Washington Week Show - # 4437
Washington Week Show - WW 4437 - "Show Open"
Hosted by Gwen Ifill, with guests Michael Duffy, Barbara Slavin, Martha Raddatz, Alan Murray. Composite footage (unclean) with Washington Week title and text: President George W. Bush says, "At last, clearly and suddenly, the thaw has begun."Massive public rally in Ukraine. Egyptian men seated in outdoor cafe, reading newspaper. Adult men and women voting in unidentified Middle East country. Massive political rally in Lebanon led by Hezbollah. President Bush and Kofi Annan shaking hands. United Nations General Council. U.S. nominee for UN Ambassador John Bolton. Condoleezza Rice says, "The President and I have asked John to do this work because he knows how to get things done." American soldiers in Iraq. Italian hostage being taken off airplane. Funeral of Italian agent who aided in hostage release. Capitol Dome. Retail employee charges credit card, customers signing receipt; credit card being taken out of wallet.
Washington Week Show - WW 4437- "Middle East Democracy"
Show host Gwen Ifill opens program with news of democratic uprising and elections in the Middle East, specifically in Lebanon where the pro-Syrian Prime Minister resigned, and in Iraq where millions of Iraqis are voting. U.S. President George W. Bush says, "I believe that the actions taken by millions of Iraqi citizens in the face of incredible terrorist threats set a clear signal to people all around the world, that freedom is a beautiful thing." Lebanese Prime Minister. Political rally in Lebanon. Syrian soldiers riding in truck. In studio, Michael Duffy of Time Magazine is asked how the Bush administration is handling the turn of events. Duffy says the administration is taking the long view after seeing how quickly the political climate changed in Lebanon, but they are quick to point out silver linings in recent events. Barbara Slavin of USA Today quotes former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who said that Hezbollah is the "A-Team of Terrorism," yet the United States is celebrating the fact that they are holding a rally. Duffy recognizes that it is odd, but Hezbollah cannot be denied as an influential political organization not going away anytime soon, so you have to work with that. Same goes for other organizations in the Middle East that are traditionally anti-West and have been labeled as terrorist organizations in the past.
Washington Week Show - WW 4437- "Middle East Democracy"
Martha Raddatz of ABC News asks Michael Duffy for his analysis on the events taking place in Egypt. Duffy says Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stunned the country when he advocated for multi-party Presidential elections, suggesting that across the region these oligarchies are either buying time, trying to gauge the popularity of free and open elections, or consolidating their power before they are forced into doing something democratic. Alan Murray of the Wall Street Journal asks what the U.S. strategy is on the situation. Duffy uses former U.S. President George H.W. Bush’s fishing metaphor to explain that it is like catching a 10lb fish on a 5lb line. In that regard, the Middle East is more like a 25lb fish hooked on a 5lb line with, as show host Gwen Ifill adds, particular resistance toward the United States, but the goal is still the same. U.S. President George W. Bush is striking a high tone, but is doing his best to heed the demands of the Middle Eastern countries for the U.S. to stay out of their affairs. Ifill asks if the United Nations has a role to play. Duffy says the UN is going to send an envoy to Syria to tell President Bashir Assad to get out of Lebanon.
Washington Week Show - WW 4437- "John Bolton Nomination"
Show host Gwen Ifill introduces segment on the nomination of John Bolton as U.S. United Nations Ambassador. Controversial quotes regarding the UN by John Bolton appear on screen. John Bolton is introduced by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice; John Bolton steps to podium. In studio, Barbara Slavin of USA Today says it's an interesting choice, noting that Bolton is the first nominee to be called “human scum” by a foreign government, namely North Korea. Bolton is considered an anti-diplomat. Alan Murray of the Wall Street Journal asks if this is why President George W. Bush nominated him. Slavin says there are several theories behind this nomination, one being that Secretary Rice wanted to get him out of Washington, where his blunt nature was causing problems; another theory is that the administration does not want to nominate someone who knows the UN system and can reform the UN. Martha Raddatz of ABC News is curious how this plays with the international community where the Bush administration had been striking a diplomatic tone. Slavin says it sends a mixed message as the United States is reaching out to Iran on its nuclear program and European nations who are part of the Iranian negotiations.
Washington Week Show - WW 4437 - "John Bolton Nomination"
Michael Duffy of Time Magazine notices there has been a history of iconoclasts in the United Nations, and wonders what the reaction to the John Bolton nomination has been. Barbara Slavin of USA Today says conservatives like the nomination, liberals don't. She cites former ambassador to Saudi Arabia Chaz Freeman, who believes the nomination of Bolton as U.S. Ambassador to the UN akin to dropping a neutron bomb on the UN. She notes overall this has not been a good year for the UN, which has suffered through multiple scandals. Alan Murray of the Wall Street Journal asks if Bolton would be going it alone as a reformer or if there is already a constituency at the UN looking to reform. Slavin acknowledges there already exists a group looking to reform the UN, but it is unclear if someone as blunt as Bolton can build a coalition. Show host Gwen Ifill asks if there is a general understanding in Washington that Bolton would do less damage at the UN than within the State Department. Slavin agrees.
Washington Week Show - WW 4437 - "Diplomatic Tension"
Show host Gwen Ifill introduces segment on developments in Iraq where a freed Italian hostage was shot and the man who negotiated her release was killed, both unintended targets of the U.S. military. Freed Italian hostage being lowered from an airplane, funeral procession with police carrying casket draped in Italian flag amidst crowd of mourners and press. In studio, Martha Raddatz of ABC News says the United States is giving one account of events where the Italians were told to slow down as they approached the checkpoint and were given a warning shot, while the Italians say they were following the rules and told the Americans of their arrival, which the U.S. disputes and an investigation is underway. Raddatz gives personal experience driving down that road, known as the most dangerous road in Iraq, and of the tense nature of U.S. soldiers guarding it.
Washington Week Show - WW 4437 - "Violence in Iraq"
Barbara Slavin of USA Today asks Martha Raddatz about the casualties Iraqis have been suffering and if the insurgency is getting worse. Raddatz of ABC News says conditions are improving (decreased number of attacks) but it's difficult to gauge whether the insurgency is weakening, as General Casey states it is. One thing is certain: insurgents are targeting Iraqis more than U.S. soldiers. Alan Murray of the Wall Street Journal asks about the recruitment and training of Iraqi soldiers and whether the attacks and the elections have had an impact. Raddatz says it does not appear as though recruitment numbers are taking a hit. The likeliest reason is that unemployment is so high that many Iraqis want a job, any job. Murray wonders if this will affect the timetable for more U.S. soldiers to come home. Raddatz wonders the same thing, but the Pentagon does not give any direct answer. Host Gwen Ifill asks if there is an expectation of violence surrounding the 2nd anniversary of elections. Raddatz does not think there will be.
Washington Week Show - WW 4437 - "Bankruptcy Bill"
Show host Gwen Ifill segues to domestic news: U.S. President George W. Bush looks to score a win with the passage of a Senate bankruptcy bill. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) says, "We all know of the abuses of the system. Well, that is about to change for the better. This bill is about fairness and accountability." Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) says, "It is a bill written by the financial industry, by credit card companies, and big banks in an effort to make certain that people in debt never get out of debt." Ifill asks Alan Murray of the Wall Street Journal how citizens will feel the effects of this bill beyond what is being said on the Senate floor. Murray details the process and iterations this bill has gone through over the years and how its passage is the result of a large lobbying push from major credit card companies. As for the effect on citizens, if they make below the median income in their state, no real effect or changes will be felt. If they make more, the bill will make it harder for those citizens to declare Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Instead, those citizens will likely have to go into Chapter 13 bankruptcy where the courts force the debtor to come up with a plan to repay outstanding debts. It is a bill obviously favored by credit card companies and by the President who believes in personal responsibilities and paying off debt. Michael Duffy of Time Magazine asks what problem this bill is designed to fix. Murray says that while credit card companies are doing fine, there has been a jump in the number of bankruptcies, which the bill is supposed to fix .
Washington Week Show - WW 4437 - "Bankruptcy Bill"
Martha Raddatz of ABC News asks if there are loopholes for the wealthy, and if anyone else will benefit from the bill besides the credit card companies. Alan Murray of the Wall Street Journal says the bill does provide loopholes for the wealthy such as asset protection trusts, but it also trims back on one where a person’s house, if bought within 40 months of the bankruptcy, can now be seized by bankruptcy court. Previously, especially in Florida due to Homestead laws, a wealthy person’s house could not be seized as part of a bankruptcy. Barbara Slavin of USA Today asks if healthcare costs play a roll in this bill. Murray says healthcare costs contribute to half of bankruptcies, but it is unclear if bankruptcy courts are meant to hash this problem out. The bill does nothing to reign in predatory lending of some credit card companies. Gwen Ifill points out that the President got Democrats to break ranks and support this bill.
Washington Week Show - WW 4437 - "Show End"
Host Gwen Ifill thanks her guests, wraps up the show a little early to make way for an upcoming PBS fundraising special. Credits roll.