Tuesday, June 30 2009

Will U.S. Troop Pullout in Iraq Destabilize the Region?

Four U.S. soldiers died last night in Baghdad, following a series of bombing last week that killed nearly 160 people. Despite Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki’s insistence that Iraqi security forces are up to the challenge, many believe that Iraq’s urban areas may destabilize without U.S. support. Joining The Takeaway to talk about the U.S. troop departure is Nazar Janabi, former Director General for defense policy in the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. Also joining the show is Professor Gary Solis, a retired U.S. Marine with 26 years experience who teaches military law at Georgetown University and taught at West Point.

"Everyone also is anticipating or being extremely careful of what is going to happen next. How are the terrorist, how are the extremist groups going to react to the withdraw of American forces?"
— Nazar Janabi, formerly of the Iraqi Minister of Defense, on the U.S. troop pullout in Iraq

For more on the pullout in Iraq watch the video below.

Comments [1]

The Continuing Mystery of Air France Flight 447

Air France flight 447 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 30 days ago, leaving its black box somewhere in the middle of the ocean. The device holds important flight data and signals its location, but only for 30 days. Will the mystery of the crash ever be solved? Joining The Takeaway is Todd Curtis, Aviation Safety Analyst and Director of the Airsafe.com Foundation. He is also a former air safety engineer for Boeing.

Comment

White Firefighters: Race, Affirmative Action and the Court

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday in favor of a group of white firefighters in New Haven, Connecticut, saying they had been discriminated against. The ruling could have implications for President Obama's Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Joining The Takeaway to talk about the possible repercussions and the philosophy behind this Supreme Court ruling is Jeffrey Rosen. He is a law professor at Georgetown University and writes for The New York Times Magazine.

For a more detailed look at the New Haven firehouse watch the video below.

Comment

Live from Iraq: Reaction to the U.S. Troop Pullout

Iraqi forces have assumed formal control of security in Baghdad and other cities after U.S. combat troops withdrew from urban areas, six years after the invasion. Iraqi TV broadcast a countdown-clock as the midnight deadline approached and the country is celebrating National Sovereignty Day. Joining The Takeaway, live from Iraq, are Taghreed, who lives in Erbil, Iraq and Ahmed Ali, who lives in Baghdad.

"I cannot understand if the Americans and Iraqi government think that this is the right time for the leaving of the U.S. because they came in 2003 with no plan and they still don't have a plan yet."
— Taghreed, 35-year-old woman who works in construction project management, had to leave Baghdad because of security threats.

Comment

Obama's Drug Czar on Fighting Illegal and Legal Drugs

President Obama's drug czar Gil Kerlikowski is dealing with a rise in the abuse of prescription drugs, ongoing violence along our border with Mexico and the legacy of the war on drugs. Kerlikowski, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, talks to The Takeaway about fighting drug cartels and the need for public education about the dangers of prescription painkillers.

"Electronic prescription process...cuts down on the potential abuse of a doctor over-prescribing. But it also looks at the patients who are going to multiple doctors which can be incredibly dangerous."
— Gil Kerlikowski of the Office of National Drug Control Policy on electronic prescriptions

Comments [3]

The Secret (Love) Life of Fireflies

Summer brings warm evenings dotted by the light of fireflies. The apparently serene scene is full of murder, deception, and secret trysts as the fireflies communicate with each other and try to mate. Joining The Takeaway with more on the passionate life of the firefly is science writer Carl Zimmer. You can read Zimmer's New York Times article on fireflies in today's Science Times, "Blink Twice if You Like Me".

Comment

Foreign Oil Companies Racing Back to Iraq

It’s been almost 40 years since Saddam Hussein told foreign oil companies to leave Iraq. Today, as U.S. troops pull out of Iraqi cities, international oil companies are going back in to bid for contracts to develop oil and gas fields. Carola Hoyos, the chief energy correspondent for the Financial Times, joins The Takeaway to about the amount of money involved and who will get their hands on it.

Comment

Rhode Island Considers a Name Change

The state of Rhode Island is having an identity crisis. 573 years after Rhode Island was founded, the state is considering changing its name from “The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” to simply “The State of Rhode Island.” The Takeaway talks to Rhode Island personality Buddy Cianci. He’s a radio host with WPRO and the former Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island.

Comment

Show Us the Money: Getting Payback for Madoff Victims

Bernie Madoff was sentenced yesterday to the maximum term of 150 years, but what happens to any remaining wealth, and what can his victims do to get some of their money back? Diana Henriques, a senior financial writer for The New York Times has been following this story and joins The Takeaway.

Comments [1]

Iraq's U.N. Ambassador on the U.S. Troop Withdrawal

Iraqi forces have taken formal control of Baghdad and other cities, following the withdrawal of American troops from urban areas. Iraqis have been celebrating the handover, some gathering in parks to party into the night. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has designated today as National Sovereignty Day. Joining The Takeaway now to discuss this milestone is the Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations, Hamid al-Bayati.

"Everyone also is anticipating or being extremely careful of what is going to happen next. How are the terrorist, how are the extremist groups going to react to the withdraw of American forces?"
— Nazar Janabi, formerly of the Iraqi Minister of Defense, on the U.S. troop pullout in Iraq.

Click through for a transcript of the interview with Hamid al-Bayati.

Comment