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Christian Science Monitor
Staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor
PROFILE
Patrik Jonsson
Guest
FROM Patrik Jonsson
To the Point
Guns, Race and Trayvon Martin It's taken almost a month for the shooting death of 17-year-old, African American Trayvon Martin to become a national issue. After Florida prosecutors declined to prosecute Neighborhood Watch volunteer George Zimmerman, the story began to go viral on the Internet. It made the mainstream media — producing a demonstration this week in New York City and a rally last night in Sanford, Florida. Today President Obama weighed in , stressing that "all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and we are going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened." We hear about America's expanding gun culture, "stand your ground" laws and the "rules" that black parents teach their sons about how to deal with authorities.
Which Way, L.A.?
More US Soldiers Are on Their Way to Iraq President Bush has called for an increase in troops for Iraq , but US forces are already stretched thin. The so-called "surge" means an escalation of 21,500 troops. Soldiers of the Army's 3rd Division, which led the invasion of Baghdad, is the first to leave for its third tour. How is the increase likely to be accomplished? How do soldiers feel about leaving their families to face brutal combat? Are the troops worried that the war has lost the support of those back home? What about post-traumatic stress disorder? We hear from the Pentagon about the prospects for other American soldiers.
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To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
To the Point
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.
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
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?