Saturday September 2, 2006

The Final Word: “Oh Yeah, Life Goes On Edition”

(The media experiment in which we conjoin the headline and last paragraph of each bylined article in the A-section of today's New York Times.)

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Iraqi Casualties Are Up Sharply, Study Finds:

Citing polling data from the International Republican Institute, the report states that almost 80 percent of Iraqis thought in April 2006 that the general situation would be better in a year. By June, it was less than 50 percent. "In general, Iraqis have had an optimistic outlook," the report stated. "However, as time has passed, their optimism has eroded."

Iraqi Arabs See Unlikely Haven With Old Foes:

"Of course I miss Baghdad," he added. "But when you see it now, it's a ghost city. Who's left there? Terrorists?"

At 2-Year Colleges, Students Eager but Unready:

"I feel a little bit more — I don't want to say confident — but maybe worthy,'' Mr. Walton said. "Now, I feel like I'm all that, and a bag of chips.''

New Questions About Inquiry in C.I.A. Leak:

Mr. Libby has pleaded not guilty to all the charges and his lawyers have signaled he will mount a defense based on the notion that he did not willfully lie.

Dragnet Widens as 2 Troopers Are Shot in Ambush:

Judge Ward, in raising Mrs. Crowe's bail on Friday, said he could not take any chances. "Whether it was Mr. Phillips or not, two troopers were shot and wounded on her property," he said. "The stakes are getting higher and higher."

Boredom in the West Fuels Binge Drinking:

"Obviously we've all been there," said Sheriff Steward, who went to Cody High School 20 years ago, and said 60 to 65 percent of his fellow students drank. "The problem, then and now, was that there was nothing to do in Cody after a certain time."

Other News

Missile Defense System Intercepts Rocket in Test:

An interceptor consists of a rocket that carries a 155-pound "kill vehicle,'' which is designed to seek out and collide with an enemy missile warhead. Friday's test was the first time an interceptor had been fired from one of the two operating sites. In past launchings, the tests had been conducted at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

Jobs and Wages Increased Modestly Last Month:

Mr. Hatzius of Goldman observed that this would fit the pattern of wage growth over the last 30 years. "Since the 1970's, real wage growth for people below the top 20 or 30 percent has been pretty much zero."

Protest Keeps Fox From Giving State of the Union Speech:

"He's saying to the government, 'Everything that I am going to do is going to give you trouble,' " a close adviser said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Japan’s Likely Next Premier in Hawkish Stand:

Like Mr. Koizumi, Mr. Abe has said strengthening Japan's alliance with the United States will, more than anything else, guarantee Japan's prosperity. "The Japan-U.S. alliance is the most important thing for our country's diplomacy and national security," he said Friday.

International

Professor-Turned-Pope Leads a Seminar on Evolution:

The pope's annual seminars do not shy away from difficult topics. Last year the issue under discussion was Islam.

Beloved Priest Defends Marines, Angering Filipinos:

It seems a discouraging assessment after nearly 70 years in the Philippines, but by profession, Father Reuter has no choice but to be an optimist. "I think somehow God will take care of us," he said. "That's doesn't sound like an economic plan, but that's what I think."

Moroccan Terror Plot Foiled With 56 Arrests, Officials Say:

The police have seized explosives, laboratory materials and propaganda leaflets during recent raids on the group, the ministry said.

Hurricane Makes Landfall At Tip of Baja California:

At the Villa del Palmar Beach Resort, Jorge E. Avilés, the general manager, monitored weather reports as he reviewed emergency plans. On Thursday, he had moved guests out of rooms facing the ocean, which would be most exposed to the hurricane's winds. "Nobody cares about the ocean view today," he said.

Serbs Criticize U.N. Mediator, Further Bogging Down Kosovo Talks:

One Serbian analyst, Dusan Janjic, coordinator of the Forum for Ethnic Relations, a nongovernmental organization, said the Serbian politicians, unable to criticize the Western countries, were now attacking Mr. Ahtisaari to show voters that they were defending Serbian national interests.

Plane Landing in Northeastern Iran Catches Fire, Killing 29:

Iranian officials say they would like to buy new aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, but are unable to because of the American economic sanctions that govern American-made airplanes and parts. The sanctions were imposed after the Iran hostage crisis more than a quarter century ago.

Indonesia to Send Soldiers for U.N.'s Force in Lebanon:

Israel has voiced harsher reservations about troops from Malaysia, which it regards as less friendly toward it than Indonesia is.

Israeli Defense Chief Agrees to Independent Inquiry Into Lebanon War:

Israel says it sees no basis for renewed talks so long as the Palestinian Authority is run by Hamas and Palestinian militant groups are not disarmed.

Syria Agrees to Lebanon Arms Embargo:

Syria has long argued that the neighbors do not need diplomatic ties because of their traditional links, prompting Lebanese suspicions that Damascus refuses to acknowledge as fully sovereign the country it controlled until it ended a 29-year troop presence last year.

National Report

Governor Says Big Dig Repairs Will Take Longer Than Thought:

"We've found three things so far. Is there a fourth? I don't know," Mr. Romney said.

Governor's Push to Expand Indian Casinos Fails in California:

"So much money is at stake, these compacts will eventually be ratified," he said. "But they are going to have to work out some agreement with the unions.

Pennsylvania Town Delays Enforcing Tough Immigration Law:

The order by Judge Munley, who sits in Scranton, Pa., gives the civil liberties groups 20 days to renew their challenge to any immigration ordinance Hazleton adopts. Omar C. Jadwat, an immigration lawyer for the A.C.L.U., said he hoped that the town would eventually drop the ordinance and that "other cities will similarly take these ordinances off the table and rethink."

Clarification Issued on Stem Cell Work:

Dr. Lanza said yesterday that Nature had not shown him the original press release before publication.

Oil Industry-Lawmaker Link Is Focus of an Alaskan Inquiry:

Jim Pound, chief of staff for Mr. Kohring, said Friday that agents went to the lawmaker's office in Juneau on Thursday "with no warning" and took copies of legislation, including the gas pipeline proposal, as well as correspondence from Governor Murkowski.

Report Urges F.A.A. to Act Regarding False 9/11 Testimony:

Mr. Zinser, the acting inspector general, said in an interview that the investigation had taken so long because of "the very complicated issues" his office reviewed.

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