To the Point
The President's Trip to Asia: Substance and Symbols
As President Obama visits Asia, the US is still in deep trouble while China is riding high. What does America want, and what can it provide in the newest world order? Also, the US ambassador to Afghanistan says hold that surge, and chimpanzees, human beings and the genetics of speech.
By Warren Olney • • 51m ListenAs President Obama visits Asia, the US is still in deep trouble while China is riding high. What does America want, and what can it provide in the newest world order? Also, the US ambassador to Afghanistan says hold that surge, and chimpanzees, human beings and genetic comparisons between humans and chimpanzees shows why we can speak and they can't.
Banner image: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama (R) motions for President Barack Obama to be seated at the start of the bilateral meeting with their delegations at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, Japan. Official White House Photo: Pete Souza
In this episode
3 storiesUS Ambassador to Afghanistan Says, Hold That Surge
President Obama's considering four options for Afghanistan, all of which involve sending more troops. Now the ambassador to Kabul, Karl Eikenberry, says don't sent any reinforcements at all until the Karzai regime cracks down on corruption. Peter Spiegel is reporting the story for the Wall Street Journal .
Read the story8 minThe President's Trip to Asia: Substance and Symbols
As the US continues to struggle out of recession, Asia currently is regarded as the most economically dynamic place in the world. In high-profile visits to four countries in eight days, President Obama will express what the State Department calls "strategic reassurance."
Read the story34 minScientists Discover the 'Speech Gene'
Chimpanzees are the closest relatives to human kind. They can even speak a crude kind of language. Now researchers have discovered genetic clues that explain how humans can do what no other animal can. It's all about a gene called FOXP2. Nicholas Wade reports the story in today's New York Times .
Read the story9 min
