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20 Ellul 5763 - September 17, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
U.S. Official to Present Evidence of Syrian Involvement in Terror to US Congress
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Bolton is planning to testify that Syria has not stopped terrorists from crossing its border into Iraq to kill American soldiers. Bolton will also say that the administration is concerned about what it sees as Syria's continuing support for terrorist groups like Hamas, and he is expected to reiterate accusations that Syria has an ambitious program to develop chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.

The testimony, some of which will be public and some behind closed doors, was prepared in advance in order to have it approved by other officials. The testimony was thus approved by the intelligence community and the White House. A copy of the public testimony scheduled to be given to the International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia was provided to The New York Times in advance by individuals who feel that the accusations against Syria have received insufficient attention.

"It's going to be very hard-hitting," one senior administration official said. Bolton had originally been scheduled to testify in July, but the Bush administration decided to postpone the testimony. The White House hopes Bolton's account concerning Syria, rather than questions about the administration's prewar contentions about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, will be the focus of the discussion now.

Mr. Bolton's testimony says there is no information that Syria has transferred any unconventional weapons to terrorist groups. He also says the administration "has been unable to confirm" reports that Iraq covertly transferred unconventional weapons to Syria "in an attempt to hide them from United Nations inspectors and coalition forces."

Syria has denied the charges.

Mr. Bolton's suggestion that Syria is partly responsible for the attacks on American troops in Iraq and his allegations of unconventional-weapons programs and support for terrorists, reflect the administration's growing frustration that Damascus has not responded to demands that it curb such activities.

Just before and during the war this spring, Syria "allowed military equipment to flow into Iraq," Bolton's testimony says. "Syria permitted volunteers to pass into Iraq to attack and kill our service members during the war, and is still doing so," the prepared testimony says.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in Iraq last week that of more than 200 foreign fighters captured in Iraq, many were from Syria and Lebanon. One intelligence official said 60 to 70 percent of those detained were believed to be Syrian. Many were carrying large sums of money.

A Pentagon official said that while Syria had done some things to limit militant cross-border traffic, "they have not done nearly enough."

The administration, under political pressure as American soldiers continue to die in Iraq, is trying to do whatever possible to stop foreign militants from entering Iraq.

"Although Damascus has increased its cooperation regarding Iraq since the fall of the Iraqi regime," Mr. Bolton's testimony says, "its behavior during Operation Iraqi Freedom underscores the importance of taking seriously reports and information on Syria's W.M.D. [Weapons of Mass Destruction] capabilities."

In an interview with the New York Times, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the chairwoman of the subcommittee, said Syria's "porous borders and the hatred for Americans are very disturbing."

Mr. Bolton's description of Syria's weapons programs is consistent with earlier Central Intelligence Agency descriptions of Syria's efforts to acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. But officials said this is the first time the administration is presenting a somewhat detailed, public assessment of such activities.

The testimony alleges that Syria has "a stockpile of the nerve agent sarin that can be delivered by aircraft or ballistic missiles, and has engaged in the research and development of more toxic and persistent nerve agents such as VX." Syria is not a party to the international treaty banning chemical weapons.

Syria is also continuing to develop an offensive biological weapons capability and has not signed the treaty banning those weapons, according to the testimony. It also notes that Russia and Syria "have approved a draft program on cooperation on civil nuclear power," expertise that could be applied to a weapons program.

 

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