Friday September 15, 2006

The Final Word: “Ambush! 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.)

Page 1

Rebuff for Bush on Terror Trials in a Senate Test:

The bill may face amendment in any case. Some Democrats object to a provision that would block detainees from challenging their detention in court. More than two dozen retired federal judges sent a letter to Congress arguing that such a provision would lead to unlawful permanent detention, and defy Supreme Court precedent.

News Analysis: An Unexpected Collision Over Detainees:

But Mr. Durbin said, "We are not going to take it sitting down."

Ford Offering 75,000 Employees Buyout Packages:

Outside the Wayne plant, Tim Buchman, a 28-year-old line worker, said he would use a buyout to change careers. "I'm taking it," said Mr. Buchman, who was arriving for the start of the night shift. "It will be worth more for me to take the money and find a new job than to worry about layoffs later."

Uganda Peace Hinges on Amnesty for Brutality:

"He never aspired to be a politician," said Florence Adokorach, now in her early 20's, who was kidnapped at age 14 and forced to be one of Mr. Kony's brides. Instead, he told his young wife, he just wanted to return to spreading God's word.

Pataki Appointments Leave a Lasting Stamp:

As of late yesterday, Governor Pataki had submitted about 50 more nominees to the Senate to consider today. That would bring the number since Jan. 1 to more than 300, with more than three months remaining before he leaves office.

Pataki Chided Over Court Picks: "There is no way in the world that members of our society can believe in our society, participate in our society, if they're not participating at every single level,'' he said, observing that he was about to receive an award from the Rochester Black Bar Association for championing diversity.

Debate Grows as Colleges Slip in Graduations:

Now a part-time student majoring in computer science, Ms. Amin hopes to graduate in 2009. "I know it's a long time, nine years," she said, "but it's better than not graduating."

In Gamble, Calif. Tries to Curb Greenhouse Gases:

James D. Marston, the head of state global warming programs for Environmental Defense, the New York group that helped lead the fight for California's new carbon cap, said, "We'll look back in 10 years and say this was the final breakthrough and the final political consensus that we have to do something meaningful on global warming."

Fund-Raising Teamwork Saves a Football Rivalry:

Each team has had at least four division championships in the last decade. But the scoreboard seems secondary, at least to the adults surrounding the schools. "It really isn't important what the outcome is," said Cold Spring Harbor's superintendent, Dr. Whitney K. Vantine. "We're very excited we've been able to reach out to our friends in Roosevelt, and they would do the same for us."

Other News

Ohio Congressman Is Said to Agree to Plead Guilty:

Apart from the notoriety he received from the Abramoff scandal, Mr. Ney may be best remembered in Washington for his decision to label French-fried potatoes sold in the House cafeteria as "Freedom Fries" as a protest over the French government's refusal to support the American invasion of Iraq.

Writing May Be Oldest in Western Hemisphere:

All in all, Dr. Houston concluded, "the linear sequencing, the regularity of signs, the clear patterns of ordering, they tell me this is writing, but we don't know what it says."

3 Rabbis Ordained as Judaism Re-emerges in Germany:

Even those who do not stay in Germany, like Rabbi Matitiani, play a role in reconciliation, according to Rabbi Regev. "Germany sees it as an opportunity to send people out into the world with a message that this is a new Germany," he said.

F.D.A. Warns of Outbreak and Not to Eat Bag Spinach:

But Dr. Acheson advised consumers to avoid bagged spinach altogether, although he noted that thorough cooking killed the bacteria.

2 Republicans in Senate Vow to Block F.D.A. Pick:

"The job is important enough that it should be subject to Senate confirmation, but unfortunately it's become so politicized that it's become a hard job to fill," said Dan Troy, a former F.D.A. general counsel. "You can and are attacked by both sides of the political spectrum."

International

Russian Bank Reformer Dies After Shooting:

Given his stature and the dangers of his work, many here expressed astonishment that he was traveling in Moscow with only a driver. "For this the management of the central bank is to blame," Mr. Kovarsky said. "A man with such a job should be guarded by 10, 15, 20 people."

Nuclear Agency for U.N. Faults Report on Iran by U.S. House:

Dr. ElBaradei was ridiculed by administration officials at the time; in recent months, though, the administration has cited his reports in pressing their case against Iran.

Istanbul Journal: Turkey, a Touchy Critic, Plans to Put a Novel on Trial:

"I was thinking of going back to the States to give birth, but because of the trial I will stay here," Ms. Shafak said. "And I am happy to be giving birth in Istanbul. This city is very dear to me, even though it suffers from a sort of collective amnesia."

For Possible Blair Successor, a Makeover After the Ruckus:

"He needs to build bridges with people across the party," Mr. Leonard said of Mr. Brown in a telephone interview. "He has got to show that he puts the party first, to make sure that people trust him."

Muslims Condemn Pope's Remarks on Islam:

The paper also drew a comparison between the pope's remarks and the outcry in the Muslim world over unflattering cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published around Europe beginning last year. "The global outcry over the calamitous cartoons has only just died down and now the pontiff, in all his holiness, is launching an attack against Islam," the newspaper wrote.

Toll of Darfur Underreported, Study Declares:

The situation in Darfur has become increasingly tense recently, with the United States and others pressing the Sudanese government to allow in United Nations peacekeepers but the Sudanese government continuing to say no.

Gunman at Montreal College Left Dark Hints of Rage Online:

"We have an excellent team of administrators who moderate the site," he added, "and a useful system which allows all users to report illegal and suspicious activity."

China Defends New Curbs on the Sale of Wire News:

"The regulations impose many constraining conditions on Xinhua, and there is no problem of impeding competition in the market," he said.

National Report

Pennsylvania Judges Decide They, Alone, Will Get Raises:

While the State Supreme Court ruling cannot be appealed, Mr. Potts said he had a lawsuit pending in federal court arguing that the justices could not decide on the salary legislation because they had a financial conflict of interest. He lost the initial ruling, but is appealing.

Anti-Abortion Group Loses Tax Exemption:

"Whatever structure we have,'' Mr. Newman said, "we are going to speak out, we're not going to be intimidated, we're not going to be muzzled and we're not going to be gagged."

Columnist Contradicts Leak Source:

Mr. Armitage has said he did not publicly discuss his role because Justice Department prosecutors cautioned against that.

Congress Passes Major Security Measures:

A proposal backed by Republicans and opposed by environmentalists would let the owners of chemical plants decide what safety measures to adopt. It would prohibit the federal government from mandating that they consider using inherently safer chemicals.