News Panel: U.S. Wrong on Iraq Arms, Blind on N. Korea, Iran March 31, 2005 • A commission appointed by President Bush concludes that the U.S. assessment of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction was almost completely wrong. The report also says the U.S. knows "disturbingly little" about nuclear programs in nations such as Iran and North Korea.
Political Corner: Ron Walters and Tara Wall March 31, 2005 • NPR's Juan Williams takes a peek inside Washington with two insiders: Ron Walters, a professor of political science at the University of Maryland and an adviser to Reverend Jesse Jackson's campaign for President, and Tara Wall, director of outreach communications for the Republican National Committee.
News Conservative Groups Attack AARP March 31, 2005 • Critics such conservative group USA Next are calling the AARP "the largest liberal organization" in the world and are trying to appeal to the conservative members of the influential seniors' organization. The AARP has been spending millions of dollars campaigning against President Bush's hopes for privatizing Social Security.
National HUD Asks Cities to Compile Homeless Census March 31, 2005 • The Department of Housing and Urban Development has asked cities across the country to count their homeless. HUD hopes that a more accurate account of the number of street people will help the government better fund programs to help them. New York City just completed its first homeless census of all five boroughs.
National Giuliani Joins Texas Law Firm with GOP Ties March 31, 2005 • Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is becoming a partner with a high-profile Texas law firm with strong Republican connections. Observers believe that this move may have as much to do with Giuliani's political aspirations as it does with his professional goals.
National Report Faults Pre-War Intelligence on Iraq March 31, 2005 • A presidential commission studying the effective of U.S. intelligence released a report on Thursday criticizing the government's intelligence gathering efforts in Iraq. NPR's Alex Chadwick speaks with NPR's Mike Shuster about the findings.
Social Security Debate Resistance to Bush's Social Security Changes Grows March 31, 2005 • The Bush administration is running into increasing resistance to altering Social Security. Republicans in Congress are beginning to feel pressure from their constituents as well. The president stumped for changes to Social Security in Iowa Wednesday.
News Intelligence Report Offers Bleak Assessment March 31, 2005 • A report by a presidential commission investigating pre-war intelligence in Iraq offers a bleak view of intelligence-gathering and analysis. It includes a similarly grim assessment of efforts in Iran and North Korea and offers recommendations to improve the process.
Social Security Debate Bush Promotes Social Security Agenda in Iowa March 30, 2005 • President Bush takes his campaign for Social Security changes to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, appearing on stage with Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA). As chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley would play a critical part in any legislation affecting Social Security.
Social Security Debate Life Before Social Security March 30, 2005 • Many believe that Social Security helped eliminate poverty among the elderly. But existence without the program wasn't necessarily all that terrible. A look at what life was like before Social Security was created.
News Growing Chorus Calls for DeLay's Resignation March 30, 2005 • House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is fighting several high-profile conflicts, including charges of ethics violations. The editorial page of the Wall Street Journal, usually a staunch supporter of congressional Republicans, has joined Democrats in asking for DeLay's resignation.
News Intelligence Report to Offer Reform Recommendations March 30, 2005 • The Presidential Commission on Intelligence Thursday releases the results of its 14-month review of current and previous U.S. intelligence on various threats. The report also offers advice on how to implement intelligence reform legislation.
Education N.J. 'Boot Camp' Drills Students for Tests March 30, 2005 • A New Jersey elementary school has set up a weekly "math boot camp" for students. The "camp" is a response to the demands of the No Child Left Behind Act, which requires that the school raise test scores or face a cut in funding.
World Rumsfeld: Iraqis, Not Americans, Will Defeat Insurgency March 30, 2005 • The Iraqi people, not U.S.-led forces, will defeat the country's insurgency, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says. He also says the U.S. military is working to reduce the size of its forces in Iraq. He says in an NPR interview that it has taken six to eight years to put down major insurgencies elsewhere, and the challenge is to get most U.S troops out of Iraq much sooner than that.
News Document Outlines New Counter-Terrorism Strategy March 29, 2005 • The Bush administration unveils a new intelligence strategy calling for more aggressive measures against foreign spies. The 14-page document also seeks to promote better coordination among all U.S. government agencies involved in counter-intelligence.
