WepAtr Wednesday March 5,2003 02003 The Michigan Daily Ann Arbor, Michigan * Vol. CXIII, No. 103 One-hundred-twelve years ofeditoralfreedom TODAY: Light snow in he morn- ing with cloudy skies, clear- affernkoon. I k27 LOWA:s9 Tomorrow. .3012 www.michigandailycom U.S. may reconsider push for war resolution WASHINGTON (AP) - With other nations' opposition hardening, the White House left open the possibility yesterday that it would not seek a United Nations vote on its war-making resolution if the measure was clearly headed for defeat. U.S. troop strength in the Persian Gulf neared 300,000, and President Bush and his advisers were looking beyond the diplomatic showdown in-the U.N. to make plans for a pub- lic relations buildup to potential war with Iraq. One option under serious consideration was Bush giving Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein a final ultimatum, perhaps with a short-term deadline, in an address next week, two senior White House officials said. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that a variety of options are on the table and all depend on the outcome of a U.N. Security Council debate on the U.S.- backed war resolution. In a new blow, Russia's top diplomat said Moscow may use its veto against the measure. Even without a veto from Russia, China or France, the United States still doesn't have the nine votes needed to win approval of the reso- lution, according to both supporters and oppo- nents. Many undecided council members are looking for a compromise. Secretary of State Colin Powell, in an inter- view with RTL television of Germany, said that early next week U.S. leaders would "make a judgment on whether it's time to put the resolu- tion up to a vote" At the White House, spokesman Ari Fleischer said, "The vote is desirable. It is not necessary." Once the vote is resolved one way or anoth- er, Bush will intensify his case for war, officials said, barring unforeseen events such as Saddam suddenly disarming or going into exile. In addition to a possible address, they have discussed a presidential news confer- ence and a Cabinet meeting as ways for Bush to communicate his plans to the nation next week. He may stop short of a specific ultimatum, officials said, but would make it clear that war is imminent in other ways, such as warning journalists and humanitari- an workers to get out of Iraq. Meanwhile, Bush telephoned leaders of India and Egypt to discuss his plans. And officials said Powell had had two telephone conversations and a one-on-one meeting in recent days with Mexi- can Foreign Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez in his search for Mexican support. The Army's oldest armored division, "Old Ironsides," got its orders to head for the Persian Gulf, and Pentagon officials said U.S. land, sea and air forces were approaching 300,000 in the region. - N. Korea condemns military exercises SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - After North Korean fighter jets intercepted a U.S. reconnaissance plane, the commu- nist country said yesterday the threat of armed confrontation on the Korean Peninsula was growing because of what it called U.S. aggression. North Korea did not comment on the interception of the plane. Its state-run media instead criticized annual U.S.- South Korean military exercises that began yesterday, saying they were preparation for an attack. The exercise, named Foal Eagle, ends April 2. "This Foal Eagle exercise is escalat- ing the danger of armed clashes on the Korean Peninsula," said Minju Joson, a North Korean newspaper. "If the eagle swoops down on us, a nuclear war will break out and it is clear that the whole Korean nation will not escape nuclear holocaust," said the report, which was monitored by South Korea's Yonhap news agency. North Korea routinely condemns such exercises, but the belligerent rhet- oric and the interception of the Ameri- can plane come amid fears the North could make nuclear bombs within months. US. military officials say the annual maneuver is "defense-oriented" and is not related to the nuclear dispute. Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said four North Korean fighter jets had approached the U.S. plane over the Sea of Japan on Sunday, coming as close as 50 feet. One used its radar to identify the plane as a tar- get, but there was no hostile fire, he said. Davis said it was the first such inci- dent since 1969, when a North Korean plane shot down a U.S. Navy EC-121 surveillance plane, killing all 31 Amer- icans aboard. In Washington, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said President Bush "believes that the issue of North Korea can be handled diplomatically." "This is a matter that we will See KOREA, Page 2 Former he Bear meets bear Fearing division, state House will not criticize U, By Andrew McCormack Daily Staff Reporter A resolution in the Michigan House of Representatives opposing the Uni- versity's admissions policies has passed its committee hearing, Speaker Rick Johnson (R-LeRoy), who sup- ports the resolution, chose to not put it. up for a vote because of the division it might cause, said Emily Gerkin, John- son's spokeswoman. "It's a very contentious issue, and out of respect for both sides, we didn't feel a vote was necessary," she said. "The purpose was not to divide the House. The speaker wanted to make his point known, but it wasn't worth causing a rift in the House." The resolution might, however, be voted on at a later date, she said. "When anything is on the counter, it is always eligible for a vote from now until 2004. We don't have any plans to bring it up in the immediate future, but I wouldn't rule anything out," she said. The resolution, which was spon- sored by Rep. Jack Brandenburg (R- Harrison Twp.), urges the University to discontinue its admissions policies that are based on "race, geography or other non-meritorious factors," and for "the Supreme Court to rule against the Uni- versity" for practicing such policies. "I feel it's a quota system based on race. I don't like quota systems," Bran- denburg said. "When you give a per- son 20 points for the color of their skin and a white person nothing, he is start- ing 20 points behind." "I know where Michigan's coming from - they're trying to right the wrongs of the past - but two wrongs don't make a right. You cannot end dis- crimination with discrimination," he added. But other lawmakers disagree with Brandenburg's judgment of the Univer- sity's policies. Rep. Chris Kolb (D- Ann Arbor), who opposed the resolution, said he feels some non-aca- demic factors are quite relevant to Uni- versity admissions. "I testified at the committee hearing against the resolution," Kolb said. "Test scores and grades do not allow you to judge the entire student nor do See HOUSE, Page 3 DANNY MOLOSHOKIDaily Yves Philippe, nicknamed "Bear" by his parents, reaches for the baby bear sculpture as both are held by their mothers yesterday in front of Blimpy Burger. The bears are holding an anti-war sign. Students advocate u peaceful alternative to war By Michael Gurovitsch Daily Staff Reporter Artists expressing their opposition to the potential war with Iraq greeted students walking through the Diag yesterday afternoon with monologues and music. Acting Out, a local activist theater troupe, organized the protest in hopes of break- ing down the barrier between activists and the public. The protesters, who wore white signs that said, "Make Art Not War," recited works of poetry, most of which came from a collection titled "100 Poets Against the War." "(Our purpose is to) flood the Diag with performance so anyone who walks by becomes immediately engaged with the message,"RC freshman Ryan Bates said. "This is a protest performance against the war ... a way for ad * of Indonesia addresses Islam, terror By Min Kyung Yoon Daily Staff Reporter In a political environment where terrorism and Islam have taken center stage, Abdurrahman Wahid, the former president of Indonesia and for- mer head of the Nahdlatul Ulama - a Muslim organization counting more than 40 million mem- bers based on religious values - addressed these issues last night to members of the University community. Wahid, who is blind, discussed terrorism in Southeast Asia, the presence of militant Muslims in Indonesia and the relationship between Islam and the West. But much of his lecture, titled "Moderate Muslim Assessment of Terrorism in Southeast Asia," focused on the looming war in Iraq. Wahid - or Gus Dur, as he is also known - is a proponent of inter-ethnic tolerance, pluralism and interfaith, which promotes moderate Muslim views. He was president from 1999 to 2001, and was educated in Indonesia, Egypt, Iraq and Cana- da. Currently, he is a member of the advisory board of NU. The presence of militant Muslims presents a continual threat to peace in Indonesia, Wahid said. "Militant Muslims in Indonesia try to disturb mn~a ac ;n the nacP of Rali " Wahid said artists to use their talent to express their protest and educate people creatively against the war" RC senior Margaret Con- way said. Protesters cited many reasons for their opposition to the potential war. "The idea of pre-emptive strike on a country we've damaged unimaginably in the last 10 years through sanctions and bombings is wrong." RC senior Susan Harter said. "Waging a war against the people is not OK." "We are being shoved into this war in the wake of Septem- ber 11 for motives other than what we're being told," Bates said. "Iraq is not an imminent threat to security. Other methods besides war should be used and exhausted." "The idea of pre-emptive strike is against international law," Conway said. See ARTISTS, Page 3 Students urged to protest war by cutting class By CarmenpJohnson Daily Staff Reporter A student strike today at the University protesting military action in Iraq will coincide with 300 similar protests on campuses around the country as part of the "Books not Bombs: Nationwide Student Strike against the War." Lectures, performances, panels and a rally on the Diag, organized by Anti-War Action!, are designed to encourage stu- dents to skip class and learn about the possible war in Iraq. By striking classes, students are demanding that the Bush administration redirect its public funds from the military to education, strike organizer Megan Williamson said. "We oppose the war and we also want the University administration to officially declare their opposition to the war," Williamson said. "Military research contracts should be eliminated on campus," Williamson added, referring to the possibility of the University hosting a newly proposed Army biotechnology center. See BOOKS, Page 2 5. .3 HLEY nArrn/ Daiy California State University political science Prof. As'ad Abukhaill speaks about the looming war in Iraq yesterday In the Michigan Union. Prof criticizes U.S. war 'p*,ro,,paganda' By Rahwa Ghebre-Ab Daily Staff Reporter LISA V5Ho,1NZKU1~0~ WiJ Former Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid speaks yesterday at the School of Social Work. referring to the October 2002 bombings in Bali, which were attributed to terrorists. Indonesia has been the site of continual con- flict between Muslims and Christians, especially in recent years with the emergence of terrorist campaigns by the Laskar Jihad, he said. The group is a paramilitary organization whose mem- bers say they are waging a holy war against Christians in the Moluccan Islands. While militant terrorist activities continue to be a problem in Indonesia, Wahid said, the threat is diminishing. "All in all, terrorist attacks are sub- siding," Wahid said. He added that if the government is able to "It's important that we do not equip students in our universities with ideologies or partisanship - they can do that on their own," said As'ad Abukhalil in his message to students, faculty and Ann Arbor resi- dents in the Pendleton Room of the Michigan Union last night. "Skepti- cism, however, is necessary at this point with the approach of the largest U.S. propaganda campaign since World War I." Abukhalil, a professor of political science at California State Universi- ty, spoke last night on the relation- ship between Israel, Afghanistan and U.S. propaganda to the impend- inv war onn Irac "I want to dispel myths about the U.S. administration, why they say they are going to war and their true actions taken thus far," Abukhalil added. "He gave us cold hard facts with sources to back those facts up at every citation," first-year Law School stu- dent Michelle D'amico said. "I like that we can check out all his information and that it will probably be correct," D'amico added. Abukhalil addressed Israel's role in the possible war, primarily the coun- try's relationship with the United States. "Israel, along with the U.K., is the only other country that will be notified about the war before it actually hap- pens.... Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait, the countries who will likely be the pa AR1NOIL Par cse 2 II& :1