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Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage says U.S. forces are needed -- and wanted by most Iraqis -- as the nation seeks to form a lasting government. But he tells NPR's Steve Inskeep that a long-term U.S. presence would undermine efforts to create a stable Iraq.

A conflict over Social Security has extended to workers at the Social Security Administration itself. Some employees say the agency is using public funds to promote a political agenda, namely President Bush's plan to partly privatize the system. NPR's Libby Lewis reports.

Appellate Judge Michael Chertoff's influence on post-Sept. 11 legal strategies will prompt debate as Congress considers his nomination to head the Department of Homeland Security. Chertoff played a key role in shaping the Patriot Act, seen by many critics as damaging to U.S. civil liberties. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

Barbara Odanaka is a stay-at-home mom who skateboards to escape the stress of motherhood and homeschooling her son. She wrote the children's book Skateboard Mom and started a group the International Society of Skateboard Moms. The oldest member is 80.

Residents of the Iraqi city of Fallujah have still not been able to return to their homes, more than a month after U.S. forces seized control of the city. But unexpected resistance from remaining insurgents is hindering resettlement. NPR's Mike Shuster reports.

President Bush has created a cabinet-level committee to advise him on ocean policy. Environmentalists who criticized the administration's record have long sought more attention to the oceans, which in U.S. territorial waters and elsewhere suffer from pollution and over-fishing. Hear NPR's Alex Chadwick and Dr. Ellen Pikitch of the Pew Institute for Ocean Science.

Every year, thousands of farm workers from other countries arrive in the state to spend the winter harvesting crops, and many have no safety net when disaster strikes. NPR's Ari Shapiro continues his series of reports on the long-term impact of four hurricanes raking Florida this year.

Along Peru's coast, archeologists find the ruins of some 20 communities clustered along three rivers. Some date back 5,000 years. People there grew crops and built huge stone monuments that predate the Egyptian pyramids. It's believed to be the oldest complex culture in the Americas. NPR's Christopher Joyce reports.

The military has armored about 15 percent of the medium and heavyweight trucks it uses in war zones. One manufacturer says the biggest problem in building more trucks is getting enough specialized parts. Another says it could increase production of armored vehicles if the Pentagon asked. NPR's Chris Arnold reports.

The National Guard announces it has missed its recruiting goals by 30 percent in the last two months. In response, they are offering new incentives, including cash bonuses for new recruits and those willing to reenlist. NPR's Anthony Brooks reports.