John Loftus was saying -- or at least implying -- on Batchelor & Alexander that Saudi Arabia is behind the whole ring. If al-Halabi was reporting to the Syrians, it's apparently a bit more complicated than that.
I found a link to this on another thread:
CAIR Action Alert: Oppose "Syria Accountability" Act [Hypocrisy Alert]
CAIR Action Alert (via email) ^ | June 20, 2002 | Council on American-Islamic Relations
Posted on 06/28/2002 5:42 PM PDT by Stultis
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
CAIR ACTION ALERT #335
OPPOSE SANCTIONS BILL THAT HARMS AMERICANS AND SYRIANS
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/20/02) - CAIR is urging on Muslims and other people of conscience to take a few minutes and contact their elected representatives in opposition to a new counterproductive bill being considered by Congress, the "Syria Accountability Act of 2002."
The House bill number is HR4483 and the Senate bill number is S2215. They are nearly identical in terms of imposing possible trade sanctions and downgrading of diplomatic relations. The proposed legislation is not in America's best interest. It is opposed by the president and the State Department.
SEE: "U.S.-Syria Relations Not Quite as Cold"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13898-2002Jun19.html
The "Syria Accountability Act" seeks to impose sanctions on Syria and American companies seeking to trade with this important regional player. Sanctions will hurt American businesses and Syria's growing middle class most strongly.
The legislation, if passed, would:
1) further isolate Syria, 2) damage America's image in the Arab and Muslim world, 3) restrict President Bush's flexibility in dealing with a fluid political situation, and 4) generally harm efforts to bring peace and stability to the region.
The original sponsor of the bill in the House was Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX). Rep. Armey recently (5/1/02) made a public call for the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.
(* Note how shrill and hysterical CAIR is... and how big a bunch of liars they are)
On MSNBC's "Hardball," host Chris Matthews had the following dialogue with Rep. Armey:
MATTHEWS: Have you ever told George Bush, the president from your home state of Texas, that you think the Palestinians should get up and go and leave Palestine and that's the solution?
ARMEY: I'm probably telling him that right now. MATTHEWS: Well, just to repeat, you believe that the Palestinians who are now living on the West Bank should get out of there?
ARMEY: Yes.
(* How CAIR can equate this with "ethnic cleansing" and keep a straight face is beyond me.)
For full bill text visit http://thomas.loc.gov/home/ and type the bill number in the search field.
ACTION REQUESTED: (As always, be POLITE.) Visit
http://capwiz.com/cair/home/ to contact your representative and senator (Write your own letter or use the sample provided.) and ask them to oppose the "Syria Accountability Act of 2002."