To the Point
President Bush and Global Warming
Early in his administration, President Bush rejected the Kyoto Treaty on Global Warming, which set a deadline of 2012 for reducing greenhouse gas emissions below those of 1990. Bush called it unrealistic and bad for American business. Last week, just before leaving for Japan, Bush unveiled his long-awaited alternative, based on voluntary incentives and tax breaks. American business praised it as "bold leadership" with "flexibility." But outraged environmentalists branded it "Enron-style accounting, and one European leader called it "immoral." Would the new plan reduce greenhouse gases or increase pollution? Does Bush's alternative elevate economics over environmental protection? Would Americans be willing to do more? We hear from a senior Bush advisor, as well as supporters and critics. Newsmaker: Israeli Reserve Generals back Unilateral Withdrawal Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has broken off peace talks with the Palestinians until the violence stops. But a growing movement within Israel's reserve military is demanding immediate and the immediate creation of a Palestinian State, whether or not there's a cease-fire. Akiva Eldar is a political columnist in Jerusalem for the left-leaning newspaper Ha'aretz. Reporter's Notebook: State of Japan Issues of potential disagreement turned into reasons for mutual support when President Bush and Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi appeared in public on the first day of the President's visit to Asia. Ilene Pruser, Tokyo bureau chief for The Christian Science Monitor, reports on the summit for economic reform, the Axis of Evil, and a presidential misstatement that set off a short-lived panic on Japan's trading floors.
By Warren Olney • Early in his administration, President Bush rejected the Kyoto Treaty on Global Warming, which set a deadline of 2012 for reducing greenhouse gas emissions below those of 1990. Bush called it unrealistic and bad for American business. Last week, just before leaving for Japan, Bush unveiled his long-awaited alternative, based on voluntary incentives and tax breaks. American business praised it as "bold leadership" with "flexibility." But outraged environmentalists branded it "Enron-style accounting, and one European leader called it "immoral." Would the new plan reduce greenhouse gases or increase pollution? Does Bush's alternative elevate economics over environmental protection? Would Americans be willing to do more? We hear from a senior Bush advisor, as well as supporters and critics.
Israeli Reserve Generals back Unilateral Withdrawal
Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has broken off peace talks with the Palestinians until the violence stops. But a growing movement within Israel's reserve military is demanding immediate and the immediate creation of a Palestinian State, whether or not there's a cease-fire. Akiva Eldar is a political columnist in Jerusalem for the left-leaning newspaper
Ha'aretz.
State of Japan
Issues of potential disagreement turned into reasons for mutual support when President Bush and Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi appeared in public on the first day of the President's visit to Asia. Ilene Pruser, Tokyo bureau chief for
The Christian Science Monitor, reports on the summit for economic reform, the Axis of Evil, and a presidential misstatement that set off a short-lived panic on Japan's trading floors.