Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Pakistan and the Taliban

    Pakistan's army is finally taking on the Taliban in South Waziristan. Will the much-delayed offensive help the US and NATO against the Taliban in Afghanistan? Is Pakistan more interested in its historic conflict with India? Also, President Karzai is forced into a run-off election in Afghanistan, and the Obama Administration and medical marijuana.

    • rss
    Download MP3
    • Share
    By Warren Olney • Oct 20, 2009 • 50m Listen

    Pakistan's army is finally taking on the Taliban in South Waziristan. Will the much-delayed offensive help the US and NATO against the Taliban in Afghanistan? Is Pakistan more interested in its historic conflict with India? Also, President Hamid Karzai is forced into a run-off election in Afghanistan, and US Attorney General Eric Holder will defer to state laws on medical marijuana.

    Banner image: A Pakistani policeman checks a vehicle carrying an internally displaced Pakistani family, fleeing from military operations against Taliban militants in South Waziristan on October 20, 2009. Photo: Aamir Qureshi/AFP/Getty Images

    In this episode

    3 stories
    1. 0:00

      Karzai Forced into Run-off Election

      After reports of widespread fraud in Afghanistan's recent election, President Hamid Karzai has agreed to a run-off to be held in less than three weeks. By Karzai's side was Democratic Senator, and former presidential nominee John Kerry . Anand Gopal is in Kabul for the Wall Street Journal .

      Read the story
      8 min
    2. 7:31

      Pakistan Fights Militants in the Mountains

      Despite fierce resistance, Pakistan's Army claims progress in its much-awaited offensive South Waziristan, where some 10,000 Taliban provide a base for al Qaeda and training for foreign jihadis.

      Read the story
      33 min
    3. 40:57

      Feds Lighten up on Illegal Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

      Marijuana is still illegal under federal law, but US Attorney General Eric Holder has ordered agents and prosecutors not to pursue suppliers and patients in 13 states where the drug has been legalized for medicinal purposes. Holder says his permissive approach is contingent on those who deal with it complying with state law.

      Read the story
      10 min
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

      NewsNationalPolitics

    In this episode

    3 stories
    1. 0:008 min

      Karzai Forced into Run-off Election

    2. 7:3133 min

      Pakistan Fights Militants in the Mountains

    3. 40:5710 min

      Feds Lighten up on Illegal Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

    Back to To the Point