Posted on 09/25/2001 10:39:34 AM PDT by RCW2001
Anti-terror law worries Jewish activists
By Janine Zacharia
WASHINGTON (September 25) - A new anti-terrorism law proposed by the Bush administration gives wide authority to the president to reward countries that cooperate in the new US-led war on terrorism, including state sponsors of terrorism that have heretofore been banned from receiving US assistance and sanctioned because of their practices.
The broad language has given pause to some Jewish organizational leaders and pro-Israel advocates in particular, who fear that countries like Iran and Syria, with which the US has been talking about a possible anti-terrorism partnership, may benefit from an easing of US sanctions or even direct US assistance in return for only minimal action.
The proposed language of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 as sent to Congress by Attorney General John Ashcroft does not specify countries by name.
Section 505 - Assistance to Countries Co-Operating Against International Terrorism - "would give important new extraordinary authority for five years to the President to provide assistance or take other beneficial actions in favor of countries that support US efforts to fight international terrorism."
It would also "allow the President to provide anti-terrorism assistance to entities, as well as countries, without being subject to any restrictions."
Officials in the Jewish community were concerned that the type of assistance demanded was not clearly defined, and that some countries like Syria or Iran could benefit by providing intelligence on the al-Qaida network, for example, without eliminating domestic cells or abandoning state sponsorship of terrorism directed largely toward Israel.
One official with a Jewish American organization said he was concerned about "how far we're going to go to build this coalition. It's something to be concerned about."
A few days ago Bush unilaterally lifted sanctions on India and Pakistan, imposed after those countries conducted nuclear tests in 1998, as a reward for their cooperation so far.
Other sanctions could be dumped as well, as the administration zooms in on the terrorism problem and abandons others priorities.
The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 deals mostly with how to expand the authority of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to monitor private communications and access personal information.
One new provision would enable US law enforcement officials to impose roving wire taps on suspects.
The act builds on a similar act passed five years ago.
That reeks of Leftism.
The Greenies, PETA, Jane Fonda, Tom Hayden, Bill Maher....ACTIVISTS.
TRANSLATION: Pro-Israel activists are concerned that for once, AMERICAN interests might be served independent and exclusive of ISRAELI interests.
IOW: It is ALWAYS all about Israel with these folks.
TRANSLATION: YOU are unable to curb your dislike of Jews, and you continue to slander, lie and show your animus, by painting all Israelis as one.
You KNOW that there are Americans who have voiced the same concerns. Try and rein yourself in a bit. You are shaming yourself.
I have no dislike of Jews. I DO have a dislike of people who are sheltered and protected by this nation, who instead of faithfully returning that favor with their own devotion, choose instead to lavish all their attention on a foreign state.
I suggest it is YOU who can't see beyond your "anti-semitism" bogey-man to the truth of my worlds. Most Americans support Israel, but NOT at the expense of America.
Go back and look again. You'll find it, I put it up just this morning.
BY WHICH you IMPLY THAT American Jews support Israel at the expense of America.
Your veiled libels against the loyalty of American Jews may slip by others here, but they don't fool me.
Very few people come out and say "I hate Jews." Not in public anyway. It's in there, subtly. Oh yeah.
When I worked for Reagan and Bush I was not working for Israel. You get off your duff and work for the Republican Party...ever?
That is insane. This pandering to the Arab world has got to stop.
Only anecdotal evidence, of course, but there are many here in Palm Beach County who, in my opinion, have supported neither. Think they are coming around however. Let's hope it sticks.
Since Syria and Iran are neighbors to Israel and we are not, your concerns are quite expected .... It's good that we are now more aware of the importance of fighting Terrorism, it's bad how we became so aware. But now that we are "in the boat", protecting our shores alone is not what this is all about.
Repost Correction -
Since Syria and Iran are neighbors to Israel and we are not, THEIR concerns are quite expected ....
It's good that we are now more aware of the importance of fighting Terrorism, it's bad how we became so aware. But now that we are "in the boat", protecting our shores alone is not what this is all about.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.