Elections in Iraq; Intelligence Reform Bill Blocked; Federal Indictments Against Former Southgate Treasurer Albert Robles; Is Iran Next?; NBA Incident During Friday's Pacer-Piston Game
Elections in Iraq
Twenty nations are meeting right now in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el Sheik to discuss the upcoming Iraqi general election, as well as the ongoing battle against the insurgency in Iraq. The general election in Iraq is scheduled for January 30th. The UN will monitor the election, which is expected to draw increasing violence and boycotts from various political groups. Basam Alhussaini, spokesman of the Iraqi-American Council and coordinator for the future of Iraq group in California, and Hal Kempfer, a military analyst for ABC 7 News and a Reserve Marine Lt. Colonel, join Larry to discuss how the election in Iraq might unfold.
Intelligence Reform Bill Blocked
Two Republican members of the House, Representatives Duncan Hunter and F. James Sensenbrenner Jr., blocked passage of the Intelligence Reform Bill on Saturday. It’s unclear whether or not the bill will come up again by years end. The bill would have created a single director to manage U.S. intelligence agencies. Patrick Morgan, Professor of Political Science and holder of the Tierney Chair if Peace and Conflict Studies at UC Irvine, joins Larry to discuss what it all means.
Federal Indictments Against Former Southgate Treasurer Albert Robles
A federal grand jury on Friday charged Albert Robles with thirty-nine counts of money laundering, bribery and more, allegedly costing the City of Southgate $12 million and leaving it in financial straits. Mr. Robles was recalled in 2003. Sam Quinones, reporter with the LA Times and author of True Tales from Another Mexico, Henry Gonzalez, Mayor of Southgate and mentor to Albert Robles, and Hector de la Torre, councilman for the City of Southgate, join Larry to discuss public reaction to the latest turn of events.
Is Iran Next?
Larry Mantle talks with James Fallows of the Atlantic Monthly about Iran and his cover story this month, “Will Iran Be Next?”
NBA Incident During Friday's Pacer-Piston Game
Larry Mantle talks with Jack McCallum, senior writer for Sports Illustrated, and Mike Bresnahan, Laker Beat writer for the LA Times, about the most violent incident in NBA history that ended with the Pacer’s Ron Artest being suspended for the rest of the season, and 2 other of his teammates being suspended until January.