May 2, 2004

Intruders Menace Tenants A number of young tenants involved with drugs have moved illegally into a Manhattan complex for the old and disabled, raising fears. PAGE 41 China's Grain Campaign China, alarmed by falling grain production, wants farmers to grow more, on less land, to avoid dependence on the United States. PAGE 8

Democratic party officials say Sen John Kerry's nascent presidential campaign is being regularly outmaneuvered by White House as it struggles to find focus and make transition from primaries to fight with Pres Bush; say they are concerned with pace of Kerry's advertising and progress in setting up field organizations in battleground states; veteran campaign operative Donna Brazile calls this 'crucial moment,' and Sen John Edwards, who is potential running mate, is reportedly concerned by signs of trouble in Kerry organization; Kerry has not hired director in major battleground state of Ohio, nor has campaign opened 'war room' to deal with Republican attacks; has not yet unveiled long-promised biographical advertisement highlighting his war record, which Democrats have urged him to broadcast as soon as possible; photo (M)

Alex Kuczynski article contends that viewers of The Swan and Extreme Makeover, reality television programs that take pudgy, snaggle-toothed Americans and put them through cosmetic-surgery juggernaut, have begun to notice eerie Stepford-spouse similarity; holds that if they all get chin implant, brow lift and their lips done they will all look alike; photos (M)

Frank Rich comment on revival of Stephen Sondheim-John Weidman musical Assassins says 9/11 terrorist attacks changed public's reaction to musical; says original production received poor response from critics and audiences, but revival appears to have prescience that draws and mesmerizes public that is off-balance and vulnerable and seeks understanding of incomprehensible events; Weidman comments; photo (M)

Army Reserve Gen Janis Karpinski, whose soldiers were photographed as they abused Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, says she knew nothing about abuse until after it occurred and that she is 'sickened' by photos; says cellblock where abuse occurred was under tight control of Army military intelligence officers who may have encouraged abuse, and suggestion appears largely supported in still-classified Army report; New Yorker magazine article by Seymour M Hersh says report by Maj Gen Antonio M Taguba found that reservist military police at prison were urged to prepare prisoners for interrogation; indicates far more wide-ranging and systematic pattern of abuse than previously reported and reveals litany of cruelties on part of soldiers; photo (M)