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

Political theater and the war in Iraq.

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

The daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

The Democrats'

all-night debate strategy failed to persuade enough Republicans to support a vote today on

withdrawing troops from Iraq. But it dramatized the discomfort of many Republicans, especially those

who are up for re-election next year. On to the point, we'll hear about the marathon session

and what's next for efforts

to force the president to change direction. We'll talk to authorities about troop withdrawal.

What would it look like? How long would it take? Does the surge still have a chance? Or is it only

postponing the inevitable? On reporter's notebook later on, a national football star and illegal dog fighting.

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.

Warman, I'll be back with To the Point. Senate Democrats have failed again to get a vote on forcing

the President to bring the troops home from Iraq. On To the Point, we'll hear about the

all-night debate and about the issue itself. What would withdrawal really look like?

We'll also hear a debate is the President's current strategy just postponing the inevitable.

On reporter's notebook, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is accused in a case of unusual brutality,

how widespread is illegal dogfighting.

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