The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - 3 NEWS BRIEFS WASHINGTON General suggests troop withdrawal by summer 2008 Gen. David Petraeus told Congress yesterday he envi- sions the withdrawal of roughly 30,000 U.S. troops by next sum- mer, beginning with a Marine contingent later this month. In long-awaited testimony, the commanding general of the war said last winter's buildup in U.S. troops had met its military objectives "in large measure." As a result, he told a congres- sional hearing and a nationwide television audience, "I believe that we will be able to reduce our forces to the pre-surge level by next summer without jeop- ardizing the security gains we have fought so hard to achieve." WASHINGTON Officials: U.S. is better prepared for attack Weapons of mass destruc- tion, small boats packed with explosives and Islamic radical- ization are the greatest terror- ist threats facing the country, top U.S. security officials said yesterday on the eve of the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 ter- rorist attacks. The officials told Congress the country is much better pre- pared to face terror threats than it was then, but that terrorists' desire to attack the United States remains strong - an assertion that has yet to be fully accepted by the American pub- lic, according to a new poll. "The enemy is not standing still. They are constantly revis- ing their tactics and adapting their strategy and their capabil- ities," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "And if we stand still - or worse yet, if we retreat - we are going to be handing them an advan- tage that we dare not see them hold." ISLAMABAD, Pakistan Pakistan's leader exiles former PM again President Gen. Pervez Mush- arraf defied Pakistan's Supreme Court yesterday, sending com- rhandos to the airport and toss- ing out a bitter rival hours after he returned from exile in hopes of a making political comeback and opposing the military lead- er. TheexpulsionofNawaz Shar- if, who was ousted as an elected prime minister by Musharraf in a 1999 bloodless coup, could deepen the general's unpopu- larity and undermine the legiti- macy of upcoming elections. Not longafter he arrived from London to cheers from support- ers accompanying him on the plane, Sharif was charged with corruption and money-launder- ing and bundled away by police from the airport VIP lounge. Four hours after landing, he was on a special flight to Saudi Arabia. DETROIT Farwell drops plan to save piece of Tiger Stadium Retired Detroit Tigers broad- caster Ernie Harwell has with- drawn his proposal to revive the long-vacant Tiger Stadium as a venue for boxing, amateur football and amateur baseball with 10,000 to 14,000 seats. Instead, he said that he is backing a less ambitious plan that would save the playing field and about 3,000 seats, the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News reported. In July, the 89-year-old Hall of Fame member endorsed a more ambitious plan for the park that has stood at the site since 1912 but saw its last Tigers game in 1999. Team owner Mike Ilitch moved the ballclub to Comerica Park in 2000. - Compiled from Daily wire reports FA - NAEKAS 39772 Number of American service members who have died in the War in Iraq, according to The Associated Press. The following were identified by the Depart- ment of Defense yesterday: Capt. Drew N. Jensen, 27, of Clackamas, Calif., a Spc. Marisol Heredia, 19, of El Monte, Calif, Cpl. Ryan A. Woodward, 22, of Fort Wayne, Ind. Despite today's date, 1p.m. warning sirens only a test By MARY WILCOP For the Daily At exactly 1 p.m. today, 22 sirens around Ann Arbor will blare as the city tests its outdoor warning sys- tem. It's nothing new. The city rou- tinely tests the system for one min- ute on the second Tuesday of every month from March to November. This month's test could cause some alarm, though, because it falls on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Dean of Students Sue Eklund's office sent a mass e-mail to students last nightto explain why the alarms will be sounding. The letter did not directly reference Sept. 11. Some students said they didn't immediately realize that today is the anniversary of the attacks, while others said they deleted the warning e-mail without opening it because it was sent from an admin- istration e-mail address. LSA soph- omore Mike Enochs said he doesn't usually open mail sent by Univer- sity officials. "I don't really look at stuff that isn't important, that's not related to my classes or department," he said. While students originally from the Midwest, might be familiar with siren tests, students from other areas of the country, where torna- dos are less frequentmightnot. LSA senior Molly Block said she remem- bered being alarmed her freshman year when emergency sirens were tested during fall semester finals week. "I was freaking out," she said. Block, who grew up in Aptos, Calif., had never heard citywide sirens before. Local emergency systems are usually state-funded but aren't required by law, meaning some cities choose to do without them. In the case of a real emergency - like a tornado warning, hazard- ous materials spill or a nuclear attack - Ann Arbor's sirens will be sounded for three minutes. Citizens are directed to take cover indoors and seek a radio or television for more information. I A IKEA CANTON - 41640 Ford Rd., 1-275, Ford Rd. Exit" (734) 981-6300 Open every day 10am-9pm Stop by the IKEA restaurant and have some meatballs and maybe even a Caesar salad. It's more affordable than stocking your fridge and having your roommate eat all of your food. SOVA flat sheet $2.99/ea. 100% cotton. Imported. Also available in fitted. KVART wall/clamp spotlight $4.99. Bulb sold separately. Shade diameter 3". KASSETT magazine box with lid $14.99/2pk. Solid cardboard. RA. W13D15xHll3/a". SKUBB hanging storage $4.99/ea. 100% polyester. Some products require assembly. RA = requires assembly. Prices may vary at IKEA Houston, San Diego and Seattle. Not all products available through IKEA Direct. See store or www.IKEA-USA.com. Some products shown are imported. See store for country of origin. @lnter IKEA Systems B.V. 2007