Morning Buzz: A new American foreign policy?

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Eliza Browning
AC360° Associate Producer

President Obama is kicking off speeches at the United Nations General Assembly this morning and is set to lay out his vision for American foreign policy. How will this go over with other world leaders? He has a lot on his plate today with a full schedule of events. He meets with Japanese Prime Minister Hayotama, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and will sit down with Russian President Medvedev this afternoon. We’ll be following all of the key events today and will keep you updated tonight.

Obama’s address will be followed by speeches from a number of leaders - such as Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown – as well Moammar Ghadafi. The Libyan leader has had a difficult time pitching his tent on U.S. ground. He was shut out by authorities in Englewood, N.J. and he even tried, unsuccessfully, to stake out a space in Manhattan’s Central Park. Now that would have been quite a sight for early-morning dog-walkers and bikers. But Ghadafi finally found refuge in the town of Bedford, about 40 miles outside of New York City. But as we reported last night, residents in the town are also pushing for his eviction. So is there anywhere Ghadafi will be able to pitch his tent? We’ll be following his remarks at the United Nations today.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will also speak at the UN this evening. The Iranian president says he’s open to a discussion on nuclear weapons and that he’ll seek leniency for three American hikers who have been detained in Iran for crossing the border into Iran in July. Meanwhile, demonstrations are being held in New York to protest his appearances.

We’re also taking a look at the situation in Iran since the presidential elections this summer. Neda, a young Iranian woman was protesting on the heels of the presidential election and was killed by those trying to quash the rebellion against Ahmadenijad. Her death on camera became an iconic image for many in the movement against the president. Since then, Ahmadinejad’s regime has tried to control the protesters, as they continued to pour onto the streets against him. Reza Sayeh follows up on this story and gives us information on the political climate in Iran today.

And in our weeklong series on prime suspects, Kara Finnstrom follows up on a case involving a man – commonly known as the West Side rapist – who is been accused of preying on elderly women. John Floyd Thomas Jr., a man charged with murdering a 69-yearr-old woman in California in 1972, and a 67-year-old woman in Westchester in 1976, is scheduled to be arraigned today. Kara Finnstrom speaks to detectives in the case who, through meticulous DNA testing capability, were able to track down the allegedly highly elusive serial killer.

What are you following today? Let us know and see you at 10 p.m. ET!