July 22, 2005

New York City subway riders view tougher scrutiny as inevitable next step in series of heightened security measures following 9/11 attacks and latest bombings in London; some view prospect of being stopped by police as just another nuisance, while others doubt police assurances that searches would be random; some say they fear unequal treatment for riders based on race or national origin; array of bags, boxes and packages that are routinely carried on and off subways seems certain to complicate logistical questions faced by police; searches seem certain to lead to criticism, if not legal challanges, from civil rights advocates in city; photo (M)

New York City police begin random searches of backpacks and packages brought into subways, alarmed about latest bomb incidents in London transit system; Mayor Michael R Bloomberg, who authorized searches, says there has been no specific threat against city; this is thought to be first such broad, systematic search of packages in subway system that provides 4.7 million rides each weekday; Police Comr Raymond W Kelly says basis for selecting riders for checks would not be race, ethnicity or religion; says department lawyers are researching constitutional implications of searches after New York Civil Liberties Union questions their legality; police spokesman says officers will focus on bags large enough to carry explosive devices or ordnance; says they are unlikely to search pocketbooks; transit officials in several other cities say they are considering similar measures; photos (M)

CIA operative's identity was leaked to media in 2003 by two key White House officials who were mounting damage-control effort over Pres Bush's disputed claim in State of Union address that Iraq bought nuclear materials from Africa; Joseph C Wilson IV, husband of unmasked CIA officer, questioned Bush's assertion, prompting White House to challenge his standing and his credentials; White House officials Karl Rove and I Lewis Libby reportedly helped prepare statement made by then-CIA head George J Tenet on matter, which became administration's primary response to criticism that flawed phrase about nuclear materials in Africa had been in Bush's address six months earlier; defenders of Rove and Libby say they were intent on clarifying use of intelligence in Bush's address, not in orchestrating scheme to discredit Wilson or disclose his wife's undercover status; their effort was striking because it included officials from White House's political and national security operations, which are often separately run; timeline of events in case (L)

A No. 5 starting pitcher, a reserve catcher and a .217 hitter gave momentum to the improbable yesterday at Shea Stadium. If Kazuhisa Ishii can upstage a potential Cy Young Award candidate; if Ramon Castro can play a more complete game than Mike Piazza; and if Doug Mientkiewicz can show greater power than any first baseman the Mets might acquire in a trade, perhaps this team will contend for a playoff spot after all.

It was all going along so well for the Yankees: the game, the road trip, the pennant race. They had smashed four home runs and seemed on their way to another victory, with their ace on the mound. Then the bullpen door opened during the seventh-inning stretch. Randy Johnson, who had needed a trainer's attention in the bottom of the sixth, was finished for the night after 89 pitches. Tanyon Sturtze, who usually gets the call in the seventh inning, did not come out.