Gary Fitleberg
H.R. 1828 - Israeli attacks and American Sanctions
Thu Oct 9 00:11:58 2003
64.140.159.26

H.R. 1828 - Syria Sanctions

By Gary Fitleberg on 10/08/03
http://www.americandaily.com/item/3020

Israeli attacks and American Sanctions against Syria are consistent policies on the global "War on Terrorism"!!! America and Israel stand together against terrorism!!!

After Israel struck an Islamic Jihad terrorist training camp in Syria, President George W. Bush told Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that he backed Israel's right to self-defense, The Washington Post reported. "I made it very clear to the Prime Minister, like I have consistently done, that Israel's got a right to defend herself; that Israel must not feel constrained in defending the homeland," Bush said in a speech given at the White House.

Without interference from Syria, Islamic Jihad and other terrorist groups have maintained offices, training camps and facilities in Damascus from which they have orchestrated terror attacks against Israelis. Legislation that would sanction Syria for its ongoing support for terrorism could be considered as early as tomorrow.

Syria continues to support international terrorist groups and to develop and stockpile chemical weapons and the missiles to deliver them, remains the occupying power in Lebanon and has offered support to Iraq as U.S. and coalition forces were engaged in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Yet, Syria is subject to fewer U.S. sanctions than any other country considered a state sponsor of terrorism. In the House, the Syria Accountability Act (H.R. 1828) has garnered 277 cosponsors. H.R. 1828 was introduced by Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL). Similar legislation, S.982, introduced in the Senate by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA), currently has 77 co-sponsors. Urge your representative to cosponsor H.R. 1828 in the House and your senators to cosponsor S. 982 in the Senate.

The time to end state-supported terrorist groups is right now!!! Otherwise peace is a figment of the imagination!!!
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Gary is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs. His articles have been published in numerous publications including La Prensa (Managua, Nicaragua equivalent to the L.A. Times), Pakistan Today, The Kashmir Telegraph, The Iranian and many more.

Copyright © 2002-2003 Gary Fitleberg.
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House committee approves legislation for Syria sanctions

JESSE J. HOLLAND, Associated Press Writer Wednesday, October 8, 2003

(10-08) 14:29 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

House members on Wednesday imposed weapons sanctions and other penalties on Syria after fresh allegations that the country sponsors terrorists.

"The time has come to hold Syria accountable for its actions," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., as the House International Relations Committee approved sanctions legislation.

The United States considers Syria a state sponsor of terrorism, and officials are concerned it may be allowing activists to cross into Iraq to take up arms against U.S. soldiers.

"It has become increasingly clear which side Syria's government has chosen in the war on terror," House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said.

The legislation, approved 33-2, bans the export of weapons and items that can be used in weapons programs into Syria.

President Bush also would have to choose two of the following sanctions: a ban on all U.S. exports to Syria except food or medicine; a ban of all U.S. business investment in Syria; restriction of Syrian diplomats in Washington and at the United Nations in New York City to a 25-mile radius; a ban on all Syrian-owned or -controlled aircraft from taking off, landing or flying over the United States; reduction of diplomatic contact with Syria; or freezing Syrian assets in the United States.

Those sanctions can be waived for "national security" reasons.

Israeli warplanes on Sunday bombed a camp in Syria in retaliation for a Palestinian suicide bombing attack that killed 19 Israelis. 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.

A naturalized U.S. citizen working as an Arabic translator at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, terrorist prison camp has been accused of spying, with plans to transmit secrets to an unspecified enemy in his native Syria.

"Syria is among the most dangerous, destabilizing countries in the Middle East," said Rep. Eliot L. Engel, D-N.Y.

GOP Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who voted against the bill, said the Bush administration already has enough on its plate dealing with Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and North Korea without trying to antagonize Syria.

"I do not see how we're going to take on another nation," Paul said.

Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., the other "no" vote, said he has no love for the "thugs" in the Syrian government. "I just am loath to use unilateral economic sanctions," he said. "I want the administration to have all the flexibility they need and this cuts back on their flexibility."

Secretary of State Colin Powell made clear to Syria last May that without some significant steps against terrorist groups there probably would be congressional legislation, spokesman Richard Boucher said.

"And that's what we are seeing unfold, because Syria hasn't taken any significant action against terrorist groups," he said.

The legislation now goes to the full House, where it is expected to pass easily.

Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Richard Lugar of Indiana plans to hold a hearing on Syria relations before the end of the month, a spokesman said.
On the Net:

House International Relations Committee: HTTP://www.house.gov/international_relations

For text of HR 1828 and S.982: thomas.loc.gov

“Syria Accountability” Bill Picking Up Steam

Although the primary focus of the war hawks seems to have shifted from Syria to Iran, the “Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act,” which aims to “hold Syria accountable for the serious international security problems it has caused in the Middle East,” and which was described in detail in the June issue of this magazine, continues to gain co-sponsors.The House bill, H.R. 1828, has gained 159 new co-sponsors, in addition to the 47 listed in the June issue.The new co-sponsors are named in the box at left.

A companion bill, S. 982, was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) on May 1.It now has 53 co-sponsors, including Boxer.They, too, are named in the box.

Previous Bills Revisited

H.Res. 234, “condemning bigotry and violence against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South-Asian Americans and Sikh Americans,” has gained 26 new co-sponsors.The Senate version, S.Res. 133, was passed on May 22.Although the resolution contains no enforcement mechanism, it does call upon local, state and federal law enforcement authorities to “work to prevent” and “investigate and prosecute vigorously” bias-motivated crimes against all Americans, including those named in the title.

New co-sponsors in addition to those named in this magazine’s previous issue are Reps. Michael Capuano (D-MA), Clay, Jim Davis (D-FL), Michael Doyle (D-PA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Frost, Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Kucinich, Lee, Sander Levin (D-MI), Betty McCollum (D-MN), George Miller (D-CA), Dennis Moore (D-KS), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Steve Rothman (D-NJ), Timothy Ryan (D-OH), Schiff, Vic Snyder (D-AR), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Pete Stark (D-CA), John Tierney (D-MA), Tom Udall (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Woolsey.

S. 1029, the “Israel-Palestinian Peace Enhancement” bill described at length in the previous issue of this magazine, has gained no co-sponsors.The House version, included in H.R. 1950, the State Department authorization bill, continues to make its way through various committees, although it has been reported out by the international relations committee.

Surprisingly, the resolution expressing sympathy for the loss of Rachel Corrie in Rafah, H.Con.Res. 111, has picked up more new co-sponsors than has the Lantos-sponsored competing bill condemning attacks on “U.S. citizens” by Palestinians, H.Con.Res. 119.Both bills were described in the June issue of the Washington Report.H.Con.Res. 111 has 21 new co-sponsors: Reps. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Dave Camp (R-MI), Danny Davis (D-IL), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Grijalva, Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Kilpatrick, Ron Kind (D-WI), Kucinich, Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), George Miller, Jim Moran (D-VA), Sue Myrick (R-NC), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), James Oberstar (D-MN), John Olver (D-MA), Martin Sabo (D-MN), Mark Udall (D-CO), Watt and Woolsey.H.Con.Res. 119 has seven new co-sponsors: Reps. Gresham Barrett (R-SC), Dan Burton (R-IN), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Carolyn McCarthy and Jon Porter (R-NV).

Shirl McArthur, a retired foreign service officer, is a consultant in the Washington, DC area.

SIDEBAR

“SYRIA ACCOUNTABILITY” BILLS GAIN CO-SPONSORS IN HOUSE AND SENATE
http://www.wrmea.com/archives/sept03/0309026.html