Friday October 20, 2006

The Final Word: “Free Speech Is Worth Every Penny 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

U.S. Says Violence in Baghdad Rises, Foiling Campaign:

The strategy known as "clear, hold and build" is loosely patterned on a similar effort in Vietnam after the Tet offensive, which was credited with helping turn the tide in that war against the Communist insurgents in the early 1970's, before the withdrawal of American troops and a cutoff in Congressional financing for the war hastened the final Communist victory. American commanders in Iraq say that the Baghdad campaign has so far covered only the "clear" and "hold" phases, and that the rebuilding of infrastructure in cleared Baghdad neighborhoods, especially restoring electricity, sewage and clinics, could help win popular support that would aid in tracking down the death squads and insurgents.

News Analysis: Bush Faces a Battery of Ugly Choices on War:

Privately some Republicans say that the combination of a poor showing in next month's midterm elections and the worsening violence could ultimately force Mr. Rumsfeld's departure. Pentagon aides say Mr. Rumsfeld is not planning on going anywhere. "He serves at the pleasure of the president and has no intention to step down," said Eric Ruff, the Pentagon press secretary. And, officially, the White House says it has no intention of changing its strategy, either. Only its tactics.

Republican Woes Lead to Feuding by Conservatives:

Mr. Gingrich, for his part, made the best of the fray, saying, "I would rather have a movement active enough to bite itself rather than a movement so moribund it didn't realize it was irritated."

China May Press North Koreans:

"The people who were the most critical of Kim in the past were a minority," said one scholar. "But they have a bigger voice now. The people who had the most favorable interpretations of Kim's actions are for now keeping quiet."

South Korea Tells Rice It Won't Abandon Industrial and Tourist Ventures With North:

The Security Council sanctions bar the sale or transfer of material that could be used to make nuclear, biological and chemical weapons or ballistic missiles. They also forbid international travel and freeze overseas assets of people associated with North Korea's nuclear program.

North Korean Ploy Masks Ships Under Other Flags:

The Tuvalu ship registry said Friday in an e-mail statement that it had been reorganized in May 2004 and had no vessels previously on North Korean or Cambodian registries.

Cards Shock Mets in 9th and Are Off to World Series:

On his way out, he found Minaya in the middle of the locker room. As they hugged, Minaya told him, "The players didn't cheat you, they didn't cheat you."

New Nerve Test, a Moneymaker, Divides Doctors:

"Family physicians can safely and reliably administer the tests," said Dr. Keith Lehman, an official with the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians, which has been fighting efforts by the Medicare administrator in that state to curtail use of the tests. "It's more convenient for the patients," he said, "and it's quicker."

Ex-Stock Exchange Chief Told to Return Up to $100 Million:

That brings the total to close to $100 million, representing a significant portion of the $185 million he was paid as head of the stock exchange from 1995 to 2003.

No Test Tubes? Debate on Virtual Science Classes :

"You don't get the look and the feel and the smell," he said.

Other News

Kremlin Puts Foreign NGO's on Notice:

The Justice Ministry said it was working to expedite the registrations and blamed the organizations for not providing required documentation.

Stocks & Bonds: How Far Past 12,000? Watch Data:

"Investor confidence is still somewhat cautious," said Bruce Bittles, chief market strategist at Robert W. Baird. "We don't have the extreme optimism like we had in the past. Until we get them invested, I think the market is going to keep going up."

Priest Says He Had Close Contact With Foley:

Asked what he would tell Mr. Foley, he said, "Remember the good times we had together, you know, and how well we enjoyed each other's company." He added, "Don't keep dwelling on this thing, you know?"

Movie Review | 'Flags of Our Fathers': A Ghastly Conflagration, a Tormented Aftermath:

One view of Mr. Eastwood is that he has mellowed with age, or at least begun to take serious measure of the violence that has been an animating force in many of his films. In truth, the critical establishment caught up with the director, who for decades has been building a fascinating body of work that considers annihilating violence as a condition of the American character, not an aberration. "Flags of Our Fathers" is an imperfect addition to that body of work, though its flaws are minor and finally irrelevant in a film in which ambivalence and ambiguity are constituent of a worldview, not an aftereffect. Notably, Mr. Eastwood's next film, "Letters From Iwo Jima," set to open early next year, revisits the same battle, this time from the point of view of the Japanese.

In God's Name: Sharing the Health Bills:

He seemed unconcerned about the Kentucky litigation. "We went through this eight years ago," he said. "Then, you have a regime change and another set of bushy-tails comes into command and it starts up all over again."

International

St. Andrews Journal: As Smoke Clears, Scots Breathe Easy Behind the Bar:

Ms. Grant, the Canadian real estate agent, recalled how a similar ban had affected parts of Canada. At first, she said, people stayed home and bar business fell. But then, "as much as people like staying home," she said, "now you can't beat the atmosphere of going out, meeting people and standing outside and freezing."

Is Nothing Sacred? Paris Mayor Auctions Fine Wines:

"I'm proud to have built such a collection," said Mr. Bled, "but I'm a little sad that they didn't drink more."

Nobel Comes Just in Time for Troubled Bangladesh:

"We are a nation thirsty for recognition for something good," Mahfuz Anam, the editor of The Daily Star, an English-language newspaper, said, explaining the excitement of the last few days. "The euphoria is absolutely proportionate to the despondency that was there."

Putin's Flippant Comments on Israeli Scandal Are Heard:

"I'll be frank with you," a Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said in a telephone interview. "I heard some jokes were made when the press was leaving. I was not there, and I cannot comment on what was reported."

Court Overturns Parts of Secrecy Law in Canada:

Christian Girouard, a spokesman for Canada's Department of Justice, said the decision "will be carefully considered to see if further proceedings are needed."

Pentagon Audit Clears Propaganda Effort:

"Broader policy questions remain about whether the administration's manipulation of the news in Iraq contradicts our goal of a free and independent media there," said Mr. Kennedy, who had requested the inspector general's investigation.

National Report

Ruling Is Due for Justice Who Lobbied for Bush Pick:

"Imagine the senior-most appellate justice of this state being sanctioned for speaking truthful speech on a matter of public importance that is core speech in our democracy," he said. "Tragedy, true. Comedy tonight, perhaps."

Trial Begins for 2 Charged With Aiding Terror Group:

Dr. Ashqar's lawyer, William Moffitt, portrayed his client, who came to the United States on an academic fellowship, as an intellectual who kept current on Palestinian issues. Enjoying the free speech afforded to him in this country, he met openly with others concerned about Palestinian issues, Mr. Moffitt told jurors.

Scientists Take Step Toward Invisibility:

"We hope it's got some commercial potential," Mr. Myhrvold said. "It could easily take years to figure out what the stuff is really good for from a practical, pragmatic standpoint. But, boy, it sure is really cool from a short-term standpoint."

Former Clerk Tells Panel He Alerted Speaker's Office to Foley Concerns:

Mr. Trandahl, who was elected by the House but served at the pleasure of the speaker’s office, has emerged as a central figure in the case. The House investigators are trying to establish whether a deteriorating relationship between Mr. Van Der Meid and others in the Capitol, particularly Mr. Trandahl, played a role in how complaints about Mr. Foley were handled.

Confident Democrats Draft Broad Health Care Agenda:

Democrats insist that government negotiations could save large sums for Medicare. They would like to use the money to improve the drug benefit — by closing a gap in coverage, sometimes known as a doughnut hole, or by making it easier for low-income people to qualify for extra assistance.

Bush Campaigns for 2 Lawmakers Caught Up in Controversy:

Outside the event, several hundred protesters drummed while chanting "Allen is a racist" and "Impeach Bush."

Democrats Make Big Gains in Fund-Raising, but G.O.P. Has More Cash on Hand:

Asked to comment on the fund-raising reports, Mr. Dean responded in a statement on Thursday evening that, "We're pleased that we nearly doubled what the D.N.C. raised in the last midterm election, but we're going to keep working hard to ensure that our candidates have the resources to win."

County G.O.P. Asks Candidate to Withdraw Over Letter Threat:

It was signed Sergio Ramirez and printed on stationery purporting to be that of the anti-immigration group California Coalition for Immigration Reform. That group's leader, Barbara Coe, said the stationery did not resemble her group's and denied it had sent the letter.

Firm Reports Stem Cell Use for Making of Insulin:

Donated pancreases are scarce, so scientists hope to use stem cells to create insulin-producing cells. People with Type 1 diabetes and their families were among the biggest backers of the effort to create a $3 billion program of stem cell research in California. The program's chairman, the real estate developer Robert N. Klein, has a son with diabetes.

Limits Placed on House Aide After a Leak:

Mr. Ware said Mr. Hoekstra's action had been prompted by a letter from another committee Republican, Ray LaHood of Illinois, describing the staff member's request for the document. The letter was first reported Thursday night by The Associated Press.

Support
The Final Word:
Buy A Bumper Sticker

Page 1

Other News

International

National Report

Previously...