To the Point

The CIA's Inspector General has criticized overseas prisons,

One and a half million Armenians were slaughtered almost 100 years ago. Yesterday, a committee of Congress labeled it "genocide." Also, Al Gore and the Nobel Peace Prize.

American farmers insist that immigration enforcement has dried up the supply of farm labor. Some are resorting to prison inmates and others are moving to Mexico. Also, Turkey recalls its ambassador over the Armenian genocide bill, plus Vice President Cheney and the expansion of executive power.

Next summer's Olympic Games have focused attention on China's economic expansion and the environmental pollution that's going along with it. Also, UAW picket lines go up at Chrysler, and an unlikely apology from Los Angeles' Chief of Police.

Hillary Rodham Clinton is now the acknowledged front-runner on the Democratic side.  We hear how that creates its own set of problems?  Why are Republicans rubbing their hands? Also, Turkey considers going after separist Kurds in Iraq, and the US Supreme Court turns down a case of "extraordinary rendition."

In the interests of stabilizing a crucial ally, the US has urged leaders of Pakistan to resolve their differences. Is it a step toward democracy and civilian rule or a victory for the military and amnesty for high-level corruption? Will there be a backlash against US involvement? Also, Britain's Prime Minister to halve troops in Iraq by spring, and a farm labor shortage and the failure of immigration reform.

America's continuing drive for material well-being has made it the world’s colossus, but it may also contain the seeds of destruction.  Will unlimited economic growth be the undoing—not just of America, but the rest of the world? Also, secret DOJ memos on interrogation, and anthropologists at war.

Toyota outsold Ford again last month.  The Big Three are not all American any more. Will a new contract give new life to General Motors, maybe to Ford and Chrysler as well? Will clean diesel make American cars more competitive? What about hybrids and global warming? Also, peace for Korea and death in Afghanistan.

Rudy Giuliani's continued strength in the polls has Christian conservatives talking about a third party, but that might put Hillary Clinton back in the White House. Major anxiety for a major element of the Republican Party. Is the religious right losing its clout? What about those cell phone calls from Giuliani's wife? Also, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and a Presidential veto—rare, but without any fanfare.  What's next for SCHIP?

On Capitol Hill today, Blackwater USA got a grilling about its private security guards.  Are they highly-paid mercenaries out of control or skilled professionals taking on risky assignments so Marines and soldiers can focus on combat? Also, a historic meeting in North Korea, and the latest on Israel’s midnight raid in Syria.