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To the Point

Can Congress Stop the Iraq Troop Surge?

To the Point

KCRW

News

4.4583 Ratings

🗓️ 31 January 2007

⏱️ 51 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When it comes to the Iraq war, President Bush says he is the only "decider." But even Republicans disagree.  Can the Congress tell the President what to do?  Can either party agree on what that should be?  Plus, a recent audit shows there's little to show for the billions spent on Iraq reconstruction.  On Reporter's Notebook, arrest warrants have been issued for US agents accused by Germany of "extraordinary rendition." 

Transcript

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0:00.0

From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

0:07.6

Who really is The Decider?

0:13.9

Hello again, I'm Roman Allene, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

0:17.7

a daily look at the issues. Americans care about most.

0:20.4

The dispute over sending

0:21.4

more troops to Iraq is becoming an argument over the constitutional separation of powers during

0:26.7

wartime. Even Republicans dispute the president's claim that he is the sole decider. They insist that

0:33.4

Congress has power over more than just money. On to the point, can Congress tell the President

0:38.8

what to do in Iraq, presuming it wants to. Members of both parties are threading their way

0:43.9

between opposition to an unpopular war and support for American troops in the field. We'll hear

0:49.6

about the constitutional issues and a political battle that's setting the stage for the 2008 elections.

0:55.9

First, here's the news.

0:57.5

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

1:04.9

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

1:10.0

Hello again, Marlon. I'll be back with To the Point. When it comes to the Iraq War, President Bush says he is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Hello again, Marlon. I'll

1:10.9

be back with To the Point. When it comes to the Iraq war, President Bush says he is the only

1:14.8

decider, but even Republicans disagree. On to the point, can the Congress tell the president

1:20.3

what to do? Can either party agree on what that should be? First, this news update, President

1:25.5

Bush is pressing Congress for $1.2 billion more dollars for Iraq reconstruction.

1:30.7

At the same time, the latest audit of money already spent reveals an Olympic-sized swimming pool for a $73 million police academy that has never been used.

1:40.3

David Wood is national security correspondent for the Baltimore Sun.

1:43.6

David, thanks a lot for joining us.

...

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