February 9, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

The Saudi View of Military Action -- All Things Considered host Robert Siegel talks with New York Times correspondent Youssef Ibrahim, about how Saudis view a potential U-S bombing of Iraq. (4:30)

Oil for Food -- NPR's Mike Shuster reports that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan cancelled a previously scheduled round of visits to the Middle East this week because of the Iraqi crisis. But Annan said he would be prepared to fly to Baghdad if it would prove useful in defusing the current crisis over Saddam Hussein's defiance of Security Council mandated inspections for weapons of mass destruction. (3:30)

King Philip’s War -- Robert interviews Jill Lepore, author of "The Name of War: King Philip's War and the Origins of American Identity." She writes about the nearly forgotten clash between English colonialists and Algonquian Indians in New England from 1675-1676. Lepore says this conflict shaped relations between whites and Native Americans that last to this day. (8:00)

Clinic Bombing Update -- NPR's Adam Hochberg reports on the investigation into last month's fatal bombing of a women's health clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. Investigators today searched an abandoned farmhouse in North Carolina close to where they discovered a truck belonging to a man sought as a witness to the bombing. (3:30)

Maine’s ‘People’s Law’ -- Last spring, Maine added "sexual orientation" to the list of protected categories in the Maine Human Rights Act. Tomorrow, voters will decide whether to uphold a "people's veto" of the new law - more than 58,000 petition signatures that forced a special referendum vote. Maine Public Radio's Charlotte Renner reports that whatever the vote determines, the controversy shows no sign of going away. (4:30)

Multiculturalism in Bolivia -- NPR's Anne Garrels reports from La Paz, Bolivia on that country's effort to forge a system that protects the rights and traditions of the majority indigenous population. One experiment in particular seeks to preserve the indigenous community's judicial system, with its own set of laws and punishments. Experts say this attempt to create a multi-tiered judicial system is unprecedented. (5:00)

Carl Wilson Obituary -- All Things Considered host Noah Adams talks with Van Dyke Parks about Beach Boys founding member Carl Wilson who died Friday of lung cancer, at age 51. Wilson was the lead singer on many of the surf band's recordings, such as "Good Vibrations." (4:00)

Uncle Ed -- Commentator Marianne Jennings talks about her late Uncle Ed. When she was younger the other children in the family didn't pay much attention to Uncle Ed because of a disability that he had. She became close to him, and wrote him the occasional letter as she got older. She finds out that he kept her letters and photos of her family. She felt bad that she didn't write to him more often. (3:30)

Clinton and Social Security -- At a speech at Georgetown University today, President Clinton outlined details of a series of forums on Social Security reform to be held throughout the country this year, forums that will be co-sponsored by the American Association of Retired People, one of Social Security's biggest protectors, and the Concord Coaliton, avid deficit hawks. NPR's Mara Liasson reports the President is following a carefully crafted strategy designed to avoid the political pitfalls usually associated with Social Security reform. (4:00)

Changes at the INS -- NPR's Peter Kenyon reports the Immigration and Naturalization Service is expected to announce a new plan today to reform the process of applying for citizenship. Officials say the plan will make it harder for criminals to become citizens, and will speed up the process for applicants. NPR's Peter Overby reports. (3:30)

Lewinsky Subpeonaed -- NPR's Chitra Ragavan reports that independent counsel Kenneth Starr is trying to collect information about gifts President Clinton gave to Monica Lewinsky, and how they may have been retrieved by his personal secretary, to determine whether the president tried to obstruct justice in the Paula Jones case. Meanwhile, it looks like former intern Lewinsky could be called before a grand jury later this week. (4:30)

Afghan Earthquake Aftermath -- Noah talks to Doctor Bard Ostym of Doctors Without Borders - who is in Afghanistan - where thousands of people are dead after an earthquake hit the northeastern part of the country last week. According to the Doctor, there were still aftershocks last night and there are whole villages which no one can get to. (3:15)

Assassination Law -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr says when it comes to US policy on assassinating foreign leaders, President Clinton and Defense Secretary Cohen have it wrong. Despite an Executive Order that forbids assassination, time and again, US Presidents have worked around direct assassination by targeting the headquarters and palaces of unsavory foreign leaders. (3:00)

McKinney Court-Martial -- NPR's Barbara Bradley reports prosecutors and defense lawyers have completed opening statements in the court-martial of Command Sergeant Major Gene McKinney, the former Sergeant Major of the Army. Prosecutors say McKinney abused his power as the Army's top enlisted man in pressuring six female service members for sex. McKinney's lawyers maintain that he did nothing wrong, and the women are lying. (3:00)

Sharpton on the Stand -- Laura Sydell of member station WNYC reports black activist Rev. Al Sharpton took the witness stand in his defense today in the defamation lawsuit arising from the decade-old case of Tawana Brawley. In early testimony today, Sharpton, who has political aspirations, alluded to the late civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. -- who, he said, was also the target of a defamation lawsuit. (3:15)

Karla Faye’s Advice -- Noah talks with Allan Polunsky, about his meeting with Faye-Tucker and the proposal she gave him for prisoner rehabilitation. Polunsky is chair of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice. He has met with many death row prisoners to hear their suggestions. (4:00)

Book Review: Blueback -- Reviewer Alan Cheuse says "Blueback," by Australian novelist Tim Winton, is a lovely contemporary fable. (2:00)

Olympic Curling -- NPR's Tom Goldman reports the curling competition is underway at the Winter Olypmics in Nagano, Japan. Curling is making its debut as a medal sport this year. Many describe the sport as shuffleboard on ice. (5:30)

Too Tall Josh -- Commentator Josh Wolk talks about the difficulty tall people have finding clothes that don't look ridiculous. He finally found two companies that make clothes he likes, which fit, but they cost more than average-sized clothes. He's not sure that the supposed benefits of height outweigh the drawbacks. (2:30)