To the Point

A look at election returns in Connecticut and other states. Also, an update on the ongoing violence in the Middle East and its environmental impact.

As Israel and Hezbollah continue to pound one another, Lebanon pleads for help from the Arab League and President Bush talks about the difficulty of diplomacy at the United Nations. Meantime, the war in Iraq and support for President Bush have Democrat Joe Lieberman fighting for his political life in Connecticut's senatorial primary. With just one day left, the latest Quinnipiac University poll shows Lieberman cutting in half the 13-point lead of his challenger, Ned Lamont. In last night's speech Lieberman finally addressed directly the two issues that have been hurting him most. We look at the Lieberman-Lamont race and the possible impact of the war and the President's unpopularity on the November elections with political scientists and journalists in the Capital and on the campaign trail. Making News: France, US Consider Changes to UN Mid-East ResolutionPresident Bush today held a formal press conference--unusual during vacations in Crawford, Texas--to talk about UN resolutions designed to end the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. The Lebanese government has expressed reservations about the resolution. Colum Lynch is UN Correspondent for the Washington Post.Reporter's Notebook: Rusty, Leaky Pipes Cause BP to Shut Down Alaska PipelineBP is shutting down America's biggest oil field due to corrosion in pipelines. The Prudhoe Bay oil field accounts for 8% of America's domestic production. The shut-down itself could take up to 36 hours. Then comes the time required to determine just how much of the pipeline will have to be fixed and how long that's going to take. Peter Coy, Economics Editor at BusinessWeek magazine, has details on the shutdown and its impact on the price of gasoline.

This week's Economist magazine says the trade talks started in Doha, Qatar after September 11 were designed "as proof that a prosperous and united world could rise above Islamist terrorism." Political leaders had the chance to make the world better off despite the latest Middle East violence, the magazine says but, "they failed." President Bush and Prime Minister Blair have both called for renewing the talks, which collapsed a week ago. We look at why the talks were suspended, whether they can be restarted before it's too late, what powerful farm lobbies had to do with it, and whether they were really a good deal for poor third-world countries after all. We're joined by journalists, economists, the farm industry, diplomats and human rights advocates, including the former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Making News: Hundreds of Thousands March in Baghdad in Support of HezbollahHundreds of thousands of Shiite Iraqis marched on the streets of Baghdad today, shouting "Death to Israel, Death to America," in a show of support for Hezbollah in Lebanon. Borzou Daragahi, Baghdad Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times, has more on today's demonstration and the stark contrast between the situation in the capital and other regions of the country.Reporter's Notebook: Two Views from Middle EastIsraeli aircraft hit major roadways north of Beirut today as Hezbollah threatened to hit Tel Aviv with a rocket. Meantime, the ground war appeared to be moving slowly. We get different perspectives on the ongoing crisis. Gideon Lichfield is reporting for the Economist magazine in Jerusalem. In Beirut, Michael Young is Opinion Editor of the English-language newspaper, Daily Star.

Last week, 164 people died from extreme heat in California. This week's heat wave has caused fatalities and power outages in the eastern states of America. Though a cold wave might push temperatures down into the 80's tonight, increased demand for electricity means that energy supplies will be strained for a long time to come. Climatologists warn about global warming, and many energy experts say that America's way of life will increase demand for electricity. The world's biggest retailer shocked its critics by welcoming Al Gore to lecture about the environment. Wal-Mart is going green. Is conservation good business for big companies that depend on increased consumption? Is America's current lifestyle sustainable? We speak with journalists, and sustainability and energy experts, including a former Energy Department official. Making News: Generals Testify before Senate on Threat of Iraqi Civil WarAt a Senate committee hearing today, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld heard bitter criticism from New York's Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton. She asked why Americans should believe him now when he's been wrong in the past, making reference to his "track record" of "many assurances that have proven to be unfulfilled." John Donnelly, who covers defense and foreign policy, attended the hearings for Congressional Quarterly. Reporter's Notebook: Tackling Hezbollah in LebanonHezbollah rockets killed seven Israelis today, the most in a single day since July's last month's strike on Haifa. Israel's current stated objective is to establish a buffer zone until a multinational combat force can move in along the border. At the UN, there's still no consensus on if that could be accomplished. We look at the long-term challenge posed by Hezbollah with Joel Greenberg, who's on the border between Israel and Lebanon for the Chicago Tribune and political scientist Robert Pape at the University of Chicago.

There's heavy fighting again today in Southern Lebanon, as Israel ramps up the ground war against Hezbollah. Meantime, Arab television news programs are broadcasting pictures of dead children and other images of the widening humanitarian crisis. It's the twentieth day of fighting which began after Hezbollah captured two of Israel's troops. In the beginning, public opinion in Lebanon was divided over who to blame. Can Washington still be an "honest broker?" Will continuing violence mean declining effectiveness for the diplomacy of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice? We speak with pollsters and communication experts journalists in the Middle East about what the ongoing conflict means for America's reputation in the Arab world, where the US is seen as Israel's principal ally. Making News: Ra--l Castro Takes Reigns from FidelIn Havana, Fidel Castro has relinquished power for the first time since becoming Cuba's President in 1959. Castro will be 80 this month and is facing intestinal surgery. His 75-year old brother Ra--l will run the government until Castro recovers. Vanessa Bauz-- who covers the Caribbean for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, has an update and a look at the two brothers whose power extends beyond politics.Reporter's Notebook: Reaction in the US to Castro's Transfer of PowerFidel Castro has relinquished power for the first time since the Cuban revolution. If there's a somber mood in Havana, the reverse is true in Miami, where Cuban exiles have become a potent force in Florida politics and in American policy-making toward Castro's Communist government. Since 1959, they've been waiting for signs that Castro is failing. We hear more about this "temporary" transition of power, and get the reaction of exile groups in Miami and Washington's plans for the time when Castro passes away.

Segment #1: Israel Hit Southern Lebanon, Despite Agreement to Suspend Air AttacksIsrael struck from the air again today in Southern Lebanon, despite yesterday's promise of a 48-hour suspension. Prime Minister Olmert says there will be no cease-fire and that operations will be expanded. Israel has apologized for yesterday's strike in Qana, where 56 civilians were killed when a bombed house collapsed into the basement. Meantime, two Hezbollah rockets hit near Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel. After canceling her trip to Beirut, Secretary of State Rice is returning to Washington, where President Bush has again called for a multi-nation force to support the Lebanese government in Hezbollah strongholds. We get updates from Jerusalem, Beirut, Washington and the United Nations. Segment #2: NATO Peacekeepers Take Over in Southern AfghanistanIn Afghanistan today, NATO took on its biggest assignment since its founding to oppose the Soviet Union in 1949. NATO's International Security Assistance Force has been assigned to the relatively peaceful north and west of the country for three years. Now British, Dutch and Canadian troops are the main force going south to provide security for Afghans plagued by attacks from Taliban forces and unprotected by a weak central government. With US forces still chasing Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and Taliban leaders, and different nations giving their troops different missions, can they work together to provide security against the resurgent Taliban?

The Israeli Security Cabinet met earlier today and decided to scale back plans for an expansion of the military offensive in Lebanon. Instead of talking about eradicating Hezbollah, Israeli officials now speak of establishing a buffer zone alone the border. The decision comes just one day after Israeli troops took heavy casualties, losing nine soldiers in unexpectedly fierce fighting with Hezbollah. Also today, in a taped message, al Qaeda's second in command says his organization has no intention of remaining idle while Israel wages war in Lebanon and Gaza. Guest host Marc Cooper discusses Israel's changing military objectives and Hezbollah's condition after two weeks of attacks, as well as the possible involvement of al Qaeda.Making News: Bolton Appears at Senate Panel's Confirmation HearingControversial UN Ambassador John Bolton is back up before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week. His temporary appointment made last year is expiring and the Bush Administration is seeking his permanent confirmation. Tyler Marshall, who is covering the hearings for the Los Angeles Times, says that although Democrats restated their opposition to Bolton's confirmation, their hearts didn't seem to be in it.Reporter's Notebook: Middle East Violence Affects White House PoliticsIs the Bush White House politically benefiting from the Middle East crisis or are its plans for political recovery going up in smoke? Speaking at a Republican fundraiser last week, Vice President Dick Cheney suggested that the war in Lebanon would help boost GOP chances in November's mid-term elections. Is hat really the case? Peter Baker is a staff writer for the Washington Post.

Segment #1: The Immediate Future of US-Iraqi Relations?Against a background of worsening violence and threats of civil war in his own country, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki spoke to the US Congress today and appealed for ongoing American support. But there's new tension in the US-Iraqi relationship as the Baghdad government dissents from Bush policy on Israel. While the White House has called the growing public differences between the allied governments of the US and Iraq a sign of good old-fashioned democracy blossoming in Baghdad, others say it's a symptom of mounting disenchantment with American power among not only the Iraqi political class, but also among the Iraqi people. What's the immediate future of US-Iraqi relations? What does it mean for the future of the war? Mark Cooper guest hosts.Segment #2: Rome Talks Fail on Middle East Cease-fireAn international conference today in Rome stopped short of calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Middle East, mostly in the face of strong opposition from Condoleezza Rice. Diplomats from Europe, moderate Arab states and US Secretary of State did agree to support an international military force to stand as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon, but even the details of that are far from clear. Making News: Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki Speaks to CongressIraq's Prime Minister addressed a joint session of the US Congress today and pleaded for continued American backing for his embattled, fledgling government. Nouri Al-Maliki's speech came amidst controversy with some Democrats upset that he'd criticized Israel as an aggressor in Lebanon while saying nothing about Hezbollah. Today, speaking only of the war in Iraq, Maliki received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle. John Broder is defense and foreign policy editor of the congressional quarterly.