December 17, 1998

Computer-generated administrative assistants use speech recognition to manage telephone, E-mail and fax communications for busy people; growing number of people are using such virtual assistants, but there are tradeoffs; current limits of speech recognition technology make interaction with virtual assistants frustrating, and they speak and understand only preset phrases; they can be maddeningly literal and impenetrable; comparison of three systems that operate nationally: Portico, Wildfire and Webley; photo; drawing (M)

News analysis of Pres Clinton's decision to launch air strikes against Iraq; reaction among politicians has pushed him closer to reality that long months of evasions and legalisms and his enemies' unceasing denunciations of him as liar have been costly to both him and nation; his credibility is crumbling, especially but not exclusively among Republicans on Capitol Hill; some sober and experienced leaders no longer accept his word (M)

David Meggett joins New York Jets as punt and kickoff return specialist; says he is in good shape despite not having played in 11 months; photo (M)

The Bombing INSPECTORS FEARED GROWING INVENTORY United Nations weapons inspectors have concluded that Iraq could be hiding two to five times more deadly germ agents than it had admitted to making, as well as the warheads to deliver them, United Nations officials said. In interviews, the inspectors said Iraq's systematic refusal to cooperate in recent weeks had deepened their suspicions. Page A15. A WAVE OF MISSILES -- Administration officials say the air strikes would likely leave the United States with little ability to closely monitor Iraq's capability to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons. They said it would also force the United States to maintain a large military presence in the gulf region for at least several more years. Page A17.

Chase Manhattan Corp expects to soundly beat analyst earnings estimates for fourth quarter; Chase says it is in striking distance of record profits for quarter; vice chairman Marc Shapiro comments (M)