To the Point

Dangers of Journalism: The Hunt for Daniel Pearl

It's been three weeks since Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was abducted while on his way to interview the leader of an extremist group, and two weeks since his kidnappers have been heard from. While Pakistani authorities believe Pearl is still alive, and have arrested three men who claim to have sent emails and photographs of him, investigators are stumped by the silence of the leading suspect, who was last heard from a week ago during a cell-phone conversation with a relative in Lahore. Meanwhile, the grainy photograph of Pearl with a gun at his head has etched itself into the minds of other foreign reporters. We talk with veteran combat journalists Robert Fisk, Jennifer Glasse and others about how Pearl's kidnapping has affected their work. Correction by CNN's Walter Rodgers: Walter Rodger's responded by e-mailed to an erroneous statement by journalist Robert Fisk about his reporting from Kandahar, Afghanistan. Newsmaker: Does Campaign Finance Reform Have the Votes Yet? As Kenneth Lay says he'll take the 5th rather than testifying before Congress, the impact of the Enron collapse continues on Capitol Hill. Part of the fallout may be an upcoming House vote on campaign finance reform. Gail Chaddock, Congressional reporter for the The Christian Science Monitor, says the Enron debacle makes it difficult to ignore the human face of corporate influence in Washington. Reporter's Notebook: Serious Planning Begins for US Campaign against Iraq With division inside the Bush Administration resolved, serious planning is afoot for a campaign against Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Next month, Vice President Cheney will travel to nine Middle East countries to outline US strategy. Robin Wright, chief diplomatic correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, reports that strategy leans toward resolution, rather than containment, of the problem.