Libyan rebels claim control of most of the capitol city of Tripoli. DUI checkpoints. Congress pressuring President over oil pipeline. More cohabitation, less stability for kids?
Libyan rebels claim control of most of the capitol city of Tripoli
After six months of difficult fighting, rebel forces control of most of Tripoli but some have told news agencies that pro-Gadhafi forces still reign over 15 to 20 percent of the capital city of Tripoli. In a statement last night, President Obama said “Tripoli is slipping from the grasp of a tyrant. The people of Libya are showing that the universal pursuit of dignity and freedom is far stronger than the iron fist of a dictator.” Mortars and explosions could still be heard Monday morning and elite rebel brigades continue firefights with pro-Gadhafi forces. News reports quoting rebel officials say “tanks had emerged from Colonel Gadhafi’s compound and opened fire.” Rebel leaders also reported that they had arrested Colonel Gadhafi’s two sons. The situation in Tripoli is volatile and fluid and many questions regarding the post Qaddafi era remain. Who represents the anti-Qaddafi forces and what kind of interim government do they propose setting up? Where is Colonel Gadhafi and what will happen to him and his supporters after the rebel forces take power? What kind of relationship will the post-Gadhafi government have with the international community?
Guests:
Fouad Ajami, senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, former director of Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University; he is the author of The Arab Predicament, Beirut: City of Regrets, The Dream Palace of the Arabs, and The Foreigner's Gift
Salam Al-Marayati, President of Muslim Public Affairs Council
DUI checkpoints
Last Friday night the LAPD started ramping up DUI checkpoints in the southland in an effort to curb the drunken driving that can result from end-of-summer drinking binges. Cops will be arresting intoxicated drivers at over a dozen locations around the city through Labor Day. As one local paper noted, most of the checkpoints are in lower-income, immigrant-heavy neighborhoods. The more cynical might see this as an attempt to crack down on illegal immigrants, or at least to fill city coffers with additional revenue. But some believe cracking down on offenders of drunk driving is an essential and effective deterrent. Do alcohol checkpoints actually get drunk drivers off the road? Do they reduce drunk-driving deaths or cut down on accidents? Can’t people just go around the check points? If driving is a fact of life in Los Angeles, is drunk driving inevitable? Be honest…have you done it?
Guest:
Detective Bill Bustos, Officer in charge of LAPD Traffic Detectives
Congress pressuring President over oil pipeline
Last month, the House of Representatives passed a bill to force the Obama administration to approve or deny the Keystone XL pipeline project by November 1. The pipeline, developed by TransCanada Corp., would deliver Canadian crude oil through a 1,700 mile stretch – from northeastern Alberta through the American heartland to the Gulf coast in Texas. The source of the crude oil would be Canada's tar sands, also known as oil sands. The process of producing tar sands oil consumes more energy than extracting regular crude, and environmentalists say the process also causes more damage to the environment. Opponents also argue tar sands oil is more corrosive to pipelines and presents a great risk of leaks as it crosses through the wetlands of Kansas and ranch land in Texas. Proponents of the pipeline say concerns about leaks are over-stated. They argue the oil would ensure energy security for the United States as never before. The $7 billion dollar project could create 20,000 jobs when the country could use them desperately. The controversial proposal dates back to 2005 and has been under review by the State Department. In June, State issued a draft of its environmental assessment, but the federal Environmental Protection Agency quickly criticized it. The EPA said it failed to fully explore ways to reduce greenhouse gases and failed to fully consider spill risks. Which arguments are most compelling to you?
Guests:
Shawn Howard, Spokesman, TransCanada Corp.
Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, Director, International Programs, Natural Resources Defense Council
More cohabitation, less stability for kids?
The National Marriage Project released a report last Tuesday stating that children in the U.S. are now more likely to have unmarried parents than divorced ones. The National Marriage Project is the combined initiative of two partisan groups in support of marriage, the University of Virginia and the Institute for American Values. The report found that cohabiting parents are more than twice as likely to break up; the study’s sponsor argues that these findings prove that cohabitation puts children at risk by placing them in unstable circumstances. The results of this study seem to suggest correlations with class, education and income levels. Americans with only a high school diploma are far more likely to cohabit than are college graduates. Out-of-wedlock births among white women with only a high school diploma rose more than sixfold in recent decades, while the rate for white college graduates remained flat. What do you think of these survey results? Do you feel committed yet unmarried partners can successfully raise a family? Or should we promote marriage over cohabitating for the sake of children?