Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act Of 2003

The New England Americans for Lebanon organization announces its full and unwavering support for the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act (SALSA) of 2003. We welcome the addition of Lebanese Sovereignty to its new title and extend our appreciation for the leadership of Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) in the introduction of the above-mentioned Act.

The time for democracy in the Middle East has come. For the past thirty odd years, Syria has been a major sponsor of terrorism in the region, a major obstacle for peace, and one of the last occupying forces in the world with its occupation of neighboring Lebanon. A restored independent and sovereign Lebanon, as it once was, will help President Bush and the US government in fighting terrorism and establishing democracy in that region of the world.

As has been amply reported by the administration, Syria has been in direct violation of the UN oil and weapons embargo imposed on Iraq, is aiding and abetting the Iraqi Baath Party and Army with the smuggling of military equipment through its border to Iraq, is sheltering Baath Party thugs who escaped from Iraq, and continues to send terrorists into Iraq to fight Coalition Forces. This makes the Syrian regime a direct threat to American interests and peace and stability in the region.

Now that Syria has revealed its own Baath Party’s hostility to the US and openly supports the remnants of the Iraqi regime, the "timing" or "inappropriateness" of the bill cannot be used by pro-Syrian bureaucrats in the administration to defend the Syrian regime. This bill will limit Syria’s threat to the region and pave the way for peace in the Middle East.

NEAL urges all freedom loving Americans, New Englanders, and Americans of Lebanese descent to fully support the bill and to call, write, or email their representatives and ask them to co-sponsor the bill.

New England Americans for Lebanon

Long Live Free Lebanon