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

Remember 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.

Pakistan, Afghanistan, the economy,

and swine flu are dominating the news today, but Iraq presents challenges that aren't going away.

Recent violence proves that sectarian tensions remain, and the Shiite-led government is making

life hard for Sunnis who've helped maintain order. As U.S. troops begin to withdraw, the worst-case

scenario is civil war. If Iraqi forces can't maintain order, will the withdrawal schedule

have to be revised? Would escalating violence bring in Iran, Turkey, and other regional powers?

On reporter's notebook later on, an update on swine flu. 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. Iman Al-Ni, back with To the Point.

As the U.S. begins the process of troop withdrawal, Iraq is beset by outbreaks of deadly violence.

Is it the last throes of insurgents and terrorists or evidence that stability will require outside assistance?

On reporter's notebook, with cases of swine flu reported on several continents, we'll talk with a noted authority on epidemic disease.

First, this news update, Pennsylvania's U.S. Senator Arlen Specter was elected as a Reagan Republican in 1980.

Today, he said the party has moved so far to the right that Republicans in his state are becoming Democrats, so he is too.

John Mccurio is executive editor of the hotline, National Journal's Daily Briefing on politics.

John, good to have you with us.

Good to be here.

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