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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lurqer who wrote (39243)	3/11/2004 12:42:35 AM
From: lurqer	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 89467

As long as the neo-cons remain in power, expect a Likud foreign policy. JMO Official: U.S. to Impose 'Firm' Sanctions on Syria The Bush administration will act soon to impose firm sanctions against Syria, which it accuses of sponsoring terrorism, a State Department official said on Wednesday. "I think you'll see the implementation very shortly, and I think it will be a very firm implementation of the Syrian Accountability Act and the intent behind it," William Burns, the assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, told a committee in the House of Representatives. Congress sent President Bush legislation in November for the sanctions. Lawmakers have pressured Bush since then to impose penalties on Syria, which Washington accuses of sponsoring terrorism, occupying Lebanon and failing to secure its border with Iraq while allowing anti-American fighters to make their way there. The legislation barred trade in items that could be used in weapons programs until the administration certifies that Syria is not supporting terrorist groups, has withdrawn personnel from Lebanon, is not developing weapons of mass destruction and has secured its border with Iraq. It also called on Bush to impose at least two other sanctions from a menu of economic and diplomatic penalties that includes barring U.S. businesses from investing in Syria, restricting travel in the United States by Syrian diplomats, and banning exports of U.S. products other than food and medicine to Syria. A senior administration official said it was "probably accurate" that a decision on the sanctions was imminent. But he said, "We don't know when or what they will be." The official said what type of sanctions will be imposed was "being evaluated by the administration as we speak." "Action on the Syria Accountability Act will be taken," he said. Burns was testifying to the House International Relations Committee on developments in Libya, which has renounced terrorism and is cooperating to dismantle its own weapons of mass destruction program. Asked if he has seen any similar moves in Syria, Burns said, "No sir." Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has repeatedly accused Syria and Iran of allowing "terrorists" to cross their borders into neighboring Iraq, and suggested during a visit to Iraq last month that it might be time for Washington to increase diplomatic and financial pressure on Damascus and Tehran. "Let there be no doubt the powers that be in Syria and Iran are not wishing the free Iraq people well," he told reporters traveling with him to Baghdad. "Syria and Iran ... have allowed people to move from their country into Iraq and engage in terrorist acts against the Iraqi people." Rumsfeld also says Syria and Iran have conspired to aid the movement of Hizbollah fighters and arms through Lebanon to launch attacks against Israel. (Additional reporting by Caren Bohan and Charles Aldinger) reuters.com lurqer