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

Science, Politics, and the Food and Drug Administration.

Hello again, I'm on Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans count about most.

The morning after pill will be sold over the counter, but controversy over the FDA will go on for a long time to come. Religious conservatives claim the pill invites promiscuity and sexually

transmitted disease. Women's rights advocates don't like the age limit of 18. On To the Point,

we'll hear those arguments and look at

the broader debate about the FDA's ability to protect public health and welfare. Are its

decisions based on science or religion and ideology? Is it a captive of the wealthy and powerful

interest it's supposed to monitor and control? On reporter's notebook later on Israel and cluster bombs in southern Lebanon. First,

here's the news. Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public

Radio International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John

D. and Catherine T. MacArthur

Foundation. Hello again, Mormon-Aulney, back with To the Point. Three years of controversy over the

morning after pill have damaged the credibility of the Food and Drug Administration. On To the

Point are crucial decisions based on science or politics and religion, have wealthy drug companies

and other special interests compromise the protection of public health and welfare.

On reporter's notebook, did Israel's use of cluster bombs in Lebanon violate secret agreements

with the United States?

The State Department says it's investigating.

We'll find out more.

First, this news update.

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