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

President Obama is sending 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan, but does he have a strategy for victory?

I'm Lawrence O'Donnell, sitting in for Warren Only, and this is To the Point from Public Radio

International, a daily look at the issues Americans care about most. President Obama wants to

dial down in Iraq and up the ante in Afghanistan. His plan to send 17,000 more troops to

Afghanistan is meeting increasing resistance from his liberal supporters at home and skepticism from some allies.

Today, on to the point, is there a better strategy? What alternatives has the president considered?

What is the military objective and what is the exit strategy? And does history prove that Afghanistan cannot be tamed?

On reporter's notebook later on, the rise of tense cities

as the recession deepens. 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.

I'm Lawrence O'Donnell, sitting in for Warren, only back with To the Point from PRI.

President Obama's plan to send more troops to Afghanistan is meeting opposition on his left

and skepticism from some allies.

What can the president reasonably hope to achieve in Afghanistan?

What alternative policy options could he consider? Coming up, we'll talk about all the elements

of the Obama strategy in Afghanistan. Is nation building still possible? Whose hearts and minds can

we win in Afghanistan? And does history show that foreign military power can never control Afghanistan.

On reporter's notebook, how some California's homeless became TV talk show celebrities.

First, this news update.

...