Federal Rail Safety Standards And Metro + Afghanistan: Lessons Learned (And Unlearned)

Summary: <p>FEDERAL RAIL SAFETY STANDARDS AND METRO: Earlier this month, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill requiring federal safety standards for rail transit systems. It was introduced after a crash on Washington's rail system killed nine people three years ago. We chat with Sen. Barbara Mikulksi, D-Md., the author of the measure, about how the standards are likely to affect Washington's system and those like it around the country. (09 min.) AFGHANISTAN: LESSONS LEARNED (AND UNLEARNED): As a candidate for president in 2008, Barack Obama often accused the Bush administration of ignoring and mismanaging the conflict in Afghanistan. But when President Obama authorized a military and civilian surge in Afghanistan in 2009, the effort was quickly bogged down by bureaucratic infighting, questionable strategic decisions and lessons unlearned from history. Author Rajiv Chandrasekaran joins Kojo to explore the war within the war for Afghanistan. (43 min.)</p>