Professor of Political Science, Ohio State University
Professor of Political Science at Ohio State University; author of Overblown: How Politicians and the Terrorism Industry Inflate National Security Threats, and Why We Believe Them and of the forthcoming Atomic Obsession: Nuclear Alarmism from Hiroshima to Al Qaeda
Will the Nuclear Summit Make Us Safer? Nobody knows how likely it is that some terrorist group could set off a nuclear weapon, but the consequences are so catastrophic that even a small chance justifies urgent action to reduce the risk. That was the idea behind President Obama's nuclear summit .
After the Nuclear Summit, What Happens Now? Nobody knows how likely it is that some terrorist group could set off a nuclear weapon. But the consequences are so catastrophic that even a small chance justifies urgent action to reduce the risk. That was the idea behind President Obama's nuclear summit . Ukraine, Mexico, Chile, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and Canada have agreed to dispose of highly enriched uranium that might be made into bombs. But those and other commitments at the summit were voluntary, and "locking down" nuclear materials will be easier said than done. Even supporters call the 47-nation meeting a "first step." Opponents say it did nothing to put the brakes on Iran, which will hold its own conference this coming weekend. Others ask if nuclear terrorism is exaggerated in the first place.
Will Afghanistan Be President Obama's Vietnam? President Obama is putting his stamp on the war in Afghanistan. General David McKiernan has now been replaced by Lt. General Stanley McChrystal, "a rising superstar" who'll be leading “an all-star team.”
Will Afghanistan Be President Obama's Vietnam? The President is sending is more soldiers and changing commanders in Afghanistan. General David McKiernan has now been replaced by Lt. General Stanley McChrystal , “a rising superstar” who’ll be leading “an all-star team.” Some conservatives praise him for starting to nation-build. But powerful Democrats want to know if he’s making an open-ended commitment that can’t be sustained, like previous Presidents in Vietnam. Obama says the real issue is the threat from al Qaeda, but even General David Petraeus says al Qaeda’s now totally in Pakistan . Is the war still legal? Will more violence be counterproductive, especially with increased civilian casualties?
Afghanistan, Pakistan and American Security With the leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan at his side, President Obama today promised increased military and civilian aid to both countries. But do Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari still have the confidence of their own people -- or the Obama administration? What about Pakistan's nuclear weapons?
Afghanistan, Pakistan and American Security Two years ago, Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai refused to shake hands with General Pervez Musharaff. At the White House today, two beleaguered presidents signed a trade agreement while looking over their shoulders at troubles back home. In Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari's peace deal with the Taliban has unraveled and 500,000 people are on the run. In Afghanistan, Karzai faces an upcoming election as civilian casualties mount from efforts to hold back Taliban forces there. Does either leader still have the confidence of his own people — or the Obama administration? What about Pakistan's nuclear weapons?
Homegrown Terrorism and 'Bunches of Guys' The train bombings in Madrid and London exposed the threat of "homegrown terrorism." Now the focus of law enforcement has changed from disaffected lone wolves to what the FBI calls "BOG's" or "bunches of guys." The New York Police Department pinpoints small groups of "unremarkable people" it says can be transformed into willing killers. The NYPD report calls the process a "road map" of radicalization which creates both opportunities and problems for law enforcement. Can local law enforcement take preventive action against BOG's without violating constitutional liberties? Why do the cops need satellite surveillance?
The Political Legacy of Gerald Ford The man who is often called "the accidental president" was eulogized today by official Washington. Gerald R. Ford , who died a week ago at the age of 93, was appointed Vice President when Spiro Agnew stepped down in the midst of a scandal. Ford became President when Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 to avoid impeachment. After two and a half years, he was defeated by Jimmy Carter in 1976. How did a "creature of Congress" handle executive power in a time of crisis? What are the legacies of Ford himself and the White House staff that included Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney?
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.
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.