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

On Veterans Day, military service and civilian patriotism.

Hello again, I'm R. and Al-Nolny, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International,

a daily look at the issues. Americans care about most. In the midst of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Americans are getting today

off in honor of those who've served in the military. But since the establishment of the

all-volunteer service, there's a disconnect so great that on Veterans Day many civilians don't even

know one. On to the point, we'll talk to veterans about why they fight and what it's like to come home.

Should the dead and the wounded be treated as victims or heroes who suffered the consequences of their own choices?

Is Veterans Day more than another day to go shopping?

On reporter's notebook later on, why is the U.S. holding up Iraqi executions? 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. McArthur Foundation. Hello again. Marvin Alney, back contributors include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine

T. MacArthur Foundation. Hello again, Marvin Alney, back with To the Point. The All-Volunteer

military has created a gulf between U.S. civilians and those who choose to serve. On To the

Point, we'll ask veterans of different ages what it was like to come home and how they want

to be treated. For most Americans, is this holiday mainly a chance to

go shopping. On reporter's notebook, Chemical Ali is among three former aides to Saddam Hussein

convicted of mass murder. Why is the U.S. delaying their executions? First is news update. Three

dead sold sailors and dozens of birds slicked with oil have washed ashore after a fierce storm in the Black Sea forced at least ten ships aground.

An oil tanker split in half and it has spilled more than 560,000 gallons of oil in the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov between Ukraine and Russia.

Dario Thorburn is in Port Kavkaz on the Russian side for Aux-France-Prince.

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