Pressure Mounts in US Congress for Sanctions on Syria

[seemslikeadream]

Deborah Tate
Washington
28 Apr 2004, 19:56 UTC

Listen to Deborah Tate's report (RealAudio)
Tate report - Download 391k (RealAudio)

U.S. lawmakers are urging President Bush to impose sanctions on Syria, four months after he signed a bill allowing such penalties against Damascus for supporting terrorism.
President Bush signed the Syria Accountability Act into law in December, but he has yet to implement it.

A chief sponsor of the measure, Congressman Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat, accused the Bush administration of appeasing Damascus by delaying its implementation.

“We are once again sending the wrong message to Syria,” he said. “I am afraid the administration, even with the strong rhetoric about the war on terror, is returning to the old ways of keeping the heat off Syria. This has got to stop.”

more
http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=629EA9E1-345B-4C87-827526CB477F41B0

[LittleApple81]

1. Boy, this goes hand in hand with this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x516392

[bahrbearian]

4. How about

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?

Syrian Security Units Clash with "Foreign Special Forces"
- 27/04/2004 21:00:00 GMT
A undercover special forces operation being run by "foreign governments" became embroiled in a bloody battle in Damascus, Syria early this evening sources close to the Syrian Foreign Ministry told Aljazeera.com.

Explosions and gunfire were heard in the diplomatic neighborhood as Syrian police and army units fought the "Foreign Special Forces" during which a number of cars were destroyed.

It is widely known coalition special forces based out of Iraq are in operation inside the Syrian side of the Iraqi border to stem the flow of foreign fighters. This incident is the first which has targeted the capital Damascus.
...more

[bahrbearian]

2. Just wondering is Engel Jewish??

[Jim Sagle]

6. Yes. What's your point?

[The Stranger]

12. Is Ireland next to Syria?

[Muddleoftheroad]

34. Because of course our U.S. congressmen work for Israel?

What's your point?

[The Stranger]

68. Answer the question.

[bahrbearian]

9. I don't know , I guess you've just got to weigh things out!

[legin]

10. A pain in arse for a considerable amount of time

It's not the fact that he is jewish that is the problem, it's the fact that he is a hardline likudnik.

He is not up-front, in your face like Wolfowitz and Perle, but is beavering away quite efficiently slightly less visably.

[legin]

13. e.g.

http://www.defenddemocracy.org/biographies/biographies.htm

[Just Me]

16. Right-wing freaks always name their organizations in total opposition

of what they seek,...domination/control/power.

Thanks for that link.

:bounce:

It gives an essential list of all those who are anti-democracy, anti-freedom, anti-humanity.

<on edit - I am saddened by some of the names on that list and wonder if I should forgive them for doing what they know not? Know what I mean?>

[legin]

22. I have often wondered

exactly what these 'Board of Advisors' do, if indeed anything at all.

Perle is on so many he wouldn't get time to do any other work. Gaffney's Centre of Security Policy they would have to hire a football stadium every time they had a meeting (even Gary Kasparov the chess player is on that one).

I use it as an indicator.

Dear Donna has put "member of the Board of Advisors of the Foundation for Defence of Democracies" at the bottom of an artice for the Wall Street Journal before now, which has earned her another black mark from me.

[Just Me]

26. Believe it or not,...it is possible that "members" do NOT know.

Remember,...we are all human beings,...and have the capacity to be tricked, deceived, stupid, mistaken, ignorant, etc. We are all vulnerable in some way or another.

It is those who OBVIOUSLY know what the hell they are doing,...and intentionally (by their actions) engaging in deceit that are,...well, enemies of decency, integrity, and humanity.

[bahrbearian]

23. Like Joementum ?

[legin]

28. I probably prefer Lieberman over Eliot Engel everytime.

I am as nasty as anyone about Lieberman but I sense a streak of honesty in him, maybe I'm wrong. Engel I've seen a couple of brief times on CSPAN at meetings and I don't trust him one inch. He is always using the meeting as an opotunity to push an agenda.

[Tinoire]

27. Whatever he is he's definitely a Likud-loving PNAC type

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), the congressional representative who was the main sponsor of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003.

U.S. Committee for a Free Lebanon
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/org/uscfl.php

Works with these asses:

Ziad K. Abdelnour
Elliott Abrams ***
Eleana Benador
Paula Dobriansky ***
Douglas Feith ***
Frank Gaffney
Jeane Kirkpatrick
Michael Ledeen
Richard Perle
Daniel Pipes
Michael Rubin ***
David Steinman
David Wurmser

Neocons' Iraq Strategy Now Focused on Syria


<snip>

Road to Damascus

The road to Damascus, which is at the center of the Bush administration’s roadmap for restructuring the Middle East, doesn’t run directly from Baghdad. Its starting points are in Washington, Jerusalem/Tel Aviv, and Beirut--charted by the neoconservative think-tanks, the Christian Right, and the right-wing Zionists who move easily back and forth between Capitol Hill and the Middle East.

<snip>

One of the key figures who has set Washington on the road to Damascus is Ziad K. Abdelnour, an expatriate investment banker from Lebanon who, together with neocon supporters of Israel’s Likud Party and the Christian Right, established the U.S. Committee for a Free Lebanon (USCFL) in 1997.

<snip>

USCFL’s core supporters, which it calls its “Golden Circle,” include several members of the Bush administration: Elliott Abrams, Richard Perle, Paula Dobriansky, Michael Rubin, and David Wurmser. Other prominent neocons in the Golden Circle include Daniel Pipes (Middle East Forum and U.S. Institute for Peace), Frank Gaffney (Center for Security Policy), Jeane Kirkpatrick (AEI) , Michael Ledeen (AEI), David Steinman (Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs), and Eleana Benador (Benador Associates and former associate director of Middle East Forum). Also included in this circle of those who have donated $1,000 or more to USCFL is Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), the congressional representative who was the main sponsor of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003.

<snip>

USCFL may be “non-sectarian,” but its list of core supporters and the “pro-Lebanon” groups listed on its website signal its neoconservative and pro-Likud sympathies. Among the organizations interlocked with USCFL’s Golden Circle include Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD), American Enterprise Institute (AEI), Project for the New American Century (PNAC), Center for Security Policy (CSP), Middle East Forum, Hudson Institute, and Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA).

<snip>

USCFL commended Rep. Engel for his leadership in moving the bill through the House, and also expressed its special appreciation for the strong support provided by Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and to Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) “for pioneering it in the Senate.”

<snip>

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FC12Ak04.html
http://rightweb.irc-online.org/analysis/2004/0403syria.php




3) House bill proposing to impose sanctions on Syria.

(a) Congressmen Eliot Engel (D-New York) and Dick Armey (R-Texas) introduced a bill that would require sanctions imposed against Syria if certain condition were not met - an end to its alleged ‘support’ for terrorism, an end to its occupation of Lebanon, and an end to its development of ‘weapons of mass destruction.’ The bill would also require Syria to stop illegally importing Iraqi oil. The bill was opposed by the administration on grounds that it would undermine the peace effort between Israel and the Palestinians and would further anger Bush’s Arab allies. The Bush administration's opposition to the bill drew strong criticism from the pro-Israeli lobbies which questioned his commitment to the ‘fight against terrorism.' (U.S. Senate S. 2215; Zacharia 5-1-2002)

http://www.cooperativeresearch.org/wot/palestineisraeliconflict/divisionwithingov.html


11/19 Attendees at American Zionist & Christian Zionist Conference in Jerusalem ---By Helen Freedman, Executive Director, Americans For a Safe Israel What a privilege it was to be at the First Annual Jerusalem Summit held at the King David Hotel on the first days of Sukkot, Oct. 12-14. The focus of the Summit was BUILDING PEACE ON TRUTH, and the organizers, led by the Michael Cherney Foundation, had brought together many of the most distinguished writers, thinkers, politicians, professors, statesmen and activists in order to arrive at a consensus on uncovering the thousands of lies that had permeated the Israeli/Arab conflict. The treacherous Oslo accord, followed by the Road Map, had allowed Arab terrorism to grow into a militant Islamic threat menacing the entire world.Speakers at the Summit, who had traveled from all over the world, included U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel; Ambassador Dr. Alan Keyes; Hon. Richard Perle, Resident Fellow at American Enterprise Institute and Member of the Defense Policy Board; Morrie Amitay, Vice-Chairman, JINSA; Clarence Wagner, International Director of Bridges for Peace; Michael D. Evans, minister and founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Team; Herbert Zweibon, Chairman Americans for a Safe Israel/AFSI; Dr. Rachel Ehrenfeld, American Center for Democracy; Morton Klein, President, ZOA; Prof. Daniel Pipes, Director, Middle East Forum; John Batchelor, ABC Radio; John Loftus, author; Frank Gaffney, Pres. Center for Security Policy; Cal Thomas, Syndicated Columnist, Fox News Host; and representatives from Sweden, the European Union Parliament, India, Paris, Slovenia, and Serbia.

http://www.againstbombing.org/israelpalestine.htm

=====

Syria should be next to face U.S. sanctions Aug 23, 2003

The United States has dethroned the Taliban in Afghanistan and chased Osama bin Laden into hiding. American troops also have ousted Saddam Hussein and his regime. Now, a proposal has been introduced in the House that would impose sanctions on Syria, a nation known to harbor terrorists.

Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., have been the primary supporters of the legislation that would authorize President George W. Bush to freeze Syria's assets in the United States, restrict trade and greatly reduce the travel of Syrian officials to U.S. soil. Those sanctions would remain in place until Syria ends its aid to the Hezbollah terrorist group, withdraws its troops from Lebanon and ends its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction.

Such a move would be a prudent move toward letting the world know that the United States remains steadfast in its resolve to bring terrorists to justice.

http://www.thespectrum.com/news/stories/20030822/opinion/110567.html

[Jacobin]

3. Bastards, out PNACing for Syria's ass

The whole lot of them should be impeached. Sick warmongering bastards.

[seemslikeadream]

15. I'm a sick warmongering bastard

impeach me

[Jacobin]

17. oooooooooh, if only I had a vote in congress to do so

:o)

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

24. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Just Me]

29. Now, now,...let's be civil *smile*.

"They" can only get your attention, if you let them.

"They" are easily smashed with the truth.

[Jacobin]

30. The little civility I have left

is reserved for DUers. The troll should go back to his hole at FR and cheer on the bloodletting in Iraq.

:-)

[Just Me]

32. All humans "emote",...except for the heartless/soul-less ones.

I appreciate you still feel. I encourage you to avoid wasting your compassion on those who are empty.

Know what I mean?

:hug:

[bahrbearian]

25. And Isreal send's F-16's to drop aid to Syria.

[Muddleoftheroad]

35. Syria supports terror against Israel

They back Hezbollah and harbor the leader of Hamas.

[Just Me]

38. Who is YOUR enemy, Muddleoftheroad?

I only ask that question because,...you seem to treat anyone who questions the policy/ies of rogue leaderships,...as being "bad".

You also do a broad brush stroke of "bad" against Hamas,...which has been the sole humanitarian aid to "a people" who are struggling for their survival.

Does your world drop off at your borders?

[Muddleoftheroad]

39. Hamas is a band of murdering terrorist thugs

Who use their humanitarian efforts as a cover and fund-raiser for their other efforts. Hell, Al Capone did it in the 1920s and a few people were foolish enough to believe him a good guy too.

Hamas is my enemy, for starters. As are the rest of the Palestinian and world terrorist infrastructure.

[Just Me]

41. Oh,...I see,...it is "personal" for you.

Why?

"Hamas is my enemy, for starters."

Please explain. I sincerely want to understand.

How has "Hamas" infected you, personally?

[Muddleoftheroad]

47. Several answers

For starters, when African-Americans had no friends on Civil Rights, one of the first groups to step to the plate were Jewish men and women who risked their lives for my freedoms. My momma always reminded me of who my friends were. I will always stand with the Jewish people here and elsewhere.

Next, I recall Munich pretty well and terrorists will ALWAYS be my enemies. Then of course I have also been to Israel and have Israeli friends.

[Just Me]

51. What does "Hamas" have to do with all that?

I love people (Jews fall into THAT category *LOL*). Hell, I almost married a guy, who "happened" to be Jewish.

You are recalling "Munich",...and that relates,...in what way?

You have targeted "Hamas",...a group that both serves and protects its own people,...as an enemy? Why?

"Hamas" actually accepted the Jewish people into their fold, didn't they? They even supported giving/selling territory for a "state"?

[Muddleoftheroad]

55. Clearly, terrorism doesn't bother you like it does me

Attacks on Israel are attacks on the homeland for the Jewish people. Munich was the first terror attack I recall in my life. It was also one of the most offensive. Even Hitler never attacked Olympic athletes.

Hamas has common cause with the bastards who did Munich. Hamas has done the same time and time again.

Hamas has, as a stated goal, the destruction of the state of Israel and conquest of ALL the land to the sea.

[IndianaGreen]

61. "The terrorist organization Hamas is largely an Israeli creation."

Israel’s Hamas
By George Szamuely
Vol 17 - Issue 17 - April 28-May 4, 2004

Starting in the late 1970s Israel helped build up the most fanatical and intolerant fundamentalist Muslims as rivals to the nationalist PLO. The terrorist organization Hamas is largely an Israeli creation. A UPI story last year quoted a U.S. government official as saying: "The thinking on the part of some of the right-wing Israeli establishment was that Hamas and the other groups, if they gained control, would refuse to have anything to do with the peace process and would torpedo any agreements put in place."

The PLO has long been aware of Israeli strategy. In their 1989 book, Intifada, Ze’ev Schiff and Ehud Ya’ari write that Fatah "suspected the Israelis of a plot first to let Hamas gather strength and then to unleash it against the PLO, turning the uprising into a civil war... (M)any Israeli staff officers believed that the rise of fundamentalism in Gaza could be exploited to weaken the power of the PLO…"

According to Robert Fisk, Israeli support for Hamas continued after the signing of the Oslo accords. One can be pretty sure that this strategy received strong encouragement from Washington, which has also seen the advantage of financing and supporting the most vicious and narrowminded Islamic terrorists on account of their antinationalist and antisocialist credentials. Hamas also served Israel’s purpose admirably by suggesting to the American public that the conflict in the Middle East pitted democratic Israel against all-or-nothing fanatics who wanted to drive the Jews into the sea. Israel’s refusal to surrender conquered land and its continued building of settlements in violation of innumerable UN resolutions could then all be justified as perfectly reasonable responses to an implacable enemy.

It helped to conceal the fact that it was Israel that refused to compromise. In February 1970 Egyptian President Gamal Abdul Nasser declared, "It will be possible to institute a durable peace between Israel and the Arab states, not excluding economic and diplomatic relations, if Israel evacuates the occupied territories and accepts a settlement of the problem of the Palestinian refugees." Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir dismissed the offer.

http://www.nypress.com/15/17/taki/2.cfm

[seemslikeadream]

66. Would that be kinda like the English

giving arms and money to the IRA?

[IndianaGreen]

73. Many of those Jews were Communists, Socialists, and Anarchists

It was the Communists, Socialists, and Anarchists (many of whom were Jewish), that were among the first to fight for racial and sexual equality in this country going back to the 19th century.

Many of the things we take for granted today were bought and paid for in blood in the streets of America by men and women, many Jewish, that wanted to build Socialism in America.

[IndianaGreen]

43. Syria doesn't run Hamas

Hamas is a Islamic fundamentalist organization, a natural enemy of the secular Syrian government.

Didn't you learn anything from Iraq?

[Muddleoftheroad]

48. They certainly back it

They provide more support for Hezbollah which operates out of their client state of Lebanon. However, they allow the leader of Hamas to operate out of Damascus as well.

[IndianaGreen]

59. The leader of Hamas is in Gaza

at least the late Sheikh Yassin and the unfortunate Mr. Rantisi lived in Gaza until they were assassinated by the IDF.

Perhaps a map will help you realize that your statement is baseless!

Here is a United Nations map of Israel:

http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/israel.pdf

[Muddleoftheroad]

69. Clarifying

Head of the Political Bureau.

"Khaled Mashaal, a Hamas operative based in Syria, remains the leader of the group's political bureau, the main decision-making body."

Note it says the "main decision-making body."

http://www.abcactionnews.com/stories/2004/03/040323hamas.shtml

[Just Me]

46. What are the "values" you uphold?

I am talking,...just the very basics. Maybe, if you define your basic values, I might better understand you,...and you, me.

[Muddleoftheroad]

49. That would take years to describe

[Just Me]

52. It would take "years" to describe your basic values?

Do you have children?

Do you have a dish or bed or home or garden or neighbor?

What do you value?

[Muddleoftheroad]

56. I value many things

God, family, country, friends, morals, ethics, beliefs and about a gazillion other things. Sorry if that answer isn't good enough. It will have to do since this isn't about me.

[IndianaGreen]

62. "God, family, country..."?

What about those traditional Jewish values of freedom and justice?

[Muddleoftheroad]

70. Like I said, many things

Too many to list. Too many to discuss without massive allotments of time.

[Name removed]

40. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jacobin]

53. Then, the United States must invade and conquer them IMMEDIATELY

Right?

I think that's wearing thin.

[Muddleoftheroad]

57. Why? We didn't do Iraq for that reason. Why should we invade Syria?

[wellst0nev0ter]

65. And There Was No Hizbollah Before The Lebanese Invasion

talk about your unintended consequences.

[Emillereid]

5. And the neo-con beat goes on --

Remember what these guys have written -- they talked about a regional war before Iraq and on how they were going to fragment and change the whole mideast. They don't want stability. Take them at their word!

[leftchick]

7. Exactly....

All is proceeding nicely for the PNAC agenda.

[Astarho]

31. That's why they need the sanctions

starve 'em for a few years so they can't fight back. bastards.

[Just Me]

8. Geez,...maybe we need to do another PNAC letter-writing campaign.

I pushed one last February and September.

I stated that, formal notice had been given about the global domination plan and would be recorded for future reference.

I picked 5+ Democrats and 5+ Republicans to send official notice.

Maybe, we should do it again.

These people often have "short memories",...know what I mean *grin*?

[bahrbearian]

11. How can I link to the Original PNAC Charter with all the names

and signatures?

[Just Me]

14. Check out http://www.pnac.info

Hopefully they are still up and running.

They do an excellent job of update material.

[bahrbearian]

18. Thanks , Good link I'll have to wade thought it sometime, lots there.

[sofa king]

19. Here's the Statement of Principles:

http://www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm

Signators are:

Elliott Abrams
Gary Bauer
William J. Bennett
Jeb Bush
Dick Cheney
Eliot A. Cohen
Midge Decter
Paula Dobriansky
Steve Forbes
Aaron Friedberg
Francis Fukuyama
Frank Gaffney
Fred C. Ikle
Donald Kagan
Zalmay Khalilzad
I. Lewis Libby
Norman Podhoretz
Dan Quayle
Peter W. Rodman
Stephen P. Rosen
Henry S. Rowen
Donald Rumsfeld
Vin Weber
George Weigel
Paul Wolfowitz


The real fun in that list is picking out who's going to be the first one to jail. Right now, my money's on "Scooter" Libby.

[bahrbearian]

21. Thanks, thats the one I wanted. Booked Marked Now.

[legin]

33. Possibly a subtle 'freep this poll' from AIPAC

(I'm not sure how often this page changes)

<<snip>>

Syria Sanctions

The President signed the Syria Accountability Act into law on December 12, 2003. This legislation seeks to impose sanctions on Syria, including cutting off U.S. trade and downgrading diplomatic relations with Damascus, until Syria stops supporting terrorism, working to acquire weapons of mass destruction and illegally occupying Lebanon. A leading sponsor of terrorism, Syria also has harmed American efforts to rebuild Iraq by allowing terrorists who have carried out attacks against American soldiers to cross into Iraq from its territory. The Syria Accountability Act is designed to serve as an additional pressure to encourage Syria to curtail these dangerous activities. Thank your representatives and senators for their support of this legislation.

(With Congress and Senate email addresses)

http://www.aipac.org/Action1.cfm

---------------------------------------

It was a really stupid bill to pass this one, get the foot in the door then start applying the lobbying pressure, doesn't have to happen this time or the next, but it will eventually. No wonder Dean called the Democratic senators and reps. are bunch of cockroaches just after they passed this bill.

[Just Me]

36. Yes,...I saw that one passed in the "heat of the moment".

Seriously, now, people,...every propaganda tactic was utilized against all decent persons and their representatives.

Our country was built upon REAL "patriotism",...that belief in ourselves. EVERYONE assumed that even this administration was guided by such common beliefs. NO ONE imagined that the "neo-fascist-cons" would betray us all,...as they have done.

Who, in their right and conscious minds, could have figured that we would have these seemingly "normal-turned-totally-cultists" behave in such a way? I am increasingly keeping my eye on their "projections" which define precisely who they really are.

We are all justified in preparing ourselves against this wacked-out "regime".

[legin]

37. LOL Coming soon.... The Saudi Arabia Accountability Act (Dec 2003)

Bill # H.R.3643

Original Sponsor:
Anthony Weiner (D-NY 9th)

Cosponsor Total: 35
(last sponsor added 04/20/2004)
29 Democrats
6 Republicans

About This Legislation:

11/21/2003--Introduced.
Saudi Arabia Accountability Act of 2003 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Government of Saudi Arabia must immediately and unconditionally: (1) provide complete, unrestricted, and unobstructed cooperation to the United States in the investigation of terror groups and individuals; (2) close permanently all organizations in Saudi Arabia that fund, train, incite, encourage, or in any way aid and abet terrorism anywhere in the world; (3) end all funding for terror organizations outside Saudi Arabia ("offshore terror organizations"); and (4) block all funding from private Saudi citizens and entities to Saudi-based or offshore terror organizations.
Directs the President to certify to Congress that the Government of Saudi Arabia is fully cooperating with the United States in investigating and preventing terrorist attacks, has closed permanently all Saudi-based terror organizations, has ended funding for any offshore terror organization, and has made all efforts to block funding from private Saudi citizens and entities to offshore terror organizations. Requires the President to prohibit certain exports to Saudi Arabia and restrict travel of certain Saudi diplomats if the President cannot certify that the Government of Saudi Arabia has taken the measures required by this Act to combat terrorism. Allows the President to waive such sanctions if the President determines that it is in the national security interest to do so.

http://capwiz.com/usatoday/issues/bills/?billnum=H.R.3643&congress=108

and for sponsers:
http://capwiz.com/usatoday/issues/bills/?billnum=H.R.3643&congress=108&size=full

[Just Me]

44. I imagine that chaffs the butts of the "royal" Bush ties,...

,...to that "royal" Saudi regime.

Notice how many "cry babies" have suddenly appeared in defense of their "royalty"?

So sad. Too bad. If you can't handle living the life of the oppressed (back atcha'),...take a pill or pull yourselves up by your,...your,...whatevers *LOL*.

[IndianaGreen]

42. Looks like Sharon's lapdogs in America are at it again!

AIPAC accuses Syria of "illegally occupying Lebanon," never mind who is illegally occupying Syrian lands (the Golan) or Palestinian lands (West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem).

Syria Sanctions

The President signed the Syria Accountability Act into law on December 12, 2003. This legislation seeks to impose sanctions on Syria, including cutting off U.S. trade and downgrading diplomatic relations with Damascus, until Syria stops supporting terrorism, working to acquire weapons of mass destruction and illegally occupying Lebanon. A leading sponsor of terrorism, Syria also has harmed American efforts to rebuild Iraq by allowing terrorists who have carried out attacks against American soldiers to cross into Iraq from its territory. The Syria Accountability Act is designed to serve as an additional pressure to encourage Syria to curtail these dangerous activities. Thank your representatives and senators for their support of this legislation.

Source: http://www.aipac.org/Action1.cfm

The spies who pushed for war

Julian Borger reports on the shadow rightwing intelligence network set up in Washington to second-guess the CIA and deliver a justification for toppling Saddam Hussein by force

Thursday July 17, 2003
The Guardian

Democratic congressman David Obey, who is investigating the OSP, said: "That office was charged with collecting, vetting and disseminating intelligence completely outside of the normal intelligence apparatus. In fact, it appears that information collected by this office was in some instances not even shared with established intelligence agencies and in numerous instances was passed on to the national security council and the president without having been vetted with anyone other than political appointees."

The OSP was an open and largely unfiltered conduit to the White House not only for the Iraqi opposition. It also forged close ties to a parallel, ad hoc intelligence operation inside Ariel Sharon's office in Israel specifically to bypass Mossad and provide the Bush administration with more alarmist reports on Saddam's Iraq than Mossad was prepared to authorise.

"None of the Israelis who came were cleared into the Pentagon through normal channels," said one source familiar with the visits. Instead, they were waved in on Mr Feith's authority without having to fill in the usual forms.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,999737,00.html

[Muddleoftheroad]

50. Less occupying and more running it

My God, Syria conquers a nation and there is no complaint.

[Classical_Liberal]

63. and if they weren't occupying it. Israel would be and Beriut would

still be a fucking mess. I am glad they are there.

[Muddleoftheroad]

71. So you are glad Syria conquered a nation

But upset about any territory Israel might acquire?

:crazy:

[Disturbed]

45. Ms Boxer

Damn! She is my Rep from CA. That's the 2nd time I have seen her on the Right Wing side of an issue. I gotta go research her record now. Just on the two issues alone, Negroponte ass kissin' and this one, she won't ever get my vote. Hmmm...I have never voted for her before either. ;) I vote Green Party.The more I pay attention to the Dem party, the more I see that a whole lot of them are Repub LITE.

[leesa]

54. Our Congress is truly demented.

But I guess when you're going for the oil enchilada, ethics go out the window. When will they sanction Israel for supporting terrorism and for crimes against humanity? When will the US sanction itself for the terrorism it is unleashing on the world?

[nonkultur]

58. Welcome to Progressive Internationalism

http://www.ppionline.org/ppi_sub.cfm?knlgAreaID=450004&subsecID=900020

[IndianaGreen]

60. Another name for sugar-coated imperialism

to the oppressed, imperialism is imperialism!

[Classical_Liberal]

64. The unmitigated gall of the neocons

That they could push this when the war in Iraq was obviously so fucked up.

[dudeness]

67. unbelievable!!!

these guys are like my home DIY jobs..start two new ones before I finish the first one..

[seemslikeadream]

72. Information minister: Syria facing ''terrorist'' threats

Regarding the attack itself, al-Hasan disclosed that the four attackers were from "different nationalities." Initial reports said that seven "terrorists" launched the attack near the Canadian embassy at al Mazzeh district, located in west Damascus. (Albawaba.com)

http://www.albawaba.com/news/index.php3?sid=275886&lang=e&dir=news