The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer

MARGARET WARNER: For more on all this, we turn to Steve Coll, president of the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan think-tank. He writes for the New Yorker magazine, as well, and has reported extensively from South Asia...

...So, Steve, it was always said that Pervez Musharraf was an army commander at heart. Whatever situation he was in, he'd fight his way out. He didn't try this time. Why?

STEVE COLL, New Yorker Magazine: Well, I think he finally realized that he had reached the end of the road. In his… more

IDAs are a tool that can be used to help low-income people move into the financial mainstream, said Ray Boshara, vice president for domestic policy programs for the New America Foundation, a non-partisan public policy institute.

"When families have savings and assets, it not only prevents them from falling into financial ruin ... when you own things you are invested in your community in a way you normally would not be," Boshara said. LINK

DANIEL LEVY, New America Foundation: "Well, I think the visuals were obviously very difficult for Israelis today. But I think in the words of the president and the brother of one of the soldiers returned today, that it was also Israel's moral obligation.

So I think it's too simplistic just to see this as weakness and bad for Israel. People have to understand it's a small country. We have a draft. Everyone serves.

And for Israelis, the knowledge that the country will do whatever it can to return soldiers… more

. . .First of all, how would you describe the current policy of the Bush administration toward Iran? And given this new report, everything else you know, Flynt Leverett, is this policy working?

FLYNT LEVERETT, The New America Foundation: I would describe current U.S. policy toward Iran as consisting of three elements: one, diplomatic isolation of Iran; second, economic pressure on Iran, through both unilateral and multilateral sanctions; and, third, the encouragement of political forces inside and outside Iran who want to undermine the current political order, the Islamic… more

NewsHour | New Book Examines the Bin Laden Family

MARGARET WARNER, NewsHour: Osama bin Laden is known worldwide as founder of al-Qaida and mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. But much less is known of his sprawling Saudi family and their multiple ties to the United States.

Now, Steve Coll, author of the prize-winning "Ghost Wars," has pulled back the curtain on Osama and his billionaire clan. His new book is "The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century."

And,… more

Ruling Party Defeat in Pakistan May Intensify Pressure on Musharraf (NewsHour with Jim Lehrer)

Pakistan's parliamentary elections may have significantly backfied on President Musharraf, says New America President and CEO Steve Coll appearing on Jim Lehrer's The News Hour.

The ousted chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court sought to rally lawyers Tuesday to continue street protests against President Pervez Musharraf's imposition of emergency rule. Regional experts discuss the pivotal role lawyers are playing in the protests and assess the latest developments in the crisis. ...

MARGARET WARNER: What's your view, Steve Coll, of the prominent role lawyers are taking in this?

STEVE COLL, Staff Writer, The New Yorker: I think they started out as an angry minority, enflamed by President Musharraf's… more

MARGARET WARNER: For more on the latest developments in Pakistan, we go to Griff Witte, Washington Post Pakistan bureau chief, and Steve Coll, New Yorker magazine journalist and author. He`s also president of the New America Foundation. ...

Now, Steve, I know you were both at this press conference today. And she pointed the finger pretty directly at some specific groups, did she not, Steve?

STEVE COLL: She named four overlapping networks, but didn`t really name groups, per se. But she was… more

Explosions went off near a convoy carrying former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Thursday as she returned to Pakistan after eight years of self-imposed exile. At least 108 people were reported killed in the blast. A reporter details the chaotic homecoming scene from Karachi.

MARGARET WARNER: And New Yorker magazine journalist and author Steve Coll also accompanied Mrs. Bhutto home, and he joins us by phone now from Karachi. ....

Steve, you just came from the scene. What's… more

Today, Musharraf, who's been the object of several assassination attempts, had another brush with fate. As his entourage flew to Kashmir, one of his escort helicopters crashed, killing four. But an army spokesman ruled out foul play, blaming the crash on technical problems.

And for more, we turn to Steve Coll, president of the New America Foundation, a nonpartisan think-thank in Washington. He's also a staff writer for the New Yorker magazine. He reported from South Asia for the Washington… more