To the Point

Iraq Blurs Line between Presidential Candidates Bush, Kerry

For the past two weeks, the news has been dominated by increased violence in Iraq and revelations about America-s lack of preparation before September 11. Prior to the 9-11 Commission, both Republicans and Democrats got heat for failing to recognize the threat of Osama bin Laden. Now, despite massive spending on early TV, with President Bush and Senator Kerry sounding increasingly alike when they talk about Iraq, neither candidate is making a dent on the independents and 'undecideds' likely to make the difference in the November election. Warren Olney joins political scientists, public policy analysts, and journalists from Newsweek, The New Republic and The Weekly Standard for a look at what's ahead for the incumbent and his challenger in times of war, terrorism and economic uncertainty. Making News: Bin Laden Offers a Truce with Europe Italy-s foreign minister says security guard Fabrizio Quattrocchi died a -defiant hero.- Al Jazeera called a video of the hostage's execution -too gruesome- for broadcast. Meantime, Arab TV is airing an audiotape of what is likely the voice of Osama bin Laden. Magnus Ranstorp, director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism at St. Andrews University, Scotland, says bin Laden's offer demands that nations cease meddling in Muslim affairs. Reporter-s Notebook: Nothing is Certain but Death, if You-re Rich America-s tax system -is being turned on its head,- so the very rich end up being subsidized by everyone else. That's the subject of Perfectly Legal, an authoritative new book by David Cay Johnston of the New York Times. Winner of a 2001 Pulitzer Prize for his reports on tax loopholes, Johnston America's -covert campaign to rig our tax system to benefit the super rich-and cheat everybody else."