To the Point

Palestinian Reform

In a rare self-critical moment, Yasser Arafat has admitted responsibility for mistakes, called for reform and promised elections within the next six months. But with no election since 1996 and a Palestinian Authority that's often been called corrupt and repressive, there's skepticism about Arafat's real intentions from Israel, the Arab world, and the Palestinians themselves. We hear the grievances against his Palestinian Authority, ask one of his top aides what his plans really are, and talk to a Palestinian pollster about what an election campaign might look like and what the results might be. Newsmaker: Vice President Cheney's Tough Attack Language Curious about President Bush's knowledge of a likely terrorist attack using airplanes, Democrats have called for an investigation of possible intelligence failings prior to September 11. Vice President Cheney has called the criticism "irresponsible," warning that an inquiry could hamper efforts to prevent the next attack. Brian Jenkins is senior advisor to the president of Rand, the policy research institute. Reporter's Notebook: The Man Who Stood Before the Tank in Tiananmen Square The symbol of Beijing's Tiananman Square massacre of 1989 is a young man standing in front of a tank sent by Chinese leaders to break up a student demonstration. Who was he and what happened to him afterward? Taiwan-born Terrence Cheng, who learned to write fiction as a Michener Fellow at the University of Miami, went to China to research that confrontation. The result is his first novel, Sons of Heaven. Read an excerpt from the book.