To the Point

Afghanistan: New War or Same Old Quagmire?

Upbeat reports from the Pentagon haven't diminished the controversy over how the way the war in Afghanistan is being conducted. Some claim that, after the bombing, large contingents of US ground troops will be needed against the Taliban and the al Qaeda network. Others contend that would only worsen a bad situation. Both bolster their arguments with lessons from Vietnam. Despite President Bush's promise of a "new war," is America's military campaign in Afghanistan turning into a familiar old quagmire? We ask a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, a political scientist, and strategic defense experts. Newsmaker: Contracted Security at US Airports - Despite ongoing demands for increased airport security, a man got seven knives, a can of mace and a stun gun past an x-ray machine at O'Hare International Airport. Chicago Tribune's Jon Hilkevitch argues that low pay, dead end jobs and high turnover plague airport security until the financial burden is shifted from the airlines. Reporter's Notebook: One Year After the 2000 Election Debacle - One year after the presidential election of 2000, a watchdog group that promotes open, accountable government is asking whatever happened to election reform? Ben Bycel, of Common Cause, affirms that modernizing viewpoints will be as critical as updating equipment in avoiding another election debacle like the one last year in Florida.