The Gulf Air crash was the seventh major accident in the A320’s history. And while none occurred on North American soil, safety officials have taken note of the Airbus’s increasingly wide use among U.S. carriers, including United, Northwest, US Airways and America West.
U.S. aviation authorities are particularly curious about how the Gulf Air pilots handled the A320’s complex computer-operated control and navigation systems. The planes’ software is designed to prevent even the most incompetent pilot from accidentally launching the plane into a fatal stall or dive. But records indicate that some Airbus crashes occurred when pilots misjudged the planes’ limitations or made errors entering data into the A320’s computer system. And because the system is so complicated, U.S. experts say, if something goes wrong only a mathematical genius could figure out the problem. Mark Hosenball SECURITYStill Vulnerable Since Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Wen Ho Lee was accused last year of illegally downloading nuclear-weapons information from classified computers, the Energy Department has struggled to step up security. A grandiose plan for a new $800 million computer system was dropped after officials balked at asking Congress to foot such a hefty bill. Security experts will meet this week at California’s Livermore lab to try again. LOCKERBIEQuestioning a Spy’s Credibility Even before the prosecution’s star witness in the Lockerbie bombing trial takes the stand this week in the Netherlands, his anticipated testimony–and his credibility–is coming under fire. Abdul Majid Giaka, a former Libyan spy who defected to the CIA, is expected to tell the court that he witnessed the Libyan defendants handling suspicious objects at an airport in Malta before the Pan Am Flight 103 bombing. But word has leaked out to victims’ relatives that Giaka, who informed on the Libyans well after the crash, started working for the CIA four months before the plane went down. Sources close to the investigation confirmed to NEWSWEEK that Giaka was on the CIA payroll but reported infrequently to the CIA’s Near East division. Prosecutors and defense lawyers are expected to grill Giaka about what he knew about Libyan involvement and when he first knew it. CIA officials had no comment. THE BUZZDeath, Taxes and Eldrick Woods Before the PGA Championship, a tour pro was asked what he’d need to shoot to win. “Tiger Woods,” he said. Tiger won in a thriller. But will his record-breaking become a broken record? Here’s what people are saying in the papers, over the airwaves, and on the Web: Bore!! Tiger’s dominant play is must-see TV these days, ‘but will we feel the same way five years from now if no player has stepped forward to challenge him? (The New Yorker) ‘[We] may someday come to view his triumphs with … dispassion.’ Into the Rough Not everyone’s happy: other pros, sick of playing for second, are starting to get discouraged. One for the PGAges Tired of Tiger? Feh! ‘I would wear spike heels, see-through muumuu and RuPaul’s curlers to see Woods play… Take notes. Get video. Save newspapers. Your grandkids will want details.’(Sports Ill.) Seeing Green Oh, cry me a water hazard! Isn’t getting your butt kicked supposed to motivate an athlete? The finale of Tiger’s Aug. 20 win pulled in ‘Survivor’-level ratings. We’re watching you lose, boys, but at least we’re watching.
NEWSWEEK.COM LIVE VOTE Do you consider long-term health when planning your diet?1. Yes, it’s one of the most important factors. 2. Yes, but not as carefully as I probably should. 3. No, I pay more attention to my weight. 4. No, I enjoy life and eat what I want.
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LAST WEEK’S LIVE VOTE Should another grand jury investigate the president? (5,205 responses) 28% No, enough is enough! 23% No, and the timing is a little suspicious. 37% Yes, if he broke the law he should be punished. 12% Yes, since he’d be out of office, it’s the right legal action. MINNESOTARace Ventura Jesse Ventura is already luring opponents into the ring. While the Minnesota governor strongly considers a run for re-election in two years, liberal Sen. Paul Wellstone has told NEWSWEEK that he’d love to come home and take Ventura on (though he’s also weighing another Senate term). “I think he’s an ‘I’ guy. I, I, I, me, me, me,” says Wellstone, who’s still chafing over disparaging remarks Ventura made about religion and mental illness in his infamous Playboy interview. Meanwhile, St. Paul’s Republican mayor, Norm Coleman, who narrowly lost to Jesse in 1998, started raising money this month for another go. Both men will have a tough fight. Ventura’s approval ratings remain dauntingly high, and he’s already taking shots at the senator’s record. Says Wellstone, a former collegiate wrestler: “The whole theme of it would be real wrestler versus fake wrestler.” Lucky for him, Ventura’s in a whole other weight class. HOW-TOFollow the Bouncing Bull Want to make a splash (not a splat) at next month’s ProRodeo finale in Mesquite, Texas? Peri has tips for would-be bull riders: (1) Don’t get psyched out. “It’s a mental challenge, because you’re taking on something so scary and strong and fierce,” says ProRodeo Hall of Fame inductee Ty Murray. (2) If the bull zigs, try to zag; if it zags, zig. Says Murray: “Have a countermove for every move the bull has.” (3) Avoid the horns on dismount. “If you’re left-handed, you want to get off on the left,” advises bull rider Tuff Hedeman. (4) Remember: it’s only eight seconds. Even Luke Perry could do it. OLYMPICSTalking Outback (No, Not the Steakhouse) The Sydney Summer Olympics should prove there’s more to Australia than kangaroos and “Survivor II”-like verbal inventions that could baffle even the most learned linguist. Peri preps you for the trip with a crash course in Aussie talk. ag·ro (ag ro) adj. 1. aggravated 2. how Australians feel when foreigners even try saying ‘G’day’ ar·vo ( a r vo) n. afternoon chund·er (chun dr) v. to vomit dron·go (dron g o) n. idiot; see also ‘Paul Hogan’ dun·ny (dun e) n. toilet foot·y (foot e) n. 1. Australian Rules football 2. American-rules football 3. rugby 4. soccer 5. something no tourist should try playing upon fear of death or dismemberment grog (grog) n. alcohol, a chunder predecessor prawn (pron) n. what Aussies really throw on the B>barbie (which they do call ’the barbie’) tinn·ie (tin e) n. Australian for beer, in a can woop woop (wup wup) n. something far away; usage: ‘I should have known that “Olympic Special” room rate was too good to be true. Now I’m staying in woop woop with the koalas.’
STORIES You Say Ba-bar, I Say Ba-bar He’s the other elephant in the room. Since 1931 nearly 40 Babar stories have been published, and come September there will be one more. “Babar and the Succotash Bird,” Laurent de Brunhoff’s first Babar book in seven years, introduces a splashy new character to the already blushing watercolors: a magical bird identified by his “Succotash” caw. There are 7 million Babar books in print in 17 languages–and almost as many different pronunciations of his name (it’s ba-bar). The characters sprang from a bedtime story originally told to the junior de Brunhoff by his mother. Now there’s another one to tell. SURVIVORDon’t Look This Tiger in the Eye It’s a fight that would make Rocky proud. Seminal ’80s rock band Survivor, little heard from since its “Eye of the Tiger” glory days, is suing CBS for trademark infringement. Peri caught up with bandleader Frankie Sullivan for the underdog’s view:
PERI: CBS is releasing a “Survivor” soundtrack. How do you feel about that? SULLIVAN: Excuse me for getting a little f—ing pissed off, but hasn’t that been the name of my goddam band since 1979? They can’t get away with this. This is completely appalling to me. This [trade]mark is something that people make a lot of money on. Namely, us. I own that damn mark.
And what ca– Those guys at CBS, they assume we’re old and burnt out or maybe high. They think I’m f—ing dumb. Well, no, I do a business. And I’ll see them in court. MOVIESScare Tactics Box-office hit “the Cell” is proof that modern art is nothing to be afraid of. The Jennifer Lopez serial-killer flick is filled with celluloid shout-outs to edgy artists–but none are as chilling as her performance. Peri found a way to stay awake, though: play “count the allusions.” NEWSWEEK art critic Peter Plagens found 13, but he’s a pro. Here are some of the easier ones, plus hints:
Matthew Barney: Scary man with devilish horns Damien Hirst: Sliced-and-diced farm animal Georgia O’Keeffe: Desolate desert landscapes Odd Nerdrum: Genuflecting women in plowed fields Nam June Paik: The killer’s video-camera fetish
CONVENTIONAL WISDOM Surviving ‘Survivor’ Edition Dubya wants the fall debates to be held on Sunday-morning talk shows. Yo, George, you’re asking the people to skip church. Or are you just hoping no one will watch?
C.W. Richard + Winning crisis manager gives manipulative spin a good name. Next: Firestone CEO Kelly + Uses more immunity than K. Starr but could get indicted anyway. Next: On “Judge Judy.” Rudy - America’s pick flunks trivia quiz, blows totem challenge. Next: Opens charm school. Susan - Vitriolic diatribe makes TV history. Next: Buchanan speechwriter. Gore + Old: Wooden man can’t connect. New: Getting good wood on the ball. Bush - Says he “will work to end terrors and tariffs and barriers.” Like sather, like fon.
