To the Point
Are America's Top Military Leaders Letting the Country Down?
A highly regarded Army lieutenant colonel has exposed a split between younger officers and the military's top brass. Are "mild-mannered team players" repeating the mistakes of Vietnam in Iraq? Is there "a crisis in American generals?" Should Congress intervene? Also, recent raids and deportations decrease strength of today's immigration demonstrations and, on Reporter's Notebook, Sinclair Lewis warned 70 years ago that the US could become an authoritarian state. A new book says the risk is still with us.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenA highly regarded Army lieutenant colonel has exposed a split between younger officers and the military's top brass. Are "mild-mannered team players" repeating the mistakes of Vietnam in Iraq? Is there "a crisis in American generals?" Should Congress intervene? Also, recent raids and deportations decrease strength of today's immigration demonstrations and, on Reporter's Notebook, Sinclair Lewis warned 70 years ago that the US could become an authoritarian state. A new book says the risk is still with us.
Photo: Jim Watson, AFP/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesStepped-Up Enforcement Curbs Today's Immigration Protests
Immigration marchers are on the streets today in dozens of cities from New York to California. But last year's May Day turnout of one million strong is not expected to be equaled. One of the reasons is recent raids and deportations.
Read the story6 minA Failure in Generalship
President Bush says the generals, not the politicians, should be running the war in Iraq, but the generals are doing a terrible job. That's according to a highly-respected Lieutenant Colonel on active duty, who's written a scathing attack on what he calls "a crisis in American generals." Lt.
Read the story35 minNew Book Chronicles Rising Authoritarian Peril in the US
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross." That's from the 70 year-old satirical novel, It Can't Happen Here , written by Sinclair Lewis to dramatize the dangers to American democracy prior to World War II. Now, contemporary writer Joe Conason has a new book.
Read the story8 min
