October 15, 2001

Interview with Afzal, Afghan father of four who has lived through long, painful arc of Afghan history and is testament to country's present plight; like most Afghans he is illiterate, but remains determined and resourceful survivor after 23 years of invasion and civil war; is optimistic country's hour may have finally come with American military campaign to dislodge ruling Taliban, and is optimistic that better era than his own awaits his children; photo (M)

Collapse of Global Crossing's stock from $61.375 two years ago to 82 cents today has been financially devastating to many people in upstate New York, but not to some Global Crossing executives and directors, who have done quite well, cashing out to varying degrees during last few years; Gary Winnick, who helped found company in 1997, has sold shares for more than $600 million; other company insiders who sold earlier this year include David A Walsh, president and chief operating officer, Joseph P Clayton, director, and Lodwrick Cook, co-chairman; meanwhile, investors and workers who owned shares in old Rochester Telephone, which was swallowed up by Global Crossing, saw their shares in low-risk utility converted into shares in high-risk start-up; photo; graph (M)

Introduction of anthrax-carrying mail and copycat letters has turned news offices into battlefields of biological or psychological warfare; scattershot attacks on national and regional news companies is unusual tactic: even groups who profess hatred of media use it to raise their profile; choice of media companies as targets guarantees maximum impact for anyone spreading fear; aside from confirmed cases of anthrax at NBC and American Media in Boca Raton, Fla, there have been scares at at least four other news companies, including The New York Times; news employees try to recapture their lost equilibrium, as law enforcement officials and terrorism experts cast about for clues (M)

Military analysis of weeklong US air strikes on Afghanistan; widespread and intensive military campaign is outstripping diplomatic maneuvers as behind-the-scenes effort to organize leadership that would replace Taliban leaders has made no discernible progress; map; photo (M)

New York Jets defeat Miami Dolphins, 21-17; photo (M)