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

Can the U.S. ever withdraw from Iraq?

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

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most. Two years after President Obama took the U.S. out of combat in Iraq, he has authorized

airstrikes against the so-called Islamic State. The Kurds have retaken some small towns,

but the threat of genocide against religious minorities still remains. The president says

further military assistance will be conditioned on a stable Iraqi government,

but in Baghdad there's political chaos.

How deeply should the U.S. become re-engaged?

Can Iraq remain a unified country?

Today's talking point are black male teenagers' collateral damage in America's need to feel safe.

First, here's the news.

Listen to KCRW's 24-hour all-news channel.

Stream BBC World Service, NPR and KCRW programs.

Continuous coverage and accessible via our smartphone app or online at kCRW.

Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

Hello again, Warren Alney back with To The Point. The latest killing of an unarmed black teenager sparked rioting last night in St. Louis.

We'll address that later on today's talking point.

Our main topic, America's re-engagement in Iraq, as the Islamic State threatens the stability of that country.

The new president of Iraq has nominated Haider al-Abadi as the next prime minister,

but he's a rival of the incumbent

Nuri al-Maliki, and that has produced political chaos in Baghdad. Tim Arango is chief correspondent

...