To the Point
Afghanistan Elections and Rethinking the War
Afghan officials are still counting the votes from this weekend's parliamentary elections, marked by violence, a low turnout and widespread fraud. What are the possible consequences for US policy with troop strength rising to nearly 100,000 troops. Also, the LA District Attorney brings charges against eight officials in the blue-collar city of Bell, and Britain's new government cracks down on bank bonuses.
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenAfghan officials are still counting the votes from this weekend's parliamentary elections, marked by violence, a low turnout and widespread fraud. What are the possible consequences for US policy with troop strength rising to nearly 100,000 troops. Also, eight officials in the Bell are arrested as the Los Angeles District Attorney prepares charges, and what Wall Street might get away with won't fly in Britain, even with Conservatives in charge. We hear about threatened retaliation against banks that pay "sky-high" bonuses to executives after taxpayer bailouts.
Banner image: Election workers count votes after the parliamentary elections at a polling station on September 18, 2010 in Mazar-e-Sharif, Balkh province, north of Kabul, Afghanistan. More than 2,500 candidates will contest for 249 seats in the lower house of the Afghan parliament. Photo: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesEight Officials in Bell Arrested as LA DA Prepares Charges
The blue-collar City of Bell in Los Angeles County has become a poster-child for municipal corruption in the United States. Today, District Attorney Steve Cooley announced the arrests of at least eight former officials, including one-time city manager Robert Rizzo, whose compensation totaled $1.5 million.
Read the story8 minAfghanistan Elections and Rethinking the War
Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai has canceled plans to attend this week's UN General Assembly so he can stay home and watch over the process of counting votes from Saturday's parliamentary elections. The elections have been all but ignored in this country, but they've raised some familiar questions about the US and Afghanistan.
Read the story38 minUK Government on the Warpath against Hefty Bank Bonuses
In the aftermath of the TARP bailout, Wall Street firms have gone back to paying large bonuses without much complaint from Washington. In Britain today, Finance Secretary Vince Cable told BBC Radio that banks paying “unjustified” bonuses risk “very serious action.”
Read the story5 min
