Forums: Are you worried about a terrorist nuclear attack?

Read Peter Grier's report "Loose Nukes"

Read Washington Post report on "dirty bombs"

The old consensus was that terrorists would not be interested in nuclear or radiological weapons. After all, these weapons are hard to acquire, can be dangerous to handle, and their mass casualties would be inconsistent with the traditional goal of terrorists -- publicity, not deaths. But that way of thinking ended on September 11th.

Most believe Al Qaeda would use nuclear weapons against the United States if they had them. Now, U.S. officials are saying that Osama bin Laden and his network have made greater strides in using radiological and nuclear weapons than previously thought. This hour, an examination of the threat that so-called "dirty bombs" -- conventional explosives laced with radioactive material -- could present to the United States.

Guest:

US Marines at a Marine operating base in southern Afghanistan

Forums: Should the U.S. support Israel's attacks on Palestinians?

The U.S.: Winning the Battle But Losing the War? Listen

The campaign in Afghanistan seems to be going nearly flawlessly. But tonight's guest, journalist Genevieve Abdo, says we may be winning all the military battles, but we are losing the greater war on terrorism. She says our successful military action in Afghanistan, our threatening rhetoric towards Iraq, and our tacit approval of Israel's attacks on Palestinian-controlled territory are giving rise to an increased, anti-American sentiment in the Middle East.

Successful American interventions in other countries have in the past led to greater problems. American support of the Taliban was just the latest example. This hour, could our early victories in the war on terrorism create greater monsters in the future?

Guests: