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

To drill, or not to drill?

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.

From President Bush on down, Republicans are advocating an end to the moratorium on offshore oil drilling.

High gasoline prices are increasing public support, even though there would be no direct impact for decades. On to the point, we'll hear from members of Congress on both sides of what's shaping up as a major election year issue.

With the declared intention to expand domestic supplies,

send the right message to oil producers and speculators around the world.

Should oil companies drill first on land they've already leased?

What about seizing the moment to get off oil and deal with global warming?

On reporter's notebook later on, Barack Obama visits Iraq.

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, Warren Alney, back with To the Point. John McCain and other

Republicans say it's time to start drilling for oil off the shores of America. Barack Obama

leads those Democrats who say not so fast. On To the Point, how soon would gasoline prices be affected?

Would just the intent to drill send the right message to the rest of the world? What about dealing with climate change?

On reporter's notebook, Senator Obama, Iraq's Prime Minister Maliki, and a timetable for troop withdrawal.

First is news update. America's first war crimes trial since World War II got underway today in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The defendant Salim Ahmed Hamden will provide a test case for military tribunals criticized by opponents as legal shams designed to secure convictions. Jerry Marcon is covering the proceedings for the Washington Post, and Jerry,

thanks very much for being with us today. Thank you for having me. Who is Mr. Hamdan, and what is he

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