2 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, November 4, 1997 NATION/WORLD U. N. team tries to defuse Iraqi crisis - - -------------- OPP, AROUND THE NATIQN Supreme Court hears polygraph case UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Seeking to wrest concessions from the United Nations, Saddam Hussein agreed yesterday to let a three-member U.N. mission visit i'Iraq to try to defuse the crisis over .his plans to expel American arms inspectors. But the atmosphere of conciliation dissipated over an alleged Iraqi threat to ire on U.S. surveillance planes that patrol Iraq in support of U.N. weapons monitoring. U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson condemned the threat as an "irresponsi- bl escalation" of the crisis between Iraq and the United Nations. Further clouding the mission, the two sides offered differing interpre- tdions of its purpose. Secretary- General Kofi Annan said the three emissaries - from Algeria, Sweden and Argentina - would "discuss with the Iraqis a firm implementa- tltion of the U.N. resolution" allowing the inspectors unrestricted access to suspected weapons sites. But Iraq's ambassador, Nizar Hamdoon, said the mission would open a "dialogue" on Iraqi accusations that the Americans are dragging their feet on lifting of U.N. sanctions by refusing to certify that Iraq has destroyed all its banned weapons. The crippling economic sanctions were imposed in 1990 after Saddam invaded neighboring Kuwait, trig- gering a clash that led to the 1991 Gulf War. The decision to accept the mission was announced after Iraqi authori- ties refused to admit an American inspector to a suspected weapons site. Chief inspector Richard Butler of Australia said the team leader chose to abort the planned inspection and advised two other teams to do so as WASHINGTON--Is the polygraph a reliable "lie detector" that can con vict the guilty and free the innocent, or a pseudo-scientific fraud that has n place in a court of law? That is an old question, but it came before the Supreme Court for the firs, yesterday. The answer has the potential to reshape virtually every trial in the n n Polygraph results have been banned from most courts for most of this century The general rule was set back in 1923 when a federal judge concluded that a rathe primitive lie-detector, which simply measured changes in a suspect's blood pres sure, was itself suspect and could not used in court. But the tide of opinion has shifted recently. Polygraph testing has greatl: improved, its advocates say, thanks to computerized monitoring of minut changes in a person's pulse, perspiration and breathing. Some studies con lude polygraphs are accurate 90 percent of the time. Last year, in a major departure, the U.S. court of appeals for the arrne forces ruled that a defendant has a constitutional right to tell jurors f polygraph test that indicated he was not lying. U That case is now the one before the court. If the justices were to affirm the lower court decision, defendants in every court in the nation - federal and state - would have the right to use favorable polygraph results. well. Butler gal ." called Iraq's action "ille- AP PHOTO Iraqi women hold portraits of President Saddam Hussein during a protest yester- day against the latest United Nations resolution in Baghdad. 'SCOTUS Continued from Page 1 "while the case against the University questions the legal- ity of policies developed by the University's Board of .Regents, which is autonomous from the state. "It has no impact," Sedler said. "The state of California has made a policy decision to prohibit affir- inative action. There's no relationship at all." But State Rep. David Jaye (R-Macomb) called the decision a "tremendous constitutional victory." "The U.S. Supreme Court has just removed the biggest obstacle to getting rid of affirmative action procedures at the University of Michigan," Jaye said. "This means that the case does not have enough con- .titutional merit." Jaye recently proposed a joint resolution similar to Proposition 209. If it is passed by the legislature, Michigan citizens would vote on the bill through a refer- -ndum, which would eliminate the use of all race and gen- der-based preferences in the public and private sectors. Jaye said the Court's refusal to hear the case against Proposition 209 gives a "boost" to his legislation. Some legal scholars argue that yesterday's decision will support the case against the University's affirma- 'tive action policies. Frederick Lynch, a government professor at Claremont College in California and author of a book* attacking the University's affirmative action pro- grams, said that due to the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the Hopwood case last year, the 5th Circuit's rul- ing against minority preferences in higher education stands in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. Therefore, California and the 5th Circuit are two "laboratories" that will test a system that does not per- mit race-based admissions, Lynch said. "It's a major step forward in the case against affir- mative action in Michigan, Lynch said. "There will be two areas in which we could see how diversity is achieved without racial preferences. It has definite implications." Terry Pell, legal council for the Center for Individual Rights, said that while the decision won't have any direct legal effect on the lawsuit against the University, it lends support to the fight against affirmative action. "It helps make clear that the argument against racial preferences is a mainstream view, not a fringe one," Pell said. Law Dean Jeffrey Lehman said the decision does not reflect the Supreme Court's beliefs about affirma- tive action. "All this says is that the Supreme Court doesn't think this is a good case for them to get into," Lehman said. John Pickering, senior partner in Wilmer, Cutler and Pickering, the Washington, D.C.-based lawfirm representing the University in the suit, would not comment on the effects of the decision on the lawsuit, but he said the high court's overall stance on affirma- tive action has evolved in recent years. "The court over the last few years has retreated from it's stance on affirmative action," Pickering said. "What the future holds, I don't know." The refusal may indicate that the Court is waiting to hear a case on affirmative action that deals with more specific-facts, some legal experts say. "It implies that they are looking for a narrower case to rule on affirmative action," said William Allen, for- mer chair of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission. "It also implies that it is legitimate for the 9th Circuit to uphold affirmative action." Jeffrey Cuthbertson, president of Students for Equality, said the decision is a positive step in the fight to end racial preferences. "The Supreme Court didn't see a viable constitu- tional challenge to the referendum," Cuthbertson said. "The Court did the right thing in not engaging in the particular case." LSA senior Alexander Martinez said the decision upsets him because it will hinder the pursuits of those fighting to defend affirmative action. "People from here might want to use that as a prece- dent to get the University's lawsuit to go a certain way," Martinez said. Jury convicts three of conspiracy in fire MOBILE, Ala. - Three young whites were convicted yesterday of torching a rural black church two days after a Ku Klux Klan rally, but the jury acquitted them of a new racial hatred charge involving places of worship. The case marked the first time a jury had considered the new federal charge, which imposes harsher penalties for arson in a religious structure when race is the motive. It was passed after a rash of fires at black churches in the South in 1995 and 1996. Alan Odom, Brandy Boone and John Kenneth Cumbie were convicted of conspiracy in the June 30 arson fire that destroyed St. Joe Baptist Church, a tiny concrete-block structure with 21 members. Odom was also convicted of arson for starting the blaze by lighting the church curtains on fire after attending a beer-drinking party earlier in the evening. A fourth defendant pleaded guilty to arson before the trial began. Boone was accused by prosecu- tors of shouting "Let's go burn thc nigger church" to inspire the arsor and Cumbie allegedly did nothi -tc stop it. They were found innoc o arson and could receive betweer four and five years in prison foi conspiracy. Minor sun exposure may prevent cancer WASHINGTON -Basking briefl in the sun every day may be an impor tant way to prevent breast c r researchers said yesterday. But also warned, "Don't overdo it." New studies indicate that vitamin , a nutrient made by the skin durini exposure to sunlight, can lower the ris< of breast cancer by 30 percent to 4( percent and perhaps even more. "We know now that a little bit of sur is beneficial, but it is not good to stab out there four or five hours," said epi- demiologist Ester John of the ?t California Cancer Center. ARoUND THE WORLD Recycle the Daily, daily. Start your LEAGUE um40 0 $ Thai prme minister vows to step down BANGKOK, Thailand - Embattled Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, facing mounting criticism over his nation's economic tailspin, yesterday said he will step down later this week. Thais and for- eign business people reacted posi- tively to the news, which was expected to boost the battered Thai stock market and currency. An end to Thailand's political infighting would be good news in the West, where the economic crises in Southeast Asia are blamed for triggering last week's dramatic gyrations in world stock markets. Last week, the United States demonstrated its concern about the region's financial instability by offering to contribute $3 billion to a $23 billion bailout for Indonesia orchestrated by the International Monetary Fund. In August, the IMF had approved a $17.2.billion pack- age for Thailand. "I think there will be quite a positive reaction from most Thais to the news (o Chavalit's impending departure) Andi will fuel ashort-term rally"said Kent White, managing director of Pacific Strategic Consulting Co. in Bangkok Typhoon pummels Vietnam's coast HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam 'Typhoon Linda pummeled Vietnam' southern coast yesterday, sinking hun dreds of fishing boats and flatt thousands of homes in the most dev at ing storm to hit the country in decades. Roaring through with gusts of mort 80 mph, Linda left a trail of destructio in Ca Mau province. At least 500 small fishing boats an their crews were unaccounted for in C Mau province alone, a local official said speaking on condition of anonymity Another 200 boats from a fleet of 30 were missing yesterday afternoon=i neighboring Ben Tre province.o exact death toll was unclear, but author- ities said dozens were confirmed dead. - Compiledfrom Daily wire reprts. 711h] IH"rrh r Nlu The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745.967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail ar $85. Winter term (January through April) is $95, yearlong (September through April) is $165. On-campus scriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and the Associated collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. 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STAFF: Kristin Arola. Ellen Friedman, Lea Frost. Eric Hochstadt. Scott Hunter. Jason Korb, Yuki Kuniyuki, David Lai. Sarah Lockyer. James Miller. Joshua Rich, Megan Schimpf, Paul Serilla. Ron Steiger. David Taub, Matt Wimsatt, Jordan Young. SPORTS John Leroi, Managing Editor EDITORS: Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Alan Goldenbach, Jim Rose, Danielle Rumore. STAFF: TJ. Berka, Evan Braunstein, Chris Duprey. Chris Farah, Jordan Field. Mark Francescutti, Rick Freeman, John Friedberg. James ° Goldstein, Rick Harpster, Kim Hart. Josh Kleinbaum. Chad Kujala. Andy Latack. Fred Link, 8.J. Luria. Kurt New. Sharat Raju, Pranay Reddy, Kevin Rosefield, Tracy Sandier. Richard Shin, Mark Snyder. Nita Srivastava. Dan Stillman, Uma Subramanian, Jacob Wheeler. ARTS Bryan Lark, Jennifer Petlinski, Editors WEEKEND, ETC. EDITORS: Kristin Long. Elizabeth Lucas SUB-EDITORS: Aaron Rennie (Music), Christopher Tkaczyk (Campus Arts), Joshua Rich (Film, Jessica Eaton (Books). Stephanie Jo Klein (TV/New Media). STAFF: Colin Bartos, Sarah Beldo, Neal C. Carruth, Anitha Chalam, Brian Cohen, Melanie Cohen, Gabe Fajuri, Chris Felax, Laura Flyer. Geordy Gantsoudes, John Ghose. Anna Kovalski, Emily Lambert. Stephanie Love, James Miller, Ryan Posly, Anders Smith-Lindall. Julia Shih, Prashant Tamaskar, Ted Watts, Michael Z ilberman. PHOTO Sara Stillman, E ASSISTANT EDITORS: Margaret Myers, Warren Zinn STAFF: Louis Brown, Daniel Castle, Mallory S.E Floyd, John Kraft, Kevin Krupdtzer, Kelly McKinnell. Bryan McLellan. Emily Nathan, Paul Talanian. COPY DESK Rebecca Berkn, Edito STAFF: Jason Hoyer, Debra Liss. Amber Melosi, Jen Woodward. ONLINE Adam Pollock, Editor STAFF: Marqunia Ifiev, Elizabeth Lucas. GRAPHICS Jonathan Weitz, Editor STAFF: Alex Hogg, Michelle McCombs. Jordan Young. AT _..__._ A7_ --I - T T._ :___ -__.__