Friday September 22, 2006

The Final Word: “Operation Shylock 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

Republicans Reach Deal on Detainee Bill:

Still, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the senior Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said he would press to change a provision in the proposal that would deny detainees a right to challenge their captivity in court.

Strained, Army Looks to Guard for More Relief:

One Army official said this week that the service is seeking about $138 billion for the next fiscal year, compared with the $112 budget request the Army submitted last year.

U.S. Urges H.I.V. Tests for Adults and Teenagers:

That is far cheaper than many other routine screening tests like colonoscopies or mammograms, and Dr. Branson said most such tests were paid for by insurers because it was usually cheaper to treat diseases when they were caught early.

New York English Scores Drop Sharply in 6th Grade:

Mr. Mills said the state's Board of Regents had long been concerned about the transition from elementary to middle school and those concerns were bound to be heightened. "There has to be a hand-off not only of the students, but also of what they know and what's expected," he said.

Volatile Mix: Campaigning and Religions:

Mr. Allen said he responded, "I love you even more."

Pickers Are Few, and Growers Blame Congress:

"It's like a death, like a son died," said Mr. Winant, 45, who cares for the small orchard himself during the winter. "You work all year and then see your work go to ground. I want to pull them out because of the agony. It's just too hard to take."

Children of Rich Learn Class, Minus the Struggle:

"My childhood was completely different from my daughter's," Rose Lei said. "We didn't have things like FasTracKids or golfing, and that is why we want her to have those opportunities." Asked if she had other motives, like ensuring that her daughter joins the ranks of China's affluent class, she did not miss a beat. "Yes, this is very important," she said.

Other News

Shuttle Glides to an Incident-Free Landing:

The astronauts accomplished their primary goal of hauling up a 35,000-pound segment to the space station, the first addition in four years. During their mission, they made three spacewalks to install the segment, which included solar arrays to generate electricity for the station and a radiator to dissipate excess heat.

Iran Leader, at U.N., Skirts Issue of Hezbollah's Disarmament:

"When you look at the Security Council, we see that some members of the Council are in fact party to many conflicts around the world," he said. Even though these countries created the problems, he said, under current arrangements "they nevertheless sit in judgment of world affairs."

Claim 9/11 Terrorists Were Identified Is Rejected:

The inspector general's report also rejected claims by another of the witnesses, Lt. Col. Anthony Shaffer, a veteran military intelligence officer, that he had faced reprisals for having make disclosures about Able Danger, including revocation of his security clearance.

Tribune to Consider Selling Some Media Assets:

Three billionaires in Los Angeles have already expressed interest in buying The Los Angeles Times — and it seems likely, given the Knight Ridder experience, that other local buyers for individual properties could emerge in Tribune markets across the country.

Hoping Trial Provides Answers in Fire at Seton Hall:

But regardless of how the case is resolved, the 2000 fire will never go away here. "In a sense no time has passed, said Msgr. Robert Sheeran, the president of Seton Hall. "I think of the students who died each day as the bells erected in their memory toll outside my window. We have been forever changed as a campus community."

Innovator Devises Way Around Electoral College:

"The two-term limit was clearly in the face of F.D.R.," Professor Hough said. "And I would say this is clearly in the face of Al Gore's loss in 2000."

International

In Northern Italy, the Agony of Aging Not So Gracefully:

In the Fiumara Mall, the rare mother pushing a stroller is generally speaking a foreign language. "In Italy, they don't have children," said Flor Ribera, a 42-year-old house cleaner from Ecuador, who plans to enroll her two children in middle school next year. "They have dogs and cats."

Memo From Iran: At Home, Tehran Deals With a Restive Arab Minority:

"I have nine brothers and sisters, and out of all of us one brother — the brother who was arrested — was working," said Yaghoub Banitamim. "What is the reason? Only because we are Arabs."

Istanbul Court Clears Author of Insulting Turkish Identity:

Outside the court, a small group of protesters condemned Ms. Shafak.

Days Before Brazil Votes, New Scandal for Leader:

"This is worrisome, but it's indicative of the situation we're experiencing," Mr. Mello said of the wiretapping. "It's a situation that I'd say is almost psychedelic, with scandals flowering day by day."

Despite Plea, Indonesia Executes 3 Christians:

Many Indonesian political analysts and foreign diplomats doubt that the men will be executed.

NATO Chief Says More Troops Are Needed in Afghanistan:

The NATO meeting yesterday included talks on how NATO can help the African Union force in the Darfur region of Sudan, officials said. Mr. Scheffer said NATO was looking at ways to help train and provide logistical support to African forces.

7 Palestinians Are Killed by Israeli Strikes in Gaza:

Under the road map, a 2003 peace plan, Israel pledged to halt settlement building and the Palestinians promised to dismantle armed groups. The plan has been dormant since shortly after its introduction.

Iran Is Given More Time to End Uranium Enrichment:

He added: "The bottom line is we do not need the bomb. Some think that bombs can be effective in international relations, but we know that these nuclear arsenals will not benefit anyone."

News Analysis: Lebanon's Future: Bending Toward Hezbollah or Leaning to the West?:

"This balance of power is quite fragile, with Iran on one side and Europe and the U.S. on the other," Mr. Jumblat said, his conversation punctuated by heavy sighs and bitter chuckles. "Now our independence is at stake."

Thai Junta Imposes Curbs on News Media:

"Right now, the council is the law," he said.

National Report

Top E.P.A. Official Rejects Recommendations on Soot:

"And different people,'' Mr. Wyzga said, "have different judgments."

Developer Wants Toll Road; Colorado Makes It Difficult:

To which Mr. Hopfer responded, "That's just conspiracy theories."

I.R.S. Inquiry Into Sermon Is Challenged by Church:

Mr. Regas said in his sermon it was not his intent to tell his listeners how to vote. "When you go to the voting booth on Tuesday, take with you all that you know about Jesus the peacemaker," he said in closing. "Take all that Jesus means to you. Then vote your deepest values."

U.S. Project to Secure Borders Will Begin in Arizona Desert:

About $700 million has been budgeted for the project this year and next. While officials had given an overall estimate of $2 billion, Mr. Chertoff refused to put a price on the project. "As inexpensive as possible" was all he said.

Illegal Workers Supplant U.S. Ones, Report Says:

"They face tremendous barriers, but immigrant competition is not the biggest one," said Jared Bernstein, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute, a Washington group that focuses on labor issues. "If immigrant competition were to drop significantly, they would still have big problems."

HUD Chief's Remarks Aside, Study Finds No Favoritism:

"The inspector general's report contains very serious charges that need to be reviewed by the Department of Justice," the senator said. "This episode cannot be ignored by Congress. We must hold hearings to get to the bottom of this case. However, I am concerned that Republicans will sweep this under the rug."

Deal Is Reached on Plants and Terrorism:

It is not yet clear that this language — which may be considered too stern by some Republicans and too relaxed by many Democrats — will be approved by the full conference committee, which is scheduled to meet Monday evening on the department's budget. The provisions on chemical plant regulations are supposed to be inserted in that bill, with the goal of final approval of the measure next week.