Tuesday, November 11, 2003
While I always worry a bit when the Congress risks overstepping into the prerogatives of the Executive, I'm all for any pressure possible on the Fascist/Nazi/terror state of Syria. Only the Executive can monitor and ride herd on the diplomatic situation and respond quickly and fluidly to changing circumstances, particularly behind-the-scenes circumstances. The legislation seems to have some safe-guards built-in, however.
The fact that the legislation passes the Senate 89-4 and the House 398-4 is at least slightly heartening in a time when so much of the rest of the world is only too willing to appease the worst monsters, and even shows an inability to know who the monsters are.
Israel News : Jerusalem Post Internet Edition
The Senate measure, passed 89-4, mirrors legislation the House of Representatives passed last month by 398-4. The only difference, an amendment offered by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar, with input from the Bush administration, gives the president greater authority to waive sanctions for national security reasons.
The White House, which in principle opposes moves by Congress to restrict diplomatic options in dealing with problematic relations, has gone from opposing the Syria bill to accepting it as inevitable.
"We cannot have relationships with Syria and close our eyes to the truth, and the truth is that they are in fact supporting terrorism in ways that are very very clear," said Sen. Barbara Boxer...
