Pentagon May Recommend Troop Increases in Iraq

Main Topic

US Troops in Iraq: Go Big, Go Long or Go Home? ()

With the mid-term elections over, and an insurgency that continues to rage, the debate is heating up in Washington over what exit strategy the US should follow in withdrawing American troops from Iraq. President Bush says he hasn't decided whether to increase the number of US troops, the Pentagon has been exploring three different options, and a bipartisan panel is expected to come out with its recommendations in the next few weeks. Some policy makers suggest a short-term build-up leading to an exit, others call for an immediate withdrawal. Is it possible to stabilize the situation while still pulling out troops?  How will Congressional Democrats wield their new authority? What options is the public willing to support? (An extended version of this discussion was originally broadcast earlier today on To the Point.)  Sara Terry guest hosts.

Guests:

• Michael Fumento: Author, journalist, photographer and attorney
• Lawrence Korb: Former Assistant Secretary of Defense, @LarryKorb
• William Arkin: Online Columnist for the Washington Post
• Robert Dallek: Professor of History at Boston University

Links:

• Fumento's Weekly Standard article on Ramadi

Reporter's Notebook

Filmmaker Robert Altman Dies ()

He created some of the most influential movies of the past forty years: MASH, McCabe and Mrs Miller, Nashville, The Long Goodbye, The Player.  Just this year, he released what would turn out to be his last film, Prairie Home Companion. Filmmaker Robert Altman, who died last night at the age of 81, won five 'Best Director' Oscar nominations during his career and finally won a life-time achievement award at this year's Oscar ceremonies. It was a long career, worthy of its own long goodbye.

Guests:

• Charles Michener: Cultural journalist