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

In Iraq, a new direction or more of the same?

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

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

President Bush is shaking up his leadership team, creating new uncertainty in Washington and on the

battlegrounds of Iraq. The Baghdad surge is getting mixed reviews, and Iraq's political leaders are

still immobilized by sectarian differences. But despite increased calls to bring the troops home,

the Pentagon and the White House are talking about a commitment that could last for decades. On to the point, we'll hear about top-level changes and what they could mean on the ground is the U.S. arming both sides of a developing civil war. On Reporters' Notebook later on, why do so many people care about the Sopranos?

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.

Warren, I'll only back with To the Point.

As the troop surge in Baghdad gets mixed reviews, Iraq's political leaders are still

immobilized by sectarian differences.

On To the Point, will the President's new leadership team make a difference?

On reporter's notebook, for one of television's most successful series, a shattering anti-climax

will hear about the last of the Sopranos.

First, this news update in Gaza, at least eight Palestinians were killed today, 25 more wounded

...