The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, October 3, 2001- 9
Ashcroft says much of plot was
hatched outside of Afghanistan
Los Angeles Times
WASHINGTON - The terrorist plot against
the World Trade Center and Pentagon had its roots
in Afghanistan, but the conspirators were active in
Europe and traveled throughout the world as they
planned the suicide hijackings, Attorney General
John Ashcroft said yesterday.
Ashcroft again blamed the Sept. 1 I terrorist
attacks on Osama bin Laden, but he stopped short
of saying that the exiled Saudi militant or his al-
Qaida network financed them from its headquar-
ters in Afghanistan, as some intelligence officials
have suggested.
The attorney general said that U.S. investigators
were trying to establish financial connections and
that cooperative efforts with counter-terrorism
authorities from other nations were beginning to
'£" pay off.
German authorities, for instance, announced
yesterday that they had frozen 214 bank accounts
on the suspicion that the funds were linked to ter-
rorist activity. The European Union called on
other member countries to freeze assets connected
to terrorism suspects.
Ashcroft made his remarks at a news confer-
AP PHOTO ence with Canada's top law-enforcement official,
e Solicitor General Lawrence MacAulay.
They discussed pending legislation in both
countries to tighten security along the more-than-
4,000-mile-long border between the United States
and Canada, and other measures to crack down on
terrorist activity.
In recent weeks, Ashcroft said, authorities have
traced the threads of the conspiracy to all ends of
the globe and have concluded that al-Qaida oper-
ates in virtually every country. The attacks on the
World Trade Center and Pentagon, which killed
about 6,000 people, underscored the expanse of
bin Laden's network, he said.
"We believe the roots of this act of terrorism,
this act of, war, were in Afghanistan," Ashcroft
said. "And we believe that the branches of the
activity not only found their way to the United
States of America, but were present in substantial
ways in Europe, and that the activities of the con-
spirators carried them to destinations virtually
around the globe."
Since Sept. 11, Ashcroft said, investigators have
conducted 540 interviews and 383 searches,
issued 4,407 subpoenas and arrested or detained
more than 500 individuals. He said authorities in
25 other nations have arrested or detained about
150 additional people suspected of being linked to
terrorism.
Since the attacks, the U.S. government also has
developed evidence of 241 "serious" or "credible"
threats, according to the Justice Department and
had so far uncovered no firm evidence connecting
bin Laden to the suspected hijackers, some of
whom resided in Hamburg for a time.
Authorities in Berlin announced that they had
frozen $3.8 million in assets held in bank accounts
across the country on suspicion that the resources
or owners'had links to terrorism.
Spokesman Frank Bonaldo of the German Eco-
nomics Ministry said at least two of the accounts
were closed in recent days in response to President
Bush's executive order requesting that the assets
of 27 individuals, movements and companies
alleged to be associated with terrorism be frozen.
One of the accounts belonged to Syrian-born
Hamburg businessman Mamoun Darkazanli; the
other to an undisclosed person under investiga-
tion.
Darkanzanli was among the 27 alleged
financiers of international terrorism identified by
the White House. However, he told the Los Ange-
les Times in an interview after the list was
released that he had no links to bin Laden.
Darkazanli's name was on a joint account
opened with known bin Laden accomplice Mam-
douh Mamoud Salim in 1996. But Darkazanli, a
naturalized German, said that account was opened
solely as a favor to mutual friends of his and
Salim's. He also said he had no licks to any of the
Hamburg-based suspects among the suicide
hijackers.
Attorney General John Ashcroft answers a reporter's question at the Justice
Department in Washington yesterday after meeting with Canadian Solicitor
General Lawrence MacAuley.
White House.
In Germany, authorities
said their investigation
TERROR
Continued from Page 1
countries in the world to put an end to this evil,
the plague of the 21st century - terrorism,"
Karimov said late Monday. "Uzbekistan is ready
to make its contribution to the cause of liquidat-
ing terrorists' bases and camps in Afghanistan,
and is ready to allow the use of its airspace for
these purposes."
Yesterday, the U.S. government presented a
detailed package of information to its NATO allies
* and to the government of Pakistan. State Department
spokesman Richard Boucher said the information
was also given to other countries but he declined to
name them.
U.S. and European officials said the evidence
includes transcripts of intercepted communications
along with information concerning bin Laden's par-
ticipation in earlier terrorist attacks. These officials
said the intelligence was supplied both by the British
government and U.S. agencies.
Frank Taylor, the State Department's counter-ter-
rorism chief discussed the evidence with NATO rep-
rp resentatives in Brussels, Belgium. In Islamabad,
Pakistan, U.S. Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin pre-
sented the evidence gathered thus far to Pakistani
President Pervez Musharraf in a meeting that lasted
90 minutes.
U.S. officials have acknowledged that they must
establish the guilt of bin Laden and al-Qaida if they
hope to retain the high ground in world public opin-
ion that they have held since the Sept. 11 attacks.
Some Arab leaders, although expressing support for
U.S. counter-terrorism plans, have said that it is
extremely important for Washington to show that it
is going after the correct culprits.
"We are building a very strong case against al-
Qaida,' Boucher said. "This is a process of amassing
information. There is a great body of evidence that
indicates clearly to us and to others that al-Qaida was
responsible. We have said all along we'll be sharing
that information with foreign governments as we
can."
He said the information is classified and will not
be made public for the time being.
In Brussels, NATO secretary-general George
Robertson said the United States offered "clear and
compelling evidence." He added, "It is clear that all
roads lead to al-Qaida and pinpoint Osama bin
Laden as having been involved in it.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said the United
States has not provided his government with conclu-
sive evidence of bin Laden's complicity in the Sept.
I 1 attacks, apparently because the CIA does not yet
trust Russian intelligence services.
But Putin said Russia doesn't need much more
information.
"We don't need additional evidence of bin Laden's
participation in these attacks," he said. "That's
already clear to our special services." However,
Russian intelligence agencies haven't yet determined
precisely what role bin Laden played, "and our
American colleagues could be helpful in this
respect."
In Pakistan, Musharraf had repeatedly said that the
administration should come forward with proof of its
allegations against bin Laden. A senior Pakistani
diplomatic source said Chamberlin provided a
detailed outline of the case against bin Laden and al-
Qaida, supported by notes and documents. t
Asked whether Pakistan still needed to be con-
vinced about bin Laden's possible involvement in
the Sept. I1, the source said the information was
more likely to be used in convincing moderate ele-
ments of Afghanistan's fundamentalist Taliban
regime to split from Mullah Mohammed Omar,
their leader. Omar has allowed bin Laden to stay
in Afghanistan - even at the risk of a U.S. mili-
tary attack.
But clearly Musharraf has another audience he'd
like to convince. More than 10,000 supporters of a
pro-Taliban Islamic party paraded through Islam-
abad, the Pakistani capital, denouncing Musharraf
and the United States. Police were so concerned
about the crowd and the level of anti-Western emo-
tion that they confined international journalists to
their hotel.
Meanwhile, the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan,
Abdul Salam Zaeef, struck a somewhat conciliatory
tone yesterday at a news conference in the south-
western Pakistani city of Quetta.
Zaeef asked for negotiations with the United
States and said the Bush administration should turn
over proof of bin Laden's guilt to the Taliban govern-
ment.
"We are ready for negotiations," Zaeef said. "It is
up to the other side to agree or not. Only the way of
negotiation will solve our problems."
COLUMBIA
Continued from Page 1
League. He has been rumored to be a
top candidate for Columbia's presiden-
cy since March, when he was one of
three finalists for Harvard University's
top job but was passed over by the uni-
versity's search committee in favor of
former U.S. Treasury Secretary
Lawrence Summers.
Bollinger's decision to leave the
University of Michigan comes at a
time when it is involved in numerous
multi-million dollar development
projects - including the $700 mil-
lion Life Sciences Initiative -- and a
search for a permanent provost. With
the pending departure of Bollinger
and the provost position still vacant
since Nancy Cantor left this summer,
Newman said the regents must act
hastily.
Their next meeting is scheduled
for Oct. 19, but Newman said, "I
would propose that we meet sooner."
When they meet next, the regents
will likely begin searching for an
interim president.
While Bollinger's decision to leave
will undoubtedly be viewed by many as
a loss, Newman said she is confident his
departure will not cripple the University.
"Michigan is bigger that one indi-
vidual, and I wish Lee well and good
luck, but we have tremendous people
on this campus that could fill some
big shoes. I'm really not concerned at
all with the path that's been set,"
Newman said.
Bollinger was attending an event
last night in Midland and could not
be reached for comment. University
spokeswoman Julie Peterson declined
to-comment on Bollinger's behalf.
"I can't do anything until their
process concludes and they make
whatever announcement they're
going to do," Peterson said. "I can't
speculate on their process."
University of Michigan Regents
Larry Deitch (D-Bloomfield Hills),
Rebecca McGowan (D-Ann Arbor)
and Olivia Maynard (D-Goodrich)
said they did not want to discuss the
issue when reached at their homes
last night.
"Until it all becomes official, I'm
really not comfortable making any
comment," Maynard said.
Most University officials were not
aware of'the fact Bollinger was
being so closely considered until
Monday when the Daily and the
Columbia Daily Spectator, the New
York City school's campus newspa-
per, published reports indicating he
was a finalist for the job. Bollinger
is widely regarded on campus as
someone who consults only with a
few close confidants before
announcing major decisions.
It was no surprise, therefore, that
yesterday many of the University's
highest ranking executives were not
yet privy to Bollinger's decision.
Executive Vice President for Med-
ical Affairs Gil Omenn said he did
not know Bollinger had any plans to
accept the Columbia position.
"I very much enjoy working with
President Bollinger," Omenn said. "I
will respect whatever he chooses to do."
University General Counsel Marvin
Krislov, reached in his office yesterday
afternoon, responded with a "no com-
ment" when informed Bollinger had
accepted the job, and added that it
wasn't his business to know what the
president planned to do.
ThiWekIn London...
You could be ...
BOLLINGER
Continued from Page 1
With Bollinger's support, the University has pledged hun-
dreds of millions of dollars to the Life Sciences Initiative,
which aims to propel the University to the forefronts of bio-
logical research and technology.
Construction on the Life Sciences Institute was already well
under way when it was made public that Bollinger was one of
the top three candidates for Harvard's top position in March.
The Institute formally kicked off its activities in April with
co-directors Jack Dixon and Scott Emr at the helm, and the
initiative appears to have enough momentum to maintain
progress. The University Board of Regents approved the bud-
get and schematic design for the Biomedical Sciences
Research Building at their most recent meeting.
"I'm very confident in the fact that all the projects and
programs Bollinger began will be carried on by his succes-
sor," said MSA Treasurer Josh Samek.
Bollinger was essentially the single driving force behind
the soon-to-be constructed Arthur Miller Theater. It's
unknown how progress on the project will continue without
Bollinger at the helm of the University.
It's possible that the search for a new permanent provost
will be put on hold at least temporarily while the University
adjusts to Bollinger's pending departure. After Nancy Can-
tor left Ann Arbor to become chancellor of the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this summer, Vice Presi-
dent and Secretary Lisa Tedesco was appointed by
Bollinger to serve as interim provost.
Bollinger is currently chair of the provost search commit-
tee. MSA President Matt Nolan, a member of the provost
search committee charged with finding a permanent
provost, said Bollinger was in attendance at the committee's
" catching the red'hot hit "Mama Mia" in the West End
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* sitting next to a rock star -in a trendy
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Or...
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a
meeting yesterday
usual.
FUNDING
Continued from Page 1
"Fiscal year 2002 will be down at
least that much and maybe more," he
said yesterday.
Sen. John Schwarz (R-Battle
Creek), chair of the Senate Appropria-
tinns Committee',, hinher educationn
ered one-tenth of 1 percent each year.
Doing so would garner the state anoth-
er $250 million dollars in revenue.
But a postponement is not support-
ed by Gov. John Engler, according to
spokesman Matt Resch.
"At a time when the economy is
slowing, cutting taxes is what needs to
he done." Resch said
morning and that business proceeded as
uncertain future in the House.
When asked if larger tuition increases
were likely if higher education funding
is lowered, Stevens said, "I really hesi-
tate to speculate but that's the logical
conclusion you would draw."
State revenues are closely tied to the
economy. When the economy slows,
revenues drop. As the national econo-
.w
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