September 2, 1998 All Things Considered (entire program) Requires the RealAudio Player

An index of the day's stories:

Life in the Duma -- Robert talks with Peter Reddaway, a professor of political science at George Washington University and the co-author of a forthcoming book on Boris Yeltsin's reforms. He is also a board member of the Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Studies at George Washington University. They discuss the perks that Russian Parliament members enjoy, and the political issues attached to those privileges. (4:30)

Fundraising Flap -- NPR's Peter Overby reports that Attorney General Janet Reno met privately today with members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to talk about their differences over whether an independent counsel should be appointed to investigated alleged fundraising abuses in the 1996 campaigns. Reno showed members part of an internal memo from her advisors recommending that a counsel be appointed, but panel members said they were still dissatisfied with Reno's reluctance so far to go along with those recommendations. (3:00)

Sudan and the United States -- The U.S. missile strike on an alleged chemical weapons plant in Sudan has had one unintended side effect. It has strengthened the Islamic Government of President Omar Bashir -- both at home and within the Arab World. Sudanese are now directing their anger at the U.S., not at a government that has failed to deliver on many of its promises. The war in the South continues, the economy is near collapse, and-according to some reports-Sudan still provides safe haven to terrorist groups. NPR's Eric Weiner reports on how the U.S. attack has altered the political climate in Sudan. (6:00)

Military Recruitment III -- In the third part of her series on military recruitment, NPR's Martha Raddatz reports on what the military is doing to compete with the private sector for quality recruits. Final report in a series. (8:15)

Richard Buckner's 'Since' -- Music critic Will Hermes has a review of the latest album from Richard Buckner, called "Since." He says the album is a departure from Buckner's gloom and doom-laden release "Devotion + Doubt," which made many critics' top ten lists last year -- and that the change is not necessarily a completely welcome one for Buckner's fans. Note: "Since" by Richard Buckner is available from MCA Records, catalogue number MCAD-11780. (4:00)

Teacher Computer Literacy -- NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on a two year old program in Rhode Island geared to helping the state's teachers become computer-literate. The goal is train one-third of the state's 9200 public school teachers by the year 2000. Teachers are excited about the program because they are learning to use technology that was developed after many of them had received their teacher training.

Pianos in Wisconsin -- Linda talks with Mary Anne Zupan, the music specialist at the Wales Elementary School in Wales, Wisconsin. They discuss the district-wide program in which all 2,200 students enrolled will learn to play the piano. Zupan was part of a two-year pilot program, which produced results that sparked the district-wide program. (2:30)

Cut Interest Rates? -- NPR's John Ydstie reports the Federal Reserve is under growing pressure to answer the turmoil in world markets with an interest rate cut. Economists are split on the issue, but some are saying it's time for the Fed to stop worrying about inflation at home and start worrying about economic threats abroad. Others say the Fed shouldn't do anything until it's clear the market turmoil is affecting the underlying economy. (4:30)

Northwest Layoffs -- Eric Jansen of Minnesota Public Radio reports that as the strike by Northwest Airlines pilots entered its fifth day, the airline laid off 27,500 employees and cancelled flights through the labor day weekend. Some analysts say that the layoffs may nudge President Clinton toward calling for a sixty-day cooling-off period, in which the pilots would go back to work -- and which would allow each side to save face in the dispute. (3:30)

Duluth Airport and the Strike -- Linda talks with Bill Ritter, the owner of a coffee shop, restaurant, and bar at the Duluth Airport. He recently laid off eighteen employees, as a direct result of the Northwest Airlines pilots' strike. They discuss effects of the strike on airports that deal exclusively with Northwest Airlines. (4:00)

Weeds -- Kathy Witkowsky reports from Montana that every year, weeds are responsible for some $12-Billion in agricultural losses. On one ranch, an invasion of weeds left a pasture that once sustained 13 head of livestock capable of feeding only a single animal. The long-term threat to biodiversity is even worse. (7:00)

Rwanda Prosecutor -- Linda talks with Pierre-Richard Prosper, an American prosecutor assigned to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the United Nations court that has been established to deal with the Rwandan genocide. They discuss today's verdict against Jean-Paul Akayesu, who was convicted of nine counts of genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, and rape. Akayesu was accused of ordering the killings of more than two thousand Rwandans when they sought his protection in the village of Taba -- of which Akayesu was the mayor. (5:00)

Congo Solutions -- Commentator Iain Guest argues that Central Africa is on the verge of full scale war and that it is time Washington - which has been silent - gets involved. (3:15)

Refugees in Germany -- NPR's Edward Lifson reports that Germans continue repatriating refugees to Bosnia-Herzegovina, despite indications that they may not be safe once they get there. Prominent international officials have urged the Germans to give the refugees a reprieve. (3:45)

Hurricanes and Global Warming -- NPR's Richard Harris reports that hurricanes and tropical storms may do much more than stir up the weather. A study in the journal Nature finds they draw enormous quantities of carbon dioxide out of the ocean and put it into the air. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to global warming. But in the long run, severe storms may paradoxically slow climate change. (3:45)

Hurricanes on TV -- Robert talks to Simon Templeton, a field producer with The Weather Channel, who is on his way to Florida from New Orleans, chasing Hurricane Earl. He says that his job is to get his correspondent into the weather, but not too near. A shooting video through a wet lens is NOT a plus, he says. (3:00)