Search results for

Johnnie Cochran, the attorney who gained fame as O.J. Simpson's defense lawyer in 1995, has died at age 67. Cochran's family says he had a brain tumor. Michele Norris talks about Cochran's life and career with Connie Rice, a Los Angeles civil rights attorney who is co-founder and co-director of the Advancement Project.

President Bush uses his State of the Union speech to build a case for war with Iraq, but also addresses economic revival and health care reform. He says Secretary of State Colin Powell will go to the U.N. Security Council on Feb. 5 to explain the U.S. position on Iraq. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea, Michael O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institution and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

It's estimated that hundreds of volunteer "human shields" are in Baghdad from the United States and elsewhere. They're placing themselves at installations in an effort to prevent U.S. bombing. NPR's Melissa Block talks to volunteer human shield Ken Nichols O'Keefe, and to Paul Eliopolous, an American who became an involuntary shield when arrested by Iraqis in Kuwait in 1990.

President Bush meets with the leaders of Britain and Spain Sunday to discuss strategy for an uphill battle to pass a U.N. resolution sanctioning military action against Iraq. The resolution may lack the votes necessary to pass the U.N. Security Council -- and faces veto threats as well. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

Defending pre-war intelligence on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, CIA director George Tenet says his analysts "never said there was an imminent threat." Tenet says intelligence analysts came to different conclusions on the state of Iraq's weapons programs -- and made those differences clear to the Bush administration. Hear NPR's Vicky O'Hara.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says accused enemy combatants being held at the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, will have their cases reviewed once a year by a new special panel. Rumsfeld also indicates some of the prisoners could be held indefinitely, or until the United States determines they no longer pose a threat. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

The Bush administration circulates a draft resolution that outlines a larger role for the United Nations in post-war Iraq. It's an effort to convince more countries to contribute troops and resources to the stabilization of Iraq, but the resolution maintains a lead role for the United States in the country's affairs. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.

Lawmakers question the Bush administration's $87 billion request for Iraq and Afghanistan, but GOP leaders say they expect congressional approval. U.S. officials say the funds will boost the estimated federal deficit to more than $525 billion. And Secretary of State Powell prepares for a Saturday meeting with the permanent U.N. Security Council members. Hear NPR's David Welna, NPR's John Ydstie and NPR's Vicky O'Hara.

The Bush administration is expected to ask Congress for a significant increase in funds for the reconstruction of Iraq. U.S. Iraq administrator Paul Bremer says he is seeking another $3 billion. Members of Congress say the initial $2.5 billion supplemental appropriation for Iraq is all but spent. Hear NPR's Vicky O'Hara.

A draft resolution by the United States asking for a greater U.N. role in Iraq is called "insufficient" by France and Germany. At a news conference, French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder say the resolution needs to cede more authority in Iraq to the United Nations. NPR's Vicky O'Hara reports.