Does Gen. Stanley McChrystal's Rolling Stone profile undermine the chain of command? Prescription drug abuse on the rise. Then, a history of American hubris. Will Obama's moratorium on deepwater drilling stand? Later, a new power triangle in the Middle East should include the U.S. and... Iran?
General McChrystal gets called to the (Oval) office
The White House has summoned the top commander in Afghanistan to Washington over derogatory comments he made about senior members of the Obama administration. In an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Gen. Stanley McChrystal spoke dismissively about senior officials including Vice President Biden and Richard Holbrooke, the special envoy to the region. McChrystal has apologized for his remarks, saying the article was "a mistake reflecting poor judgment." What's next for Gen. McChrystal, and how will it affect President Obama's war strategy?
Michael Hastings' full profile of General Stanley McChrystal (via rolilngstone.com).
Guests:
Doyle McManus, Washington Columnist, covering national and international politics for the Los Angeles Times
Will Dana, managing editor for Rolling Stone magazine
Who’s minding the medicine cabinet? Prescription drug abuse on the rise
It’s no surprise to anyone when drug addicts end up in the emergency room. But a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that an increasing percentage of overdoses are from prescription drugs, not illegal substances. ER visits resulting from misuse of prescription painkillers rose 111% between 2004 and 2008. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, abuse of prescription meds is the nation’s fastest-growing drug problem – and several recent celebrity deaths have underscored the point. What’s behind the increase in pill-popping? Physician neglect, patient scamming – or is it the easy availability of gourmet painkillers and do-it-yourself prescription pads through the internet? Who’s to blame when patients mix, match and over-medicate? And what can the government due to cure our prescription addiction?
Guests:
Peter Delany, Ph.D., Director of Office of Applied Studies at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), one of the authors of the report
Mark Kleiman, Professor of Public Policy at UCLA and the editor of the Journal of Drug Policy Analysis
Joseph Haraszti, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the USC Keck School of Medicine
American Hubris: The Icarus Syndrome
In The Icarus Syndrome, Peter Beinart examines three examples from the past century where America overestimated its power- World War I, Vietnam, and Iraq. In each case, a new generation came about during eras of success with no memory of the nation's past mistakes. Every time the country suffered the same fate as Icarus, the mythological Greek figure who perished by flying too close to the sun. But in each instance, says Beinart, America gained new wisdom and learned to reconcile its ambitions with the realities of the world. He joins David Lazarus to discuss the history of American hubris and how an understanding of its risks can shape foreign policy.
Guest:
Peter Beinart, author of The Icarus Syndrome: The History of American Hubris (Harper). He is an associate professor of journalism and political science at the City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. Beinart is a former fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.
[UPDATED] Will Obama’s deepwater drilling moratorium buoy—or sink—Louisiana?
A federal judge will decide tomorrow whether President Obama’s six month moratorium on new deepwater wells can continue. To the surprise of many watching footage of gushing oil and empty shrimping vessels, Gulf coast residents are some of the most vocal critics of the temporary drilling ban, since oil and natural gas industries play a major role in the local economy. Should the moratorium continue until additional safety checks are completed on existing wells? Or does the Louisiana economy need all the help it can get?
UPDATE: US District Court Judge Martin Feldman has overturned the moratorium on drilling new deepwater wells.
[Updated 11 a.m. PT] A federal judge has overturned the Obama administration's ban on deep-water oil drilling
Guests:
Jim Tankersley covers energy and environmental policy for the LA Times and the Chicago Tribune from Washington
Kenneth Green, Resident Scholar at American Enterprise Institute
David Pettit, Senior Attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council
Iran, Turkey and America’s Future in the Middle East
Will the United States ever realize its dream of a peaceful, democratic Middle East? Not without a paradigm shift in U.S. foreign policy in the region, according to Middle East expert Stephen Kinzer. Kinzer sees America’s diplomatic focus on Saudi Arabia and Israel as outdated and ineffective. Instead, he proposes a “power triangle” between the United States, Iran and Turkey based on our shared democratic values. Guest host David Lazarus talks with Kinzer about his unique blueprint for securing American interests in the troubled region.
Guest:
Stephen Kinzer, author of Reset: Iran, Turkey and America’s Future (Times Books). He has served as The New York Times's bureau chief in Turkey, Germany, and Nicaragua, and as The Boston Globe's Latin America correspondent. Kinzer teaches international relations at Boston University