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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2003)
Nation & World News Legislation approved to curb Syria’s sales, suspected terrorists The House International Relations Committee voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Syria Accountability Act By Frank Davies Kni#it Ridder Newspapers (KRT) WASHINGTON — In a sign of growing U.S. pressure on Syria to stop supporting terrorist groups, a key committee in the House of Represen tatives overwhelmingly approved leg islation on Wednesday that would impose sanctions on that country. Hie House International Relations Committee voted 33-2 in favor of the Syria Accountability Act, and Majority Leader Tom DeLay said the full House could approve it next week. The measure has more than 280 co sponsors in the House, easily a majori ty, and 76 of the 100 senators bade it. The Senate Foreign Relations Commit tee will hold a hearing on Syria later this month, a spokesman said. Until this week, the Bush adminis tration had opposed the measure, calling it a congressional intrusion into foreign policy that could "tie the hands" of U.S. officials. But White House spokesman Scott McClellan said on Wednesday that the administration no longer op posed the bill: "Syria is on the wrong side in the war on terrorism. Syria needs to change course, change its be havior and stop harboring terrorists." President Bush and other officials also have dedined to condemn an Is raeli air attack on an alleged terrorist training camp in Syria, instead sup porting Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism. The bill prohibits the sale of weapons and weapons-related tech nology to Syria and mandates that the administration impose at least two of a menu of six trade and diplo matic sanctions on Syria if it doesn't stop harboring terrorist groups, occu pying parts of Lebanon and failing to stop guerrillas from crossing its bor der into Iraq to attack U S. forces. "The time has come to hold Syria accountable for its actions," said Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., a primary sponsor of the bill. Rep. Robert Wexler, a Florida De mocrat who visited Damascus four months ago, said he warned Syrian President Bashar Assad that Congress would act if Syria didn't change. "This legislation will be a psycho logical blow to Assad. For the first time he will not be in control of the situa tion, and he will feel a real conse quence for their failures," Wexler said. DeLay negotiated a deal with the White House over the bill's language. The administration has shown in creasing impatience with Syria, capped when Bush refused to criticize Israel's airstrike on Sunday in Syria in retalia tion for a suicide bombing on Satur day by the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad that killed 19 Israelis. Other allegations also have been made against Syria. L. Paul Bremer, the U.S. administrator in Iraq, told Congress recendy that about half the 278 foreign fighters who have been captured in Iraq were from Syria or held Syrian papers. U.S. Air Force prosecutors have charged a translator, Senior Airman Ahmad al Halabi, with espionage, accusing the natural ized U.S. citizen of collecdng secrets from detainees at the Guantanamo prison camp and passing them to his native Syria. (c) 2003, Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services. STUDENT GROUPS Advertise in the Emerald. Call 346-3712 to speak with a rep. We have great University rates. t > « Today's crossword solution Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 PM Hendricks Hall in Room 12 October 9 Resume Upgrade Revamp your resume, or make minor adjustments that could turn into major employment — success! Learn what employers like to see on a resume, and fine-tune yours to match your targeted career. Bring your draft resume. Career Center 220 Hendricks Hall • 346-3235 http://uocareer.uoregon.edu Office Hours: Mon - Fri 8:30AM - 5:00PM Drop-in Advising Hours: Mon - Fri 11:00AM - 12:00PM and 1:30PM - 4:00PM UNIVERSITY OF OREGON 21st Annual Lane County IMPROVEMENT October 9-12 Fairgrounds — 13th & Jefferson, Eugene Thurs & Fri 5-9:30pm Sat 10:30am-9:30pm Sun 10:30am-5pm FREE Admission! Please bring canned food donations to help fight hunger. Over 200 Home & Garden Exhibits! Aisles of New Ideas & Expert Advice "Artist's Marketplace" - Show & Sale Fused Glass, Oils, Watercolors, Sculpture & More - Rm #1 "Plant Sale" - Fall Is Perfect For Plantingl Hourly Home & Garden "How-To's" in the Green Thumb Garden & Dream Home Theaters FREE Issue of "Oregon Home Magazine" A $3.99 value featuring Real People & Real Homes. Register for Valuable Prizes! TEC Infra-Red Grill - Patio II From Premium Spas & Stoves and KVAL-TV Oak Kitchen Island with Maple Butcher Block From Country Woodworking and KEZI-TV Casablanca Zephair Table Fan From Brighter Homes Lighting and KVAL-TV Casablanca Panama Celling Fan From Brighter Homes Lighting and KVAL-TV Husqvarna-Vlklng "Emma" Sewing Machine From Viking Sewing, Vacuum, Spa & Stove and KEZI-TV a B«rg Production Hundreds of ways to get involved. One place to get information. on Campus Ilip Spotlight on Campus is a great opportunity to inform students about your group or organization. Chances are that many students don't know who you are, what you do or where to find you. Tell them with an ad in our Spotlight on Campus special section. I On stands Wednesday, October 15, 2003 Ad deadline 4:00pm, Friday, October 10, 2003 346-3712 Suite 300 EMO
