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Vicky O'Hara Victoria (Vicky) O'Hara is a diplomatic correspondent for NPR. Her coverage of the State Department and foreign policy issues can be heard on the award-winning Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition as well as on NPR's newscasts.
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Vicky O'Hara

Thursday

The Impact of War

Buzz of Permanent Iraq Bases Irks Congress

Members of Congress are becoming increasingly concerned that the United States is planning to keep permanent military bases in Iraq. In public comments, Pentagon leaders have not ruled out the possibility. At the moment, the military is trying to consolidate its bases in Iraq into fewer, but larger facilities.

Buzz of Permanent Iraq Bases Irks Congress

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Wednesday

World

U.S. Asks for Investigation of Alleged Intelligence Breach

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asks the Russian government to investigate reports that Russia passed intelligence about the U.S. military to Saddam Hussein in 2003. The Pentagon says Iraqi documents indicate the Russian ambassador in Baghdad was giving the Iraqis information about American military plans and troop movements just before the invasion.

U.S. Asks for Investigation of Alleged Intelligence Breach

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Friday

World

Report: Saddam Doubted War Would Come

Saddam Hussein thought Russia and France would prevent an American-led invasion in the leadup to war in 2003. So says a Pentagon report that uses seized documents and interviews with former Iraqi officials to detail the last months of Saddam's regime.

Report: Saddam Doubted War Would Come

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Wednesday

World

Rate of New U.S. Deaths Declining in Iraq

American combat deaths in Iraq have been declining since late last year. Iraqi security forces now appear to be bearing the brunt of violence in the country. The decline was especially significant in February, when 55 American service personnel were killed, compared to 96 in October. More than 2,300 American military personnel have died supporting operations in Iraq.

Rate of New U.S. Deaths Declining in Iraq

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Thursday

World

U.S., Iraqis Launch Major Attack on Insurgents

U.S. and Iraqi forces launch what the American military is calling the largest air assault against Iraqi insurgents since the end of "major combat operations" in 2003. The offensive, in an area northeast of Samarra, has been dubbed Operation Swarmer.

U.S., Iraqis Launch Major Attack on Insurgents

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Tuesday

World

Bush Speech Highlights the Challenge of the Iraqi Insurgency

In the first of a series of speeches designed to bolster support for the war in Iraq, President Bush spoke Monday about the military challenges of fighting the insurgency. Renee Montagne talks to Pentagon Correspondent Vicky O'Hara about the claims and statistics used by the president in his speech.

Bush Speech Highlights the Challenge of the Iraqi Insurgency

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Thursday

Politics

Rumsfeld Pushes $91 Billion Defense Request

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee to urge approval of the Bush administration's latest emergency funding request. The Bush administration has requested $91 billion, mainly to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rumsfeld Pushes $91 Billion Defense Request

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Wednesday

National

Pentagon Sending Special Ops to U.S. Embassies

The Pentagon says it is sending small teams of Special Operations Forces to U.S. Embassies around the world to help fight the war on terrorism. Some members of Congress are concerned about a possible lack of coordination between the Pentagon and the Office of the National Intelligence Director, John Negroponte.

Pentagon Sending Special Ops to U.S. Embassies

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Tuesday

World

Rumsfeld Dismisses Notion of Civil War in Iraq

At a Pentagon briefing, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld rejects suggestions that Iraq is engulfed in a civil war but predicts that there will be additional bursts of sectarian violence in the weeks ahead. Rumsfeld also claims that Iranian Revolutionary Guard elements have infiltrated Iraq.

Rumsfeld Dismisses Notion of Civil War in Iraq

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Monday

National

National Guard and Reserve Roles Examined

This week a commission begins a year-long review of the role and obligations of the National Guard and Reserves. Guard and Reserve forces have, at times, constituted almost half of the American troop presence in Iraq. This raises questions about the size of the force, its level of training, compensation and availability to handle disasters at home.

National Guard and Reserve Roles Examined

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Saturday

Detainees at Guantanamo Bay

Pentagon Names Detainees Held at Guantanamo

The Pentagon releases documents containing names and nationalities of hundreds of detainees at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The posting on a Pentagon Web site came in response to a Freedom of Information request upheld by a federal judge.

Pentagon Names Detainees Held at Guantanamo

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Tuesday

World

U.S. Works to Add Allies in War on Terrorism

Although the Bush administration is known as unilateralist in some circles, it is reaching out to other nations for help in fighting the war on terrorism. The new emphasis on international cooperation comes at a time when the United States is stretched militarily, economically and diplomatically because of the prolonged war in Iraq.

U.S. Works to Add Allies in War on Terrorism

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Wednesday

News

U.S. Government Plans for 'The Long War'

Over the past several weeks, senior administration and Pentagon officials have adopted the phrase "the long war" to characterize the global war on terrorism. Some analysts say the adoption of the phrase is an attempt to prepare Americans for a costly, long-term campaign.

U.S. Government Plans for 'The Long War'

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Wednesday

National

Panel Looks Into Secret Military Unit

A House Subcommittee holds a hearing on Able Danger, a secret military unit that identified hijacker Mohammad Atta more than a dozen times before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) says Able Danger detected a problem in Yemen two weeks before al Qaeda attacked the USS Cole.

Panel Looks Into Secret Military Unit

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Thursday

National

Pentagon Report Warns of Chinese Military Threat

Could China's growing military strength someday threaten American interests? A Pentagon report says China is expanding its military in ways that could intimidate Taiwan and other neighboring countries allied to the United States. The 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review, which will be sent to Congress on Monday, calls for repositioning U.S. air and naval resources to the Pacific.

Pentagon Report Warns of Chinese Military Threat

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