The Rundown - January 29

News & views on RFE/RL's broadcast region

Afghanistan/Pakistan
#
Ahmed Rashid on talking to the Taliban
# Hillary clinton supports a $500 million program aimed at would-be insurgents
# Christian Neef thinks Western forces must talk to "radicals" in order to achieve peace
# Peter Tatchell on unrest in Baluchistan
# Phillip Stevens on the West's commitment to Afghanistan
# A $45 million USAID program to Pakistan has not met objectives

Iran
#
"The New York Times" reports that the Iranian opposition seems willing to compromise
# Reza Aslan reports on Iranian movies at the Sundance Film Festival
# The U.S. Senate approves a new sanctions regime on Iran

Russia
#
Mikhail Khordokovsky writes about Russia's legal system

Of Interest
# Hillary Clinton says she may retire from politics altogether
# The Council of Europe issues a strong statement on media freedom
# "The Economist" on reporting in iraq
# Hans Blix discusses the run-up to the Iraq war
# Al Kamen's "In the Loop"