With two weeks to go until Iraq’s January 30th elections, the situation on the ground is grim. Today, gunmen kidnapped a Catholic archbishop and killed at least 22 people in a series of brazen attacks. General George Casey, the top U.S. general in Iraq, is predicting more violence on election day.

Despite all the violence, Iraqi officials remain confident turnout will be high. Expatriate Iraqis in 14 countries have begun registering for the upcoming vote.

Hear from reporters in Baghdad and from The New Yorker’s Jon Lee Anderson, who recently sat down with interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Also, hear a conversation with Democratic Congressman Martin Meehan about his proposal to phase out U.S. troops.

Guests:

Edward Wong, Baghdad correspondent for The New York Times

Anne Barnard, Baghdad correspondent for The Boston Globe

Jon Lee Anderson, correspondent for The New Yorker magazine, his profile of Iyad Allawi entitled “A Man of the Shadows” appears in this week’s issue

Congressman Martin Meehan, (D) Massachusetts.