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

How much longer for U.S. troops in Iraq?

Hello again, I'm Armin Al-Ni, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International, a daily look at the issues.

Americans care about most.

Barack Obama wants to withdraw American forces within 16 months after taking office. John McCain says that

would be trading victory for defeat. Now, U.S. senators of both parties claim the Bush administration

is negotiating agreements with Iraqi officials that could tie the next president's hands. On to the point is the U.S. trying to establish permanent bases without the consent of Congress.

What would that mean for Iraqi sovereignty, Iran, and U.S. allies like Egypt and Saudi Arabia?

How would it influence the presidential campaign?

On reporter's notebook later on, NASA has unexpected trouble on Mars.

First, here's the news.

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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,

Warren Alney, back with To the Point. The Bush administration promises no secret deal to keep U.S.

troops in Iraq, but senators of both parties say confidential agreements could tie the next president's hands. On To the Point, is the U.S. trying to establish permanent bases? We'll hear

what's being said in Iraq,

elsewhere in the Middle East, on Capitol Hill, and on the campaign trail.

On reporter's notebook, after a successful landing on Mars, NASA finds soil sampling more difficult than expected. First, this news update. With gasoline, more than $4 a gallon,

Senate Democrats today tried to tax the windfall profits

...