Iraqi National Conference Takes on Najaf and al-Sadr

Iraq-s National Conference is meeting to choose a 100-person body to advise and oversee Iraq-s interim government. Yesterday, it interrupted its business to send a delegation to Najaf, where Muqtada al-Sadr is still holed-up in the Shrine of Imam Ali. Is it -democracy in action- or another sign of continuing chaos? Warren Olney gets two very different perspectives, from University of Michigan historian Juan Cole and the Heritage Foundation's James Carafano. (An extended version of this program was originally broadcast earlier today on To the Point.)

• Making News: Politics and President Bush-s Plan to Realign Troops Speaking to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Cincinnati today, President Bush said he wants to re-deploy American soldiers around the world and bring many home from Japan and Europe. Within minutes, a top foreign policy aide to Senator John Kerry said the re-deployment won-t save money or help military families. Watching and reporting on the rapid-fire exchange is Ron Brownstein of the Los Angeles Times.

President's remarks to Veterans of Foreign Wars on re-deployment of US troops

Brownstein's article on Bush, Kerry over Iraq

New York Times article on Iraq National Conference slipping into chaos

Washington Post article on political activism at Iraq National Conference

UN on Iraq