Monday September 25, 2006

The Final Word: “Exquisite Corpse II 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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In Tiny Courts of New York, Abuses of Law and Power:

"This is something that's going to have to be addressed by the next governor," he said. "There is a controversy here, and this issue has not been addressed for many, many years."

Unit Makes Do as Army Strives to Plug Gaps:

So the trainers and Arabic-speaking role players, who will simulate conditions the unit is likely to encounter in Iraq, were brought here to conduct the three-week exercise in a Georgia pine forest, rather than in the California desert.

A Senator Bets on Party's Clout in Pennsylvania:

Many Democrats also suggest that the sheer intensity of their voters will go a long way toward matching the Republicans' structural advantage. "People are anxious to vote, and they're anxious to vote for change," Mr. Casey said. "They know a good turnout and a good vote means we can chart a different course." He added, "The intensity is like none I've ever seen in our state."

U.N. Force Is Treading Lightly on Lebanese Soil:

"When you don't know each other's procedures, you can not overlap," he said before climbing into his jeep and driving off.

As Iraqi Lights Flicker, 'Generator Man' Feels Heat:

"Very few people sympathize with us," he said. "Most care only about themselves."

Bouquet of Roses May Have Note: 'Made in China':

Then she blushed deeply, and turned back to her work.

Other News

Study of Iraq War and Terror Stirs Strong Political Response:

Her Senate Democratic counterpart, Harry Reid of Nevada, said that "no election-year White House P.R. campaign can hide this truth — it is crystal clear that America's security demands we change course in Iraq."

Iraqis to Debate Bill on Creating Autonomous States:

Fadhila has agreed to debate the bill, but its members will vote for the measure only if it discourages the creation of one huge federation across southern Iraq, said Hassan al-Shimiri, a party official. Its stance is at odds with that of Mr. Hakim's party, but such a provision "would ease the fears of people who are afraid of fragmenting the country," Mr. Shimiri said.

Shanghai Party Boss Held for Corruption:

Some party officials acknowledge that it is rare for officials in China to climb the political ladder without quietly securing economic benefits for themselves or their friends and relatives. The party-run security apparatus usually does not seek to stop such behavior unless the officials in question fall from political favor, they say.

Congress Is Winding Down, but Much Is Left Undone:

"The speaker is not going to let the bill move until these critical security items get in," said the spokesman, Ron Bonjean.

Center of E. Coli Outbreak Is Also Center of Anxiety:

"There's not really much to talk about until they figure it out," Ms. Mackay said, adding that she had heard rumors about the outbreak's cause. "But when you hear that sort of stuff, you do kind of think, 'I'll eat broccoli.' "

Torture Victim Had No Terror Link, Canada Told U.S.:

"Even at this time, when terrorism is a real danger," he said, "this case points out how important it is to preserve the democratic rights we have cherished for centuries."

New Orleans Hopes to Make Superdome a Home Again:

Connecting the dome to the house was a set of angel wings.

International

A Banned Book Challenges Saintly Image of Thai King:

Speculation has been rife in Thailand that Mr. Thaksin may have taken some of his wealth out of the country just before the coup, but there has been no confirmation of this from the military council. Airline officials said Sunday that two planes chartered by Mr. Thaksin days before the takeover were carrying more than 100 cases and trunks. He was at the United Nations when the coup occurred and is now in London.

As Brazil Prepares to Vote, Scandal's Taint Seems to Fade:

"Lula has used the machinery of the state in a way I've never seen in 50 years," said Bolívar Lamounier, a political analyst in São Paulo. "He has been clever in taking voters out of play in the northeast, where people are more dependent on the government and can easily become captives of handouts, so that the only battle is being fought in the south."

U.S. Detention of Venezuelan at J.F.K. Airport Raises Tensions:

A United Nations official who said he was not authorized to discuss the incident for attribution said the organization had received a report that Mr. Maduro had first come to the authorities' attention because he had arrived at the airport less than an hour before the flight and had purchased his ticket with cash.

North Korea to Challenge U.S. on Nuclear Fuel:

The Bush administration has defended the sanctions as a vital law enforcement action. Administration officials say that they are unrelated to the nuclear talks and that the only significant obstacle to resuming those talks is North Korea's reluctance to give up nuclear weapons.

Brazilian Mining Company to Buy Inco of Canada:

"We have great respect for the quality of their management team and for what they have accomplished as a company," Scott Hand, Inco's chairman and chief executive, said of C.V.R.D.

National Report

Medicare Refund Mixup Part of Larger Tangle:

"Our messaging will strive to maintain public confidence in C.M.S. and its systems, despite the recent error, and to deter any negative generalizations about Medicare or the Part D program," which covers prescription drugs, the plan said.

Christian Conservatives Look to Re-energize Base:

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, looked ahead to 2008 and the possibility that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton might be the Democratic presidential candidate. Ms. Clinton's nomination, Mr. Falwell said to laughs, would arouse even more evangelical opposition than Lucifer's.

In Seattle, a Dream From the Past Has a Hazy Future:

"We got the model home," Mr. Albro said, "and it's the only one in the development that ended up getting built."

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