Counterterrorism Consultant, US Defense Department
Major in the Air Force Reserves, and a counter-terrorism consultant to the Department of Defense
PROFILE
Eric Egland
Guest
FROM Eric Egland
To the Point
Pressure Builds to Advance Iraq Timetable President Bush wants to reassure Americans about his strategy in Iraq and stem Republican defections. With the latest Gallup Poll reporting that his approval rating has dropped to a new low of 29%, he's beginning to talk about a draw-down of troops next year, made possible by the " surge ," which he says is just beginning to work. Meantime, senior Republicans are talking about a change of strategy in Iraq. Senator John McCain , just back from Iraq, says that progress is being made, even as his own presidential campaign is faltering. We hear about "progress" on the battlefield and politics in Baghdad and Washington.
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To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.