2014-02-05 by The Michigan Daily

News

6A — Wednesday, February 5, 2014

The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

More information revealed by U.S. on Iraqi militant Al-Qaeda organization and global network undergo separation

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/AP Rep. Norman “Doc” Hastings, R-Wash., center, discusses a new report that proposes alterations to the 40-year-old Endangered Species Act.

Republicans propose changes to Endangered Species Act New reforms seek to grant states more power BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Republicans in Congress on Tuesday called for an overhaul to the Endangered Species Act to curtail environmentalists’ lawsuits and give more power to states, but experts say broad changes to one of the nation’s cornerstone environmental laws are unlikely given the pervasive partisan divide in Washington, D.C. A group of 13 GOP lawmakers representing states across the U.S. released a report proposing “targeted reforms” for the 40-year-old federal law, which protects imperiled plants and animals. Proponents credit the law with staving off extinction for hundreds of species — from the bald eagle and American alligator to the gray whale. But critics contend the law has been abused by environmental groups seeking to restrict development in the name of species protection. Led by Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming and Rep. Doc Hastings of Washington state, who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee, the Republicans want to amend the law to limit

litigation from wildlife advocates that has resulted in protections for some species. And they want to give states more authority over imperiled species that fall within their borders. Also among the recommendations from the group are increased scientific transparency, more accurate economic impact studies and safeguards for private landowners. “The biggest problem is that the Endangered Species Act is not recovering species,” said Hastings. “The way the act was written, there is more of an effort to list (species as endangered or threatened) than to delist.” Signed into law by President Richard Nixon in December 1973, the act has resulted in additional protections for more than 1,500 plants, insects, mammals, birds, reptiles and other creatures, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Republicans have seized on the fact that only 2 percent of protected species have been declared recovered — despite billions of dollars in federal and state spending. Noah Greenwald, a wildlife advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, disputed the 2 percent figure as a “gross manipulation of facts” that ignores the hundreds of protected species now on the path to recovery.

The political hurdles for an overhaul of the law are considerable. The Endangered Species Act enjoys fervent support among many environmentalists, whose Democratic allies on Capitol Hill have thwarted past proposals for change. Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio, the ranking Democrat on the Natural Resources Committee, suggested Tuesday that Republicans appeared intent on gutting the law. He predicted the changes being sought would go nowhere in the Senate. “There is no appetite to overturn the (Endangered Species Act),” DeFazio said. Federal wildlife officials said they would not comment on Tuesday’s report until they have a chance to review it. Throughout its history, the law has faced criticism from business interests, Republicans and others. They argue actions taken to shield at-risk species such as the northern spotted owl have severely hampered logging and other economic development. Those complaints grew louder in recent months after federal wildlife officials agreed to consider protections for more than 250 additional species under settlement terms in lawsuits brought by environmental groups.

Classifieds RELEASE DATE– Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Call: #734-418-4115 Email: dailydisplay@gmail.com

HELP WANTED

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis

ACROSS 1 Really mix up 6 Fashion 10 Alma mater of many gens. 14 Manitoba natives 15 Other, to Diego 16 “Cool!” 17 Glass-half-empty sort 18 Polite refusal, in Nuremberg 20 Resistance units 21 Bottom row key 22 “A Death in the Family” author 23 North __ 24 “Fall on your knees” carol 27 Mammoth traps 30 “Hometown proud” supermarket chain 31 “How relaxing!” 32 Fighting stats 33 She dedicated Imagine Peace Tower to Lennon 34 Roy Rogers’ birth name 35 Somewhat 39 Mudbath offerers 42 Clear (of) 43 Ball honorees 46 Tulsa sch. named for a televangelist 47 __ leaves 48 Hardly the latest buzz 51 Only just broke the tape 54 Through 55 Symbol for Macy’s 56 Prime time rating 57 Give a darn? 58 “You gotta be kidding!” 60 Big Apple restaurateur 61 Go-getter 62 Remedy 63 See 44-Down 64 Duel tool 65 “My word!” 66 Until now

48 Taloned predator 39 Piglet’s mother DOWN 49 Cut of lamb 40 Place to have a 1 Confront boldly 50 Inhumane person racket restrung 2 Arizona climate 52 Dance studio 41 Opie’s guardian 3 Where Lego fixture 44 With 63-Across, headquarters is 53 __ barrel: in hot city whose zip 4 Luau neckwear water code is 5 Top row key suggested by the 57 Bordeaux “but” 6 Quite a while starts of 18-, 24-, 58 Dedicated lines 7 New Mexico 35-, 51- and 58- 59 Cable co. county acquired by Across 8 Boring activity AT&T in 1999 45 Shortchange 9 Quite a while 60 __ Na Na 10 Eel, at sushi bars 47 Newbie 11 Mali neighbor ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 12 Seize the opportunity, sunshine-wise 13 Had a bite 19 Comical Carvey 21 Private bed 25 “Son of Frankenstein” role 26 Everyday article 28 Supplies on TV’s “Chopped” 29 Prefix with bar 33 Multivolume ref. 34 Witnessed 36 Locale 37 Carnation genus 38 Byrnes who played Kookie 02/05/14 xwordeditor@aol.com

DOMINICK’S FT/PT. CALL 734‑ 834‑5021. WORK ON MACKINAC Island This Summer ‑ Make lifelong friends. The Island House Hotel and Ryba’s Fudge Shops are looking for help in all areas: Front Desk, Bell Staff, Wait Staff, Sales Clerks, Kitchen, Baristas. Hous‑ ing, bonus, & discounted meals. (906)‑ 847‑7196. www.theislandhouse.com

FOR RENT ! 721 CHURCH ‑ CENTRAL CAMPUS ! Across from East Quad! Fall 2014 ‑ 1 bedroom and efficiency apartment available. Free heat/water/‑ parking! 734‑320‑1244 www.churchstreetrentals.com

4 BDRM HSE South Central Campus 1037 Packard ‑ $2500/m + utils. 2 bath, 3 parking. Wsher/dryer. Avail. Fall 2014. Contact 734‑996‑1991. 4 BDRM HSE, Fuller by North Cam‑ pus, 1010 Cedar Bend Dr. $2400/m + utils. 2 bath, 3 parking. Wsher/dryer. Avail. Fall 2014 contact 734‑996‑1991. ARBOR PROPERTIES Award‑Winning Rentals in Kerrytown, Central Campus, Old West Side, Burns Park. Now Renting for 2014. 734‑994‑3157. www.arborprops.com THE 2ND FLOOR NEW Luxury Apartments, Right on S. U. / Central Campus. Apartments come with the BEST Service, Amenities and All at REASONABLE RATES www.The2ndFloorSU.com

$1400 FOR A FULL 2 bedroom at For‑ est Glen Apts. Price includes FREE HEAT, 1 parking spot and furniture. $1400 for the whole apartment!!! Call us to tour your new home today. 734‑761‑2680.

**4 BEDROOM HOUSE** Beautiful home. Near B‑School. Off‑street park‑ ing & laundry. Call: (734)223‑7777

02/05/14

*AVAILABLE FALL 2014* Large 3 bdrm. house. On Campus. 945 Woodlawn. Contact Mike at 734‑276‑3876.

! NORTH CAMPUS 1‑2 Bdrm. ! ! Riverfront/Heat/Water/Parking. ! ! www.HRPAA.com 996‑4992 !

$400 OFF First 10 rentals on Selected Units At University Towers Rent a FULL 2 bedroom w/ FREE HEAT as low as $1635.00. Great location, Great Service and Great RATES!! www.universitytowers‑mi.com 734‑761‑2680

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — He has commanded a relentless bombing campaign against Iraqi civilians, orchestrated audacious jailbreaks of fellow militants and expanded his hard-line Islamist organization’s reach deep into neighboring Syria. While his may not be a household name, the shadowy figure known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has emerged as one of the world’s most lethal terrorist leaders. He is a renegade within al-Qaida whose maverick streak eventually led its central command to sever ties, deepening a rivalry between his organization and the global terror network. Al-Baghdadi’s Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is the main driver of destabilizing violence in Iraq and until recently was the main al-Qaida affiliate there. Al-Qaida’s general command formally disavowed the group this week, saying it “is not responsible for its actions.” Al-Baghdadi took over leadership of al-Qaida’s main Iraq franchise following a joint U.S.Iraqi raid in April 2010 that killed the terror group’s two top figures inside Iraq at their safe house near Tikrit, once Saddam Hussein’s hometown. Vice President Joe Biden at the time called the killings of Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub alMasri a “potentially devastating blow” to al-Qaida in Iraq. But as in the past, al-Qaida in Iraq has proved resilient. Under al-Baghdadi’s leadership, it has come roaring back stronger than it was before he took over. The man now known as al-Baghdadi was born in Samarra, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad, in 1971, according to a United Nations sanctions list. That would make him 42 or 43 years old.

EFF. 1 & 2 Bdrm apts. for Fall 2014. $655‑$1395, showings avail. M‑F 10am‑3:30pm w/ 24 hr notice. Cappo/Deinco cappomanagement.com. Contact 734‑996‑1991 M‑F 9am‑4pm

NOW. @michigandaily

Al-Baghdadi is a nom de guerre for a man identified as Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai. The U.S. is offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his death or capture. He is believed to have been operating from inside Syria in recent months, though his current whereabouts aren’t known. Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman Saad Maan Ibrahim said authorities believe he was in Iraq’s Salahuddin province, north of Baghdad, as recently as three weeks ago, but he moves around frequently so as not to be captured. What little else that is known publicly about al-Baghdadi comes from a brief biography posted in July to online jihadist forums. Its claims could not be independently corroborated. According to that account, al-Baghdadi is a married preacher who earned a doctorate from Baghdad’s Islamic University, the Iraqi capital’s main center for Sunni clerical scholarship. The biography linked him to several prominent tribes and said he comes from a religious family, according to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist sites. He rose to prominence as a proponent of the Salafi jihadi movement, which advocates “holy war” to bring about a strict, uncompromising version of Shariah law, in Samarra and the nearby Diyala province. The biography linked him to Samarra’s mosque of Imam Ahmed bin Hanbal, which according to one resident, speaking anonymously for fear of retribution, was a key hub for al-Qaida decision-making in 2005 and 2006. Samarra, like Diyala a hotbed for al-Qaida activity, was the scene of the 2006 bombing of the Shiite al-Askari shrine. That attack was blamed on al-Qaida and set off years of retaliatory bloodshed between Sunni and Shiite extremists. Al-Baghdadi’s leadership of the Iraqi al-Qaida operation coincided with the final year

and a half of the American military presence in Iraq. The U.S. withdrawal in December 2011 left Iraq with a precarious security vacuum that he was able to exploit. “Al-Baghdadi has managed a remarkable recovery and re-growth in Iraq and expansion into Syria. In so doing, Baghdadi has become somewhat of a celebrity figure within the global jihadist community,” said Charles Lister, an analyst at the Brookings Doha Center. The group has kept up pressure on the Shiite-led government in Baghdad with frequent and coordinated barrages of car bombs and suicide bombs, pushing the country’s violent death toll last year to the highest level since 2007, when the worst of Iraq’s sectarian bloodletting began to subside. A series of prison breaks, including a complex, militarystyle assault on two Baghdadarea prisons in July that freed more than 500 inmates, has bolstered his group’s ranks and raised its clout among jihadist sympathizers. That notoriety only grew when his fighters seized control of the city of Fallujah and other parts of the vast western Anbar province in recent weeks. His push into Syria has won him large numbers of foreign recruits , and is helped by “a slick and effective propaganda machine, which has had a truly global reach,” according to Lister. Last year, he added “and the Levant” to the end of his group’s name to reflect its crossborder ambitions. But its muscling in on other Syrian rebel groups’ territory has created divisions among the militant ranks. The Nusra Front, an al-Qaida-linked rebel group in Syria, bristled at the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s unilateral announcement of a merger — effectively a hostile takeover — last year. Abu Qatada, a radical preacher who was deported from Britain and faces terrorism charges in his native Jordan, is among those who have criticized ISIL’s role in Syria.

Syria barrel bomb kills 11, injures more Explosions in schools and mosque injure children in Aleppo BEIRUT (AP) — Men pull a girl from the rubble and haul her onto a dirty sheet of plastic, while another child, coated in white dust save for a red streak of blood from his nose, lies with his crushed leg dangling off a gurney — the grisly aftermath from the dropping of a crude “barrel bomb” by Syrian forces on the city of Aleppo. The bombing — one of at least seven such attacks in Aleppo on Tuesday — struck a mosque that was being used as a school, killing at least 11 people, activists said. A video supplied by activists contained scenes of the carnage. It was the latest example of the heightened use of barrel bombs, devices packed with fuel, explosives and scrap metal that are hurled from helicopters, often indiscriminately. Since Thursday, around 80 people have been killed by barrel bombs used by Syrian President Bashar Assad’s forces to try to dislodge rebels from Aleppo, according to figures provided by the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on a network of activists on the ground. The video uploaded from the rebel-held Masaken Hanano district showed the aftermath of the explosion at or near the Uthman Bin Affan mosque, where adults were teaching children the Quran, said activist Hassoun Abu Faisal of the Aleppo Media Center.

The video,was consistent with what reporting by The Associated Press found. A cameraman films from inside a vehicle as it speeds toward a place where dust is drifting into a clear blue sky. The camera swivels to men and boys running around a building that has been torn in half by an explosion. “Are there martyrs?” the narrator asks. His camera focuses on a lump of red flesh in a vehicle. It is the beginning of a grim litany of death, as seen from the jerking camera. A child, his legs missing, lies on the ground, partially covered by a blanket. “Are there anybody’s children here?” cries one man. “Bashar, you lowlife!” cries another, referring to the Syrian ruler, raising his hands angrily to the sky. Another man shakes a blackened body inside a vehicle. A man carries a lifeless boy, lifting him partly by his clothes, and leaves him on the sidewalk near two other mangled corpses. An older man with a bloodied face stumbles toward the child, weeping, “Oh, God, your grace, oh, God.” The cameraman also captures scenes of the boy with the crushed leg and the girl pulled from the ruins. Far from the battlegrounds in Syria, Assad’s chief ally, Russia, expressed confidence that the government would return to the U.N.-hosted peace talks in Geneva that began in January after three years of war. Assad’s government has not committed to attending the next round of talks, expected on Feb. 10.