Well first of all it 's false to say that I was asking to disparage Freeh /.

Well first of all it 's false to say that I was asking to disparage <person>Freeh</person> /.


I was asking to talk about facts that Freeh was saying that were not true /.

I was asking to talk about facts that <person>Freeh</person> was saying that were not true /.


You do n't mind disparaging Freeh /.

You do n't mind disparaging <person>Freeh</person> /.


my observation /.


no in fact I disparage any man who as FBI director has a personal pique rather than doing his job /.

no in fact I disparage any man who as <org>FBI</org> director has a personal pique rather than doing his job /.


That 's disparaging /.


Secondly it is absolutely a misrepresentation that they told us before just the week before /.

<ordinal>Secondly</ordinal> it is absolutely a misrepresentation that they told us before <date>just the week before</date> /.


When Mister Carson the representative spoke to Mister Wallace Mister Wallace agreed that they had never verified what Mister uh Freeh had said /.

When Mister <person>Carson</person> the representative spoke to Mister <person>Wallace</person> Mister <person>Wallace</person> agreed that they had never verified what Mister uh <person>Freeh</person> had said /.


They never talked to Mister Freeh /.

They never talked to Mister <person>Freeh</person> /.


and in fact it was n't until that Friday that we learned the substance of Mister Freeh 's charges /.

and in fact it was n't until <date>that Friday</date> that we learned the substance of Mister <person>Freeh</person> 's charges /.


So Sixty Minutes I think has just said something that is false /.

So <org>Sixty Minutes</org> I think has just said something that is false /.


When did the Clinton team find out that Sixty Minutes was going to report that Louis Freeh with his new book was going to have a specific allegation about Clinton 's handling of the Khobar Towers investigation and the business about the presidential library solicitation /.

When did the <person>Clinton</person> team find out that <org>Sixty Minutes</org> was going to report that <person>Louis Freeh</person> with his new book was going to have a specific allegation about Clinton 's handling of the <fac>Khobar Towers</fac> investigation and the business about the presidential library solicitation /.


When somebody named Howard Kurtz wrote a story in the Washington Post on Friday morning is the first time that the Clinton forces learned about that false and demonstrably false charge that good reporting by calling people who were at the meeting could have done would have verified that Mister Freeh made a false charge /.

When somebody named <person>Howard Kurtz</person> wrote a story in <org>the Washington Post</org> on <time>Friday morning</time> is the <ordinal>first</ordinal> time that the <person>Clinton</person> forces learned about that false and demonstrably false charge that good reporting by calling people who were at the meeting could have done would have verified that Mister <person>Freeh</person> made a false charge /.


And even since that interview Mister Freeh has backed off and has not told people who his source is /.

And even since that interview Mister <person>Freeh</person> has backed off and has not told people who his source is /.


and he has n't even insisted that it was true /.


He just said somebody told him it was true /.


Hold on /.


Sixty Minutes spokesman Kevin Tedesco said in the statement I just referred to that the Clinton office was contacted in August with a detailed list of charges /.

<org>Sixty Minutes</org> spokesman <person>Kevin Tedesco</person> said in the statement I just referred to that the <person>Clinton</person> office was contacted in <date>August</date> with a detailed list of charges /.


That 's false /.


Are you saying that 's false /?


They were never told /. /.


or at least I 'm now basing this on what Mister Carson has told me /.

or at least I 'm now basing this on what Mister <person>Carson</person> has told me /.


Jay Carson is the spokesman for former president Bill Clinton /.

<person>Jay Carson</person> is the spokesman for former president <person>Bill Clinton</person> /.


Jay Carson is the spokesperson for President Clinton was not informed about the specific charge about the Khobar Towers which happens to be not true /.

<person>Jay Carson</person> is the spokesperson for President <person>Clinton</person> was not informed about the specific charge about <fac>the Khobar Towers</fac> which happens to be not true /.


President Clinton at that uh meeting did press the uh Crown Prince to cooperate with the FBI /.

President <person>Clinton</person> at that uh meeting did press the uh Crown Prince to cooperate with the <org>FBI</org> /.


so what Mister Freeh said was false /.

so what Mister <person>Freeh</person> said was false /.


That was not understood by the Clinton people until it was read in the Washington Post in the story that you wrote because Sixty Minutes put a press release out /.

That was not understood by the <person>Clinton</person> people until it was read in <org>the Washington Post</org> in the story that you wrote because <org>Sixty Minutes</org> put a press release out /.


Uh now look Lanny Davis Sixty Minutes gave Bill Clinton one hour last year to push his own ten million dollar autobiography /.

Uh now look <person>Lanny Davis</person> <org>Sixty Minutes</org> gave <person>Bill Clinton</person> <time>one hour</time> <date>last year</date> to push his own <money>ten million dollar</money> autobiography /.


He criticized people /.


He criticized Ken Starr /.

He criticized <person>Ken Starr</person> /.


They did n't have Ken Starr on to rebut /.

They did n't have <person>Ken Starr</person> on to rebut /.


Now the former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation uh who ca n't stand Clinton clearly writes a book gets one segment for his book /.

Now the former director of <org>the Federal Bureau of Investigation</org> uh who ca n't stand <person>Clinton</person> clearly writes a book gets <cardinal>one</cardinal> segment for his book /.


and you cry foul /.


Nobody was complaining about when Bill Clinton was getting all this airtime on CBS /.

Nobody was complaining about when <person>Bill Clinton</person> was getting all this airtime on <org>CBS</org> /.


Look /.


Look this is a program about good journalism /.


Let 's ask a Sixty Minutes uh journalist to say do you have an obligation to verify a charge made by the former FBI director as whether it 's true or not /.

Let 's ask a <org>Sixty Minutes</org> uh journalist to say do you have an obligation to verify a charge made by the former <org>FBI</org> director as whether it 's true or not /.


Is it good enough to air it just because he says it /.


or should you do reporting /?


Good reporters would hear that charge and say that is an extremely serious charge to be levelled against former president Clinton /.

Good reporters would hear that charge and say that is an extremely serious charge to be levelled against former president <person>Clinton</person> /.


Let 's see whether it 's true and start making phone calls /.


They did not do that /.


That 's a fact /.


Alright Lanny Davis thanks very much for coming on to Talk Back to the Media this morning /.

Alright <person>Lanny Davis</person> thanks very much for coming on to <work_of_art>Talk Back to the Media</work_of_art> <time>this morning</time> /.


We appreciate it /.


Ahead in the second half of Reliable Sources New York Times columnist Tom Friedman on whether the media are suffering from Iraq fatigue /.

Ahead in the <ordinal>second</ordinal> half of <work_of_art>Reliable Sources</work_of_art> <org>New York Times</org> columnist <person>Tom Friedman</person> on whether the media are suffering from <gpe>Iraq</gpe> fatigue /.


Plus that heavily hyped subway threat that was n't /.


After an update on the hour 's top stories from Atlanta /.

After an update on the <time>hour</time> 's top stories from <gpe>Atlanta</gpe> /.


Hello I 'm at the CNN center in Atlanta /.

Hello I 'm at the <org>CNN</org> center in <gpe>Atlanta</gpe> /.


Now in the news /.


Earthquake relief flights have resumed in Pakistan /.

Earthquake relief flights have resumed in <gpe>Pakistan</gpe> /.


That 's after torrential rain stopped flights for hours there /.

That 's after torrential rain stopped flights for <time>hours</time> there /.


And a Pakistani helicopter crashed killing six soldiers /.

And a <norp>Pakistani</norp> helicopter crashed killing <cardinal>six</cardinal> soldiers /.


A magnitude seven point six earthquake struck last weekend as you recall /.

A magnitude <cardinal>seven point six</cardinal> earthquake struck <date>last weekend</date> as you recall /.


Pakistan 's prime minister says it killed at least thirty - eight thousand people and left about two and a half million homeless /.

<gpe>Pakistan</gpe> 's prime minister says it killed at least <cardinal>thirty - eight thousand</cardinal> people and left <cardinal>about two and a half million</cardinal> homeless /.


Toledo Ohio is quiet this morning after a planned march by a self - styled nazi group sparked a riot yesterday /.

<gpe>Toledo</gpe> <gpe>Ohio</gpe> is quiet <time>this morning</time> after a planned march by a self - styled nazi group sparked a riot <date>yesterday</date> /.


The Associated Press says police arrested at least sixty - five people /.

<org>The Associated Press</org> says police arrested <cardinal>at least sixty - five</cardinal> people /.


The march never got started /.


but hundreds of counter-demonstrators showed up and battled police on and off for more than three hours /.

but <cardinal>hundreds</cardinal> of counter-demonstrators showed up and battled police on and off for <time>more than three hours</time> /.


Police say the protestors vandalized vehicles and buildings setting at least one structure on fire /.

Police say the protestors vandalized vehicles and buildings setting <cardinal>at least one</cardinal> structure on fire /.


Look at this /.


a semi-truck and a bus carrying high school band members collided overnight on interstate ninety - four and in Wisconsin /.

a semi-truck and a bus carrying high school band members collided <time>overnight</time> on <fac>interstate ninety - four</fac> and in <gpe>Wisconsin</gpe> /.


The Associated Press quotes the Wisconsin state patrol as saying at least five people were killed /.

<org>The Associated Press</org> quotes the <gpe>Wisconsin</gpe> state patrol as saying <cardinal>at least five</cardinal> people were killed /.


The students were from Chippewa Falls Wisconsin /.

The students were from <gpe>Chippewa Falls</gpe> <gpe>Wisconsin</gpe> /.


They were returning from a band competition at the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater /.

They were returning from a band competition at <org>the University of Wisconsin</org> in <gpe>Whitewater</gpe> /.


Those are the headlines this morning /.

Those are the headlines <time>this morning</time> /.


I 'm in Atlanta /.


We have another news update coming up in just thirty minutes /.

We have another news update coming up in <time>just thirty minutes</time> /.


More of CNN 's Reliable Sources continues right now /.

More of <org>CNN</org> 's <work_of_art>Reliable Sources</work_of_art> continues right now /.


Welcome back to the second half of Reliable Sources /.

Welcome back to the <ordinal>second</ordinal> half of <work_of_art>Reliable Sources</work_of_art> /.


Our new time for those of you just turning in is ten AM eastern seven on the west coast /.

Our new time for those of you just turning in is <time>ten AM eastern</time> <time>seven</time> on the west coast /.


And we 'll be bringing you a full hour of media interviews and analysis each week /.

And we 'll be bringing you <time>a full hour</time> of media interviews and analysis <date>each week</date> /.


The Iraq story which the media has placed on the back burner in recent months is simmering again as voters in that war torn country went to the polls yesterday to vote on a new constitution with the results yet to be counted /.

The <gpe>Iraq</gpe> story which the media has placed on the back burner in recent months is simmering again as voters in that war torn country went to the polls <date>yesterday</date> to vote on a new constitution with the results yet to be counted /.


But are journalists getting the real story there /?


To help us scrutinize the coverage I sat down with a foreign affairs columnist of the New York Times three time Pulitzer winner Tom Friedman and the author most recently of The World is Flat /.

To help us scrutinize the coverage I sat down with a foreign affairs columnist of <org>the New York Times</org> <cardinal>three</cardinal> time <work_of_art>Pulitzer</work_of_art> winner <person>Tom Friedman</person> and the author most recently of <work_of_art>The World is Flat</work_of_art> /.


Tom Friedman welcome /.

<person>Tom Friedman</person> welcome /.


Good to be here Howie /.

Good to be here <person>Howie</person> /.


thank you /.


The other day you wrote that if you were the editor of the New York Times you would 've led the paper with the news of recent days that a Sunni suicide bomber on Ramadan had attacked a Shiite mosque /.

<date>The other day</date> you wrote that if you were the editor of <org>the New York Times</org> you would 've led the paper with the news of recent days that a <norp>Sunni</norp> suicide bomber on <date>Ramadan</date> had attacked a <norp>Shiite</norp> mosque /.


Now in reality the world that you do n't rule New York Times Washington Post made that part of a larger story on Iraq /.

Now in reality the world that you do n't rule <org>New York Times</org> <org>Washington Post</org> made that part of a larger story on <gpe>Iraq</gpe> /.


Uh nobody put it on the front page /.


Bad news judgement /?


Uh I think so Howie /.


I 'm not here to make a news point though /.


I 'm really making a larger point which is about the war on terrorism /.


I 'm a firm believer /.


How we ever going to win this war /?


We 're never going to win it by way of American intelligence finding this terrorist or that terrorist /.

We 're never going to win it by way of <norp>American</norp> intelligence finding this terrorist or that terrorist /.


We get lucky every once in a while /.


but there 's only {one?} way we win this war Howie is it takes a village /.

but there 's only {one?} way we win this war <person>Howie</person> is it takes a village /.


It only happens when the Sunni Muslim world basically turns people in and when the Sunni Muslim world restrains their own /.

It only happens when the <norp>Sunni Muslim</norp> world basically turns people in and when the <norp>Sunni Muslim</norp> world restrains their own /.


And what was so shocking to me about this story a Sunni Jihadi suicide bomber blows up a mosque number one on the first day of Ramadan /.

And what was so shocking to me about this story a <norp>Sunni Jihadi</norp> suicide bomber blows up a mosque <cardinal>number one</cardinal> on <date>the first day of Ramadan</date> /.


What that tells you is that there 's no controlling moral authority today in the Sunni Muslim world /.

What that tells you is that there 's no controlling moral authority <date>today</date> in the <norp>Sunni Muslim</norp> world /.


Well what is the bigger story /?


And that is a huge story /.


I think it should have been a big story /.


Why was n't /-


Is it because of Iraq fatigue /?

Is it because of <gpe>Iraq</gpe> fatigue /?


Um /.


I think it is yeah /.


Think it 's /-


Are all the editors and producers and new executives feeling another day another bombing ten killed twenty killed fifteen killed /.

Are all the editors and producers and new executives feeling <date>another day</date> another bombing <cardinal>ten</cardinal> killed <cardinal>twenty</cardinal> killed <cardinal>fifteen</cardinal> killed /.


and it does n't rise anymore to the top of the newscast or the front page /?


Right /.


Yeah and I think that 's right /.


There is Iraq fatigue /.


And there 's so much fatigue that we do n't sit back and say wait a minute /.

And there 's so much fatigue that we do n't sit back and say wait <time>a minute</time> /.


what happened today /?


A Sunni Muslim fundamentalist went into a mosque on the first day of Ramadan their holiest day /.

A <norp>Sunni Muslim</norp> fundamentalist went into a mosque on <date>the first day of Ramadan</date> their holiest day /.


and no one says boo /.


this is civilization that when we accidentally or deliberately I do n't know abused the Koran people rioted in Pakistan /.

this is civilization that when we accidentally or deliberately I do n't know abused the <work_of_art>Koran</work_of_art> people rioted in <gpe>Pakistan</gpe> /.


Yet their own houses of worship and holidays are being defiled /.


And I think it is a measure of how much we 've kind of lost been numbed by all of this that we do n't sit back and say wow wait a minute /.

And I think it is a measure of how much we 've kind of lost been numbed by all of this that we do n't sit back and say wow wait <time>a minute</time> /.


that really crosses the line /.


and we have to call them on it even if they do n't /.


You 're recently back from Iraq /.

You 're recently back from <gpe>Iraq</gpe> /.


and you write about driving in from Kuwait /.

and you write about driving in from <gpe>Kuwait</gpe> /.


You were guarded by the US navy /.

You were guarded by the <gpe>US</gpe> navy /.


and yet it was kind of a harrowing experience /.


Why so /?


Um you know the south of Iraq which is where I was the area around /.

Um you know the south of <gpe>Iraq</gpe> which is where I was the area around /.


This is the safe part /.


Right exactly /.


I was in the safe district /.


I was guarded uh by the British Royal Marines actually because unfortunately they 've had now um uh roadside bombs down there not suicide bombs /.

I was guarded uh by <org>the British Royal Marines</org> actually because unfortunately they 've had now um uh roadside bombs down there not suicide bombs /.


And it 's part of the general continuing insecurity of Iraq that um I 'm afraid has plagued this story from the very beginning /.

And it 's part of the general continuing insecurity of <gpe>Iraq</gpe> that um I 'm afraid has plagued this story from the very beginning /.


And it 's been I 've always felt the Achille 's heel /.

And it 's been I 've always felt the <person>Achille</person> 's heel /.


You know my criticism of the Bush administration as you know we 've talked about this before is not that this war is not important /.

You know my criticism of the <person>Bush</person> administration as you know we 've talked about this before is not that this war is not important /.


I believe it is important much more important than I think the left has ever fully recognized /.


But it 's so much harder than the right has ever been willing to acknowledge /.


And on that trip you put on body armor /.


their rifles were out /.


Yeah /.


Um how does that affect your perception as a journalist /?


You 're there /.


you 're being protected /.


and you must have been a little bit nervous of what the safety situation is in there /.


Well I 'll tell you what 's really frustrating from a journalist 's point of view as one who have lived in Beirut for nearly five years covered that war /.

Well I 'll tell you what 's really frustrating from a journalist 's point of view as one who have lived in <gpe>Beirut</gpe> for <date>nearly five years</date> covered that war /.


When I worked in Lebanon you could go anywhere on that story /.

When I worked in <gpe>Lebanon</gpe> you could go anywhere on that story /.


You could cross lines /.


Journalists worked for the most part until the very end with Terry Anderson the kidnappings targets /.

Journalists worked for the most part until the very end with <person>Terry Anderson</person> the kidnappings targets /.


Therefore by the end of the Lebanon story I thought the best journalists there knew more than the Lebanese /.

Therefore by the end of the <gpe>Lebanon</gpe> story I thought the best journalists there knew more than the <norp>Lebanese</norp> /.


I always thought the best compliment you could get as a journalist is when you told the Lebanese something they did n't know because you were moving around so much /.

I always thought the best compliment you could get as a journalist is when you told the <norp>Lebanese</norp> something they did n't know because you were moving around so much /.


What 's so frustrating about the Iraq story Howie no one has a bird 's eye view /.

What 's so frustrating about the <gpe>Iraq</gpe> story <person>Howie</person> no one has a bird 's eye view /.


I care passionately about this story /.


I 'm so interested in it /.


but because of the securtiy situation you ca n't move around with the freedom you want /.


And the brave reporters who are there every day do n't have that freedom of movement either /.

And the brave reporters who are there <date>every day</date> do n't have that freedom of movement either /.


And therefore it 's limited /.


and in fact as you know the administration says because of the security situation and maybe because of some biases in the media /.


There 's a lot of good things going on in Iraq /.

There 's a lot of good things going on in <gpe>Iraq</gpe> /.


There 's a lot of progress being made we 're not seeing reported by the press /.


Do you think that is a credible argument at this point in the mess there /?


No because I do n't have a bird 's eye view /.


I wish I could say /.


I wish I could be so sure /.


but General Casey does n't have a bird 's eye view /.

but General <person>Casey</person> does n't have a bird 's eye view /.


And that 's why we get surprises in Iraq /.

And that 's why we get surprises in <gpe>Iraq</gpe> /.


Uh that 's why we had an election where eight million people suddenly turn out /.

Uh that 's why we had an election where <cardinal>eight million</cardinal> people suddenly turn out /.


and maybe you know we 're going to see more surpises in the coming future there /.


But because no one can move around with the freedom that you need to talk to everyone you do n't have that bird 's eye view /.


And as a reporter as a columnist who really cares about this story I find that really frustra- /-


I can not report it the way I 'd love to /.


So I 've been there five times /.

So I 've been there <cardinal>five</cardinal> times /.


but it 's episodic /.


It 's here /.


It 's there /.


It 's never really putting your arms around the story /.


pulling back the camera a bit in recent months you 'd have to say that the Iraq story has been overshadowed by Katrina by Rita by Tom DeLay by Harriet Miers by Valerie Plame and now by this Pakistan earthquake /.

pulling back the camera a bit in <date>recent months</date> you 'd have to say that the <gpe>Iraq</gpe> story has been overshadowed by <event>Katrina</event> by <event>Rita</event> by <person>Tom DeLay</person> by <person>Harriet Miers</person> by <person>Valerie Plame</person> and now by this <gpe>Pakistan</gpe> earthquake /.


Um inevitable with a war that drags on and on /.


and these are all also important stories obviously /.


but uh do you feel it 's getting the attention that it should /?


Yeah /.


No because to me this is the whole ballgame of the Bush administration /.

No because to me this is the whole ballgame of the <person>Bush</person> administration /.


Katrina and Rita they 'll come and go /.

<event>Katrina</event> and <event>Rita</event> they 'll come and go /.


but at the end of the day the Bush administration made a very big claim um that it could go to Iraq um and produce a decent forward looking government there /.

but at the end of the day the <person>Bush</person> administration made a very big claim um that it could go to <gpe>Iraq</gpe> um and produce a decent forward looking government there /.


If that happens then I think President Bush is going to have a very huge quiver you know in his uh legacy there /.

If that happens then I think President <person>Bush</person> is going to have a very huge quiver you know in his uh legacy there /.


Um if it does n't happen I think uh the administration will be seen as a complete and utter failure /.


so everything rides on this not just for the administration though but for the American people /.

so everything rides on this not just for the administration though but for the <norp>American</norp> people /.


These are huge stakes involved /.


And so I do n't think it 's gotten the attention it 's deserved /.


And going back again to one of your Iraq collumns uh you observed the Iraqi military there which after all is supposed to be increasingly shouldering the burden of this conflict /.

And going back again to one of your <gpe>Iraq</gpe> collumns uh you observed the <norp>Iraqi</norp> military there which after all is supposed to be increasingly shouldering the burden of this conflict /.


The slightly ragged quality left you feeling you write that if you pulled the US and British advisors out tomorrow the whole Iraqi navy would collapse /.

The slightly ragged quality left you feeling you write that if you pulled the <gpe>US</gpe> and <norp>British</norp> advisors out <date>tomorrow</date> the whole <norp>Iraqi</norp> navy would collapse /.


That 's a pretty pessimistic assessment and clearly at odds with what the White House and the Defense Department say every day /.

That 's a pretty pessimistic assessment and clearly at odds with what <org>the White House</org> and <org>the Defense Department</org> say <date>every day</date> /.


Not at odds though with what actually the military commanders have been saying which is that the number of really trained Iraqi units you know are far fewer than sometimes suggested by the administration /.

Not at odds though with what actually the military commanders have been saying which is that the number of really trained <norp>Iraqi</norp> units you know are far fewer than sometimes suggested by the administration /.


So you 're saying there 's a gap between what real time military commanders on the ground are willing to tell you not necessarily on the record /.


You quoted one US senior official and what the President of the United States and the Vice President and the Secretary of Defense are saying to reporters every day /.

You quoted <cardinal>one</cardinal> <gpe>US</gpe> senior official and what the President of <gpe>the United States</gpe> and the Vice President and the Secretary of <org>Defense</org> are saying to reporters <date>every day</date> /.


Are we calling them on that /?


Right I do n't think enough because there 's been a lot of happy talk around this Howie basically /.

Right I do n't think enough because there 's been a lot of happy talk around this <person>Howie</person> basically /.


And a lot of numbers are thrown out /.


Eighty thousand this week we 've got trained a hundred and twenty thousand next week /.

<cardinal>Eighty thousand</cardinal> <date>this week</date> we 've got trained <cardinal>a hundred and twenty thousand</cardinal> <date>next week</date> /.


Here 's what you learn when you go to Iraq /.

Here 's what you learn when you go to <gpe>Iraq</gpe> /.


Where you have an Iraqi commander who 's a real leader of soldiers okay you have a unit /.

Where you have an <norp>Iraqi</norp> commander who 's a real leader of soldiers okay you have a unit /.


And where you do n't have that commander you do n't have a unit /.


So the numbers the macro numbers do n't mean anything /.


So I went down to see the navy there /.


The navy of Iraq has a terrific commander /.

The navy of <gpe>Iraq</gpe> has a terrific commander /.


so the people around him they 'll follow him into battle /.


But you take that one guy out there 's no Iraqi navy /.

But you take that <cardinal>one</cardinal> guy out there 's no <norp>Iraqi</norp> navy /.


and it 's true of units all over the country /.


That 's really the key /.


You say that you are angry uh that Bush has fought the war as though it would be easy /.

You say that you are angry uh that <person>Bush</person> has fought the war as though it would be easy /.


Are you particularly angry as somebody who supported the war and took heat from some of your liberal friends for doing so /?


Yes /.


Absolutely because I believe this is important /.


I believe that something very big is at stake /.


We 're dealing with a Muslim Arab civilization right now that 's that 's in decline , that 's heading in the wrong direction in ways that are dangerous for them and I believe dangerous for the stability of the world /.

We 're dealing with a <norp>Muslim Arab</norp> civilization right now that 's that 's in decline , that 's heading in the wrong direction in ways that are dangerous for them and I believe dangerous for the stability of the world /.


There 's something really important here at stake /.


and what makes me so angry at the Bush administration is not that they did n't frame the stakes /.

and what makes me so angry at the <person>Bush</person> administration is not that they did n't frame the stakes /.


It is important /.


But they never never appreciated how difficult it was /.


They never prepared the army or the American people for how difficult it was /.

They never prepared the army or the <norp>American</norp> people for how difficult it was /.


I mentioned the uh devastating earthquake in Pakistan a region you 're familiar with /.

I mentioned the uh devastating earthquake in <gpe>Pakistan</gpe> a region you 're familiar with /.


Um clearly it 's become a pretty big story /.


but for the first couple days I noticed it was n't that much of a television story /.

but for <date>the first couple days</date> I noticed it was n't that much of a television story /.


and the reason was no pictures no video /.


No yes /.


Um but also maybe there was there a little bit less coverage because it 's in a remote part of the world /?


Uh Westerners are more interested in New Orleans than in Pakistan /?

Uh <norp>Westerners</norp> are more interested in <gpe>New Orleans</gpe> than in <gpe>Pakistan</gpe> /?


I think all of the above /.


We 're so numbed also after Katrina and Rita /.

We 're so numbed also after <event>Katrina</event> and <event>Rita</event> /.


and now another earthquake /.


It 's just become uh one natural disaster after another /.

It 's just become uh <cardinal>one</cardinal> natural disaster after another /.


to hear ten thousand twenty thousand forty thousand then it 's almost hard for a journalist to process /.

to hear <cardinal>ten thousand</cardinal> <cardinal>twenty thousand</cardinal> <cardinal>forty thousand</cardinal> then it 's almost hard for a journalist to process /.


Right /.


And it was remote /.


and people are exhausted I think both viewers and reporters /.


Ahead have New York Times columnists been asked not to write about Judy Miller /?

Ahead have <org>New York Times</org> columnists been asked not to write about <person>Judy Miller</person> /?


More of my interview with Tom Friedman next /.

More of my interview with <person>Tom Friedman</person> next /.


Welcome back to Reliable Sources now a full hour each week here in our new time slot ten to eleven o'clock eastern /.

Welcome back to <work_of_art>Reliable Sources</work_of_art> now <time>a full hour</time> <date>each week</date> here in our new time slot <time>ten to eleven o'clock eastern</time> /.


More now of my conversation with New York Times columnist Tom Friedman about his book the new online charge to read him and Judy Miller /.

More now of my conversation with <org>New York Times</org> columnist <person>Tom Friedman</person> about his book the new online charge to read him and <person>Judy Miller</person> /.


Now your new book The World is Flat I 've got it here /.

Now your new book <work_of_art>The World is Flat</work_of_art> I 've got it here /.


uh monster best seller more than a million copies better than any book you 've ever written before /.

uh monster best seller <cardinal>more than a million</cardinal> copies better than any book you 've ever written before /.


Um you were recently profiled about this in Fortune magazine /.

Um you were recently profiled about this in <org>Fortune</org> magazine /.


and uh let 's just say that it did n't say you walked on water but it came close /.


Uh but one of the criticisms /-


What 's wrong with that /?


It says that you 're the composer of the nation 's talking points which was news to me /.


Uh one of the things it said was that uh in your book and in your writing that CEOs play a very central role /.


And the suggestion was well CEOs love you , you 're asked to speak at all these corporate events , maybe because you give them a very large uh share of the narrative /.


Yeah /.


Mhm /.


That a reasonable observation /?


Yeah it is a reasonable observation /.


And my reaction to that is look if I want to understand the underlying technology that is flattening the world who do I go to /?


do I go to I do n't know Central America /?

do I go to I do n't know <loc>Central America</loc> /?


Do I go to um uh the factory floor /?


Or do I go to the innovators and entrepeneurs who actually put all this together /?


So I make no apology for that at all /.


Um fact I would make a criticism of it /.


There are n't enough people during the last few years who actually went out and talked to the innovators who are doing all of these things who are actually reshaping the world /.

There are n't enough people during <date>the last few years</date> who actually went out and talked to the innovators who are doing all of these things who are actually reshaping the world /.


Just the opposite /.


We kind of had an Enron effect /.

We kind of had an <org>Enron</org> effect /.


and Enron effect was all CEOs are guilty unless proven innocent , therefore who wants to talk to them /?

and <org>Enron</org> effect was all CEOs are guilty unless proven innocent , therefore who wants to talk to them /?


And therefore I would argue -- /.


Wait a second /.


wait a second /.


Journalists uh subscribe to stereotypes because there are a few crooks at major corporations because you know they 're all bad guys /?


Yeah yeah /.


Yeah I would say /.


uh that 's a harsh uh assessment /.


I would say that there 's several things happened basically in the last three years /.

I would say that there 's several things happened basically in <date>the last three years</date> /.


I would call it a perfect storm /.


One was nine eleven /.

<cardinal>One</cardinal> was <event>nine eleven</event> /.


That distracted us okay /.


The other was the Enron effect /.

The other was the <org>Enron</org> effect /.


You know no one wanted to be sort of seen with CEOs /.


And number three was the dot com bust which made everyone think well all this globalization technology stuff is really over /.

And <cardinal>number three</cardinal> was the dot com bust which made everyone think well all this globalization technology stuff is really over /.


And as a result I would argue that really masked what is actually a fundemental inflection point the flattening of the world that we 're going from a vertical value creation model of command and control to a much more horizontal one of connect and collaborate /.


The argument of this book is that that shift is actually going to have as big an effect over time as Gutenberg and the printing press /.

The argument of this book is that that shift is actually going to have as big an effect over time as <person>Gutenberg</person> and the printing press /.


And I would argue a little bit that it got missed because of all these other distractions /.


But it 's only had an effect on Tom Friedman 's career /.

But it 's only had an effect on <person>Tom Friedman 's</person> career /.


In fact you were the Playboy interview /.

In fact you were the <org>Playboy</org> interview /.


Hey put that paper down /.


I bought it for the articles /.


Uh I enjoyed the interview /.


and you said in there that your wife uh edits all your columns and she says do n't publish it /.


Yes she does /.


You go back and rewrite it /.


I 'm afraid I do /.


My wife Andrea edits them all /.

My wife <person>Andrea</person> edits them all /.


and when she gives me thumbs down Howie I have to put it in a ball throw it in the circular file and start over /.

and when she gives me thumbs down <person>Howie</person> I have to put it in a ball throw it in the circular file and start over /.


and she 's a tough editor /.


Now your international readership on the New York Times website has gone down because of this new experiment the Times has where it costs forty nine ninety - five a year for non-subscribers at home to read Times columnists /.

Now your international readership on the <org>New York Times</org> website has gone down because of this new experiment the <org>Times</org> has where it costs <cardinal>forty nine ninety - five</cardinal> a year for non-subscribers at home to read <org>Times</org> columnists /.


That 's got to be disappointing for you /.


You know um I 'm torn /.


Uh and I 've said this to my bosses /.


Um I want my paper to thrive /.


and if we have a situation where young people grow up in the world that thinks that newspapers are things you read for free online who 's going to pay my travel expenses /?


And at the same time one of the greatest things about New York Times online is I got to reach an audience that just was exponential to what you got in the dead tree edition of the New York Times /.

And at the same time <cardinal>one</cardinal> of the greatest things about <org>New York Times</org> online is I got to reach an audience that just was exponential to what you got in the dead tree edition of <org>the New York Times</org> /.


And because I write about international affairs so I got a lot of young people in India and Egypt and whatnot /.

And because I write about international affairs so I got a lot of young people in <gpe>India</gpe> and <gpe>Egypt</gpe> and whatnot /.


and for them fifty dollars that may be their tuition for half a year /.

and for them <money>fifty dollars</money> that may be their tuition for <date>half a year</date> /.


So I 'm honestly torn /.


I really hope this works because I want the New York Times to have a platform that is sustainable /.

I really hope this works because I want <org>the New York Times</org> to have a platform that is sustainable /.


But at the same time I hope we can eventually find a way to re-engage those people because definitely we 've lost some of them /.


Eh in the Valerie Plame leak investigation there 's an allegation bouncing around the blogosphere that I just thought I would address with you which is have New York Times columnists somehow been told not to write about this because of Judy Miller 's involvement and being in jail , now being out of jail /.

Eh in the <person>Valerie Plame</person> leak investigation there 's an allegation bouncing around the blogosphere that I just thought I would address with you which is have <org>New York Times</org> columnists somehow been told not to write about this because of <person>Judy Miller 's</person> involvement and being in jail , now being out of jail /.


absolutely not /.


Anybody tell you not to write about it /?


I mean they do n't tell me not to write about anything /.


Howie we are home alone okay /.


I mean I 'm going to China uh on Monday /.

I mean I 'm going to <gpe>China</gpe> uh on <date>Monday</date> /.


and there 's only one person knows I 'm going /.

and there 's only <cardinal>one</cardinal> person knows I 'm going /.


and that 's my assistant /.


So um /-


Did you even tell the boss /?


That 's right /. so there 's no edict out there /.


why people have n't written about it I do n't know /.


I 'm focused on other things /.


There 's a lot we do n't know obviously about the Judith Miller situation /.

There 's a lot we do n't know obviously about the <person>Judith Miller</person> situation /.


but why do you think that she has gotten so much criticism /?


After all whether you agree with her or not this is a woman who believed in her convictions and went off to jail for eighty - five days /.

After all whether you agree with her or not this is a woman who believed in her convictions and went off to jail for <date>eighty - five days</date> /.


Um you know um Judy 's always been a pioneer and an agent of change you know um and uh has been at the forefront of a lot of stories /.

Um you know um <person>Judy</person> 's always been a pioneer and an agent of change you know um and uh has been at the forefront of a lot of stories /.


and people like that in our business um uh engender a lot of attention a lot of criticism and a lot of jealousy /.


Um and uh that 's the only way I can really explain /.


Tom Friedman /.


Up next did the media get carried away with last week 's subway terror alert /?

Up next did the media get carried away with <date>last week 's</date> subway terror alert /?


We 'll ride the rails into the spin cycle next /.


When New York mayor Mike Bloomberg announced last week that there was a possible terror threat against the city 's subways I thought here we go again /.

When <gpe>New York</gpe> mayor <person>Mike Bloomberg</person> announced <date>last week</date> that there was a possible terror threat against the city 's subways I thought here we go again /.


And television was all over the story /.


Here in New York tonight officials say they are increasing security on the city 's massive subway system because of what they call a significant and credible threat /.

Here in <gpe>New York</gpe> <time>tonight</time> officials say they are increasing security on the city 's massive subway system because of what they call a significant and credible threat /.


The threat to attack the subways in coming days comes from overseas /.

The threat to attack the subways in <date>coming days</date> comes from overseas /.


and the police here will be searching bags briefcases even baby strollers to try to stop it /.


It was let 's face it irresistable /.


And since it was right there in the Big Apple cable anchors and correspondents could provide almost non-stop on the scene coverage /.

And since it was right there in <gpe>the Big Apple</gpe> cable anchors and correspondents could provide almost non-stop on the scene coverage /.


The threat concerns the New York City subway system behind me around me literally beneath our feet here in Times Square /.

The threat concerns the <gpe>New York City</gpe> subway system behind me around me literally beneath our feet here in <fac>Times Square</fac> /.


The Fox News alert New York City subways are on a heightened state of alert this evening after what officials are describing as a specific threat /.

The <org>Fox News</org> alert <gpe>New York City</gpe> subways are on a heightened state of alert <time>this evening</time> after what officials are describing as a specific threat /.


And the city 's tabloids were n't far behind /.


The problem as with so many previous terror alerts is that allegations from informants are inherently shaky /.


And some correspondents offered caveats of course /.


MSNBC anchor Keith Olbermann could n't help but notice on that day October six it was news that Karl Rove had been called back to testify in the CIA leak case and the white house is being assailed by conservatives over the Harriet Miers nomination /.

<org>MSNBC</org> anchor <person>Keith Olbermann</person> could n't help but notice on <date>that day</date> <date>October six</date> it was news that <person>Karl Rove</person> had been called back to testify in the <org>CIA</org> leak case and <org>the white house</org> is being assailed by conservatives over the <person>Harriet Miers</person> nomination /.


events that have been politically disadvantageous to the current administration have been uh occuring simultaneously or followed quickly upon with something related to terrorism on a big scale /.


By the next morning the New York Times and the Washington Post were reporting that federal authorities were playing down the threat as noncredible /.

By <time>the next morning</time> <org>the New York Times</org> and <org>the Washington Post</org> were reporting that federal authorities were playing down the threat as noncredible /.


But the TV coverage kept rolling down the track like the number four express /.

But the TV coverage kept rolling down the track like the <cardinal>number four</cardinal> express /.


Finally last Tuesday some newspapers and then the cable networks reported that the whole thing was a hoax /.

Finally <date>last Tuesday</date> some newspapers and then the cable networks reported that the whole thing was a hoax /.


The CBS evening news gave that three sentences /.

The <org>CBS</org> <time>evening</time> news gave that <cardinal>three</cardinal> sentences /.


Well Jim Stewart of our Washington bureau quotes government sources tonight as saying the Iraqi man who gave that tip to US intelligence agents in Iraq now says the information was simply not true /.

Well <person>Jim Stewart</person> of our <gpe>Washington</gpe> bureau quotes government sources <time>tonight</time> as saying the <norp>Iraqi</norp> man who gave that tip to <gpe>US</gpe> intelligence agents in <gpe>Iraq</gpe> now says the information was simply not true /.


But that 's a lot more than NBC Nightly News and ABC 's World News Tonight which did n't mention the great subway hoax at all /.

But that 's a lot more than <org>NBC Nightly News</org> and <org>ABC 's World News Tonight</org> which did n't mention the great subway hoax at all /.


In an age of terror such threats obviously need to be reported /.


but given the unreliability of intelligence television ought to learn a lesson here about not going on high alert and scaring people /.


When we come back one network up the river without an explanation /.

When we come back <cardinal>one</cardinal> network up the river without an explanation /.


Reporters are tired of the usual standups you know Howard Kurtz Oshkosh Wisconsin /.

Reporters are tired of the usual standups you know <person>Howard Kurtz</person> <gpe>Oshkosh</gpe> <gpe>Wisconsin</gpe> /.


They want to be riding on a train or walking in the rain or something to get attention /.


So when NBC 's Michelle Kosinski was covering some flooding in New Jersey for the Today Show Friday she set out in a canoe /.

So when <org>NBC</org> 's <person>Michelle Kosinski</person> was covering some flooding in <gpe>New Jersey</gpe> for <org>the Today Show</org> <date>Friday</date> she set out in a canoe /.


And everything was going smoothly until /-


Well take a look /.


Good morning /.


Well obviously we 're getting a nice break from the rain but not the flooding /.


This is essentially now a part of the Passaic River in this neighborhood /.

This is essentially now a part of <loc>the Passaic River</loc> in this neighborhood /.


Two guys walk into the shot /.

<cardinal>Two</cardinal> guys walk into the shot /.


and we see that the water is only maybe four inches deep /.

and we see that the water is <quantity>only maybe four inches</quantity> deep /.


Talk about shallow reporting /.


And as the Media Research Center pointed out this was right before the Today Show accused President Bush of staging his conversation with soldiers in Iraq /.

And as <org>the Media Research Center</org> pointed out this was right before <org>the Today Show</org> accused President <person>Bush</person> of staging his conversation with soldiers in <gpe>Iraq</gpe> /.


Well that 's it for this edition of Reliable Sources /.

Well that 's it for this edition of <work_of_art>Reliable Sources</work_of_art> /.


Join us again next Sunday at our new time ten o'clock eastern seven pacific for a full hour of critiquing the media /.

Join us again <date>next Sunday</date> at our new time <time>ten o'clock eastern</time> <time>seven pacific</time> for <time>a full hour</time> of critiquing the media /.


Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer begins right now /.

<work_of_art>Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer</work_of_art> begins right now /.


This is Late Edition the last word in Sunday talk /.

This is <work_of_art>Late Edition</work_of_art> the last word in <date>Sunday</date> talk /.


All the indications we are getting even /.


-- basically , it was unanimously agreed upon by the various relevant parties .


To express its determination , the Chinese securities regulatory department compares this stock reform to a die that has been cast .

To express its determination , the <norp>Chinese</norp> securities regulatory department compares this stock reform to a die that has been cast .


It takes time to prove whether the stock reform can really meet expectations , and whether any deviations that arise during the stock reform can be promptly corrected .


Dear viewers , the China News program will end here .

Dear viewers , the <org>China News</org> program will end here .


This is Xu Li .


Thank you everyone for watching .


Coming up is the Focus Today program hosted by Wang Shilin .

Coming up is the <org>Focus Today</org> program hosted by <person>Wang Shilin</person> .


Good-bye , dear viewers .


Hello , dear viewers .


Welcome to Focus Today .


Today , let 's turn our attention to a road cave - in accident that happened in Beijing over the holiday .

<date>Today</date> , let 's turn our attention to a road cave - in accident that happened in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> over the holiday .


Before dawn on January 3 , a sewage pipe leakage accident occurred at the main and side roads of Jingguang Bridge , East Third Ring Road , Beijing Municipality , resulting in the road caving in .

Before dawn on <date>January 3</date> , a sewage pipe leakage accident occurred at the main and side roads of <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> , <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> , <gpe>Beijing Municipality</gpe> , resulting in the road caving in .


Relevant departments from Beijing Municipality promptly activated emergency contingency plans .

Relevant departments from <gpe>Beijing Municipality</gpe> promptly activated emergency contingency plans .


The traffic administration department carried out traffic supervision near the accident scene .


Well , how did the emergency response mechanisms activated by governmental departments operate effectively during the holiday ?


After the holiday , what will be done to handle citizens ' peak commute ?


In addition , what measures did relevant departments take to resolve issues such as waste discharge , heating , and communication , in order to ensure that the lives of citizens were not affected ?


Well , we have invited two honorable guests to the studio today to follow this topic with us .

Well , we have invited <cardinal>two</cardinal> honorable guests to the studio <date>today</date> to follow this topic with us .


One of the two honorable guests in the studio is Professor Zhou Hanhua from the Institute of Law of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences .

<cardinal>One</cardinal> of the <cardinal>two</cardinal> honorable guests in the studio is Professor <person>Zhou Hanhua</person> from <org>the Institute of Law</org> of <org>the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences</org> .


Hello .


Next is Yang Yang , a host of Beijing Traffic Radio Station .

Next is <person>Yang Yang</person> , a host of <org>Beijing Traffic Radio Station</org> .


Welcome both of you to the studio to participate in our program .


Well , I especially want to know , ha , how the two of you found out the news on the day of the accident ?

Well , I especially want to know , ha , how the <cardinal>two</cardinal> of you found out the news on the day of the accident ?


Ah , , about 11:00 m. yesterday , ah , I happened to find out through an SMS when I was outside .

Ah , , <time>about 11:00 m. yesterday</time> , ah , I happened to find out through an SMS when I was outside .


Uh-huh .


It happened that I was going to have lunch with a friend , um , at noon .

It happened that I was going to have lunch with a friend , um , at <time>noon</time> .


And then , the friend first sent me an SMS , Uh-huh . saying he would come pick me up to go together .

And then , the friend <ordinal>first</ordinal> sent me an SMS , Uh-huh . saying he would come pick me up to go together .


After that , I received an SMS from 1860 .

After that , I received an SMS from <cardinal>1860</cardinal> .


Uh-huh , it was through an SMS .


And you , Yang Yang ?


A friend happened to call me .


You were not at work that day ?

You were not at work <date>that day</date> ?


No .


The station called me at noon and said something happened at Jingguang Bridge and that I had to go to the station immediately to research the upcoming program .

The station called me at <time>noon</time> and said something happened at <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> and that I had to go to the station immediately to research the upcoming program .


Uh-huh , that means , er , you found out the accident through an information source at the station .


Right , right , right .


Well , like Professor Zhou , I also received this news , ha , through a mobile phone SMS .

Well , like Professor <person>Zhou</person> , I also received this news , ha , through a mobile phone SMS .


At that time , , it can be said that this SMS was among the many , ha , SMS containing New Year wishes , like Happy New Year , received after the start of the New Year .

At that time , , it can be said that this SMS was among the many , ha , SMS containing <event>New Year</event> wishes , like Happy <event>New Year</event> , received after the start of <event>the New Year</event> .


Ah , actually I felt a lot of warmth when I received that SMS .


Although we live in the west instead of the east and it did not affect us much , I think it is very useful , ah , to inform people of this kind of news .


Yes , exceptionally .


Well , what in fact was the content of that SMS ?


Let 's take a look via this footage , ha .


I remember the SMS was written like this at that time , saying that , ah , there was a sewage pipe leakage accident on the side road at the southeast corner of Jingguang Bridge at East Third Ring Road , and , well , traffic supervision was implemented near Chaoyang Road , Jingguang Bridge , and East Third Ring Road , and requesting cars to make a detour .

I remember the SMS was written like this at that time , saying that , ah , there was a sewage pipe leakage accident on the side road at the southeast corner of <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> at <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> , and , well , traffic supervision was implemented near <fac>Chaoyang Road</fac> , <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> , and <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> , and requesting cars to make a detour .


Some car owners said that it was very good that the SMS was sent .


Furthermore , there was one last sentence in that SMS thanking citizens for their cooperation and support .

Furthermore , there was <cardinal>one</cardinal> last sentence in that SMS thanking citizens for their cooperation and support .


Ah , after the SMS was sent , , I felt it seems to be the first time that Beijing Municipality , ah , used an SMS to give notification at the time of a public emergency .

Ah , after the SMS was sent , , I felt it seems to be the <ordinal>first</ordinal> time that <gpe>Beijing Municipality</gpe> , ah , used an SMS to give notification at the time of a public emergency .


I do n't know , all of us are living in Beijing , is this the first time , Professor Zhou ?

I do n't know , all of us are living in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> , is this the <ordinal>first</ordinal> time , Professor <person>Zhou</person> ?


Yes , in terms of an official notification , this should be the first time one was sent officially through 1860 .

Yes , in terms of an official notification , this should be the <ordinal>first</ordinal> time one was sent officially through <cardinal>1860</cardinal> .


Uh-huh .


Of course , in private life , people have used SMS countless times to spread news .


Yes .


Other places in the country must have used this too .


Uh-huh , uh-huh .


Must have used this too .


Actually , I remember receiving an SMS like this one last year before it snowed , since snowfall would affect road conditions in Beijing to a rather large extent .

Actually , I remember receiving an SMS like this one <date>last year</date> before it snowed , since snowfall would affect road conditions in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> to a rather large extent .


However , it did not give people such a special feeling as it did this time .


Ah , when an SMS is sent to inform citizens of such an incident , can it be considered a work method or expression of government information transparency ?


Yes , this is indeed through the very successful response to this emergency , ah , by Beijing Municipality , Uh-huh . an extremely good point that is worth pondering deeply , worthy innovation .

Yes , this is indeed through the very successful response to this emergency , ah , by <org>Beijing Municipality</org> , Uh-huh . an extremely good point that is worth pondering deeply , worthy innovation .


For instance , previously our news announcements were made through some conventional methods , but this time it was made in the form of a mobile phone SMS .


In fact , this is a method highly emphasized in various countries ' development of e-government .


We usually make it sound like e-government is something unattainable .


Yes , when we talked about e-government in the past , it seemed to be only done through the Internet .


Right .


It seemed that computers , ah , and the Internet , ah , were an expression of e-government , to let people find out information .


Well , presently in fact , e-governments in various countries apply this so - called last multiple - exposure method , such as call centers , such as electronic IDs , and such as , these electronic signatures .


These are quite sophisticated forms .


Uh-huh .


In particular , more terminals , such as , this cable television , ah , , this digital television , ah , and mobile phone SMS , are applied in e-government .


Hence , I think this is , a test of e-government because , as I remember , during SARS in 2003 , people at that time criticized e-government during the spread of SARS , ah .

Hence , I think this is , a test of e-government because , as I remember , during SARS in <date>2003</date> , people at that time criticized e-government during the spread of SARS , ah .


They said that e-government was very good but was not put into use .


Well , this time I think that a short SMS like this can fully create interaction between the government and the public through this e-government form .


Yes .


We drive often in Beijing , ha , Yang Yang .

We drive often in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> , ha , <person>Yang Yang</person> .


If people were not informed of such a traffic accident through SMS on that day and they continued to head there , what do you think would happen if people did not know what was going on and the jam did not clear ?

If people were not informed of such a traffic accident through SMS on <date>that day</date> and they continued to head there , what do you think would happen if people did not know what was going on and the jam did not clear ?


Ah , well , I think it would have been real paralysis .


This is the most appropriate word to use .


Furthermore , I think that when SMS was used to announce the news , it should be said to have fit the conditions in our China very well .

Furthermore , I think that when SMS was used to announce the news , it should be said to have fit the conditions in our <gpe>China</gpe> very well .


Why is that so ?


This is because , it should be said that China is the country with the highest SMS usage .

This is because , it should be said that <gpe>China</gpe> is the country with the highest SMS usage .


There are probably not as many chances to use SMS in foreign countries compared with domestically , in China , ah .

There are probably not as many chances to use SMS in foreign countries compared with domestically , in <gpe>China</gpe> , ah .


So , it can be said that penetration was quite high this time , by using the most familiar method , most used by everyone , as well as the most prompt and most convenient method , for the announcement .


Yes , I noticed that many friends , around me received it .


It seems that almost everyone received this SMS .


The effect was extremely good , ha .


So , how exactly did citizens react ?


Let 's take a look at the reactions of citizens .


-- an SMS .


I saw it was that Jingguang Bridge .

I saw it was <fac>that Jingguang Bridge</fac> .


Hey , I say , this is quite good , quite good .


Have you received information like this before ?


No , no .


This was the first time .

This was the <ordinal>first</ordinal> time .


The first time ?


Yes , yes .


Well , what do you think of the speed at which the government responded this time ?


Quite fast .


Really quite fast , ah .


So , I did not drive today .

So , I did not drive <date>today</date> .


I set out a bit earlier and took the subway here .


Do you think that the response of the government was fast this time ?


Ah , the response was quite fast .


In addition , various media announcements were also quite prompt .


Colleagues and friends also informed one another by phone calls and SMS .


I think this plan was quite speedy .


It seems that through this kind of SMS , citizens responded very well and the effect was excellent , ha .


Well , apart from the , ah , point on information disclosure brought out by this accident , the fact is that the activation of emergency contingency plans by the , ah , government has also left people with a very deep impression .


Let 's find out the situation at that time through some footage .


Well , we know that after the road cave - in accident , ah , ah , traffic police and emergency rescue personnel rushed to the scene , ah , to direct traffic and carry out emergency repair of sewage pipes .


Well , lots of barricade tape has been strung up on the side road in the north - south direction of the accident scene beneath the Jingguang Bridge at East Third Ring Road .

Well , lots of barricade tape has been strung up on the side road in the north - south direction of the accident scene beneath <fac>the Jingguang Bridge</fac> at <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> .


All personnel responsible for the emergency repair of underground sewage pipes , ah , have arrived at their designated locations .


See , through this footage , we see , ah , this --


Uh-huh .


Okay , ah , , this emergency repair worker said that he was there at 4 o'clock .

Okay , ah , , this emergency repair worker said that he was there at <time>4 o'clock</time> .


That means that they arrived at the scene right after the pre-dawn accident occurred .


Well , it can be said that the traffic administration department was activated very quickly after receiving the news .


Well , ah , Yang Yang , you work at Traffic Radio Station , ha , well , and we know that you all gave an extensive live broadcast this morning .

Well , ah , <person>Yang Yang</person> , you work at <org>Traffic Radio Station</org> , ha , well , and we know that you all gave an extensive live broadcast this morning .


A special program .


Yes , a special program on this traffic .


So , let 's first turn our attention to the impact on traffic after the accident .

So , let 's <ordinal>first</ordinal> turn our attention to the impact on traffic after the accident .


Judging from the traffic control measures taken after the accident , as well as the eventual impact caused , what do you think are the effects ?


Actually , concerning this , I think both of you are very familiar with the traffic in Beijing .

Actually , concerning this , I think both of you are very familiar with the traffic in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> .


Previously we had a statistic , especially for the ring roads in Beijing .

Previously we had a statistic , especially for the ring roads in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> .


That is , if we have an ordinary fender bender or tailgate accident on a bridge such as the Jingguang Bridge of the Third Ring Road , it might cause the entire Third Ring Road to have bumper - to - bumper traffic jams during these morning and evening peak periods .

That is , if we have an ordinary fender bender or tailgate accident on a bridge such as <fac>the Jingguang Bridge</fac> of <fac>the Third Ring Road</fac> , it might cause the entire <fac>Third Ring Road</fac> to have bumper - to - bumper traffic jams during these morning and evening peak periods .


It might even impact traffic on the Second Ring Road and Fourth Ring Road .

It might even impact traffic on the <fac>Second Ring Road</fac> and <fac>Fourth Ring Road</fac> .


Well , ah , if there is an accident , from the time it occurs until the time all traffic is cleared , it probably takes about half an hour to an hour during peak periods .

Well , ah , if there is an accident , from the time it occurs until the time all traffic is cleared , it probably takes <time>about half an hour to an hour</time> during peak periods .


Well , we could not imagine imposing temporary traffic restriction measures on a long section of road stretching from Jingguang Bridge to Changhong Bridge from the south all the way to Guomao Bridge , blocking the main and side roads .

Well , we could not imagine imposing temporary traffic restriction measures on a long section of road stretching from <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> to <fac>Changhong Bridge</fac> from the south all the way to <fac>Guomao Bridge</fac> , blocking the main and side roads .


Well , the situation would be unthinkable during this peak period that is the first day of work for everyone .

Well , the situation would be unthinkable during this peak period that is the <ordinal>first</ordinal> day of work for everyone .


Hence , at that time , before 6:30 a .m . today , before our live broadcast , we moved the broadcast forward , and before the live broadcast we were very worried .

Hence , at that time , before <time>6:30 a .m . today</time> , before our live broadcast , we moved the broadcast forward , and before the live broadcast we were very worried .


However , actually after the entire day today , I came here right after ending the live broadcast this evening to continue with the live broadcast here , in fact , in Beijing today people indeed experienced an extremely high volume of traffic flow on the roads surrounding the section under traffic control , and indeed there was a very big traffic jam .

However , actually after <date>the entire day today</date> , I came here right after ending the live broadcast this evening to continue with the live broadcast here , in fact , in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> <date>today</date> people indeed experienced an extremely high volume of traffic flow on the roads surrounding the section under traffic control , and indeed there was a very big traffic jam .


Uh-huh .


However , the affected area was not as large as expected .


Moreover , some people made detours once they received the news .


Right .


Psychologically , people felt quite relieved .


Because I know this situation .


Right , like those whom we interviewed just now .


It was easy to handle once everyone understood .


Yes , ah , , a citizen , he said , I set out today before the incident , and I did not drive after I was informed .

Yes , ah , , a citizen , he said , I set out <date>today</date> before the incident , and I did not drive after I was informed .


That person did not even drive .


Actually , in this aspect , I think that citizens were really quite cooperative .


For instance , this evening , we , received an SMS .


A friend said , I work on the 12th floor of the China World Trade Center at the Guomao Bridge , ah .

A friend said , I work on the <ordinal>12th</ordinal> floor of <fac>the China World Trade Center</fac> at <fac>the Guomao Bridge</fac> , ah .


We were discussing that we could go home in fewer cars since everyone was on the same route .


Later on , we suggested to him and said , you , ah , might as well take the subway , because you can directly reach the subway once you get down from the China World Trade Center .

Later on , we suggested to him and said , you , ah , might as well take the subway , because you can directly reach the subway once you get down from <fac>the China World Trade Center</fac> .


Hey , he said this was quite a good idea .


Actually , I think everyone was quite cooperative and also quite supportive in this aspect .


Yes , many , viewers not in Beijing may not be quite familiar , ah , with this road section we just mentioned , where , ah , the accident occurred .

Yes , many , viewers not in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> may not be quite familiar , ah , with this road section we just mentioned , where , ah , the accident occurred .


Ah , we can take a look later through an animation .


This road represents a main road on East Third Ring Road , with problems on both the main and side roads .

This road represents a main road on <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> , with problems on both the main and side roads .


Furthermore , Chaoyang Road is an intersection .

Furthermore , <fac>Chaoyang Road</fac> is an intersection .


Uh-huh .


Whether it is Chaoyang Road in the east - west direction or the main and side roads of East Third Ring Road in the south - north direction , as we can see from this diagram , it can be said that the area at the main and side roads of East Third Ring Road normally has quite heavy traffic , especially during commuting times .

Whether it is <fac>Chaoyang Road</fac> in the east - west direction or the main and side roads of <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> in the south - north direction , as we can see from this diagram , it can be said that the area at the main and side roads of <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> normally has quite heavy traffic , especially during commuting times .


Well , Chaoyang Road is a very important artery in the east - west direction .

Well , <fac>Chaoyang Road</fac> is a very important artery in the east - west direction .


Yes .


When people living in the west want to cross over from the city , they have to go via this road .


Hence , if a traffic accident occurs at this place , we can indeed imagine , ha , how widespread , ah , the extent of the impact will be , such as the number of cars caught in traffic jams .


Yes , actually I think everyone can see that from the buses that cross Jingguang Bridge .

Yes , actually I think everyone can see that from the buses that cross <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> .


As buses that cross the Third Ring Road are currently , right now affected by the Jingguang Bridge accident , ah , the latest results this morning show that 32 bus routes throughout the neighborhood have had to be rerouted .

As buses that cross <fac>the Third Ring Road</fac> are currently , right now affected by the <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> accident , ah , the latest results this morning show that <cardinal>32</cardinal> bus routes throughout the neighborhood have had to be rerouted .


Well , I think that perhaps many friends in other places are wondering how one place is able to accommodate 32 commuter routes .

Well , I think that perhaps many friends in other places are wondering how <cardinal>one</cardinal> place is able to accommodate <cardinal>32</cardinal> commuter routes .


If the accident did not happen , perhaps everyone would not know that this place could normally have so many --


It is really like this , just look at the bus signs .


Right .


Have not seen so many buses .


Its effect on people has been extremely extensive .


Well , what measures did the traffic control department eventually take to direct traffic ?


Our correspondent specially interviewed Director Meng Xianlong , Mr. Meng Xianlong , of the Command Center of the Beijing Municipal Traffic Administration .

Our correspondent specially interviewed Director <person>Meng Xianlong</person> , Mr. <person>Meng Xianlong</person> , of <org>the Command Center of the Beijing Municipal Traffic Administration</org> .


Let 's hear what Director Meng said .

Let 's hear what Director <person>Meng</person> said .


Um , our traffic control department immediately activated the traffic emergency response plan .


In the roads close to where the problem emerged , we first set up traffic diversion points for traffic control at the southern and northern ends .

In the roads close to where the problem emerged , we <ordinal>first</ordinal> set up traffic diversion points for traffic control at the southern and northern ends .


In this way , all vehicles going along East Third Ring Road had to make a detour to go on roads on the east and west sides .

In this way , all vehicles going along <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> had to make a detour to go on roads on the east and west sides .


East Third Ring Road is a traffic artery in the east of Beijing that links the north and the south .

<fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> is a traffic artery in the east of <gpe>Beijing</gpe> that links the north and the south .


In order to ensure smooth traffic in the eastern district , we formulated a set of traffic diversion control plans .


We set up traffic diversion points at 68 locations along East Second Ring Road , East Fourth Ring Road , West Dawang Road , ah , and related roads to the east and west , and deployed more than 210 additional police officers to divert and direct traffic .

We set up traffic diversion points at <cardinal>68</cardinal> locations along <fac>East Second Ring Road</fac> , <fac>East Fourth Ring Road</fac> , <fac>West Dawang Road</fac> , ah , and related roads to the east and west , and deployed more than <cardinal>210</cardinal> additional police officers to divert and direct traffic .


It can be said that measures were very promptly taken .


Ah , today is the first workday after the New Year holiday .

Ah , <date>today</date> is the <ordinal>first</ordinal> workday after the <event>New Year</event> holiday .


Well , what exactly was the situation this morning ?


We specially sent a reporter to the scene this morning to shoot some footage .

We specially sent a reporter to the scene <cardinal>this morning</cardinal> to shoot some footage .


Let 's take a look at the situation this morning through this footage .


Well , from this footage , we can see that , ha , at East Third Ring Road , ah , near Guanghua Bridge , the roads here that lead to the vicinity of Jingguang Bridge have come under control and , well , various kinds of signs have also been placed at very conspicuous locations .

Well , from this footage , we can see that , ha , at <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> , ah , near <fac>Guanghua Bridge</fac> , the roads here that lead to the vicinity of <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> have come under control and , well , various kinds of signs have also been placed at very conspicuous locations .


Although the outdoor temperature in Beijing has fallen to minus 3 degrees , the traffic police deployed additional manpower on the roads to direct traffic , ah , and guide drivers in making detours .

Although the outdoor temperature in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> has fallen to <quantity>minus 3 degrees</quantity> , the traffic police deployed additional manpower on the roads to direct traffic , ah , and guide drivers in making detours .


Well , since direction of traffic was carried out on the periphery , the number of vehicles at the section of the accident was significantly less than usual , with road traffic very orderly .


Ah , it can be said , ah , Yang Yang , citizens , regardless of whether they took the bus or drove , their mentality , in terms of being understanding or calm , ah , was a very important factor in having orderly traffic at the scene .

Ah , it can be said , ah , <person>Yang Yang</person> , citizens , regardless of whether they took the bus or drove , their mentality , in terms of being understanding or calm , ah , was a very important factor in having orderly traffic at the scene .


Uh-huh .


Right , right .


, through your listeners , what kind of feedback did you find out from them ?


Actually , this morning , some listeners , ah , also happened to tell us about it via mobile phone SMS .


Since we know that Jingguang Bridge is located in the CBD district , well there are many office buildings , ah , a lot of them , as well as quite a lot of friends who get up early in the morning to go to work .

Since we know that <fac>Jingguang Bridge</fac> is located in the <gpe>CBD</gpe> district , well there are many office buildings , ah , a lot of them , as well as quite a lot of friends who get up <time>early in the morning</time> to go to work .


Therefore , they sent SMS saying , hey , it is unusual , ah , for me to be walking to the bus station today or going to take the bus .

Therefore , they sent SMS saying , hey , it is unusual , ah , for me to be walking to the bus station <date>today</date> or going to take the bus .


Well , it is unusual for me to enjoy a very pleasant morning .


We then reminded everyone to wear extra clothing .


This shows that when people encounter such kind of emergency , they have started to be able to face it with a very calm and pleasant state of mind .


I think that this mentality in facing emergencies , in one respect shows a great change of mentality that Beijing citizens now have after enduring several tests in the past , and a kind of calmness and maturity after having experienced frustrations .

I think that this mentality in facing emergencies , in <cardinal>one</cardinal> respect shows a great change of mentality that <gpe>Beijing</gpe> citizens now have after enduring several tests in the past , and a kind of calmness and maturity after having experienced frustrations .


On the other hand , I think it can also fully show the level of people 's satisfaction with emergency mechanisms of the operational departments of the government in handling this incident .


That is , they think that the government has tried its best .


Well , in this respect , we citizens should also contribute our efforts .


As such , in this regard , I think people 's mentality can become very calm .


Well , Professor Zhou , from this perspective , is this one highly positive effect achieved after information was disclosed ?

Well , Professor <person>Zhou</person> , from this perspective , is this <cardinal>one</cardinal> highly positive effect achieved after information was disclosed ?


Yes .


In terms of citizens ' mentality .


Yes , in fact it can be seen from this particular case .


That is , when the government was handling this kind of public emergency , well , it went from a traditionally unilateral administrative management method , well , a method in which information was quite delayed , to disclosure and transparency of information , and very fast as well .


We know that in the past , disclosure of information had to be reported to higher authorities , level by level , until the highest authorities had given approval , before information could be disclosed .


Time was lost .


Well , yes , the State Council has , er , put forth a regulation concerning the establishment of public early warning mechanisms .

Well , yes , <org>the State Council</org> has , er , put forth a regulation concerning the establishment of public early warning mechanisms .


That is , related information that can be publicized will be publicized first , in order to guide people in what to do .

That is , related information that can be publicized will be publicized <ordinal>first</ordinal> , in order to guide people in what to do .


In this way , related interaction between the government and the people can be formed .


That is , in modern public management , ah , this is a very good case , that is , of shifting from a kind of unilateral administrative management to public management and to positive interaction between the government and the people .


I think in fact , we can sum up many beneficial experiences from this case and actually extend them to other areas .


Yes , this is when we look at this case from the perspective of traffic .


Traffic was the first thing to be impacted when this , cave - in accident occurred .

Traffic was the <ordinal>first</ordinal> thing to be impacted when this , cave - in accident occurred .


However , this accident actually involved many underground pipes , such as sewage pipes , ah , or water , ah , and gas , ah , pipes , that affect the lives of citizens in many other aspects .


Yang Yang , do you know how many pipes there are underground ?

<person>Yang Yang</person> , do you know how many pipes there are underground ?


Right now , there should be seven main types of pipes buried underground .


They include those like you just mentioned , as well as pipes like those for heating and communication , among others .


Truly , these pipes are closely linked to the lives of citizens .


Closely linked .


Yes , therefore besides our attention to the traffic issue just now , people are also very concerned , ah , with the situation after the accident , with other aspects affecting citizens ' lives .


Let 's take a look again at this footage of the situation of dealing with the current scene .


Ah , according to our understanding of the situation , the Beijing Municipal Construction Commission , ah , the Communication Commission , ah , and telecommunication , traffic , and other departments have assigned personnel to participate in emergency repair work .

Ah , according to our understanding of the situation , <org>the Beijing Municipal Construction Commission</org> , ah , <org>the Communication Commission</org> , ah , and telecommunication , traffic , and other departments have assigned personnel to participate in emergency repair work .


Relevant departments said that they will adopt a full range of measures to minimize the level of impact on people 's daily lives and work , in order to ensure stable order in society during the recovery period .


Well , looking at the government 's response to this cave - in accident , ah , we should say it was very prompt with traffic management and emergency repair , ah , because it involved various aspects of life .


Well , ah , Professor Zhou , as this incident involved many departments after it took place , how do you think the various departments should coordinate between themselves ?

Well , ah , Professor <person>Zhou</person> , as this incident involved many departments after it took place , how do you think the various departments should coordinate between themselves ?


Yes .


This is also --


It is not the case that this problem will be totally solved when one department shows up .


Yes , I think as we build this kind , er , of public , this kind of emergency mechanism for public incidents , ah , has been the , most difficult to resolve , an actual problem that has been the most difficult to resolve among administrative management reforms in various countries .


How many groups of people will be sent ?


Many groups .


Yes , this is because social management requires division of labor in society .


It is necessarily a labor division trend that involves many departments , and in addition , a kind of modern management public administration model which is diversified .


Uh-huh .


How can cooperation be formed between departments in this kind of situation ?


Well , sometimes under normal circumstances , sometimes , we often feel that it is very difficult for departments to cooperate with one another .


For instance , there are too many law enforcement departments and , ah , too many administrative departments , and very often in the end , they are unable to coordinate .


However , this time , through the execution of emergency contingency plans by Beijing Municipality this time , ah , it should be said that the response speed of the different departments of Beijing Municipality , as well as the integrated emergency mechanisms , played a great role .

However , this time , through the execution of emergency contingency plans by <gpe>Beijing Municipality</gpe> this time , ah , it should be said that the response speed of the different departments of <gpe>Beijing Municipality</gpe> , as well as the integrated emergency mechanisms , played a great role .


Hence , I think this was also a kind of , er , trial of interdepartmental cooperation mechanisms .


It was a very successful , er , response .


I think many good things can be summed up from this .


Yang Yang , based on your understanding , ah , as pipes that directly affect many common people 's lives were damaged after the accident , based on your understanding of the situation , how was remedial work carried out ?

<person>Yang Yang</person> , based on your understanding , ah , as pipes that directly affect many common people 's lives were damaged after the accident , based on your understanding of the situation , how was remedial work carried out ?


For instance , it is very cold during winter in Beijing , and the temperature last night dropped to one of the lowest points recently .

For instance , it is very cold during winter in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> , and the temperature <time>last night</time> dropped to <cardinal>one</cardinal> of the lowest points recently .


Er , heating pipes were indeed damaged .


Well , at the time , it affected residents living in an area of about 70,000 square meters of Beijing .

Well , at the time , it affected residents living in an area of <quantity>about 70,000 square meters</quantity> of <gpe>Beijing</gpe> .


Well , , in this regard , the Chaoyang district government did a very good job .

Well , , in this regard , the <gpe>Chaoyang</gpe> district government did a very good job .


After it , er , received this order from the municipal government , it immediately sent , electric heaters to residents in more than 200 households within this area .

After it , er , received this order from the municipal government , it immediately sent , electric heaters to residents in <cardinal>more than 200</cardinal> households within this area .


It should be said that many residents spent quite a warm night at home yesterday .

It should be said that many residents spent quite a warm night at home <date>yesterday</date> .


Well , furthermore , in the emergency repair process , ah , it should be said that the heating pipeline was restored relatively quickly .


Hence , over here , I think the municipal government , ah , including sub-district offices , made a lot of effort to take good care of resident households .


I think it was done in a very humanitarian manner .


Uh-huh .


Professor Zhou , actually for such a large scale city as Beijing that has more than 14 million people , ah , for such a big city , a suddenly occurring public emergency like this should be said to be relatively common .

Professor <person>Zhou</person> , actually for such a large scale city as <gpe>Beijing</gpe> that has <cardinal>more than 14 million</cardinal> people , ah , for such a big city , a suddenly occurring public emergency like this should be said to be relatively common .


Yes .


I think it should be unexpected yet at the same time within expectations .


For instance , we see that other , er , domestic and overseas cities have experienced similar incidents .


Perhaps many overseas cities have had such kind of thing before .


This is because a city is a gathering place for modern life .


It is a highly civilized place , as well as , however , in fact a gathering point for various conflicts , social , economic , security , various aspects of conflict .


Hence it is not at all surprising for such an accident to occur .


The critical thing is --


But the critical thing is how emergency plans are activated after the occurrence of such accidents , and for a city , this is a test of its response capabilities .


Yes , I think through a few incidents that happened in Beijing Municipality over recent years , such as SARS , the snowfall a few years ago , the heavy rains two years ago , and the road cave - in at East Third Ring Road this time , I think it can be seen that Beijing Municipality 's response capabilities continued to improve each time .

Yes , I think through a few incidents that happened in <gpe>Beijing Municipality</gpe> over <date>recent years</date> , such as SARS , the snowfall <date>a few years ago</date> , the heavy rains two years ago , and the road cave - in at <fac>East Third Ring Road</fac> this time , I think it can be seen that <gpe>Beijing Municipality 's</gpe> response capabilities continued to improve each time .


Right .


It can be said that this time , what was done has received favorable comments from everyone .


Um , well , I think , Yang Yang , perhaps you have stronger feelings on this aspect , ah .

Um , well , I think , <person>Yang Yang</person> , perhaps you have stronger feelings on this aspect , ah .


Because you often have this kind of direct SMS exchange with listeners .


It is because , we , Beijing Traffic Radio Station , has become a part of emergency planning in Beijing .

It is because , we , <org>Beijing Traffic Radio Station</org> , has become a part of emergency planning in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> .


Well , Beijing Traffic Radio Station is to be activated as a media for emergency plans that are grade three and above .

Well , <org>Beijing Traffic Radio Station</org> is to be activated as a media for emergency plans that are grade <cardinal>three</cardinal> and above .


Well , for instance , as people still vividly remember , at the time of that snowfall just mentioned by Professor Zhou that people still vividly remember , there were no plans .

Well , for instance , as people still vividly remember , at the time of that snowfall just mentioned by Professor <person>Zhou</person> that people still vividly remember , there were no plans .


Beijing Municipality still had no emergency plan .

<gpe>Beijing Municipality</gpe> still had no emergency plan .


Well , at that time , it happened that I was hosting the Unblocked All the Way program in the studio that evening .

Well , at that time , it happened that I was hosting the <org>Unblocked All the Way</org> program in the studio <time>that evening</time> .


Well , at that time , traffic was not at all unblocked .


Ah , at that time there was none of this kind of interaction .


It was not clear , it was very congested .


You sat inside the studio and only knew about the heavy snowfall .


You could find out other news only by telephone .


The various methods and channels were extremely unclear .


Well , later , when we experienced that rainfall in Beijing , that rainfall two years ago , as well as some days of sand storms , all channels and early warning mechanisms were activated in quite an orderly manner .

Well , later , when we experienced that rainfall in Beijing , that rainfall <date>two years ago</date> , as well as some days of sand storms , all channels and early warning mechanisms were activated in quite an orderly manner .


From our perspective as media , I think it was precisely by going through those breaking - in , trials that we could be so calm in handling such an emergency today , ah , and give everyone the most effective announcements and notifications , and instructions .

From our perspective as media , I think it was precisely by going through those breaking - in , trials that we could be so calm in handling such an emergency <date>today</date> , ah , and give everyone the most effective announcements and notifications , and instructions .


Yes , therefore , as a local media in this city , it should become a proactive participant when there is a public emergency in the city .


Yes .


It should play its individual role in the process of resolving emergencies .


Ah , apart from this , Professor Zhou , what do you think are the areas for improvement for a city , especially a booming city , when handling this kind of public emergency ?

Ah , apart from this , Professor <person>Zhou</person> , what do you think are the areas for improvement for a city , especially a booming city , when handling this kind of public emergency ?


Right , I think this gave us many revelations , ah .


First , I think one that should be especially important is early warnings and forecasts .

<ordinal>First</ordinal> , I think one that should be especially important is early warnings and forecasts .


This is because currently , there are , ah , frequently various kinds of risks lurking in cities , ah .


Early warnings and forecasts .


Yes , this kind of early warning and forecast mechanism .


Uh-huh .


It is not only for , this kind of sudden road cave - in , it also includes , for instance , security incidents , ah , in our society , as well as natural disasters , ah , and including public health incidents .


That is , this kind of scientific early warning and forecast mechanism must be set up .


In this way , you can manage and resolve an abnormal situation by turning it into a normal situation , without evolving into a sudden public emergency .


Another thing I want to say is that besides , ah , emergency response and speedy integration mechanisms , I think some corresponding improvements should be made to the release of information , incident investigation , ah , and the relevant post-incident , responsibility system .


In fact , , that is , we should say that the government already has quite a number of relevant systems in this respect .


For instance , we have an administrative investigation system for incidents of major responsibility .


We have regulations on investigation procedures for very major incidents , as well as others such as emergency response methods for handling public health incidents and public health emergencies , among others .


That is to say , we have many corresponding systems .


However , the question is how city management , er , handles these various kinds of perhaps unpredictable cases .


Since we are entering new circumstances of human living , circumstances that contain high risk and have an increasingly developed urbanized life , well , I think corresponding improvements should be made to the formation of a series of systems that includes scientific planning , early warning and forecast , emergency response , accident investigation , and accountability .


Um , well , based on your understanding of the situation , and from an international perspective , what are some better ways of urban management that are worthwhile for us to learn ?


I think , in comparison to China , we should say that urbanization in foreign countries developed earlier and is more widespread .

I think , in comparison to <gpe>China</gpe> , we should say that urbanization in foreign countries developed earlier and is more widespread .


Their level of development is more advanced than ours .


Although the scale of our urbanization is currently expanding at a rate of 1 % per year , I think , with our economic development being relatively backward , we actually still have many aspects of urban management to learn from foreign countries .

Although the scale of our urbanization is currently expanding at a rate of <percent>1 %</percent> per year , I think , with our economic development being relatively backward , we actually still have many aspects of urban management to learn from foreign countries .


For instance , many of the pipes involved in this incident were basic infrastructure , public utilities industries .


With a background of liberalization , marketization , and privatization , how can the government strengthen supervision of public utilities industries ?


How can a safe , assured system be established ?


Well , we need to learn and manage this .


Uh-huh .


For instance , regarding information disclosure , well , our speed of information disclosure this time was very fast .


However , we still have a lot of work to do in making the information disclosure , er , system more standardized , that is , to really implement a system of levels of responsibility .


Well , we also need to explore how cooperation mechanisms between departments execute cooperation under normal situations and , well , how departments should cooperate with one another under these kinds of public emergency circumstances .


Well , for some of our emergency contingency plans , well , ah , how will these emergency contingency plans withstand these tests ?


We know that currently , many ministries and commissions , as well as people 's governments at the provincial level , along with those at municipal and district levels , have set up emergency contingency plans for public emergencies , but many of them have not been put to the test .


Well , how will they undergo testing ?


These also include some of our command and policy - making systems .


So , with the growth of urbanization and with more and more of such complicated issues , ah , I think there will be increasingly high requirements on the systems .


That is , development of future systems is one of the top current priorities .


How can we institutionalize our response mechanisms and make them into a system so as to ensure the lifestyle of people who live in such a large - scale city ?


The State Council has proposed a public emergency contingency plan , called One Plan , Three Systems .

<org>The State Council</org> has proposed a public emergency contingency plan , called <cardinal>One</cardinal> Plan , <cardinal>Three</cardinal> Systems .


" One plan " refers to the contingency plan , and " three systems " refers to systems of organizations , mechanisms , and laws .

" <cardinal>One</cardinal> plan " refers to the contingency plan , and " <cardinal>three</cardinal> systems " refers to systems of organizations , mechanisms , and laws .


So , I think we still have a lot of work to do in these three areas of organizations , mechanisms , and laws .

So , I think we still have a lot of work to do in these <cardinal>three</cardinal> areas of organizations , mechanisms , and laws .


Yes .


Well , finally , let 's turn our attention to handling of the situation , ah , during the latter stages of the cave - in accident in Beijing .

Well , finally , let 's turn our attention to handling of the situation , ah , during the latter stages of the cave - in accident in <gpe>Beijing</gpe> .


Traffic , ah , can be said to have been directed , and is basically under control now .


Well , following this , repairs have to be made on this road section where the accident occurred , including for many pipes .


Well , Yang Yang , based on your understanding , how long will it take ?

Well , <person>Yang Yang</person> , based on your understanding , how long will it take ?


I think that the time really depends on how the overall repair goes .