Jack Curry Baseball Analysis discusses New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner's seeming indifference toward offseason trades and acquisitions in year that could produce disappointing fourth consecutive season without World Series win; photos (M)

Baseball Analysis; What's Up With the Boss?

a houston holiday: barbecue, al green and

A Houston Holiday: Barbecue, Al Green And 5,000 Guests

New Jersey Devils tie Philadelphia Flyers, 3-3; photo (M)

Devils' Early Lead Doesn't Hold Up To Flyers' Pressure

Historians and preservationists are finally granted permission to dig atland plot in Brooklyn (NYC) where they expected to discover remains of Revolutionary War soldiers; find no human bones; photos (M)

What Remains of the Day; In Vinegar Hill, a Last Look at a Revolutionary War Grave Site

Major Aug 14 blackout has not led to any widespread governmental study of state of electric system across nation; officials say they lack authority or expertise; many experts are skeptical that problems of kind that caused blackout are being found and fixed; note error by any company on electric grid could snowball far beyond guilty party's area (M)l

Few Indications Efforts to Cut Blackout Risks Are Under Way

USG and creditors of two other companies argue before three-judge federal appeals court panel that Judge Alfred M Wolin should be ordered off asbestos-related bankruptcies of Owens Corning, USG, W R Grace & Co, Armstrong World Industries and Federal Mogul Global; creditors argue that David R Gross and C Judson Hamlin, Wolin's advisers, used their status to influence Wolin and then used his decisions to influence proceedings in G-I Holdings bankruptcy, where they represented people who have yet to file their asbestos claims; USG arguews Wolin held numerous meetings individually with various parties in bankruptcy, depriving other parties of chances to advocate their positions; Wolin, who does not appear in court, questions timing of move to force him out; unusual move would both complicate and prolong already difficult proceedings; photo (M)

Pleas Made to Take Judge Off Bankruptcy Case

General Motors, which started year with almost $19 billion pension deficit, by far biggest of any company, expects to close gap for American employees by end of year; has taken extraordinary steps to raise money for funds; vice chairman John Devine says GM's experience shows most companies can find ways to keep pension obligations under control (M)

Pension Gap Is Closing, G.M. Reports

Pres Bush says he expects Halliburton to repay $61 million if subsidiary Kellogg, Brown & Root is found to have overcharged Pentagon on contract to deliver fuel to Iraq; Halliburton charged government $2.27 a gallon for 56.6 million gallons of gas from Kuwait, price that was $1.09 more than another contractor; issue has become lightning rod because of Vice Pres Dick Cheney's connection to Halliburton; Democrats are charging Halliburton's role in Iraq reflects administration's willingness to do favors for friendly corporate interests; Bush also defends his choice of James A Baker III as envoy for talks with other nations about forgiving Iraq's debts; Baker's law firm Baker Botts, and investment firm Carlyle Group, where he is investment counselor, have business interests in Middle East (M)

Bush Sees Need For Repayment If Fee Was High

Harvey Araton Sports of The Times column discusses influence that Cleveland Cavaliers player LeBron James will have on future generations of prodigy basketball players, like Sebastian Telfair, and sports teams that will want young players; photos (M)

Sports of The Times; LeBron's Legacy? Tune In To Find Out

A former Iraqi intelligence officer who was said to have met in Prague with Mohamed Atta, the suspected leader of the Sept. 11 attacks, has told American interrogators that the meeting never happened, according to officials familiar with classified intelligence reports on the matter.       Article, Page A10.

Fresh Doubt Is Cast On Qaeda-Iraq Link

New York Yankees will reportedly use Kenny Lofton in center field and seem to be holding off on permanently filling spot in right field (M)

With Lofton in Fold, the Yankees Look to Right

Early flu season, which began in Texas, spreads rapidly across West, where hospitals and emergency rooms have treated more cases already than for last year's entire flu season; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says illness is widespread in 24 states, up from 13 last week; measuring prevalence of flu is difficult because it is generally not reported to local health departments; strain is Fujian and seems to be more agonizing and, in some cases, deadly; comments from parents and sufferers in affected areas; photo (M)

Flu in the West Closes Schools But Fills Clinics

Connecticut Gov John Rowland, whose administration has been engulfed in series of federal corruption investigations for last four years, admits to giving false and misleading information when questioned about work done on his private lakeside cottage; initially said he had paid for all work done, but now admits to having work done free, having other work paid for by aides and receiving gifts from people in his employ, most notably a hot tub he had said he bought himself; statement comes as surprise and many lawmakers wonder if Rowland can survive more revelations of ethical lapses; Democratic lawmakers will meet to discuss what, if any action to take, although there is no formal legal sanction short of impeachment; at least one lawmaker and two newspapers call for resignation and even Republicans and former aides express concern about his ability to govern effectively; photo (M)

ROWLAND ADMITS FALSE STATEMENTS ON COTTAGE WORK

Israel's right-wing Likud party is publicly grappling with prospect that, within several years, Arabs are likely to be in majority in Israel and occupied territories and that they may switch from demanding their own state to demanding right to vote in Israel, threatening nation's Jewish identity; though party's platform opposes Palestinian state west of Jordan River, some have concluded that only creation of such state can preserve Israel as Jewish democracy; Prime Min Ariel Sharon appears eager to meet with Palestinian counterpart Ahmed Qurei and is talking about removing some settlements in West Bank and Gaza; some believe Sharon is posturing to satisfy Bush administration, and Palestinians argue that withdrawal would be attempt to unload many Palestinians into smallest possible territory; Qurei says he believes he can reach deal with Sharon, but is critical of idea of unilateral action, as is Bush administration (M)

Likud Debates a Palestinian State to Save Israel

Natural gas prices have surged nearly 50 percent since late Nov in absence of events that normally spur such spikes; politicians and executives of gas-dependent industries are calling for probes into possible price manipulation by traders; some traders and analysts blame trading strategies at large hedge funds and other financial firms; Sen Orrin G Hatch sets Jan hearings; futures trading volume graph; photos (M)

Natural Gas Prices Surge And Fingers Are Pointing

George Vecsey Sports of The Times column discusses storied Fencers Club of New York, where champion fencers have been produced and come to practice; photos (M)

Sports of The Times; New York Is Turning Out Champions, Five Floors Up

Dan Barry About New York column discusses Renaissance Military and Leadership Academy, one of New York City's public schools that was turned into military school to teach discipline to struggling Harlem (NYC) students (M)

About New York; Give Me 15: Class Discipline, Military Style

New York City Mayor Michael R Bloomberg says his administration is to blame for city's inability to deal swiftly with violent children at public schools; admits that city's processes for suspending students is ineffective (M)

Mayor Accepts Blame for Lag In Suspensions

 Iranian Group Makes Appeal  An Iranian opposition group, the People's Mujahedeen, has asked the Pentagon to overrule an order by the Iraqi Governing Council that would expel its members from Iraq, possibly sending them to Iran.   PAGE A9    Chemotherapy Shortchange  A study of 20,000 women with early breast cancer found that more than half did not receive the recommended schedule of chemotherapy, which may have put them at risk for a worsening of the disease.   PAGE A11

INSIDE

Rutgers University does not approve proposal to merge with New Jersey Medicine and Dentistry University and New Jersey Institute of Technology, which New Jersey Governor James E McGreevey had made one of his top priorities over past year (M)

Rutgers Says No To Proposal For Merging 3 Universities

California legislators vote overwhelmingly to put Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger's fiscal package on state ballot in March ; package includes bond to finance as much as $15 billion in debt and spending limit intended to prevent future overspending, and forces lawmakers to put money aside each year for bad economic times; while there is no certainty that voters will approve changes, passage will be priority for Schwarzenegger and leaders of Democratic-controlled legislature; photo (M)

Schwarzenegger Wins Approval To Put Fiscal Proposal on Ballot

Somerset Medical Center (NJ) nurse Charles Cullen, who is being questioned for unexplained death at hospital, was fired or asked to resign from three previous hospitals for poor performance or questionable practices (M)

Nurse Facing Inquiry Was Forced Out at 3 Hospitals

 Bush Expects Repayment If U.S. Was Overcharged  President Bush said that he expected Halliburton to have to repay $61 million if the company is found by the Pentagon to have overcharged the government by that amount on a contract to deliver fuel to Iraq.    A day after the Pentagon said it had evidence that Halliburton failed to get a reasonable price for the fuel from a subcontractor in Kuwait and passed the inflated price along to American taxpayers, Mr. Bush said the Defense Department was doing a good job of investigating the matter. [Page A1.]

BUSINESS DIGEST

Joe Trippi, Howard Dean's campaign manager, has helped transform Dean to frontrunner for Democratic presidential nomination; has revolutionized use of Internet for political fund-raising and organizing; while Dean phenomenon is due to combination of factors, people inside campaign, rivals and even candidate himself agree that it is largely Trippi who has catapulted Dean to top spot; Trippi is known as risk-taker, and some colleagues complain that he is shameless self-promoter who embraces zealous competition and employs questionable tactics; comments from campaign workers; career highlights; photo (M)

Dean's Manager: Inside Savvy and Outsider Edge

New York City Council Committee on Housing and Buildings approves legislation that will remove lead paint and dust from city apartments; sends bill to full Council (M)

City Council Moves Forward With Lead Paint Legislation

The Iraq War, also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq from 2003 to 2011. It began with the invasion by a United States-led coalition, which resulted in the overthrow of the Ba'athist government of Saddam Hussein. The conflict persisted as an insurgency arose against coalition forces and the newly established Iraqi government. US forces were officially withdrawn in 2011. In 2014, the US became re-engaged in Iraq, leading a new coalition under Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, as the conflict evolved into the ongoing Islamic State insurgency.

Iraq War: Operation Red Dawn: Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is captured near his home town of Tikrit.

December 13, 2003

Headlines from December 13, 2003

Baseball Analysis; What's Up With the Boss?

A Houston Holiday: Barbecue, Al Green And 5,000 Guests

Devils' Early Lead Doesn't Hold Up To Flyers' Pressure

What Remains of the Day; In Vinegar Hill, a Last Look at a Revolutionary War Grave Site

Few Indications Efforts to Cut Blackout Risks Are Under Way

Billboard 200

The Black Album

The Singles 1992-2003

In The Zone

Metamorphosis

Now 14

Historical Events

Historical Context for December 13, 2003