December 3, 2001 Diary: America Strikes Back

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Painting permits expression of grief
Monday, December 3, 2001
By Mindie Paget

Like so many other Americans, Lawrence resident Lenise Eddings watched the Sept. 11 tragedy unfold on her television.
"I was glued to my couch for about three days," the 49-year-old said. "I sat there like a stone."

U.S. battles for city control
Monday, December 3, 2001
Relentless U.S. airstrikes pummeled the defenders of Kandahar Sunday with anti-Taliban forces within 20 miles of the last militia stronghold. A U.S. Marine officer said his troops might join the assault.
In the east, a provincial military official said U.S. warplanes bombed an anti-Taliban headquarters Sunday, killing at least eight people. The claim came a day after the official reported similar bombings killed scores of civilians nearby.

Holding their places
Monday, December 3, 2001
J-W Editorials

Employers and reservist employees can make the system work with fair and honest deportment.
Among those who will have to make sacrifices for the good of the country and its citizens are employers who have personnel called to active duty for the ongoing conflict against terrorism.

Agencies offer tips for avoiding scams in wake of terrorist attacks
Monday, December 3, 2001
Wherever there is a tragedy, you can bet that con artists and unscrupulous businesses will try to profit from it.
In the wake of Sept. 11, an increasing number of crooks are trying to get people to plunk down cash for investments that hedge against the rise or fall of prices in such commodities as gold, heating oil, gasoline, corn, pork bellies or foreign currency. The scams, often wrapped around patriotic appeals, might come in an e-mail, regular mail, a telemarketing call or on a late-night cable TV infomercial.

Bush demands tough action from Arafat
Monday, December 3, 2001
President Bush, rushing back from Camp David to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, made clear Sunday that PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat must move immediately against militants involved in the weekend bombings, which killed at least 25 Israelis and threatened to snuff out a new American peace effort.
During the hastily arranged White House session, Sharon said he did not expect Arafat to take vigorous action, telling Bush that the Israeli government would "do what we have to do to protect our citizens," according to an official Israeli account.

Sharon declares 'war on terror,' says Arafat responsible
Monday, December 3, 2001
(Web Posted Monday at 12:32 p.m.) Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared a "war on terror" Monday and said Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was directly responsible for attacks on Israel over the weekend.

Israeli air force strikes Gaza, Jenin
Monday, December 3, 2001
(Updated Monday at 4:09 p.m.) Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared war on terror Monday, and Israeli airstrikes destroyed two of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's helicopters in Gaza and hit West Bank security installations.

American among Taliban holdouts at prison
Monday, December 3, 2001
A man claiming to be an American was among more than 80 Taliban fighters who straggled out of a flooded basement days after their prison rebellion was crushed at an Afghan fort. Some of the captives were being treated in hospitals Sunday, a health official said.
"U.S. military forces in Afghanistan have in their control a man who calls himself a U.S. citizen," Army Lt. Col. Jim Cassella, a Pentagon spokesman, said in Washington. "He was among the al-Qaida and Taliban prisoners held by the northern alliance in Mazar-e-Sharif."

Anthrax-mail link boosted
Monday, December 3, 2001
A letter apparently mailed to an address near the Bronx home of anthrax victim Kathy Nguyen passed through the same New Jersey postal sorting machine within seconds of the anthrax-laced letter sent to Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., officials said Sunday.

Ridge calls for Americans to be on high alert status
Monday, December 3, 2001
(Updated Monday at 4:18 p.m.) President Bush's homeland security chief asked Americans again to go on a high state of alert Monday, citing threats of more terrorist attacks, probably around "important religious observations" this month.

Battle for Kandahar continues
Monday, December 3, 2001
(Updated Monday at 12:35 p.m.) Anti-Taliban fighters battled for control of Kandahar's airport Monday as American bombers pounded suspected hide-outs of Osama bin Laden in the rugged White Mountains near the border with Pakistan.

Briefly
Monday, December 3, 2001
• Cowboy rides to NYC
• Report on airport cites leadership lapse
• European conference to focus on terrorism
• SEC investigates anthrax kits

Ashcroft: Religious groups may be monitored
Monday, December 3, 2001
Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft warned Sunday that religious or political groups normally free from government intrusion could be monitored by agents if they are suspected of engaging in terrorism.

Briefly
Sunday, December 2, 2001
• WASHINGTON: Bush calls on Arafat to fight terrorism with action
• NEW YORK: Wrongfully ID'd firefighter reburied by rightful family
• New Jersey: Members of Arab enclaves draw interest of FBI agents
• NEW YORK: Drop in tourists forces layoffs at famed art museum