2A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 8, 2001 NATION/WORLD U.S. cracks down on money trails WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration carried out a series of raids yesterday on U.S. busi- nesses suspected of helping to funnel nillions of dollars to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network, arresting a Massachusetts man and seizing evidence in several cities. Overseas, two Arab financiers were questioned by Swiss police cooperating with the United States. "By shutting these networks down, we disrupt the murderers' work," said President Bush, announcing the first major crackdown on companies, organiza- tions and people suspected of aiding terrorists who carried out the Sept. 11 attacks. Law enforcement officials, speaking only on con- dition of anonymity, said investigators believe tens of millions of dollars a year flowed overseas through the al-Barakaat network, one of two organizations targeted by the day's law enforcement raids. These officials said much of the money consisted of funds that Somali residents were sending home to relatives, adding that they suspect a portion was skimmed for use by al-Qaida and other terrorist networks. Customs agents, acting on an order signed by Trea- sury Secretary Paul O'Neill, seized evidence at nine locations in four cities: Boston, Minneapolis, Seattle and Columbus, Ohio. Assets of nine organizations and two people in the United States were frozen. In addition, evidence was seized at two storefronts in northern Virginia, officials said. The United States also asked allies to freeze assets that aid bin Laden and his al-Qaida organization in at least nine countries. Some of them acted even before Bush announced the crackdown on the network sus- pected in the Sept. 11 attacks on Washington and New York. In all, the names of 62 entities and people were added to a list of suspected terrorist associates tar- geted by Bush in an executive order signed last month. The earlier list included 88 groups or people whose assets had been frozen because of their ties to al-Qaida and other terrorist groups. The new list covers groups and people affiliated with two suspected bin Laden financial networks - Al Taqua and Al-Barakaat Material distributed by the White House said the two organizations maintain a presence in more than 40 nations, the United States among them. Bush said both "raise funds for al- Qaida." Both are informal, largely unregulated financial networks - sometimes called hawalas - that authorities say funnel money to al-Qaida through companies and nonprofit organizations they operate. Bush's statement were quickly rebutted by the chairman of the al-Barakaat group, speaking in Mogadishu, Somalia. "This is all lies," Ahmed Nur Ali Jim'ale told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Dubai. "We are people who are hard working and have nothing to do with terrorists," said Jim'ale, who is on the administration's target list. In Boston, Mohamed M. Hussein and Liban M. Hussein were charged with running an illegal money transmitting business, according to a criminal com- plaint. Officials said Mohamed Hussein was in cus- tody, but the other man was not. The two men ran Barakaat North America Inc. in Dorchester, Mass., a foreign money exchange, with- out a state license, according to a U.S. Customs Ser- vice affidavit. The business moved over $2 million through a U.S. bank from January through Septem- ber, the government said. Federal authorities in Columbus, Ohio, sealed off a money-transfer and check-cashing business on the administration target list. Barakaat Enterprise shares a small strip mall with a pizza shop and beauty salon, with private homes across the street. A notice taped on the front window of the busi- ness said: "All property contained in this building is blocked pursuant to an.executive order of the president on Sept. 23 of this year under the authority of the International Emergency Econom- ic Powers Act." New NYC mayor ready to rebuild devastated city NEW YORK (AP) -- Michael Bloomberg's upset victory in New York's mayoral race will test the cen- tral premise of his campaign - that a man who built a major media compa- ny from the ground up can now rebuild a city with a devastated down- town and a fragile economy. The 59-year-old billionaire Republi- can - who touted his complete lack of political experience as one of his greatest strengths - will assume con- trol of the nation's largest city during one of the most difficult periods in its history. Yesterday, Bloomberg was frank about the challenges, including the likelihood of getting a lot less sleep. "When the alarm went off, I think I moaned a little bit, and rolled over and thought to myself, 'You know, if I hadn't been so fortunate, I'd be able to sleep in a little more,"' he said. The short list of decisions Bloomberg faces represents the kind of political minefield that would make even a veteran politician question the wisdom of a career in public service. His first priority will be to nurse a city still recovering from the World Trade Center attack back to financial and emotional health - and at the same time, seek creative solutions to successive years of projected $4 bil- lion budget deficits. Even so, Bloomberg saw no reason yesterday to rule out grand schemes such as an expensive new sports stadium. "This is the Big Apple," he said at his first news conference a$ mayor- elect. "We are a city of big projects, of big ideas, of big complexes and a big heart." The tasks in front of Bloomberg are not all new. The businessman, whose experience with unions has been mini- mal, must negotiate new contracts with the police and teachers unions; do something about the city's failing 1.1- million student school system; and begin the delicate work of trying to heal racial and ethnic rifts in one of the most diverse communities in the world. He must do all this while filling the shoes of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who in the wake of the Sept. 11 attack has been elevated from a modestly popular incumbent to civic sainthood. At least Bloomberg can point to a fairly broad coalition of support among city voters: Exit polling found that he ran even with Democratic opponent Mark Green among Hispan- ic voters and picked up about one- quarter of the black vote in Tuesday's election. It was this breakdown in the tradi- tional Democratic coalition, the $50 million or more that Bloomberg spent on the race and Giuliani's backing that turned Green from odds-on favorite to loser and gave control of City Hall to Bloomberg. Fifty-five days before he takes office, most of Bloomberg's plans remain thin. He supports raises for police and NEWS IN BRIEF ,, HEADLINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD WASW NGTON House avoids confrontation with Bush Top Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee backed away yes- terday from a veto confrontation with President Bush and said they would sup- port his effort to hold anti-terrorism spending to $40 billion this year. A day after Bush threatened the first veto of his presidency during a White House meeting with congressional leaders, committee Chairman Bill Young (R- Fla.) said he would oppose any additional anti-terror funds when his panel writes a defense spending bill next Tuesday. And Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) who chairs the Appropriations defense sub- committee, said he was dropping plans to propose adding $12 billion in emer- gency money for the Pentagon. Lewis, who for weeks has insisted that more money is needed for the war in Afghanistan, was among those who attended the session with Bush. "I woke up at 3:30 in the morning and I said to myself, 'I don't want to put the country through an exercise that would put us off the track,"'Lewis said in an interview, referring to the country's sense of unity. Democrats and some Republicans have said billions more are needed this year for the FBI, public health, border and airport security, the military and other pro- grams. WASHINGTON Tire company pays $41.5 million settlement Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. will pay $41.5 million in a settlement to head off law- suits by states over defective tires the company recalled more than a year ago. Each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will get $500,000, according to a copy of the settlement obtained by The Associated Press. There are no restrictions on how the money can be spent. Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone/Firestone will spend $5 million on a con- sumer education campaign and $10 million to reimburse attorneys' fees for the 'states. Bridgestone/Firestone announced a recall of 6.5 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires on Aug. 9, 2000, after receiving reports that some tires sudden- ly failed. Since then, federal investigators have documented 27'l deaths from thou- sands of accidents involving the tires. Many of the accidents involved rollovers of the Ford Explorer, the world's best- selling sport utility vehicle. The Wilderness AT tires came as standard equipment. Attorneys general have been investigating whether Bridgestone/Firestone and Ford were aware of problems with the tires long before the recall was announced. RAMALLAH, West Rank search is going to continue at this ."- point," Sewell said late last night. "But Israeli occupation we are still proceeding as though the ends after 3 Weeks sailor is alive." It was not known how the sailor fell Israel ended its three-week occu- overboard, Sewell said. The sailor was pation of Ramallah, the Palestinian not identified because his family had not government and commercial center, yet been notified. yesterday as part of a gradual pull- The USS Kitty Hawk is part of a out from parts of six West Bank three-ship battle group being used as a towns it seized last month. helicopter base for special operations Elsewhere,.two Palestinians were troops as part of the U.S. effort in killed by Israeli fire, including a Afghanistan. West Bank man accused in the death of a Jewish settler. Prime Minister WASHINGTON Ariel Sharon said the man was responsible for several deadly Government to drop attacks on Israelis and was "elimi- pizza regulations nated" by undercover troops. In the Ramallah pullout, Israeli Hold the pepperoni. The government tanks, jeeps and armored personnel wants to drop decades-old rules that dic- carriers drove out of the northern tate the ingredients of frozen pizzas, neighborhoods before dawn. down to how much meat, sausage or The convoy passed several Pales- pepperoni must be in the toppings. tinians, who stood in the heavy rain Kraft and other pizza makers say the holding a sign with an arrow and rules prevent them from lowering the the words: "Tel Aviv that way, and fat content or trying out new sauces or stay out." ethnic styles. Under the Agriculture Department's WASHINGTON regulations, a meat pizza must have a Sailor falls off aircraft crust, cheese, a tomato-based sauce and S7 Cat least 10 percent to 12 percent meat by carrier in Arabian Sea weight. A 12-inch pepperoni would typ- ically have about 20 pepperoni slices. A search was under way last night for The rules, known as standards of a U.S. sailor who fell overboard from an identity, were intended in part to pro- aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea. mote consumption of meat and cheese, The sailor fell from the USS Kitty said consumer advocate Carol Tucker Hawk at 7:22 a.m. EST and a search and Foreman, who oversaw the depart- rescue operation was begun immediate- ment's food regulation during the ly, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Don Sewell. Carter administration. "That doesn't Repeated helicopter searches and several make sense in today's society" she said. dives found no sign of the sailor. "We don't know how long the - Compiled from Daily wire reports. 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EITOIA* SAF Gofre GgnnEdto i Cie NEWS Nick Bunkley, Managing Editor EDITORS: David Enders, Lisa Koivu, Caitlin Nish, Jeremy W. Peters STAFF: Kristen Beaumont, Tyler Boersen, Ted Borden, Anna Clark, April Effort, Lizzie Ehrle, Margaret Engoren, Rachel Green, Lisa Hoffman, C. Price Jones, Elizabeth Kassab. Shabina S. Khatri, Kylene Kiang, Daniel Kim, Tomislav Ladika, Louie Meizlish, Jennifer Misthal, Jacquelyn Nixon, Shannon Pettypiece, Stephanie Schonholz, Karen Schwartz, Sarah Scott, Jordan Schrader, Maria Sprow, Kelly Trahan, Kara Wenzel CALENDAR: Lisa Koivu - EDITORIAL Michael Grass, Nicholas Woomer, Editors ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Johanna Hanink, Aubrey Henretty, Manish Raiji, Josh Wickerham STAFF: Howard Chung, Kevin Clune, Sumon Dantiki, Rachel Fisher, Seth Fisher, Catherine Groat, David Livshiz, Garrett Lee, Paul Neuman, y Neil Pais. Ar Paul, Zachary Peskowitz, Jess Piskor, Jim Secreto, Lauren Strayer y CARTDONISTS: Sam Butler. Chip Culien, Thomas Kutgurgis COLUMN STS Peter Cunnife, David Horn, Rebecca Isenberg, Steve Kyritz, Dustin J. Seibert, Waj Syed, Amer G. Zahr SPORTS Jon Schwartz, Managing Editor SENIOR EDITORS: Raphael Goodstein, Jeff Phillips, Benjamin Singer, Joe Smith g NIGHT EDITORS: Arun Gopal, David Horn, Steve Jackson, Seth Klempner, J. Brady McCollough, Naweed Sikora STAFF: Rohit shave, Dan Bremmer, Chris Burke. Eric Chan, Kareem Copeland, Bob Hunt, Melanie Kebler, Shawn Kemp, Matt Kramer, n Courtney Lewis, Kyle O'Neill, Charles Paradis, Dan Rosen, Mike Rosen, David Roth, Brian Schick, Brian Steere, Allison Topp, Jim Weber ARTS Jennifer Fogel, Managing Editor 1 EDITORS: Robyn Melamed, Lyle Henretty .n WEEKEND, ETC. EDITORS: Matt Grandstaff, Jane Krull SUB-EDITORS: Lisa Rajt (Books), Andy Taylor-Fabe (Film), Jim Schiff (Fine/Performing Arts), Luke Smith (Music), Jeff Dickerson (TV/New Media) f STAFF: Charity Atchison, Marie Bernard, Ryan Blay, Rob Brode, Autumn Brown, Japiya Burns, Laura Deneau, Kiran Divvela, Tricia Donelan, Keith N. Dusenberry, Andrew Field, Julie Geer, Ben Goldstein, Melissa Gollob, Joshua Gross, Nicholas Harp, Jenny Jeltes, Carmen Johnson, Chris Y, Lane, Laura LoGerfo, Beatrice Marovich, Willhelmina Mauritz, Sheila McClear, Rosemary Metz, Ryan C. Moloney, Denis Naranjo, Jeremy J. Peters, Gina Pensiero, Darren Ringel, Sarah Rubin. Dustin Seibert, Christian Smith, Todd Weiser t PHOTO Marjorie Marshall, Editor rS ASSOCIATE EDITORS: David Katz, Alyssa Wood STAFF: Laurie Brescoll, Tom Feldcamp, Emma Fosdick, Alex Howbert, Danny Moloshok. Brett Mountain, Brendan O'Donnell, Miyon Oh, John )y Pratt. David, Rochkind, Yena Ryu, Brandon Sedloff, Jonathon Triest, Leslie Ward at ONLINE Paul Wong, Managing Editor STAFF: Marc Allen. Soojung Chang, Chuck Goddeeris. Melanie Kebler, Sommy Ko, Timothy Najmolhoda CONSULTANTS: Mike Bibik, Satadru Pramanik Ir- y DISPLAY SALES Micah Winter, Manager ll ASSOCIATE MANAGER: Carrie Wozniak a STAFF.CAyaIEa Barka RJessica Cordero. Brad Davies, Laura Frank, Ellen Gagnet. Jennifer Kaczmarek~Julie Lee, Kristin Nahhat, P_ Leshe Olinek. Glenn Powias, Amit Rapoot, Natalie Rowe, Anne Sause, Tarah Saxon, Nicole Siegel, Debbie Shapiro, David Soberman d CLASSIFIED SALES Esther Choi, Manager ASSISTANiT MANAGER: Jeffrey Valuck AP PHOiO Newly elected New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a Republican, claims victory at a celebration party early yesterday morning. teachers but has refused to say how much. IHe wants to move city workers out of Manhattan to free up prime downtown office space for companies, but it is unclear how that would hap- pen. He says he will not raise taxes and will continue the city hiring freeze, but has not said how he will bridge the projected deficits. Voters, who identified the jobs and the economy as the most important issues in exit polls Tuesday, were will- ing to take a chance anyway. "Bloomberg was not a typical politi- cian --- and voters were looking for someone who had the experience to help turn the economy around," said Lee Miringoff, director of polling at the Marist Institute of Public Opinion. It remains an open question whether Bloomberg can adapt from a maverick businessman to a mayor who governs by consensus. He said he likes to delegate authori- ty and listen to new ideas, though some employees at the Bloomberg financial news service have com- plained about the company's manage- ment structure and what they perceive as resistance to change. O regon sues over suicide directive SALEM, Ore. (AP) - The state of Oregon sued the U.S. government yes- terday over a federal directive that essentially blocks the state's assisted- suicide law. The lawsuit challenges the authority of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to limit the practice of medicine in Ore- gon by attempting to bar physician- assisted suicides. Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers also filed a motion yesterday seeking to temporarily prevent the fed eral government from implementing th order barring doctors from prescribing federally controlled substances to hasten the deaths of terminally ill patients. "Ultimately, what we're seeking to d( is waylay the federal government fror illegally interfering in the practice o medicine in Oregon," said Kevin Neely a spokesman for Myers. On Tuesday, Ashcroft dealt wha could be a fatal blow to the country' only law permitting assisted suicides b serving notice on Oregon doctors tha their licenses to prescribe federally con trolled drugs will be revoked if they par ticipate in Oregon's Death with Dignit law. The order does not call for crimina prosecution of doctors. And it does stip ulate that pain management is a vali