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

Amnesty, troop withdrawal, and the November elections.

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

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Today's New York Times reports that Sunni insurgent groups have approached the Iraqi government about its offer of amnesty.

But it's not clear how the amnesty terms will play out in the U.S. where Iraq is becoming the major issue in this year's elections.

On To the Point, we'll ask if a stable Iraq will require Americans to hold their

noses as rebels who killed U.S. soldiers get a free pass.

Meantime, as the U.S. commander was talking troop withdrawal at the White House, Republicans

were denouncing Democrats for wanting to cut and run. What's the difference? Can Republicans

turn their biggest liability into an asset?

On reporter's notebook later on, security leaks and political strategy. 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 Al-Nal. I'll be back with To the Poit. Sunni insurgent groups may be warming up to the offer of amnesty as American politicians debate the distinction between troop withdrawal and cutting and running. On To the Poit, just what are the terms of amnesty? Can Republicans make a political asset out of their biggest liability?

Under Porter's notebook, leaks of anti-terrorist programs and attacks on newspapers for printing

them. First, this news update, Israeli troops and tanks are massed on the borders of Gaza,

demanding release of a kidnapped Israeli soldier.

Meantime, rival Hamas and Fatah factions apparently have agreed on a plan that implicitly recognizes Israel's right to exist.

Dan Efron is in Jerusalem right now for Newsweek magazine. Dan, how likely is an Israeli invasion well I

think some kind of Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip seems quite likely the

this Israeli soldier has been held by the Palestinian groups for a couple of

days now and there has been no movement on on negotiation both because the

Palestinians are saying that

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