March 18, 2003

United Airlines asks US Bankruptcy Judge Eugene Wedoff to set aside its labor agreements as it seeks deep wage and benefit cuts for its employees; motion, filed by United's parent UAL Corp, proposes series of agreements that would permanently reduce wage and benefits by $2.56 billion per year and make changes in scheduled flight crews, pension plans, job security and various clauses that govern staffing levels and job duties; UAL also wants to create low-fare airline; photo (M)

US and Australia begin negotiations for free trade agreement; hope to complete treaty by mid-2004 (S)0

Terence L Kindlon, lawyer for Christopher Lloyd McMillian, files papers saying experts for both defense and prosecution have determined McMillian is mentally retarded, thereby removing option of death sentence, which is being sought by prosecution; McMillian, Lavin Matthews and Tebiah Tucker are accused of killing truck driver Carlton Rose in Binghamton, NY, in Jan 2000; government says murder occurred in context of gang-related interstate conspiracy among them to sell crack; case was reviewed by Atty Gen John Ashcroft's office in June 2002 because McKindlon sought to dissuade Justice Dept from seeking death penalty, but attempt was rejected at that time (L)

The golf courses are busy -- but so is the thrift shop, as a retirement town faces up to the combination of longer lives and tougher times. SECTION G

Both Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC intend that 75th annual Academy Awards will go on as planned on March 23, war or no war with Iraq; photo (M)

Profile of Green Valley, Ariz, retirement community of 17,283 in 2000 census with median age of 72; residents are living longer, more vigorous lives, but three-year rout of investment markets has taken its toll; some residents have been forced to tighten their belts or even move back with their children or into government-subsidized housing; photos; map (L)

Peter Gotti is convicted of racketeering and other charges in case that prosecutors describe as blow to Mafia and its control of New York waterfront; also convicted on various charges are Richard V Gotti, Richard G Gotti and Anthony Ciccone; defense lawyers assert there are problems with conviction and hope for reversal either by Judge Frederick Block or appeals court; charges reviewed; photos (M)

Analysis: Pres Bush's speech announcing that he has chosen war cuts through debate over who has right to enforce United Nations resolutions or overthrow brutal regimes; he turns America's first new national security strategy in 50 years--doctrine of pre-emptive military action against potential enemies amassing weapons of mass destruction--into rationale for America's latest war; says it would be 'suicide' to wait to act until after America's foes strike first, in age of unseen enemies who make no formal declarations of war; during his presidential campaign, Bush spoke of need for 'humble' approach to world; he embraced aggressive view of America's duty within months of entering Oval Office, and it became his fierce passion after Sept 11, 2001; allies and political advisers say his gunslinging cowboy image, long dismissed by his aides, may now have its advantages (M)

New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza and Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Guillermo Mota are suspended for five games for brawl during exhibition game; Piazza is fined $3,000 and will likely appeal; Mota is fined $1,500 (M)

Many Americans feel sense of relief that long buildup to war with Iraq has ended, but there is little evidence of national cockiness that many recall feeling before operation Desert Storm during Persian Gulf War in 1991; there is little excitement at chance to put newfangled American weapons to test, and few illusions about how costly war could be in human life or materiel or money; there are widespread fears that Bush administration has committed itself so thoroughly and irrevocably to war in Iraq that it has left America's flanks across world and even at home exposed to attack; there is concern also that government's willingness to go it nearly alone, at dear price in international support, could prove fateful; photos (M)

Thai economy grew at annual rate of 6.1 percent in fourth quarter of 2002, fastest pace since before 1997-98 Asian financial crisis (S)

Businesspeople in Britain are uneasy about plans for postwar reconstruction in Iraq and prospect that British companies will be left out, despite Britain's military commitment to disarming Saddam Hussein; several British executives say they are surprised to learn that US Agency for International Development is seeking bids from American companies for $900 million worth of building contracts in postwar Iraq; representatives from 15 British companies met with government officials in London last week to find out where British companies are likely to stand (M)