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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 17, 1998)
Clinton ends troop buildup; forces in Gulf remain ready WASHINGTON (AP) - Skeptical that Saddam Hussein will keep his word, the White House pressed for a swift test of Iraqi promises to cooperate with U.N. arms inspectors. The United States stopped its military buildup in the Persian Gulf but warned it could strike “at a moment’s notice.” “The world is watching Saddam Hussein to see if he follows the words he uttered with deeds,” President Clinton said Monday. “Our forces remain strong and ready if he does not” Reinforcing Clinton’s statement, National Security Adviser Sandy Berger said that if Iraq does not comply, “there will be plenty of opportunity for military force.” The administration said it would be up to U.N. chief arms inspector Richard Butler and his team to judge whether Iraq, in fact, allows unrestricted access to all sites the inspectors choose. “He’s not been shy in the past about expressing his views when he believes his work has been obstructed,” White House press secretary Joe Lockhart said. Butler is to return to Iraq today. With tensions cooling, Clinton took the morning off to play golf. The White House also resumed plans for a presi dential trip at midweek to Japan, South Korea and Guam that had been put off as the United States moved toward attacking Iraq. Speaking to reporters, Clinton said the best outcome would be to get the inspectors back on the job with “unfet tered access and full cooperation.” Since the Gulf War, U.N. inspectors have forced Iraq to destroy 40,000 chemical weapons, 700 tons of chemi cal-weapons agents, a biological weapons plant, 48 missiles and 30 war heads fitted for chemical and biological weapons, Clinton said. “Governments all over the world today stand united in sharing the con viction that full compliance - and noth ing short of full compliance - is needed from Iraq,” Clinton added. Berger made the rounds of televi sion talk shows to make the case that Clinton had assembled the strongest consensus against Iraq since the Gulf War. Defense Secretary William Cohen, meanwhile, announced a halt in the U.S. military buildup. “We will keep the forces that are already there for the time being,” Cohen said. “Those forces that did not yet arrive, will in all proba bility be recycled back in the next sev eral days.” The United States said Iraq will have to comply with five conditions: allowing die resumption of inspections, permitting unfettered access, releasing relevant documents, accepting U.N. resolutions and guaranteeing no inter ference with the independence of inspectors. Veterans of U.N. inspection a Let me say we re not going to lose any sleep if Saddam Hussein suddenly isn’t their leader, from whatever reason. No tears will be shed.” James Rubin State Department spokesman teams said they were the same obliga tions Saddam has ignored in the past. “If he’s serious about wanting sanc tions lifted, the easiest way to show it is to comply with these issues,” State Department spokesman James Rubin said. The administration also pledged to work more closely with Iraqi opposi tion groups to bring about a new gov ernment in Baghdad, as Clinton urged Sunday. “Let me say we’re not going to lose any sleep if Saddam Hussein suddenly isn’t their leader, from whatever reason. No tears will be shed,” Rubin said. Netanyahu suspends West Bank pullback JbKUSALfcM (AP) - in yet another blow to the Mideast peace accord, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended a West Bank troop pullback Monday and demand ed that Yasser Arafat retract threats to use force to bring about a Palestinian state. Palestinian officials countered that Israel was making just as many inflammatory remarks and accused Netanyahu of inventing excuses to avoid carrying out the agreement The escalating tensions came on the day Israel had been scheduled to begin pulling its troops out of West Bank areas and crippled U.S. envoy Dennis Ross’ efforts to get the Mideast peace accord off the ground. Netanyahu said the suspension was a result of Arafat’s statement Sunday promising to declare a Palestinian state in May and telling supporters “our rifle is ready” to take Jerusalem. “I do not intend to implement any withdrawal under these circum stances ... until these things are cor rected in public,” a defiant Netanyahu said in a speech to parliament con vened to debate the peace accord. Despite the suspension of the troop withdrawal, a parliament vote in favor of the deal is expected today. Late Monday, Ararat called in reporters from The Associated Press and Israel TV and said he was com mitted to the peace process. “I would like to reiterate here that we are fully committed to implement ing precisely and accurately what was signed in the Wye River memoran dum. As far as we’re concerned, our position remains that peace is a strate gic option, and we will not shift course,” Arafat said. He did not refer directly to his statements Sunday, but said: “Surely we will face difficulties when we negotiate... the issue of Jerusalem. As they say in English, where there’s a will, there’s a way.” Arafat spoke moments before a meeting with Ross. Netanyahu’s senior adviser David Bar-Dlan said Arafat’s comments fell short of Israeli expectations. “Mr. Arafat did not provide a retraction of his statement regarding the use of rifles, a statement which is unacceptable. The government will have to decide whether to continue with the implementation of the accord,” Bar-Illan said. Since Netanyahu and Arafat signed the accord in Washington on Oct. 23, there has been no end to pub lic finger-pointing, fiery rhetoric and delays. City Council appoints Young as interim mayor ■ The councilman has been chosen to finish Johanns’term, which - will end when a new mayor is elected May 5. By Josh Funk Senior staff writer While Lincoln Mayor Mike Johanns is preparing to move into the governor’s mansion, the newly elected interim mayor will be mov ing into Johanns’ old office. Monday the City Council voted unanimously to install Councilman Dale Young as mayor. Young said he would be hon ored to fill the office. “I think we have a great coun cil, and I want to maintain the good working relationship we have,” Young said when he was nominated at a precouncil hearing Nov. 9. Councilman Jerry Shoecraft nominated Young for the office, citing the work Young has done on the council. Young was also nominated because he was not planning to run for reelection to the City Council iii May. The council was obligated to fill the office with someone fronr its ranks because Johanns was elected governor in the Nov. 3 elec tions. The council decided to fill thet office before Johanns officially takes the governor’s office Jan. 6 to ensure a smooth transition, Shoecraft said. Johanns offered to take Young into his office now to get him up to speed on the mayor’s duties. “I’ll be flexible and work with the new mayor to help him get used to the office,” Johanns said. Over the next two weeks, Young will work alongside Johanns in the mayor’s office, and tentatively Johanns will submit his resignation at the end of the month. Young will serve as mayor until the May 5 elections, when another mayor can be elected. Next week the council will nominate someone from Young’s district to fill his seat. Editor: Erin Gibson Managing Editor: Chad Lorenz Associate News Editor: Bryce Glenn Associate News Editor: Brad Davis Assignment Editor: Kasey Keiber Opinion Editor: Cliff Hicks Sports Editor: Sam McKewon A&E Editor: Bret Schulte Copy Desk Chief: Diane Broderick Photo Chief: Matt Miller Design Chief: Nancy Christensen Art Director: Matt Haney Online Editor: Gregg Steams Diversions Editor: Jeff Randall < Questions? Comments? Ask for the appropriate section editor at (402)472-2588 or e-mail dn@.unl.edu. General Manager: Dan Shatdl Publications Board Jessica Hofmann, Chairwoman: (402) 466-8404 Professional Adviser: Don Walton, (402)473-7248 Advertising Manager: Nick Partsch, (402)472-2589 Asst Ad Manager: Andrea Oeltjen JassifMd Ad Manager: Mami Speck Fax number; (402) 472-1761 World Wide Web; www.uni.edu/DailyNeb The Daily Nebraskan (USPS144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St, Lincoln, NE 685880448, Monday through Friday duming the academic year; weekly during the summer sessions.The public has access to the Publications Board. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by calling (402)472-2588. Subscriptions are $55 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34,1400 R St, Lincoln NE 68588-0448. Periodical postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT1998 THE DAILY NEBRASKAN Hurricane’s effects felt in Lincoln HURRICANE from page 1 Castellanos has not heard from his family in a month. His only link to his home country has been the television. “Every time I try to call, the phone lines are busy,” Castellanos said through his wtfe,; wfto translated. He and his wife, Yolanda FewTails Castellanos, a UNL senior, usually hear from someone in his family at least once a week. But the good news, Castellanos said, is that he has heard that his village was not hit hard by the hurricane. Castellanos worries because his mother is sick. With communication cut off and roads closed, his family may not be able to get help for her if she needs it “I’m pretty sure they’re OK,” Castellanos said. He said not being able to communicate with them was hard. His family, 11 brothers and sisters along with his mother, nieces and nephews, does not have a phone closer than two hours away. Castellanos hasn’t been able to find them through the American Red Cross, which called Castellanos last Friday with an update. A reminder UNL’s Environmental Resource Center is collecting food, medical supplies, cloth ing, blankets and money for Hurricane Mitch victims. Volunteers are also needed for the collection, which will end Friday. Drop-off points are located in the Nebraska and Nebraska East Unions. Call 472-8823 for more information. Riguero’s mother and father were able to get hold of Riguero and her sis ter, who is studying in Alabama, short ly after news of the hurricane hit the states. Strained phone connections caused worry for Riguero and her family as well. Both a family friend and an uncle were feared to be missing for good when the family couldn’t get hold of them. The two lived in towns authorities thought were hit too strongly for any one to have lived. One was hit by a mas sive mud slide. Both her uncle and her family’s friend survived. But many others are slowly dying from disease, Riguero said. Water sitting outside is contaminat ed with sewage and rotting corpses of animals and humans. Worse yet, Riguero said, people who were left with no homes and no food have eaten off of the dead animals and have drank from the tainted water. “The country is pretty bad,” Riguero said. “A lot of people are dying and starving. They don’t have enough food” The beauty of die country has been destroyed, Riguero said She took a set of pictures from her desk, which showed a waterfall her sis ter saw in her hometown of Managua, which is about a half-hour from the Atlantic Ocean. “The country is so pretty because we have so many natural resources,” Riguero said But when she goes back to her home over the semester break, she doesn’t expect things to be the same as when she left. Despite the destruction, she wants to go back now and help those she knows are suffering. “I wish I could be there.” P Street to return to one-way traffic P STREET from page 1 P Street, will add one westbound lane from 11th to 10th streets as a result of an amendment to the resolution. The westbound lane will be added as a means of settling problems in load ing that have occurred in front of the Embassy Suites hotel project Representatives from John Q. Hammons Inc., the Embassy Suites developer, told city officials that they may have to stop construction and reevaluate the project. Hammons’ representative said the company has built hotels all over America, and it has pulled out of pro jects that were a lot further along.But city officials felt confident that they could reach an agreement with Hammons. The City Council even included a provision in the one-way resolution to find an alternative agreeable to both Hammons and the city. Jim Wrenholt, a P Street business owner and one of the driving forces behind getting P Street back to one-way traffic, said he would remain vigilant in his research of the new plan, though he said Monday’s vote was a step in the right direction. “It’s a victory,” Wrenholt said. “They have allowed traffic to get flow ing again.” Wrenholt said he will wait to see how the council and the public works begin die task of adding the westbound lane and reconfiguring before he gives full support to the plan. “We all need to wait and see how improvements will go,” Wrenholt said. “But if it gets the traffic moving, I’m going to be happy; and I think we’ll see evidence of it yet this week.” Wrenholt organized a petition drive gamering more than 4,500 signatures and two protests that demonstrated public support for one-way traffic. Council members thanked Wrenholt and other citizens for their work. “Often when government stubs its toe, it’s the citizenry that brings us back,” Councilwoman Colleen Seng said. Joan Modrell, the Urban Development Director, said she was in support of die new plan, though she felt the two-way plan had not been given a fair chance. At the council meeting, Modrell was called by Councilwoman Cindy Johnson to give her perceptions of the P Street change. Modrell, who helped develop the new Marketplace plan for downtown, said that while one-way traffic was popular, two-way traffic never had much of a chance. “I think you’re going to see some disappointed folks because the (two way) concept didn’t hold,” Modrell said. “But you’re going to see some happy people who have fought hard to see P Street return to one-way.” But Modrell emphasized that the city will have to adapt die marketplace plan to one-wry traffic. Jon Camp, managing partner of Haymarket Square, said that the city should include Q Street in its plan to develop a marketplace. “Everybody had a vision for the marketplace, and they got socked into two-way,” Camp said. “Two-way was just one ingredient in the marketplace concept. Just because you change one ingredient doesn’t mean you can’t make a cake.”