Iraq Troop Surge Ends, but Afghan Victory Uncertain

Host:

Lawrence O'Donnell

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With less violence in Iraq, President Bush is pulling out some Marines but leaving in place almost 140,000 troops. The Secretary of Defense says we are at the endgame in Iraq, but the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs says we might not be winning in Afghanistan. Will the next president be offered a new set of military options for Iraq and Afghanistan? How will General Petraeus’ priorities change when he takes over Centcomm with responsibility for the entire region? Also, Lehman Brothers reports record losses, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has disappeared from public view. Lawrence O'Donnell guest hosts.

Today's WWLA is an edited version of this morning's To the Point.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates says we are at the endgame in Iraq, but the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs says we might not be winning in Afghanistan. As General David Petraeus completes his tour of duty in Iraq, has the war reached a turning point? Has the surge worked? Will Afghanistan once again become the top priority in the Bush Administration's war on terror? Will the next president be offered a new set of military options for Iraq and Afghanistan? How will Petraeus' priorities change when he leaves Iraq and takes over Centcom with responsibility for the entire region?

Guests:

Shawn Brimley: Fellow, Center for a New American Security
Linda Robinson: Contributing Editor. US News and World Report
Douglas Macgregor: Advisor to the Starus Military Reform Project, Center for Defense Information
Nazar Janabi: former official, Iraqi Ministry of Defense

Underwriters

Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.

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