To the Point

Assassination as Official Policy

In the past eleven months, Israel has killed more than fifty Palestinians in strategic strikes against militants whom the Israeli government claims belong to organizations which have themselves carried out attacks and claimed Israeli lives. Israel calls it "anticipatory self defense." The Palestinians call it assassination. We examine the use of government-sanctioned assassinations against individuals. Is such official use of lethal strikes, which often claim innocent lives, justified? We hear from a journalist in the Middle East, experts in international law and terrorism, and a retired army colonel. (Jim Moret, former West Coast anchor for CNN, guest hosts.) Newsmaker: Stem Cell Research Faces New Challenge - When President Bush approved federal funding for stem cell research, he limited it to those already extracted cells. Now it's been reported that these cells were grown with the help of embryonic mouse cells. Harvard Medical School's George Daley fills us in on the limitations and risk of using such cells for human therapeutic application. Reporter's Notebook: Feud over Denver Stadium Naming Rights - The Denver Broncos debut at their new stadium tomorrow. But the name of that stadium is the focus of debate and ridicule after Invesco Funds Company paid 120 million dollars for naming rights. Pat Calhoun, of Denver's weekly Westword, has the lowdown on the mile-high dispute, corporate naming rights, and the ensuing newspaper duel.