Friday September 29, 2006

The Final Word: “Death to Logic/Reading Intelligence 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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Senate Approves Broad New Rules to Try Detainees:

Another failed amendment would have required the State Department to inform other nations of what interrogation techniques it considered illegal for use on American troops, a move intended to prompt the administration to say publicly what techniques it considers out of bounds.

News Analysis: Democrats See Strength in Bucking Bush: Each party believes it enhanced its political standing this week. The Nov. 7 elections will help determine which one did.

Hewlett's Hunt for Leak Became a Game of Clue:

But now that all their work has been exposed to the light of day, the investigators are unlikely to be taken up on the offer they presented in the final sentence of the report. "The investigation team," they wrote, "would be pleased to participate in any discussions regarding proactive measures designed to reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in the future."

Pirro & Pirro, a Partnership of Love, Power and Distrust:

Indeed, he is mostly famous these days for accumulating speeding tickets. William O'Shaughnessy, who owns two radio stations in New Rochelle and is friendly with both of the Pirros, said: "I think she loves him, and the feeling is mutual. These episodes are a cri de coeur. He's saying, 'Jeanine, don't forget me!'

Pirro Tries Damage Control: Asked if Ms. Pirro could still win, Mr. D'Amato said, "It's a tough race." Asked if he was supporting her, Mr. D'Amato repeated, "It's a tough race."

Book Says Bush Ignored Urgent Warning on Iraq:

In late 2005, Mr. Woodward was subpoenaed by the special prosecutor in the C.I.A. leak case. He also apologized to The Post's executive editor for concealing for more than two years that he had been drawn into the scandal.

In Teeming India, Water Crisis Means Dry Pipes and Foul Sludge:

Her well water has turned salty as it has receded over the years. The water from the private tanker is mucky-brown. Still, Mrs. Prasher says, she can hardly afford to reject it. "Beggars can't be choosers," she said. "It's water."

Democrat Ahead in New York G.O.P. Areas, Poll Finds:

Gov. George E. Pataki, who is opening an office in Iowa, fared much worse: 68 percent of those surveyed said that he should not run. As for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has denied interest in running but managed to keep speculation alive, 73 percent of those surveyed said that he should not run for president.

Iraqi Journalists Add Laws to List of Dangers:

"It is the right of the Iraqi government, as it combats terrorism, to silence any voice that tries to harm the national unity," said Mr. Sadr, of the Iraqi Media Network.

Other News

Faster Pace by China on Rise in Currency:

To prevent the currency from appreciating more rapidly, the central bank has bought dollars and sold yuan on a large scale. It has accumulated the world's largest foreign exchange reserves, which are on track to reach $1 trillion in the coming weeks.

Report Links White House and Lobbyist:

But the judge, Paul C. Huck, agreed to allow Mr. Abramoff to remain free only until Nov. 15, saying "there comes a time when people have to pay the piper." Mr. Abramoff pleaded guilty in Miami as part of an agreement with the Justice Department in which he confessed to corruption charges in Washington, and to fraud charges in Florida involving his purchase of a casino- boat fleet there.

South Korean Favored to Win Top Job at U.N.:

Surakiart Sathirathai, 47, deputy prime minister of Thailand, saw his positives fall to five from nine. Both Prince Zeid Raad Zeid al-Hussein, 42, Jordan's ambassador to the United Nations, and Jayantha Dhanapala, 67, of Sri Lanka, a former under secretary general for disarmament, drew only three positive votes.

Martínez to Miss Postseason With Injury:

There have been times when it does not seem that way. But on Thursday, the Mets were reminded of the painful truth.

Critic's Notebook: New York Film Festival Quietly Demands Attention:

A lost forerunner of Hollywood's endless obsession with Italian organized crime, "Mafioso" is a revealing portrait of Italian society and an utter blast, happily blending low comedy, high sentiment, neorealism and farce — almost a film festival unto itself, and evidence that the gap between popular entertainment and artistic accomplishment has not always been so wide. Surely the bridge can be rebuilt.

Movie Review | 'The Queen': However Heavy It Gets, Wear a Crown Lightly:

Diana consecrates Blair, but so does Elizabeth, whose bafflement at the sharing-and-caring of "the people," as she calls them, almost marks her for extinction. Her slow-dawning realization of the cultural shift that had already changed the country is beautifully realized, though not because the actress and her director mistake the queen's intelligence for sentiment. Elizabeth no more likes Diana after death than before. When the queen does break her silence, as we know she will, having watched the moment on television once upon a time, it isn't because of this vexing young woman. It's because Elizabeth, standing alone in the Scottish countryside, Mr. Frears's camera hovering close and then moving off to take in the glorious view, has finally understood not only the implications of her past but also those of the present.

International

Strong Challenge to Zambia's President:

While Mr. Sata's gift for theater and his populist policies have captured the hearts of Zambians, analysts say, it is uncertain whether that will translate to victory. Under Zambia's election rules, whoever wins the most votes becomes president, whether or not that candidate has a majority. Mr. Mwanawasa won election in 2001 with 29 percent of the vote.

Berlin Opera May Be Staged if Police Offer More Security:

A growing number of people predict a similar plan for "Idomeneo," though perhaps on a more elaborate scale. "They will show it," said Michael Naumann, a former culture minister. "They will install security devices, and there will be hundreds of police surrounding the opera house. Mozart is enjoying all this, from somewhere beyond."

Arcachon Journal: In Fragile Oysterdom, Pain and Perhaps Some Politics:

Mr. Brouchet says the changes cannot come too soon. He concedes that "oysters are not a necessity but a luxury," but he is optimistic. He is convinced that come what may, the French will not desert their oysters.

Veteran French Socialist Steps Aside as Candidate for President:

He told Europe 1 radio earlier this month that he would announce his decision on his political future sometime in the first three months of next year, adding, "In the meantime, I refuse to go into any useless speculation."

European Official Reports Progress in Talks With Iran:

"Why are they insisting that we suspend our atomic work?" he said. "Because they control the advertising network of the world, and they want to tell the nations that they were right and Iran wanted to produce nuclear weapons, and after that they would never let us continue our program."

Belgians Say Banking Group Broke European Rules in Giving Data to U.S.:

He declined to say whether Swift was still transferring such data to the United States, but said the consortium was still obligated to answer subpoenas from the American authorities because it conducted substantial business in the United States.

In Britain, Musharraf Is Questioned on Terror Ties:

"It's a tough call not only for Pakistan, but for all countries fighting terrorism," she said. "It is a challenge to strike a balance; while we respect individual rights, we have to prevent terrorist acts."

Congress Is Told of Failures of Rebuilding Work in Iraq:

The 14 Parsons projects included three border forts in the north with undersize and inadequate structural beams and incomplete security measures; five health clinics around Kirkuk with crumbling concrete; and a hospital in Babil Province that also had structural problems.

After Burst of Violence, as Many as 60 Bodies Are Found in Baghdad:

There was also violence in the northern city of Kirkuk, where a suicide car bomber slammed into an Iraqi police convoy as it was leaving the American military base, said Col. Aiwa Khursheed, a police official. The explosion killed a policeman and wounded 11 others.

National Report

Judge Halts Effort to Recoup Mistaken Medicare Refunds:

The poorest Medicare beneficiaries do not have to pay premiums for drug coverage. But Mr. Deford said that many of those who did pay premiums had relatively low incomes. About half of beneficiaries have annual incomes less than twice the poverty level, he said. The poverty level is $9,800 for an individual.

Florida Man Kills a Sheriff's Deputy and Wounds Another:

"Listen to me, folks," Sheriff Judd said. "We will find him. We will bring him to justice."

Shooting Leaves Loss of Life, and Innocence:

The town also got money after Columbine for a full-time police officer at the high school. But when Mr. Morrison arrived at the school late Wednesday morning, the officer was off campus at the town's police building, Mr. Wegener said.

House Approves Power for Warrantless Wiretaps:

Senator Arlen Specter, the Pennsylvania Republican who worked out the compromise with the White House, said he saw it as the only viable way to ensure some measure of judicial review over the program.

Hundreds Arrested in a Protest Tied to Unionizing Hotel Workers:

"When you coordinate with the police, you're still doing civil disobedience and making the same point," Mr. Hurd said. "And at same time you don't have the same amount of risk — a car running into people, people being hit with billy clubs."

Senate Moves Toward Action on Border Fence:

The second amendment, proposed by Mr. Martinez, would give the secretary of homeland security greater flexibility in determining when operational control of the borders is achieved.

Bush Attacks Democrats Over Iraq and Terror:

"History," he said, "tells us that logic is false."

Through a spokesman, Ms. Harman said Thursday evening, "If the president reads his own intelligence, he will see that his failed strategy in Iraq is making the terrorist threat more dangerous."

(OK, we broke the rules and posted the second-to-last paragraph as well. Just this once, though: couldn't leave that gem of a verbal gaffe behind. Thank you again, Mr. President; sometimes you are knee-slappingly hilarious and and absolutely terrifying at the very same time.)

Company Acts in Outbreak From Spinach:

Of the company's new safety inspections, Mr. Sweat said there would be tests of all raw produce coming into the plant from the growers' fields, similar to the method used in the beef processing industry to screen for contaminated products.

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