Sunday, March 30, 2003

War News Roundup
The Defense Department answered questions about reported divisions between its civilian and military leaders over the Iraq battleplan. Tom Bearden reports on the Central Command daily briefing in Doha, Qatar, where General Tommy Franks, commander of the U.S. military campaign, addressed the issue.

Terence Smith reports on other news during the 11th day of the Iraq war.

War Plans
Margaret Warner discusses the civilian and military roles in war planning with retired Army General George Joulwan, who was Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces from 1993 to 1997; Richard Kohn, professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and retired Air Force Colonel Samuel Gardiner, who teaches and writes about military planning.

Inside Baghdad
Jim Lehrer receives an update from The New York Times' John Burns, who reports from Baghdad.

Public Opinion
Terence Smith dicusses public opinion on the Iraq war with Andrew Kohut of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press. They are joined by three ombudsmen: Michael Getler of The Washington Post, Lou Gelfand of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Sanders LaMont of The Sacramento Bee.

Saturday, March 29, 2003

War News Roundup
A suicide bombing killed four American soldiers at a checkpoint near the central Iraqi city of Najaf on Saturday. Ray Suarez reports on that story and other action in Iraq.

Inside Baghdad
Ray Suarez speaks with John Burns of The New York Times on the latest situation in Baghdad.

Iraqi Resistance
Coalition troops have met fierce resistance from Iraqi military and paramilitary forces as they push north toward Baghdad. Gwen Ifill discusses the roots of that resistance with Ahmed Al-Rahim of Harvard University and Rashid Khalidi, director of the Center for International Studies at the University of Chicago.

Urban Warfare
Betty Ann Bowser reports on how the U.S. Army is preparing its soldiers to fight inside cities.

Combat Medicine
Susan Dentzer explores new techniques being used to train front-line medics and others assigned to care for wounded soldiers.

Game Plans
Jim Lehrer discusses the Iraqi resistance and rumors of a U.S.-ordered lull in the advance toward Baghdad with retired Colonel W. Patrick Lang, who was a Middle East analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Gulf War; and retired Colonel John Warden, who was the Air Force's deputy director for strategy, doctrine and war fighting during the war in the Gulf.

Friday, March 28, 2003

War News Roundup
Army Lieutenant General William Wallace said that continuing resistance by Iraqi militia fighters could lengthen the war. Terence Smith provides an update on the action in Iraq.

Inside Baghdad
Margaret Warner speaks with John Burns of The New York Times on the latest situation in Baghdad.

Game Plans
Ray Suarez gets some perspective on the military situation from retired Colonel W. Patrick Lang, who was a Middle East analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Gulf War; retired Air Force Colonel Samuel Gardiner, who has written about the future of warfare; and retired Navy Captain Harlan Ullman, who has taught military strategy at the National War College.

Aid Crisis
Today the United Nations unanimously approved an aid program for Iraq. Margaret Warner discusses the package with New York Times correspondent Marc Santora from Kuwait City.

Brooks & Oliphant
Jim Lehrer speaks with David Brooks of The Weekly Standard and Tom Oliphant of The Boston Globe about the week's political developments. Mark Shields is off tonight.

Thursday, March 27, 2003

War News Roundup
President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair met today at Camp David and later held a joint news conference on the Iraq war. Terence Smith follows with an update on week two of the conflict.

Inside Baghdad
Margaret Warner receives a war update from John Burns of The New York Times, who reports from Baghdad.

War Plans
After two days of intense sandstorms, U.S. and British forces continued to move toward Baghdad today. Jim Lehrer discusses the military offensive with retired Colonel W. Patrick Lang, who was a Middle East analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Gulf War; retired Air Force Colonel Samuel Gardiner, who has written about the future of warfare; and retired Marine Corps Colonel Gary Anderson, an urban combat operations specialist.

On the Homefront
Lee Hochberg of Oregon Public Television reports on how the schools in Sacramento, California, are coping with lessons about the Iraq war.

In Memoriam
Jim Lehrer shares memories of Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who died yesterday.

Wednesday, March 26, 2003

War News Roundup
U.S. and British forces met heavy resistance today at a battle for a bridge over the Euphrates River near Najaf. Terence Smith reports with the latest on the day's action in Iraq followed by a recap of the day's other news by Jim Lehrer.

Ray Suarez talks with John Burns of The New York Times for the view from inside Baghdad.

War Plans
The U.S. Central Command said today that the Iraq war is still on schedule. Tom Bearden reports from CENTCOM headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

Then, Margaret Warner follows up with Michael Gordon, chief military correspondent for The New York Times.

Gwen Ifill discusses the offensive with retired Colonel W. Patrick Lang, a Middle East analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Gulf War; retired Air Force Colonel Samuel Gardiner, who has written about the future of warfare; and retired Marine Corps Colonel Gary Anderson, an urban combat operations specialist.

Crime and Punishment
The Air Force Academy announced changes today to its command structure, following a month of investigations into rape allegations. Betty Ann Bowser reports from Colorado Springs.

Tuesday, March 25, 2003

War News Roundup
A sandstorm stopped the allied advance today 50 miles outside of Baghdad. Terence Smith provides an update on the latest news on the action in Iraq.

Gwen Ifill speaks with John Burns of The New York Times about the mood inside Baghdad.

Newsmaker: Richard Armitage
The Bush administration recently charged Russian companies with providing high-tech war gear to Iraq. Jim Lehrer discusses the difficulties of wartime diplomacy and the need for humanitarian aid with Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.

Battle Report
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Joint Chiefs Chairman General Richard Myers reported today on the status of the war.

Ray Suarez discusses the day's progression with retired Colonel W. Patrick Lang, who was a Middle East analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Gulf War, and Marine Corps Colonel Gary Anderson, who has focused extensively on urban combat operations.

President Bush's War Budget
President Bush asked Congress for nearly $75 billion in funding for the war with Iraq. Kwame Holman reports on the cost of the war.

Margaret Warner follows up with some perspective from Norm Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

Monday, March 24, 2003

War News Roundup
Elements of the U.S. Army moved within 50 miles of Baghdad today, the fifth day of the Iraq war. Terence Smith provides the latest news on the action in Iraq.

New York Times reporter John Burns reports from Baghdad.

Battlefield Report
Tom Bearden reports from U.S. Central Command in Doha, Qatar, where U.S. commander General Tommy Franks gave a press briefing on Monday.

The New York Times' Dexter Filkins reports from the front lines on day five of the Iraq war, where he is embedded with coalition troops.

Military Moves
Gwen Ifill gets perspective on the military developments during the fifth day of the Iraq war from retired Colonel John Warden, who was the Air Force's deputy director for strategy, doctrine and war fighting during the Persian Gulf War; retired Colonel W. Patrick Lang, who was a Middle East analyst for the Defense Intelligence Agency during the Gulf War; retired Air Force Colonel Samuel Gardiner, who has written about the future of warfare; and Aziz Al-Taee, chairman of the Iraqi-American Council, a nongovernmental organization that promotes democracy for Iraq.

Protecting POWs
American and Iraqi forces have taken prisoners during this first week of war. Margaret Warner discusses prisoners' rights with Amanda Williamson, a spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross; and Eugene Fidell, president of the National Institute of Military Justice and a former lawyer in the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Homefront
Lee Hochberg reports from Sacramento, California, where citizens turned to prayer yesterday to express their feelings about war and peace.

Sunday, March 23, 2003

Toughest Day
Tom Bearden reports from U.S. Central Command in Doha, Qatar, on what has become the bloodiest day thus far, day five of the war in Iraq.

Marching Forward
On the fifth day of the war in Iraq, Jim Lehrer hears an assessment of the military campaign from retired Air Force Colonel Samuel Gardiner, an expert on the future of warfare; retired Colonel W. Patrick Lang, a former Special Forces officer; and retired Marine Corps Colonel Gary Anderson, who served in Somalia and has focused on urban combat operations.

Inside Baghdad
New York Times reporter John Burns provides an update on day five of the war in Iraq from Baghdad.

The Home Front
Betty Ann Bowser reports from a town hall meeting in Colorado, which took place as massive war protests unfolded across the U.S., and polls showed growing support for the war.

Senate Views
Margaret Warner discusses the war in Iraq with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a member of the Select Intelligence Committee, and Senator George Voinovich (R-Ohio), who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee.