Trying to Root Out the Taliban
Host:
Produced by:
Subscribe to this Podcast:
Listen to/Watch entire show:
The US launched a major new offensive in Afghanistan this weekend. But just four days in, questions are already cropping up about the challenges troops face and their odds of long-term success. The mission depends heavily on cooperation from both Afghan forces and the Afghan government. On this rebroadcast of today's To the Point, guest host Chery Glaser learns whether they're up to the job. Also, loan guarantees for the first US nuclear plant in 30 years, and the fine art of judging figure skating.
Banner image: Afghan villagers watch as US 4th Infantry Division soldiers patrol at Tag in Laghman. Improvised explosive devices are the biggest threat facing troops engaged in an assault on a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan, military commanders have said. Photo: Kim Hae-Hwan/AFP/Getty Images
Making News
Obama Announces Loan Guarantees for First Nuclear Plant in 30 Years ()
There has not been a new nuclear power plant built in the US since Ronald Reagan was in office, but it looks as though that's about to change. President Obama today announced more than $8 billion in federal loan guarantees for building two nuclear reactors in Georgia, which he says will help meet the need for more clean energy while generating new jobs. Ben Geman writes the Environment and Energy blog for The Hill.
Guests:
- Ben Geman: Environment and Energy blogger, The Hill
Main Topic
Trying to Root Out the Taliban ()
In what's being called a major coup in the war against the Taliban, the group's top military commander reportedly has been captured and has spent the past week being interrogated. The New York Times broke the story that Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was seized in a joint operation of US and Pakistani forces. Can he shed light on how the Taliban operates? Will he lead the US to other prime Taliban leaders? What impact might his detention have on the new offensive the US and NATO launched in southern Afghanistan just a few days ago?
Guests:
- Rod Nordland: Staff Writer, New York Times, @rodnordland
- Brian Katulis: Senior Fellow, Center for America Progress, @Katulis
- Gretchen Peters: former journalist, Associated Press and ABC News
- Greg Miller: National Security Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, @gregpmiller
Links:
- NATO in Afghanistan
- US Central Command on Operation Moshtarak
- London Conference on Afghanistan
- Miller's 'The Interrogators: Inside the Secret War against al Qaeda'
- Katulis' 'The Prosperity Agenda: What the World Wants from America and What We Need in Return'
- Peters' 'Seeds of Terror: How Heroin is Bankrolling the Taliban and al Qaeda'
Reporter's Notebook
Activists Take Aim at California's Proposition 209 ()
In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 209, which banned public institutions from discriminating on the basis of race, sex, or ethnicity. Today, an activist group known as BAMN filed a lawsuit against the University of California, challenging Prop 209. Peter Schmidt, senior writer for the Chronicle of Higher Education, is author of Color and Money: How Rich White Kids Are Winning the War over College Affirmative Action.
Guests:
- Peter Schmidt: Senior Writer, Chronicle of Higher Education
Links:
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.
Engage & Discuss
Further the conversation with your thoughts and comments. Agree, disagree, present a different perspective -- engage.
For information and guidelines click: Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Please note, comments are moderated. KCRW reserves the right to edit and or remove posts deemed off-topic, abusive or not in accordance with KCRW's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
