Reassessing Afghanistan
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As President Obama weighs his options on the war in Afghanistan, public support for his policies there is on the decline. What can a troop surge accomplish? How will politics in Afghanistan -- and in Washington – affect what the United States does? Does Obama face a new Vietnam in the making? Also, Iran test fires another missile in what it calls "preventative and defensive operations." On Reporter's Notebook, more than 30 years after he fled the United States, director Roman Polanski has been arrested in Zurich on statutory rape charges dating back to 1977. Sara Terry guest hosts this rebroadcast of today's To the Point.
Making News
Iran Tests Missile as 'Preventative and Defensive Operation' ()
Iran has ratcheted up tensions in the region with its test-fire of medium range missiles today, which followed short-range missile test-firings yesterday. The tests come just before talks scheduled later this week with major world powers about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Karen DeYoung is a senior diplomatic correspondent for the Washington Post.
Guests:
- Karen DeYoung: Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, Washington Post, @washingtonpost
Main Topic
Afghanistan, the New Vietnam? ()
President Obama kicks off a series of meetings tomorrow with the National Security Council about strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Will Obama agree to the military's request for a troop surge? What effect will the dispute over Afghanistan's recent presidential election have on US policy? As American public support for the war in Afghanistan declines, will the President be more likely to pay attention to anti-war activists than his predecessor did? Will Afghanistan become Obama's Vietnam?
Guests:
- Stephen P. Cohen: Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
- George Packer: Staff Writer, The New Yorker
- Ahmed Rashid: author, 'Descent into Chaos'
- Phyllis Bennis: Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies
Links:
- McChrystal on '60 Minutes'
- Packer's article on reading the McChrystal report
- Packer's 'Interesting Times: Writings from a Turbulent Decade'
- Cohen's 'Four Crises and a Peace Process: American Engagement in South Asia'
- Rashid's (NY Review of Books) article on the Afghanistan impasse
- Rashid's 'Descent into Chaos'
- Phyllis Bennis' 'Ending the US War in Afghanistan'
Reporter's Notebook
Roman Polanski Arrested in Switzerland ()
The director of The Pianist, Chinatown and Rosemary's Baby was on his way to a film festival over the weekend to receive a lifetime achievement award. But acting on a request initiated by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Swiss authorities arrested Roman Polanski at the airport in Zurich. He's in jail now, pending extradition proceedings. His attorneys promise that he'll fight the request. Criminal defense attorney Steven Cron has represented several celebrities in high profile cases.
Guests:
- Steven Cron: Criminal Defense Attorney, Cron Israels and Stark
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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