USCFL- Action Alert March 30, 2001

United States Committee for a Free Lebanon Logo

March 12, 2000

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

To: Friends of Lebanon around the World

Urge Congress to oppose aid to Syria

Media reports indicate that the Clinton administration is preparing to ask Congress to approve economic or even military aid to Syria in the near future. Administration officials have already spoken informally with congressional leaders about such aid.

Recommended Action for You to Take:

* Contact your U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative and urge them to oppose any American aid to Syria. A letter is now circulating among Members of Congress, demanding that Syria stop supporting terrorism, halt its military buildup, and take other concrete steps before Congress would even consider giving it aid. Please urge your Congressmember to sign the letter.

Appropriate contacts

        U.S.Senator Ted Stevens
        Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee
        Tel 202-224-3004        /        fax 202-224-2354
        E-mail: senator_stevens@stevens.senate.gov

        U.S. Senator Jesse Helms
        Chair, Senate Foreign Relations Committee
        Tel 202-224-6342        /        fax 202-228-1339
        E-mail: Jesse_Helms@helms.senate.gov

        U.S. Senator Richard Shelby
        Chair, Senate Intelligence Committee
        Tel 202-224-5744        /        fax 202-224-3416

        U.S. Rep. C.W.Young
        Chair, House Appropriations Committee
        Tel 202- 225-5961       /        fax 202-225-9764

        U.S. Rep. Ben Gilman
        Chair, House International Relations Committee
        Tel 202-225-3776        /        fax 202-225-2541
        E-mail: ny20@legislators.com

        U.S. Rep. Peter Goss
        Chair, House Intelligence Committee
        Tel 202-225-2536        /        fax 202-225-6820
        E-mail: porter.goss@mail.house.gov

Sample Letter

Below is a sample letter regarding the issue of U.S. aid to Syria. Please do not clip and send this sample letter; it is much more effective if you write your own version. In formulating your letter, you can utilize some of the "Talking Points" listed below.

Dear Congressman ________:

I urge you to oppose any U.S. military or economic aid to Syria.

Given Syria's record of sponsoring international terrorism, engaging in international narcotics trafficking, violating treaties, invading Lebanon, and developing weapons of mass destruction, it is no wonder polls show that by a three-to-one majority, most Americans oppose giving their tax dollars to Syria.

Congress should heed the overwhelming majority of Americans and refrain from authorizing any American aid to the pro-terrorist dictatorship of Syria.

Sincerely,

TEN Talking Points

1. Most Americans Oppose Aid to Syria: 72% of U.S. voters oppose any Israel-Syria agreement that would require U.S.financial or military aid (only 22% say they would support it), and 42% say they are less likely to re-elect Members of Congress who support such an agreement, according to a survey by The Polling Company and Miller Research for the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs in February 2000.

A poll carried out on January 13, 2000, by John McLaughlin & Associates on behalf of the scholarly journal Middle East Quarterly found that by more than 3 to 1 (63.8% to 21%), Americans oppose U.S. aid to Syria "to strengthen Syria's economy, in return for Syria signing a peace treaty with Israel"(only 21% favor such aid); by nearly 4 to 1 (66.5% to 16.9%), Americans oppose U.S. aid "to strengthen Syria's military," even if Syria stops developing "weapons of mass destruction".

2. Most Israelis Opposing Giving Away the Golan Heights: A Gallup poll, carried out on March 5, 2000, found that 60.9% of Israelis say Israel should wait and see who succeeds Assad before signing a treaty with Syria. Only 21.4% of Israelis favor rushing to sign a treaty now, before Assad dies or resigns. A poll taken by the respected Steinmetz Center of Tel Aviv University, found only 14% of Israelis are "greatly in favor" of giving up the Golan, and another 9.5% are "somewhat in favor," while 56.7% are opposed to giving up the Golan. A Steinmetz poll in January found 62.3% oppose giving up the Golan, while only 21.2% are in favor.

3. Syrian-Controlled Terrorist Groups Have Murdered Hundreds of American Citizens. The Hezbollah terrorist group, which operates from Syrian-occupied Lebanon and receives its Iranian arms shipments through Syria's Damascus airport, carried out the October 1983 car-bomb attack on the U.S. Marines barracks near Beirut, killing 241 Americans.

4. Syria also permits numerous other terrorist groups that have killed Americans to maintain facilities in both Damascus and in Syrian-occupied Lebanon, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Japanese Red Army.

5. The Syrian Government-Controlled Media is Anti-American. The Syrian media, which is completely controlled by the government, frequently publishes vicious anti-American incitement. For example, after terrorists attacked U.S. Embassy personnel in Egypt, Syrian newspapers called the attackers "heroes." (Jerusalem Post, May 29, 1997)

6. Syria Votes against America's Positions at the UN 83% of the Time. According to a report by the U.S. State Department, Syria voted against America's positions at the United Nations 83% of the time in 1998.

7. Syria is Helping America's Enemy, Saddam Hussein. According the Times of London, Syria has agreed to supply Saddam Hussein with "engines for Russian-made tanks and tracks for armored fighting vehicles ... spares for anti-aircraft radar facilities --hit by recent American and British bombing-- lorries, aircraft and helicopters, and ammunition."

8. Syria's Human Rights Violations Are Contrary to American Values. Human rights organizations have documented Syria's unrelenting suppression of free speech and assembly, torture of prisoners, and brutal persecution of political dissidents. Syria's actions are completely contrary to America's values of freedom and democracy.

9. Syria is Developing Unconventional Weapons. Despite America's efforts to halt the international proliferation of unconventional weapons, Syria is racing ahead with its efforts to develop chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, and in November 1999 conducted its first live chemical weapons test. (Jerusalem Post, November 28, 1999)

10. The current ruling regime in Lebanon does not represent the wishes and aspirations of the Lebanese people but those of Syria. Ten years ago, the Syrians confiscated the Lebanese people’s power to control their own destiny along with their freedoms. Countries, who consider themselves to be loyal friends to the Lebanese people, should work to reinstall true independence and sovereignty to Lebanon and help to bring its citizens together so that Lebanon could play its special and effective role within the Arab and International communities.

Thanks for your attention.

The USCFL Task Force
http://www.freelebanon.org/

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