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Michele Kelemen A former NPR Moscow bureau chief, Michele Kelemen now covers the State Department. Her reports can be heard on all NPR News programs — from Morning Edition to All Things Considered.
Michele Kelemen 2010
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Michele Kelemen

Election 2008

Passport Files of All Three Candidates Breached

State Department employees have snooped inside the passport files of all three presidential contenders. The State Department has apologized and is investigating. Two employees have been fired. The Justice Department is weighing whether a criminal investigation is warranted.

Passport Files of All Three Candidates Breached

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National

Breach of Obama's Passport File Investigated

The State Department has fired two contract workers and disciplined a third for looking at the passport file of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama. The senator's campaign is demanding an investigation.

Breach of Obama's Passport File Investigated

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Middle East

Crisis in Gaza Dominates Rice Trip to Mideast

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meets with Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss securing the country's border with Gaza and improving the flow of aid to the Palestinian area, which is under the control of Hamas. Rice is also calling on the Palestinians to quickly resume peace talks with Israel.

Crisis in Gaza Dominates Rice Trip to Mideast

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World

Election May Lead to Change in U.S. Pakistan Policy

The Bush administration says it expects to work with the government formed in Pakistan after Monday's elections. Critics of U.S. policy on Pakistan say the election could provide an opportunity to stop relying on President Pervez Musharraf.

Election May Lead to Change in U.S. Pakistan Policy

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National

Africa Trip Designed to Show Compassionate U.S.

President Bush leaves Friday for a six-day trip to Africa. The president is traveling to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. All have benefited from U.S. aid to save lives and develop their countries.

Africa Trip Designed to Show Compassionate U.S.

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Iraq

Lawmakers Skeptical About Assurances on Iraq

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice assured Congress that the Bush administration will not limit the options of future presidents regarding U.S. policy in Iraq. But some lawmakers expressed considerable skepticism. And before the day was over, questions of Rice's integrity arose.

Lawmakers Skeptical About Assurances on Iraq

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Iran's Nuclear Ambitions

U.S. Intelligence Report Complicates Iran Debate

Western diplomats at the United Nations are trying to persuade the Security Council to pass a new sanctions resolution on Iran. But some wonder why now, especially in the wake of the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate that said Iran suspended a secret nuclear weapons program in 2003.

U.S. Intelligence Report Complicates Iran Debate

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World

Afghanistan Mission Faces Crisis, U.S. Officials Say

Several alarming reports about Afghanistan describe it as a failing state on the verge of a humanitarian crisis. Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill have seized on the reports to call for a new U.S. strategy. State Department officials insist they are making progress and show no sign of doing anything differently.

Afghanistan Mission Faces Crisis, U.S. Officials Say

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Middle East

Bush in Egypt for Last Stop on Middle East Trip

President Bush is in Egypt for discussions with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Egypt borders Gaza, home to the militant faction Hamas, and there is concern about gun smuggling.

Renee Montagne and Michele Kelemen discuss President Bush's trip to Egypt on Morning Edition

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National

Bush Meets with Saudi King; Rice Petitions Baghdad

President Bush's eight-day trip to the Mideast continued Tuesday with another round of talks with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah at the monarch's desert horse ranch. The president also dispatched Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Baghdad to urge Iraqi leaders to speed reconciliation efforts.

Bush Meets with Saudi King; Rice Petitions Baghdad

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Politics

Bush, Saudi King Discuss Rising Oil Prices

President Bush spends a second day in Saudi Arabia while on an eight-day trip to the Middle East. He says he spoke with Saudi King Abdullah, whose nation holds the world's largest oil reserves, about rising oil prices. They recently topped $100 a barrel.

Bush, Saudi King Discuss Rising Oil Prices

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Middle East

Bush Visits U.A.E., Continues Push for Mideast Peace

President Bush is in the United Arab Emirates and heads next to Saudi Arabia. Both states are allies of the U.S., but that comes with some caveats. Part of the trip is aimed at reenergizing Mideast peace talks and keeping pressure on Iran.

Bush Visits U.A.E., Continues Push for Mideast Peace

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National

Bush Mideast Tour Shifts to Gulf Allies

President Bush travels to the countries of U.S. Persian Gulf allies — Bahrain and Kuwait — where he visits military personnel and gets an update on the war in Iraq from Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker. He is due to visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

Bush Mideast Tour Shifts to Gulf Allies

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Iraq

President Bush Seeks Closer Persian Gulf Ties

Speaking at a U.S. military base in Kuwait, President George W. Bush said Saturday that hope is returning to Iraq because of the additional U.S. troops he ordered there. The president also said the United States is on track to withdraw 20,000 troops from Iraq by mid-year. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Michele Kelemen.

President Bush Seeks Closer Persian Gulf Ties

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