September 18, 2001

Issue of violence in movies discussed in light of terrorist attacks on America; photo (M)

Atty Gen John Ashcroft outlines proposals for strengthening security and expanding role of Justice Department to 'identify, prevent and punish terrorism,' including measures that would give law enforcement expanded electronic surveillance powers, added search authority and power to seize assets of suspected terrorists; legal experts say courts are unlikely to challenge Congress's security decisions; security experts say technology presents almost limitless possibilities including national electronic identification cards (M)

Directors of performing arts companies across country ponder how to react to attacks on World Trade Center and Pentagon; people turn to theaters and concert halls for sense of community; Sir Peter Hall, who is directing Verdi's Otello at Lyric Opera Company in Chicago, says people seem to want to be in theaters in times of tragedy; photo (M)

Skyscrapers could be built to withstand most any stress, but probably at prohibitive cost of money and aethetic appeal; World Trade Center towers were able to withstand impact of terrorist airplane crash, but succumbed to heat of inferno created by burning jet fuel (M)

Dr Robert Ursano, professor of psychiatry at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Md, and expert on effects of terrorism and disasters, says most people will not suffer lasting effects from World Trade Center disaster; because there is no precedent for situation of this nature, however, experts say that those most likely to develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder will those most directly exposed to death and injury; discussion of research experiments, possible symptoms of disorder and successful therapeutic models; photos (M)