To the Point

Financial Institutions on High Alert; Iraq's Struggle toward Democracy

Segment 1: East Coast Financial Institutions Go on High Alert Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge is responding today to a "credible threat" that al Qaeda operatives have conducted alarmingly detailed reconnaissance missions at the New York Stock Exchange and Citigroup in New York, Prudential Financial in New Jersey, and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in Washington. Many workers have stayed home, and visitors are being diverted away from the designated sites. Security is ramped up significantly and talks are under way over implications for the upcoming Republican Convention. Guest host Diana Nyad learns more from journalists who cover Washington and Wall Street, and a terrorism expert from the Rand Corporation. Segment 2: Iraq Struggles toward Democracy A month after the interim Iraqi government has taken over, there is fear that elections scheduled for early 2005 will be postponed due to insurgents' ongoing deadly attacks against Iraqis and Americans. Last week's Saudi proposal to reinforce security forces in Iraq is facing lukewarm reaction from Arab and Muslim countries that would comprise the coalition. This weekend, a conference of 1,000 representatives to select a 100-member national council was canceled at the last minute. Guest host Diana Nyad updates Iraq's continuing struggle for democracy with Middle East experts, a reporter in Baghdad, and an advisor to the Saudi ambassador in London.