$3.2 trillion is the amount US taxpayers will have paid for the war in Iraq

That's $3.2 trillion according to two leading economists, including a Nobel prize laureate.

The figure is contained in a new book which also looks at the impact the cost of the Iraq war will have on the US economy and its ability to fend off a possible recession. Sourced ABC Fran Kelly's Breaskfast | WHAT CAN YOU DO |

Title: The Three Trillion Dollar War: The True Cost of the Iraq Conflict
Author: Linda J. Bilmes and Joseph E. Stiglitz
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company

Unlike last year's federal election in Australia, the issues of climate change and global warming have barely rated a mention in the US campaign.

Plan to inject $300 million into the United States presidential campaign. Lateline ABC Interview with Chief executive of the Coalition for Climate Control, Cathy Zoi. Transcript

Ms Zoi said, Americans have a very high level of awareness of the importance of climate change and largely because of people like Al Gore and Arnold Schwarzenegger. BUT that awareness, hasn't translated into it being a voting priority issue for Americans.

Recent polling over the last month out of 22 public policy issues that Americans were asked about, global warming, climate change came in 21st, nearly at the bottom.

Question: Which of the candidates will best utilise the ground strategy on these funds.

BIG IDEA _ It is the political season in the USA. Locked in battle are the final contenders for the big job.

But will the new President get it right when it comes to global security?

So far the USA has steadfastly stuck to the war on terror.

Today's speaker thinks this belongs to an era that exists no longer. US security expert Ann-Marie Slaughter has been surveying a darker view of the future from her bunker at Princeton. What she sees is not one threat, but multiple.

These include pandemics, nuclear weapons and mother nature.

What she also sees is a voting public not keen on hearing a complex story.

Hear Slaughter's engaging lecture delivered in Sydney at the inaugural National Summit on 21st Century America....

Ann-Marie Slaughter Homepage - new book THE IDEA THAT IS AMERICA

Information on "US Studies National Summit: 21st Century America - Reflections, Challenges and Aspirations"

 

EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMMING - ON THE SPIRIT OF THINGS

Beyond Religion & Beyond God

The founder of the Pranayama Institute, American-born Sankara Saranam, rejected the religion of his youth to search for a spiritual experience beyond religion. Equally opposed to religion, Australian Paul Bailey promotes 'breakthrough consciousness' toward spiritual maturity. Both guests are keen to merge spirituality with scientific knowledge. Repeated Tuesday 1pm and Wednesday 2am or Download Audio Podcast or catch on itunes