May 18, 2002

New Jersey Nets player Kenyon Martin answers Boston Celtics player Paul Pierce's warning that no Nets player could defend him with silence and a smile as two teams head into Eastern Conference finals; photo (M)

Bush administration begins aggressive attack on Democrats in Congress as Pres Bush tries to contain political fury over warning he received last August that Osama bid Laden might be planning hijacking; White House spokesman Ari Fleischer takes direct aim at Sen Hillary Rodham Clinton, accusing her of trying to undermine administration in speech she made on Senate floor questioning how much Bush knew before Sept 11 attacks; Bush also makes his first, brief public comment on issue, saying of Washington that 'unfortunately, it's the kind of place where second-guessing has become second nature'; adds that 'had I known that the enemy was going to use airplanes to kill on that fateful morning, I would have done everything in my power to protect the American people'; administration finds itself on defensive once again, this time over 1999 report titled Sociology and Psychology of Terrorism that was prepared by Library of Congress for National Intelligence Agency that eerily foreshadowed Sept 11 attacks; report said 'Suicide bomber(s) belonging to Al Qaeda's Martyrdom Battalion could crash-land an aircraft packed with high explosives into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the Central Intelligence Agency or the White House'; report based its analysis largely on fact that in 1995, similar plot by group of Islamic militants based in Philippines who were linked to Al Qaeda was foiled; Bush's wife, Laura, issues statement from Budapest saying she finds it sad that people would play upon victims' families' emotions, or all Americans' emotions; House Republicans' campaign organization compiles and circulates list of votes against military or intelligence spending by Democrats who questioned Bush, while Republican Sen Mitch McConnell says Democrats are 'salivating at the opportunity to try to bring the president down'; Fleischer says White House learned of 1999 intelligence report only in morning and that neither Bush nor Condoleezza Rica, national security adviser, has seen it; Clinton says she is only seeking answers and information, and is not looking to point fingers or place blame on anybody; Fleischer singles out Sen Dianne Feinstein for comments made on CNN in July 2001 warning of 'major probability of a terrorist incident' within three months; says question arises, what did Democrats know and why weren't they talking to each other? Sen Joseph I Lieberman says political furor is more of reason for House and Senate to go forward with legislation sponsored by him and Sen John McCain to create independent commission to look into events leading up to Sept 11; photos (M)

Trainers of other horses in Preakness race vow their horses will provide more competition to Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem in Preakness, especially in first quarter mile of race (M),

Analysis of Mayor Michael R Bloomberg's effort to gain right to hire and fire not only chancellor of New York City school system but also 32 community school superintendents; says he has come to recognize that without control over 32 superintendents, his ability to run schools is limited; says he wants to abolish or restructure 32 elected community school boards, but State Assembly is not going along; says fact that abolishing school boards has become central obstacle to deal shows what lightning rod they are (M)

Mel Spillman, former probate clerk in San Antonio, Tex, pleads guilty to bilking nearly $5 million from estates of at least 122 people; Spillman, who faces up to 10 years in state prison, is to be sentenced June 4; office of Dist Atty Susan D Reed has seized his $400,000 home and put his five Ferraris up for sale; Spillman's lavish lifestyle detailed; photos (M)