Posted on 04/30/2002 4:05:47 PM PDT by RCW2001
Administration moving to block anti-Syria bill
The Bush administration is moving to block a bill that recommends sanctioning Syria for its continued support of terrorism and other bad behavior. It is the administration’s latest attempt in a series of efforts to block legislation being pushed by pro-Israel lobbyists.
Last Thursday, congressmen Eliot Engel (D-New York) and Dick Armey (R-Texas) introduced the bill. A similar version was introduced in the Senate.
Subsequently, Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Paul Kelly wrote to Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Delaware) expressing the administration’s opposition to the bill. Biden, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, had sought the department’s opinion.
“The president and the secretary are in the middle of an extremely sensitive effort to bring down the violence, avoid the outbreak of regional war, and help the parties back on a path to comprehensive peace. If our efforts on both comprehensive peace and the war against terrorism are to succeed, the president and the secretary will need flexibility to determine what combination of incentives and disincentives will maximize cooperation and advance our goals,” Kelly wrote in a letter to Biden obtained by The Jerusalem Post.
“For this reason, we do not believe this is the right time for legislative initiatives that could complicate our efforts. The imposition of new sanctions on Syria would place at risk our ability to address a range of important issues directly with the Syrian government and render more difficult our efforts to change Syrian behavior and avoid a dangerous escalation.”
In the letter, Kelly pointed out that Syrian intelligence cooperation in the war against al-Qaida has “helped save American lives,” and that Secretary of State Colin Powell made clear during his recent visit to Damascus that “Syria’s support and safe haven for terrorist groups must end.”
The bill calls for a toughening of sanctions against Damascus if it does not end its support for terrorism, terminate its occupation of Lebanon, stop its development of weapons of mass destruction, and cease its illegal importation of Iraqi oil.
In the past week, administration officials have more broadly asked legislators to refrain from passing any legislation regarding the Middle East. In essence, the White House does not want to see any moves by Congress that can be construed as pro-Israel as it attempts to persuade Arab critics that it is still an honest broker.
Last week, in a private meeting with House leadership, Powell asked House Majority Whip Tom DeLay to withdraw a resolution he introduced expressing solidarity with Israel. Similarly, the administration is attempting to block legislation calling for sanctions on the Palestinian Authority if the White House is unable to determine that it is acting in compliance with signed accords.
The vote on the solidarity resolution, originally scheduled for yesterday, was postponed a few weeks because of White House pressure, one congressional staffer said.
“There is no more important time for the voice of Congress to be heard on matters of foreign policy than when critical decisions are being made. The bedrock support this Congress has for Israel is unwavering and will build momentum in the days and weeks ahead,” Rebecca Needler, a spokeswoman for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, said.
Pro-Israel lobbyists said the delay in the solidarity resolution vote would enable more co-sponsors to add their names to the bill.
“The Bush administration may have convinced some members of Congress to delay legislation on the Middle East temporarily, but ultimately their voice will not be muted,” one pro-Israel lobbyist said.
“If the Bush administration does not want to hold Syria accountable for its roll in harboring terrorists, Congress must. There is no more important time for the voice of Congress to be herd on matters of foreign policy than when critical decisions are being made.”
That's right. You think we won WWII on the strength of our diplomatic corps, or perhaps you think we lost ...
Syria is in transition and all the petty problems including Hesbollah will fade when Sadam is challanged and defeated. Syria is one of the small islands on the way that can be bypased in an island hopping strategy.
It is not yeaterday.... the old rules no longer apply.
I'm starting to think we will see none of the above. Afghanistan will be it.
W.T.F., this is not the right time??!!
Fair enough. But what you call "appeasement", I call good long-term strategy.
What do you know of the Arabs ?
I was asking for you to share your vast knowledge of WWII naval engagements. Geeze, you really are a simpleton...you are way over your head at this site. I've seen your weak arguements in other debates, and most people wind up laughing at your inane remarks.
Exactly, much like we did in the Pacific campaign in WWII. Doesn't work for a_witness or others. They want all guns blazing all at once on all of the M.E. They just cannot comprehend long-term goals and strategy.
to name arguably the most important in the beginning. There were many battles but it was the will to fight and total victory in the war that was important. We destroyed the Japanese threat to our nation and all they hit was Pearl Harbor. Our capital was attacked you ..... veteran
Yes, at once. With nuclear weapons if necessary.
We live in a democracy not a dictatorship. I don't think that one can go around and agree with everything that a leader does. Yeah I'm glad Bush is in and not Gore but to defend him for everything he does is absolutely ridiculous. Bush has turned very liberal and it isn't hard to see that.
if you're going to debate at least get the facts right. Our Capitol was not attacked, although their is speculation that Flight 93 was heading there, but no proof.
Well, there ya go. Nothing like giving Russia, China, and many others reason to fear perceived American imperialism and join together for their common defense, not to mention destroying an entire region of the world. Unbelievable.
Then what are you belly-aching about? It's not even May.
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