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

Iraq and the War on Terror, the Politics and the Reality.

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

a daily look at the issues, Americans care about most.

This year's elections are crucial to President Bush,

and he wants Republicans to campaign on the war in Iraq as part of the war on terror.

But the polls show most Americans don't see it that way.

Democrats hope that means national security will be their issue for the first time in decades.

On To the Point, we'll look at the political consequences of the president's determination to stay the course in Iraq.

We'll also look at the reality on the ground.

Will the current strategy accomplish the mission?

Is the war in Iraq making it harder to fight the war on terror?

On reporters' notebook later on is Tom Cruise, a falling star, in Hollywood. First up,

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. President Bush says the November election

should focus on Iraq as part of the war on terror. But polls show a majority of Americans don't

buy the connection. On To the Point, we'll look at the implications of staying the course on American

politics and the realities on the ground. On reporter's notebook the implications of staying the course on American politics and the

realities on the ground. On reporter's notebook, Tom Cruise, claims his last seven films have made

$100 million apiece, so why is his recent conduct unacceptable to paramount pictures? First,

...