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   December 22, 2001   QUOTE OF THE DAY "I wanted the guys who are more like George Steinbrenner  deep pockets and would do anything to see the Red Sox win."  MARK LANGE, a Boston Red Sox fan, on the choice of new owners for the team.   TolkienArchives Examine the World of J. R. R. Tolkien - This sponsored feature includes articles from the New York Times archives, slide shows of Tolkien's artwork, multimedia presentations from New Line Cinema, weekly trivia quizzes and more.    Explore Tolkien Today .     NATIONAL U.S. Expatriate Is Seen Facing Capital Charge  Administration officials said that John Walker, the American who was captured in Afghanistan, would probably face at least one capital charge.   U.S. Inquiry Tried, but Failed, to Link Iraq to Anthrax Attack  The Bush administration made an intense effort to find a link between Iraq and the anthrax attacks, even after scientists determined the germ was an American strain.   In Largest Schools Takeover, State Will Run Philadelphia's  The governor of Pennsylvania won the agreement of the mayor of Philadelphia for an immediate state takeover of the city's public school system.     MORE NATIONAL NEWS   Advertisement   A New Way To Enjoy A Great Book!  At Audible, you can download a bestselling book and listen to it on your commute, at the gym, or anywhere.  Visit us now and get a free MP3 player and start listening today.  Sample us first - you'll love what you hear.  Listen to a best seller, an online version of your favorite newspaper or magazine or exclusive entertainment from Robin Williams.      [IMAGE]   INTERNATIONAL Convoy Containing Suspected Taliban Leaders Hit by Airstrike  As Afghanistan prepared to install an interim government, United States jets hit a convoy said to include fleeing Taliban leaders.   New Clashes in Gaza; Hamas to Limit Suicide Attacks  Six Palestinians were killed on Friday in clashes with Yasir Arafat's police, even as the group Hamas said it would limit suicide attacks.   Argentina's Chaos Raises New Doubts on Monetary Fund  The collapse of Argentina's government has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of the International Monetary Fund and the financial policies of the United States.     MORE INTERNATIONAL NEWS    BUSINESS The Economy May Be Facing More Hurdles  Some signs of a possible economic recovery are not as favorable as they sound, and lurking behind them are financial imbalances that threaten to retard the recovery.   The AT&T Chief's Report Card  Although C. Michael Armstrong failed to realize his original plan for AT&T, in many ways, he was more a victim of outside forces than of a bad strategy.   Interim Presidency Decided in Argentina but Doubts Linger  Argentine political leaders on Friday proposed a three-step process to install a new president, but the country continued to be shaken by doubt and confusion.     MORE BUSINESS NEWS    TECHNOLOGY Delay Sought by Microsoft in States' Case  Microsoft asked a federal judge to delay the hearings on the proposed remedies of its antitrust case, a move that would push the proceeding to August at the earliest.   The Unforeseen Disruption of Moving Ahead  A pattern of military confrontation is a model that has been increasingly used to describe progress in the worlds of business and technology.   The AT&T Chief's Report Card  Although C. Michael Armstrong failed to realize his original plan for AT&T, in many ways, he was more a victim of outside forces than of a bad strategy.     MORE TECHNOLOGY NEWS    POLITICS Totally Extreme Taliban  Did TV ads drive John Walker wild?   After Twists of a Novel, Congress Goes Home  Congress ended its session with dramatic inaction on the economy.   Before Adjournment, Congress Acts on Bioterrorism and Security  Congress took action on measures to combat bioterrorism, to protect the food supply and to increase security in its last session of the year.     MORE POLITICS NEWS    SPORTS Islanders Beat Rangers to Punch  Chris Osgood made most of his 28 saves after Michael Peca's tie-breaking goal and preserved a victory that put the Islanders in a tie for first place in the Atlantic Division.   Nets' Game Stalls Against Indiana  The Nets crossed up their passes, fell short on their shots and stared into the distance   on defense in a loss to the Indiana Pacers.   Dick Schaap, Ubiquitous Sports Journalist, Dies at 67  Dick Schaap, the affable and ubiquitous journalist who embodied the role of the "as told to" writer of autobiographies, died as a result of complications after hip replacement surgery .     MORE SPORTS NEWS    ARTS A New Chief Steps in at a Changed National Endowment for the Arts  The Senate confirmed a new chairman  of   the National Endowment for the Arts late   Thursday and hardly anyone noticed.   The Unforeseen Disruption of Moving Ahead  A pattern of military confrontation is a model that has been increasingly used to describe progress in the worlds of business and technology.   A Poet's Palestine as a Metaphor  As the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish has observed, Palestine is not simply a plot of land, any more than Israel is a plot of land in the Jewish imagination.     MORE ARTS NEWS    NY REGION Head of Fund Says Families Should State Their Cases  The special master of the federal fund for Sept. 11 victims urged disappointed families to seek a   hearing to argue for larger compensation awards.   And Now, a New York Version of Star Wars  A bill passed by both houses of the state legislature requires cities to install downward-focused streetlights to prevent light pollution.   Political Map in Connecticut Is Redrawn  State lawmakers approved a new Congressional map that redraws Connecticut's six House districts into five.     MORE NY REGION NEWS    OP-ED  Totally Extreme Taliban   By THOMAS FRANK  Did TV ads drive John Walker wild?   Siege Mentality in Buenos Aires   By NOGA TARNOPOLSKY  Argentina's political class implodes again.   The Road to Equal Education    The effort to rescue millions of disadvantaged children from failing schools can succeed only if President Bush places the full weight of his office behind the new law.     MORE OP-ED  NEWS    Contribute to The Neediest Cases Fund Make an online donation this Holiday Season to The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund to help thousands of people.   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