In another blow to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, mistaken intelligence led to the tragic killing of nine children over the weekend. Today the U.S. is launching Operation Avalanche, the largest ground force operation in Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban. Afghans are preparing for another round of the constitutional assembly known as the Loya Jirga, which will review and possibly ratify the completed draft of the new constitution. An ongoing source of contention is whether the new constitution will be temporary or permanent. Increasing attacks on non-military targets such as aid workers have slowed reconstruction efforts.

Guests:

Lyse Doucet, news correspondent & presenter for the BBC

Ambassador William B. Taylor, Afghan coordinator for the U.S. State Department

Thomas E. Gouttierre, director, Center for Afghanistan Studies at the University of Nebraska, Omaha

Barry Posen, professor of Political Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology