Evaluating Iraq

The American death toll in Iraq has passed 1,000 and the wounded number more than 7,000. The achievement of this grim benchmark raises questions of what the U.S. has gained form this sacrifice.

The Pentagon has conceded this week that pivotal cities in Iraq are being run by elements hostile to the U.S. It is now questionable whether some of those cities will be included in any electoral process.

The Bush administration maintains that despite the loss of life and lack of evidence of any concrete progress, the course the U.S. is on leads to a better Iraq and a more stable Middle East.

On Point examines what America has accomplished in Iraq for the cost of over 1,000 U.S. lives.

Guests:

Anne Bernard, correspondent for the Boston Globe

Frederick Barton, co-director of the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Project at the Center for Strategic & International Studies

John Mearsheimer, professor of Political Science and the co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago

Max Boot, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, author of the upcoming book, "War Made New: Four Great Revolutions That Changed the Face of Battle"

Juan Cole, professor of Modern Middle East and South Asian History, University of Michigan.