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

George W. Bush and the future of NATO.

Hello again, I'm Warren Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International, the daily look at the issues. Americans care about most.

Most U.S. allies wanted to wait till the 60th anniversary next year, but President Bush insisted

on this week's NATO summit. He wants more NATO troops in Afghanistan, more member nations,

and approval of applications from Ukraine and Georgia. Russia's President Putin could not ignore

that challenge. On to the point, we'll ask how likely

it is, and look at the prospects for Afghanistan. Is the alliance itself becoming a two-tier

institution, with some members letting others do the heavy lifting? Has NATO outlived its

usefulness? On reporter's notebook later on, the Olympic torch faces alarm and protest next week when it comes to San Francisco.

First 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. McArthur Foundation.

Hello again, I'm in Alney back with To the Point. President Bush is in Bucharest, Romania for his last NATO summit. On To the Point, we'll hear about troops in Afghanistan, Russia's concerns about new member nations, and the future of the NATO alliance. On reporter's notebook, the Olympic torch will make one stop in North America. We'll hear

about plans for protest next week in San Francisco. First is news update. In his first public

appearance since the Bear Stearns bailout, federal reserve chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress today

a recession is possible. That was not in his prepared statement, but he did use the word in a response to a

question. He also urged a quick action on the housing crisis. Kevin Hall covers economics for

the McClatchy newspapers, and Kevin, always good to have you with us. Thanks for having me back.

I gather that the chair of the Federal Reserve was somewhat defensive when it came to the

Bear Stearns bailout. Fairly defensive. I think he characterizes it as an action designed to prevent systemic

failure, that it was more like a doctor's emergency intervention, if you will, and was quick

...