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

New stumbling blocks for crisis diplomacy.

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

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

One day before his

meeting with President Bush, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, was hit by two challenges to his

leadership of Iraq. The first, a leaked memo from a top White House advisor saying Al-Maliki is either

unwilling or unable to control sectarian violence. The second, withdrawal from Al-Maliki's government by a key block of supporters led by Shiite

cleric, Mukta al-Sadr.

On to the point, how damaged is Al-Maliki's leadership of his own divided country?

Would more American troops make a difference?

On reporter's notebook later on, Honeybees, trained to detect explosives.

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, Mormon-A Alany, back with To the Point. President Bush is in Jordan for talks with Iraq's Prime Minister Al-Maliki, who's been jolted by new challenges to his leadership and his diplomatic credibility. On To the Point, does Al-Maliki have the power to control his own country? Would more American troops make a difference? On reporter's notebook,

we'll hear how honeybees are being trained to sniff out explosives. First, this news update in a

secret memo linked to the New York Times today, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, says

Prime Minister Al Maliki may lack the capacity or even the will to control sectarian violence.

The memo says Al-Maliki is either ignorant of the reality on the streets of Baghdad,

misrepresenting his own intentions, or unable to turn his intentions into effective action.

Peter Walston of the Los Angeles Times is with the president in Jordan, traveling at the moment on a bus in that country.

Peter Wilson, good to have you on our program.

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