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Bush close to imposing sanctions on Syria: Report
Crawford, Texas, Mar 06: The Bush administration plans to impose some sanctions on Syria within weeks for its support of terrorist groups and for failing to stop guerrillas entering Iraq, Congressional officials and other sources familiar with the matter said.
Crawford, Texas, Mar 06: The Bush administration plans to impose some sanctions on Syria within weeks for its support of terrorist groups and for failing to stop guerrillas entering Iraq, Congressional officials and other sources familiar with the matter said.
Though the White House insists no final decisions have been made, senior administration officials last evening informed Florida Republican representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a senior member of the house international relations committee, that a decision was ''imminent,'' said her spokesman, Alex Cruz.
Several sources said the administration was leaning toward imposing economic rather than diplomatic sanctions under legislation signed into law by Bush in December. Washington accuses Syria of sponsoring terrorism, occupying Lebanon and failing to secure its border with Iraq while allowing anti-American fighters to cross into the country.
The administration's move against Syria would stand in stark contrast to President George W Bush's decision to ease sanctions on Libya as a reward for scrapping its nuclear arms programs. Bush has seized on Libya's pledge to abandon weapons programs as an example for other countries, including Syria.
The Syria accountability act bars 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could be used in weapons programs until the administration certifies that Syria is not supporting terrorist groups, has withdrawn personnel from Lebanon, is not developing unconventional weapons and has secured its border with Iraq.
The law also authorizes Bush to impose at least two other sanctions from a menu that includes barring US businesses from investing in Syria, restricting travel in the United States by Syrian diplomats, and banning exports of US products other than food and medicine to Syria.
The legislation allows the White House to waive the sanctions but a senior administration official said, ''we will implement the Syrian Accountability Act”. The official declined to say which sanctions would be put in place and when. Several sources said the announcement was likely to be made next week or the week after that.
Bureau Report
Several sources said the administration was leaning toward imposing economic rather than diplomatic sanctions under legislation signed into law by Bush in December. Washington accuses Syria of sponsoring terrorism, occupying Lebanon and failing to secure its border with Iraq while allowing anti-American fighters to cross into the country.
The administration's move against Syria would stand in stark contrast to President George W Bush's decision to ease sanctions on Libya as a reward for scrapping its nuclear arms programs. Bush has seized on Libya's pledge to abandon weapons programs as an example for other countries, including Syria.
The Syria accountability act bars 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 unconventional weapons and has secured its border with Iraq.
The law also authorizes Bush to impose at least two other sanctions from a menu that includes barring US businesses from investing in Syria, restricting travel in the United States by Syrian diplomats, and banning exports of US products other than food and medicine to Syria.
The legislation allows the White House to waive the sanctions but a senior administration official said, ''we will implement the Syrian Accountability Act”. The official declined to say which sanctions would be put in place and when. Several sources said the announcement was likely to be made next week or the week after that.
Bureau Report