April 21

United States Committee for a Free Lebanon Logo

April 21, 2003

U.S Committee for a Free Lebanon Action Alert http://www.freelebanon.org/

To: Friends of Lebanon around the World

Immediate Action Necessary

Urge your Senators and Representatives to support the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, H.R. 1828. Call Senators at (202) 224-3121 and ask for the offices of your Senators. Call Representatives at (202) 225-3121 and ask for the office of your Representative.

Talking Points:

Syria continues to be a major sponsor of international terrorist groups. No less than ten terrorist groups are headquartered in Damascus. These groups include Hamas and the PFLP as well as others who maintain offices, training camps, and other facilities on Syrian territory, operate in areas of Lebanon occupied by Syria and receive supplies from Iran through Syria. Hezbollah continues to attack Israel, with a green light from Syria, risking leading to a wider regional war.

Syria continues to occupy Lebanon in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and despite Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory. Over 20,000 Syrian troops occupy sovereign Lebanese territory, preventing Lebanese independence and preventing Lebanon from fulfilling its obligation under Security Council resolution 425 to deploy its troops to southern Lebanon. As a result, southern Lebanon is under the control of the terrorist group Hezbollah, which has positioned more than 8,000 Katuysha rockets opposite Israel’s northern border and has allowed Iranian Revolutionary Guards to operate freely in the area.

Syria continues to develop biological and chemical weapons. Syria’s ability to strike most of Israel with its short and medium-range ballistic missiles make Israeli population centers vulnerable to Syrian attack. Given Syria's support for terrorism and its hatred towards Israel, Syria’s development of chemical and biological weapons is a major security concern, to both the U.S. and Israel.

Syria is subject to fewer U.S. sanctions than any other country listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. There is no ban on trade with, or investment in, Syria. The U.S. has ambassador-level relations with Syria, but not with any other terrorist state. There are no travel restrictions on Syrian diplomats as there are for diplomats from other states on the terrorist-sponsors list.

Urgent Action Necessary

Urge your Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor and help pass the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, H.R. 1828. This is an important part of the United States-led war against terrorism. Call Senators at (202) 224-3121 and Representatives at (202) 225-3121. Or write to them at:

Representative _______________

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515 Senator ____________________

United States Senate

Washington, D.C. 20510

Below is a sample letter you may choose to use or adapt to send to

your elected officials:

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Dear (Representative) (Senator) ____________,

As the nightmare of Saddam Hussein’s despotic regime comes to an end, it is becoming dangerously evident that Saddam’s deadly associates and designs are relocating to neighboring Syria. Syria continues to produce weapons of mass destruction, harbors the world’s most infamous terrorist organizations, and encourages its citizens to attack American troops in Iraq. I urge you to sponsor the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003, H.R. 1828. This is a necessary first step to provide security to American forces in the region, to neighboring countries in the Middle East, and to fight the global scourge of terrorism. Syria, a country on the list of state-sponsors of terrorism, cannot continue its terrorist activities with impunity. Kindly contact (Rep. Eliot Engel’s office at (202) 225-2464 or Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s office at (202) 225-3931) (Senator Barbara Boxer’s office at (202) 224-3553 or Senator Santorum’s office at (202) 224-6324) in order to add your name to the list of co-sponsors of this important legislation.

We look forward to working together with you to help America fight the battle against global terrorism.

Sincerely,