Iraq Update; Economic Development in California; Science Talk
Iraq Update
President Bush declared the major military phase of the war in Iraq "over" some time ago, but a kind of guerrilla war has arisen in its place. No one knows exactly who is committing acts of sabotage that include blowing up sections of oil pipeline, ambushing American soldiers, and disrupting the power supply. On June 28th, the New York Times reported that Allied officials found Iraqi Intelligence Service documents which outline a specific plan of sabotage in the event of Saddam Hussein's ouster. Joining host Larry Mantle to discuss the military situation inside Iraq, as well as the state of daily life there, is Romesh Ratnesar, Time Staff Writer, who just returned this past Saturday from Baghdad, and Basam Al-Husseini, spokesman for Iraqi-American Council, Southern CA.
Economic Development in California
Policy analyst Joel Kotkin joins host Larry Mantle to discuss the current economic climate in California and how it became so difficult for business to operate here. Kotkin assigns responsibility for this state of affairs to both parties, but he largely blames the Democrats' hostility towards the private sector, foisting onerous rules and regulations upon it. Unless something changes at the state legislative level, Kotkin sees the formation of economic policy devolving to county and local authorities, whose job it will become to make this state business-friendly once again.
Science Talk
Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, the director of the Skeptics Society, and an adjunct professor at Occidental College, joins host Larry Mantle to discuss the latest science stories. Topics discussed include the ossuary box hoax surrounding James, "the brother of Jesus," new hominid fossil discoveries, research on the comparison between human and chimpanzee aggression, neuroeconomics, video games and the brain, the Einstein Papers, and more. In addition, Michael Shermer shared his summer science reading list (see top of page).