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Thursday

Drone Program Under Scrutiny As CIA Nominee Testifies

John Brennan, President Obama's nominee to head the CIA, prepares to testify at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

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J. Scott Applewhite/AP

The Two-Way

Drone Program Under Scrutiny As CIA Nominee Testifies

The Obama administration has relied heavily on its drone program, but prefers not to talk about it. Yet drones and interrogation practices came under scrutiny as CIA nominee John Brennan testified before a Senate committee.

Wednesday

Air Base In Saudi Arabia Is Latest Drone Secret To Be Revealed

John Brennan, President Obama's nominee to be the next CIA director, worked closely with Saudi Arabia to set up a secret U.S. drone base there, The New York Times reported. Brennan's confirmation hearing is Thursday. Kevin Dietsch/UPI /Landov hide caption

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Kevin Dietsch/UPI /Landov

The Two-Way

Air Base In Saudi Arabia Is Latest Drone Secret To Be Revealed

The Obama administration wanted to keep the existence of the base secret. It has been used to target al-Qaida members in Yemen.

Wednesday

Monday

Obama Nominates Hagel For Defense, Brennan For CIA

The nominees: John Brennan (left), who is President Obama's choice to head the CIA; and former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., who the president has asked to be secretary of defense. STAFF/Reuters /Landov hide caption

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STAFF/Reuters /Landov

The Two-Way

Obama Nominates Hagel For Defense, Brennan For CIA

The president is moving to fill two key posts on his national security team. If confirmed, former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel (a Republican) would lead the Pentagon. John Brennan, the president's counterterrorism adviser, would be at the Central Intelligence Agency.

NPR coverage of the Hagel/Brennan nomination announcements

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Counterterrorism Adviser Brennan To Be Tapped For CIA

John Brennan, who President Obama wants to lead the CIA. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Counterterrorism Adviser Brennan To Be Tapped For CIA

John Brennan is one of the president's top national security aides. A veteran of the CIA, he was the agency's deputy executive director during President George W. Bush's administration. Brennan has said he opposed many of the Bush administration's policies, including the use of waterboarding.

Wednesday

Tuesday

U.S. Probing Whether Bin Laden Had Help From Within Pakistani Establishment

John Brennan at the White House on Monday (May 2, 2011). Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

The Two-Way

U.S. Probing Whether Bin Laden Had Help From Within Pakistani Establishment

John Brennan, President Obama's counterterrorism adviser, says "it would be premature to rule out the possibility. ... We're not accusing anybody at this point, but we want to make sure we get to the bottom of this."

Steve Inskeep speaks with John Brennan

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