GEOPOLITICAL COMMENTARY:

Syria and Saudis Next in U.S.-Israeli Crosshairs

Panel members for the program included Dr. E. Faye Williams, a former Congressional candidate; H. E. Imad Moustapha, Syrian Arab Republic Ambassador to the U.S.; Grant F. Smith, research director of the IRMEP; author Steven Zunes, a professor at the University of San Francisco; Robert V. Keeley, an ex-Ambassador to Greece; and Eugene Bird, president of the CNI, a grassroots organization that is dedicated to promoting a "just solution" to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

The program, entitled "Accountability Acts: Implication for U.S. Policy," dealt with two Congressional items: First, the ramifications of a law recently signed by President Bush that was pushed in the Congress by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and attempts to impose draconian US sanctions on Syria for allegedly manufacturing WMD and for supporting "global terrorism," unless the President can certify to the Congress that Syria is in strict compliance. This is the same M.O. used by the Bush-Cheney Gang to justify its invasion of Iraq ("Ten Appalling Lies We Were Told About Iraq," Christopher Scheer, AlterNet, 07/27/03). Dr. Williams said that the Congressional initiatives were wrong. She advocated a "balance policy" for the US in the Middle East. CNI's Bird underscored how the Israeli Lobby has a "vise hold on Capitol Hill" and how the country desperately need "an Israeli Accountability and Security Act."

Professor Zunes sharply criticized the co-sponsors of the law aimed at the Syrians for what he called their "double standard." He pointed out how Sen. Boxer, and others in the Congress "had failed to call Israel to account, when for over 18 years it had illegally occupied parts of Lebanon." He reminded the large, standing-room-only audience that "Israel was the only nuclear power in the area." Syrian Ambassador Moustapha expressed indignation that the US Congress had passed such "a bad law...It is bad for Syria, bad for the US and bad for Israel." He added, "This law will further weaken Syria in the face of a bullying Israel...It will hold the Middle East hostage to the 'War Camp' in Israel...which also has the largest stockpile of WMD in the entire region." He said that he wanted the American people to know that "Syria was not an enemy of the US."

One of the reasons that I believe Syria has been targeted by the Congress is that it is a champion of the unshakable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Syria has dared to oppose the violence-producing Israeli occupation. Since 1967, Israel stands in defiant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 242, and more UNGA Resolutions than any other country on earth, provisions of the Geneva Convention, Human Rights Standards and settled principles of International Law.

Mr. Keeley indicated the two Congressional actions would be counter-productive. He said, "The US should be an honest broker in the Middle East....It is elementary that we should be even-handed and not take sides." He continued, "An independent Palestine is within the national interests of the US." He condemned Israel for its barbarous human rights abuses "of the Palestinians" and its so-called, "Separation Wall." He also demanded "an independent investigation into the Israelis' killing of peace and justice activist, Rachel Corrie."

Director Smith of the IRMEP maintained that the proposed "Saudi Accountability Act" was introduced in the Congress based on the worst kind of weak, heavily biased, and "unverifiable evidence." He cautioned that if this Act were passed into law and fully implemented, it could seriously "cut US exports to Saudi Arabia, cause significant job losses in the US, and, possibly have a severe economic impact on our faltering economy."

The Saudis are often scapegoated for the 9/11 terrorist attack, but the Saudi-bashers ignore those five suspicious Israelis who were caught over in New Jersey on 9/11 photographing the collapse of the WTC. After a cursory investigation, the Justice Department permitted thems to return to Israel (see "The Terror Enigma: 9/11 and the Israeli Connection," Justin Raimondo).

In 2002, two other ultra-hawkish members of the Congress, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT) and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), who--like Specter, Weiner, Boxer and Engel--curry favor with Zionists, forced through the notorious "Iraq War Resolution." It gave a "blank check" to the Bush-Cheney Gang to launch, on March 20, 2003, that blood-stained and unconstitutional conflict that has already cost the nation 567 of its bravest sons and daughters, $107 billion, and caused the deaths of an estimated 10,430 innocent Iraqi civilians.

The intellectual foundation for these provocative anti-Arab schemes is the now infamous 1996 Middle East policy paper entitled, "A Clean Break: A New Strategy for Securing the Realm." That document was originally prepared for Israel's Right Wing Benjamin Netanyahu's regime by a clique of Neocons led by Pentagon-insider Richard Perle. After 9/11, their paper became a huge part of the Bush-Cheney Gang's militant Middle East policy. It urged, inter alia, a pre-emptive strike against Iraq; "rolling back" Syria and Iran; isolating Palestinian Chairman Yassar Arafat; and eventually, toppling the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (See, for more details, "A Bush-Sharon Doctrine," 02/12/03, Arnaud de Borchgrave, UPI, Editor at Large).

In conclusion, it is clear that a powerful Likud Cabal in the U.S. Congress, moved by the above-mentioned House and Senate members, is hell-bent on using their public offices (which are supposed to be a public trust) and the military and economic might of the US to further destabilize the Middle East and to enhance the hegemony in the area of the Israeli regime of Ariel Sharon. I'm convinced, as were the panelists at the public forum, that their insidious conduct into a diplomatic arena traditionally reserved to the Executive Branch is not in the interest of our Republic.

The only question left is this: Will the American people wake up in time to stop this Israel-First Brigade of mischief-makers before they drag the US into yet another immoral, illegal and costly Middle East quagmire?