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

The War in Iraq, strategy and politics.

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

a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

President Bush wants to reassure Americans about his strategy in Iraq and stem Republican defections.

He's beginning to talk about a drawdown of troops next year made possible by the surge,

which he says is just beginning to work.

John McCain, just back from Iraq, says that progress is being made,

even as his own presidential campaign is faltering. On to the point, we'll hear what's happening in Iraq, on the

battlefield, and in the halls of government. We'll also hear the debate in Washington, let the surge

continue, or set a timetable for pulling out. On reporter's notebook later on,

as the passion gone out of baseball's all-star game.

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. MacArthur Foundation.

Hello again, Mormon-Aul, back with To the Point. President Bush says the surge in Iraq is just beginning,

but he's already talking about a possible troop withdrawal next year. On To the Point,

we'll hear about progress on the battlefield and politics in Baghdad and Washington.

On reporter's notebook, baseball's all-star game is tonight in San Francisco, does the rivalry

between the American National Leagues still aroused the passion it used to.

First this news update, after an eight-day anti-government standoff, Pakistani troops today

...