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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

Friday

World

U.S. Concerns Rise over Chinese Military Growth

An Israeli negotiator visited Washington this week to resolve a dispute between Israel and the United States over arms sales to China. The Bush administration is pressuring Israel to stop selling arms and transferring technology to China amid growing U.S. concern about China's military buildup.

U.S. Concerns Rise over Chinese Military Growth

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Thursday

World

U.S. Suspends MIA Search in North Korea

The Pentagon suspends missions to recover remains of U.S. soldiers from North Korea. The joint search for MIAs from the 1950-53 Korean War was one of the few examples of cooperation in an otherwise hostile relationship between the two nations. U.S. officials cited safety concerns for American personnel working in North Korea.

U.S. Suspends MIA Search in North Korea

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Saturday

National

Military Recruiters Find the Going Tough

For the past three months the Army has failed to meet its recruiting quotas, and some recruiters have been accused of signing up young men and women they knew were not qualified. The head of the army recruiting command says that recruiting these days is the toughest he's ever seen.

Military Recruiters Find the Going Tough

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Wednesday

Space

Space Could Be Next Battleground

The White House says it is in the process of updating U.S. space policy. But it is denying a report suggesting that the new policy would move the U.S. toward the deployment of weapons in space. Senior Air Force officials, however, have said publicly that the U.S. must establish and maintain space superiority.

Space Could Be Next Battleground

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Monday

National

Rumsfeld Makes Case for Base Closings

In his first public remarks since the Pentagon issued its recommendation to close 33 major bases, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld defended the proposal. In comments to a nine-member panel reviewing the recommendations, Rumsfeld said the changes were needed to adjust to the challenges of a changing world.

Rumsfeld Makes Case for Base Closings

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Friday

National

Military Bases Targeted for Closure

The Pentagon recommends shutting down more than 180 military installations across the nation, including facilities in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The plan calls for shuttering 33 major bases and realigning 29 others. Pentagon officials said the closures were a necessary component in transforming the military to face modern threats.

Military Bases Targeted for Closure

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The Impact of War

Pentagon to Release List of U.S. Military Base Closings

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is to announce recommendations for U.S. military base closings. This round is expected to slash up to 10 percent of capacity, down from earlier estimates of 20 to 25 percent. Plans to house U.S. troops returning from overseas affected the numbers.

Pentagon to Release List of U.S. Military Base Closings

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Friday

The Impact of War

Report Urges Slowdown of Troop Redeployment

The Defense Department plans to bring about 70,000 overseas troops -- mostly in Europe and Korea -- back to the United States over the next few years. But a government commission is recommending a slowdown in these plans. The Overseas Basing Commission warns that the Pentagon may not be able to redeploy these forces efficiently in the event of a crisis.

Report Urges Slowdown of Troop Redeployment

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Wednesday

News

Army Waited Weeks to Tell Truth About Tillman's Death

Army officials knew within days of his 2004 death that a former professional football player serving in Afghanistan had been killed by friendly fire. The Army admitted on Wednesday that it withheld the information for several weeks from Army Ranger Pat Tillman's family. Tillman gave up a lucrative career in the NFL to serve in the Army.

Army Waited Weeks to Tell Truth About Tillman's Death

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Monday

World

Technical Error Reveals Classified Info on Death of Italian Agent

The U.S. military issued a report this weekend on the killing of an Italian intelligence agent in Iraq. Classified parts of the report were blacked out, but computer users were able to access sensitive information about U.S. military operations in an online version of the report.

Technical Error Reveals Classified Info on Death of Italian Agent

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Saturday

World

Report Clears Soldiers in Death of Italian Agent

The U.S. military releases a report on its investigation into the March killing of an Italian agent by American soldiers at a checkpoint in Iraq. The report clears the soldiers of any wrongdoing. Italian officials are preparing their own report.

Report Clears Soldiers in Death of Italian Agent

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Thursday

All Things Considered

Army to Issue New Manual on Interrogation Methods

Pentagon officials say a new Army manual on interrogation techniques will prohibit the kind of abuse revealed last year at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison. The Pentagon also has published interim guidance on the issue for all branches of the service.

Army to Issue New Manual on Interrogation Methods

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Tuesday

World

Zarqawi Eluded Capture, Myers Confirms

U.S. intelligence gathering in Iraq is improving, but terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi escaped capture earlier this year. So says Gen. Richard Myers, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. At a Pentagon news briefing Tuesday, Myers also conceded that insurgent attacks in Iraq are at about the same level as they were a year ago.

Zarqawi Eluded Capture, Myers Confirms

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Sunday

The Impact of War

Army Seeks to Bridge Recruitment Gap

The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have forced the U.S. military to rely on its National Guard and Reserve units more than it ever envisioned. That's hurt efforts to attract new recruits to active and Reserve forces. Military officials and members of Congress are looking for creative solutions to the problem.

Army Seeks to Bridge Recruitment Gap

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Friday

Politics

Gen. Pace Tapped to Head Joint Chiefs of Staff

President Bush names Marine Gen. Peter Pace to be the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If confirmed, he will succeed Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers. Pace saw combat in Vietnam and was a commander in the ill-fated U.S. military intervention in Somalia.

Gen. Pace Tapped to Head Joint Chiefs of Staff

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