ADAM JONES
Possible sanctions against Syria OK'd
Thu Oct 9 00:23:28 2003
64.140.159.26

Possible sanctions against Syria OK'd

By ADAM JONES
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/news/1003/09syria.html;COXnetJSessionID=1ETiRIJGL412oUaDkh1KIWcKC1cSvalrLOj7c2MzzNQmwa2HHOp6!-259563718?urac=n&urvf=10656696025580.9047852115899014

WASHINGTON -- Legislation that would give President Bush authority to enforce economic and diplomatic sanctions against Syria overwhelmingly passed a House committee Wednesday.

The bill, adopted 33-2 by the House International Relations Committee, calls on Syria to stop supporting terrorism, stop producing weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles, quit arming and harboring Iraqi terrorists and ending its occupation of Lebanon.

If Syria does not meet the conditions, Bush could choose among six penalties: banning exports; prohibiting U.S. companies from doing business in Syria; blocking Syrian airline flights to the United States; freezing Syrian assets in the United States; reducing diplomatic contacts; and restricting Syrian diplomats.

The bill does not require the president to enforce the penalties or set a timetable for Syria to comply.

Israel launched an air attack against an alleged Palestinian militant base in Syria after a suicide bombing Saturday in Haifa killed 19 people.

Israel said Syria was partly responsible, since Islamic Jihad had offices in Damascus and Syria supports the group. Syria has said it had closed the offices of extremist Palestinian groups.

"It has become plain to ordinary Americans and members of Congress that Syria is among the most dangerous and destabilizing countries in the Middle East," said Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), who sponsored the bill with Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). "This legislation will send a message to Damascus and the world that the United States will hold accountable nations that support deadly terrorist groups."

The bill is expected to reach the House floor next week and the sponsors said they expect it to pass. The Bush administration opposed the bill last year, but hasn't taken a stance this year. The two sponsors said they have "every indication" Bush will sign the bill.

Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) said the United States has "kowtowed to an undeserving Syrian regime," and passage of the bill sends a message that "no one in Washington is fooled anymore."

In a visit to Syria four months ago, Wexler said he told President Bashar Assad that he must meet Secretary of State Colin Powell's demands of closing its border with Iraq, taking steps to thwart terrorist organizations in Syria and closing Palestinian terrorist offices in Damascus.

Only two members -- Reps. Ron Paul (R-Texas) and Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) -- voted against the bill, saying it feeds Middle East distrust of U.S. policies in the region and backs the United States into a corner that only another costly military conflict could solve if diplomatic and economic sanctions fail.

-- The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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