical weapons more quickly than ever before.

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    By Warren Olney • Sep 17, 2013 • 51m Listen

    US–Russian diplomacy has ended America's threat of force against Syria, at least for the moment. But it requires Syria's Bashar al-Assad to declare and destroy his chemical weapons faster than that's ever been done before. If he refuses, what are America's options? Is Syria any closer to ending its increasingly brutal civil war? Also, rescues continue in Colorado's thousand-year flood. On Today's Talking Point, AMC's Breaking Bad has just two episodes left after five seasons of playing to a large and loyal audience. Is there any satisfying way to construct the last chapter?

    Banner image: US Secretary of State John Kerry walks next to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (R) before delivering opening remarks to the media prior to their meeting to discuss the ongoing crisis in Syria, in Geneva September 12, 2013. Photo: Larry Downing/Reuters

    In this episode

    3 stories
    1. 0:00

      Rescues Continue in Colorado's Thousand-Year Flood

      Hundreds of people are still unaccounted for in Northeastern Colorado, where massive flooding has devastated communities from the mountains down onto the plains. Nathan Heffel, who reports for public radio station KUNC in Greeley, Colorado, updates the situation.

      Read the story
      8 min
    2. 8:00

      Is US-Russian Diplomacy Prolonging Syria's Civil War?

      When the US was threatening force against Syria, fighting by both the government and the rebels dropped off.  Now it's increasing again. And there's no guarantee that Bashar al-Assad will get rid of his chemical weapons according to the ambitious timetable set by the US and Russia. What if he doesn't?

      Read the story
      35 min
    3. 43:26

      How to End a Modern Drama like AMC's 'Breaking Bad'?

      Spoiler alert for those who've never watched Breaking Bad , the AMC TV series that started five seasons ago. Episode one: chemistry teacher Walter White discovers he has cancer with only two years left to live. To provide security for his wife and a son with cerebral palsy he begins making and selling methamphetamine.

      Read the story
      8 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Caitlin Shamberg

      KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Evan George

      Director of Content, News

      NewsNationalPolitics

    In this episode

    3 stories
    1. 0:008 min

      Rescues Continue in Colorado's Thousand-Year Flood

    2. 8:0035 min

      Is US-Russian Diplomacy Prolonging Syria's Civil War?

    3. 43:268 min

      How to End a Modern Drama like AMC's 'Breaking Bad'?

    Back to To the Point