August 12, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

Reconstructing the Bombing -- NPR's Michael Sullivan reports from Nairobi about the on-going investigation of last Friday's twin bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. Investigators are combing through evidence at the sites, and reconstructing exactly what happened. He talks with a security official who gives an account of the moments that lead up to the massive blast at the U.S. embassy in Nairobi. Rescuers have wrapped up their efforts to find survivors or bodies. The death toll in the twin bombings in Kenya and Tanzania now stands at more than two hundred and fifty. (5:15)

Terrorist Groups -- NPR's Eric Weiner reports from Cairo that from the moment car bombs devastated the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and Dar as Salaam, suspicion has surrounded a dissident Saudi millionaire and a network of shadowy Islamists underground groups he funds in numerous Muslim countries. Belief that the Saudi, Osama bin Laden, might have been involved is based on his often declared Holy War against U.S. interests and military presence in his native Saudi Arabia and intelligence information that he has recently formed an unholy confederation of terrorists groups in the Middle East to try to accomplish his goals. (6:00)

Los Angeles Police Chief -- NPR's Andy Bowers reports on Los Angeles Police Chief Bernard Parks' first year in office. In recent years the L.A.P.D. has been accused of abusing citizens, poor detective work, racism and sexism. Past chiefs have been seen as a big part of the problem, but, so far, Parks seems to be getting good marks. (4:30)

Scandal Lingo -- NPR senior news analyst Daniel Schorr has been listening to Washington scandals for a long time. In his opinion, Monicagate leaves something to be desired. (3:00)

In Kinshasa -- NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports from Kinshasa that experts doubt whether Laurent Kabila's army has the training or experience to defeat the rebellion led by Tutsis and reportedly backed by neighboring Rwanda. Kabila's best troops and officers were precisely those who are now involved in the uprising against him. The war is largely being fought at the level of infantry, and the Rwandan military is better trained and much more experienced. (4:15)

In Goma -- All Things Considered host Linda Wertheimer talks to reporter Chris Simpson, who visited rebel headquarters in Goma, on Congo's eastern border with Rwanda. Life in the town seems fairly normal. Rebel leaders say they're building a broad-based nationwide political alliance, and are promising democratic reform. (4:00)

Kosovo Unrest -- NPR'S Edward Lifson reports from the woods of Northern Kosovo province on the thousands of refugees from the latest Serb offensive against ethnic Albanian separatists. Food and medicine are in short supply, and the refugees fear the situation will only grow worse when the weather gets cold. Despite the hardships, many families who have been chased from village to village by the fighting feel safer camping out in the open. 4:15

Eldon Shamblin Obituary -- All Things Considered host Noah Adams talks with musician Johnny Gimble about Eldon Shamblin, the great western swing rhythm guitarist who died last week. Gimble joined The Bob Wills Texas Playboys in 1949 when Shamblin managed the band and played rhythm guitar. The band played four hour dances six nights a week and was among the most popular bands in west at that time. Gimble says Shamblin developed a rhythm guitar sound that has since become a staple of western swing. Mr. Shamblin died last Wednesday at a retirement home in Oklahoma. He was 82. (7:30)

Global Warming -- One of the few pieces of scientific evidence suggesting that our planet's atmosphere is not heating up comes from satellites in low earth orbit that gather temperature data. They have consistently contradicted ground-based sensors that show a warming trend. NPR's Richard Harris reports on a new scientific report showing that the satellite data has been erroneous. The discovery comes as a blow to those who remain skeptical about global warming. (4:30)

Crop Report -- NPR's Kathy Lohr reports that the drought devastating parts of the south was especially hard on cotton farmers. The cotton crop this year is expected to be down 24%. Meanwhile, agriculture experts are predicting record harvests for soybeans and wheat, which means food prices may be dropping for consumers. (3:30)

Meteor Showers -- The Perseid Meteor showers are underway. Linda talks with Bob Spohn who's the founding member of the Longmont Astronomical Society in Longmont, Colorado. Spohn has been watching meteor showers for almost 20 years. He says that though this isn't the best year to view the showers, it's still pretty great. (4:00)

Welfare and College, Part II -- NPR's Ina Jaffe reports that the controversy over whether welfare money should support college students has spread to Congress. Legislation now being considered would enable many more parents on welfare go to school by exempting them from work requirements. Second of two reports. (7:00)

Deferiprone -- NPR's Joe Palca reports on a controversy over a drug used to treat a rare blood disease. Tomorrow's New England Journal of Medicine is publishing a study conducted by Canadian researchers that shows the drug doesn't work and may produce liver damage in some patients. The company that makes the drug says the researcher is wrong -- and it has discouraged the scientist from making her results known. The case raises many issues about scientific freedom and the influence of business interests over medical care. (7:00)

Cows and Potato Chips -- Noah talks with California dairy farmer George Silva who has decided to feed his cows potato chips and breakfast cereal rather than grains. The reason, he says, is that it's cheaper than corn and it's easier for the cows to digest. (2:30)

Uncut Field -- Commentator Bill Harley meditates about the beauty of a field left uncut too long -- a home to birds and animals. (2:30)

Social Security Numbers and Privacy -- Congress may have to revise a law that would require states to list social security numbers on drivers licenses. The law was intended as one more way of detecting illegal aliens, but it goes against the trend among states to take social security numbers OFF of drivers licenses. Those numbers are the key to so much personal information that many states are trying to protect citizens' privacy by at least giving applicants the option of using a random identification number. NPR's Larry Abramson reports. (3:30)

Burrito Trail -- Peter Fox sends us his latest installment of the origins of the burrito. (4:30)