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Former BBC Washington Correspondent Stephen Sackur presents a major debate, filmed on location at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, which explores the state of American politics, both at home and abroad.
 Have Your Say: Read your comments about the debate
Two panels of leading US politicians, thinkers and opinion-formers, voice strong convictions and clash over fundamental principles, in front of a voluble 500 strong American audience.
As the race for the White House promises another photo finish this debate gives viewers an unrivalled insight into how the opposing campaigns are shaping up and why.
Viewers can interact live with their comments by email and text.
PANELLISTS
- Madeleine Albright
Secretary of State under Clinton and US Ambassador to the UN from 1993-1997. She describes the current situation in Iraq as "a mess".
- Graham Allison
Assistant Secretary of Defence in Clinton's first term, and an expert on nuclear proliferation.
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Bob Barr
Former Republican congressman, on the board of the National Rifle Association, and opponent of restrictions on American civil liberties.
- Sidney Blumenthal
Journalist and author, he is a Guardian columnist and Washington bureau chief for Salon.com. He served as senior adviser to President Clinton from 1997-2000.
- Helle Dale
Director of Foreign Policy and Defence Studies at the Heritage Foundation, and former foreign affairs editor at the Washington Times.
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Chris Edley
Dean of Law at UC Berkeley, he was a senior adviser on economic policy for President Clinton and national issues director for 1988 Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis.
- David Ellwood
Dean of the Kennedy School of Government, he was Assistant Secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services under President Clinton.
- Frank Gaffney
Deputy to Assistant Secretary of Defence Richard Perle 1983-1987, he is now president of the Centre for Security Policy, a leading conservative Washington think-tank.
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Vartan Gregorian
President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the influential philanthropic foundation which donates millions to education and social projects in America.
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Richard Holbrooke
US Ambassador to UN from 1999-2001 and likely candidate for US Secretary of State if John Kerry wins the election.
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Stephen Moore
Economist and president of the Club for Growth, a high-profile pro-Bush tax-cuts political action group.
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Bill O'Reilly
Outspoken and controversial host of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, he is reviled by liberal America - although he insists that he is an 'independent', not a conservative.
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Congressman Mike Rogers
Republican Congressman for Michigan, loyal supporter of Bush and was involved in drafting the Patriot Act.
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Clare Short MP
Secretary of State for International Development from 1997 until her resignation on May 12, 2003, says UK made huge mistake in supporting America over Iraq.
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George Soros
One of the world's richest men, he has donated over $18 million to Democrat and anti-Bush groups, and says that removing Bush from office is the "central focus of my life".
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Shibley Telhami
Former UN advisor and expert on the Middle East, he argues that resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict is the key to peace in the region.
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James Woolsey
Director of the CIA from 1993-95, appointed by President Clinton, he is hawkish in his views, and was an advocate of regime change in Iraq since the first Gulf War.
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