[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 30 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H1398-H1401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




URGING ADDITION OF HEZBOLLAH TO EUROPEAN UNION'S TERRORIST ORGANIZATION 
                                  LIST

  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 101) urging the European 
Union to add Hezbollah to the European Union's wide-ranging list of 
terrorist organizations, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 101

       Whereas Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based radical organization 
     with terrorist cells based in Europe, Africa, North America, 
     South America, Asia, and elsewhere, receiving financial, 
     training, weapons, and political and organizational aid from 
     Iran and Syria;
       Whereas Hezbollah has led a 23-year global campaign of 
     terror targeting American, German, French, British, Italian, 
     Israeli, Kuwaiti, Saudi Arabian, Argentinean, Thai, 
     Singaporean, and Russian civilians, among others;
       Whereas former Director of Central Intelligence George 
     Tenet called Hezbollah ``an organization with the capability 
     and worldwide presence [equal to] al Queda, equal if not far 
     more [of a] capable organization . . . [t]hey're a notch 
     above in many respects . . . which puts them in a state 
     sponsored category with a potential for lethality that's 
     quite great'';
       Whereas Hezbollah has been suspected of numerous terrorist 
     acts against Americans, including the suicide truck bombing 
     of the United States Embassy and Marine Barracks in Beirut in 
     October 1983 and the Embassy annex in Beirut in September 
     1984;
       Whereas the French unit of the Multinational Force in 
     Beirut was also targeted in the October 1983 attack, in which 
     241 United States Marines and 58 French paratroopers were 
     killed;
       Whereas Hezbollah has attacked Israeli and Jewish targets 
     in South America in the mid-1990s, including the Israeli 
     Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in March 1992 and the 
     AMIA Jewish Cultural Center in Buenos Aires in July 1994;
       Whereas Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for 
     kidnappings of United States and Israeli civilians and 
     French, British, German, and Russian diplomats, among others;
       Whereas even after Israel's compliance with United Nations 
     Security Council Resolution 425 (1978) by withdrawing from 
     Lebanon, Hezbollah has continued to carry out attacks against 
     Israel and its citizens;
       Whereas Hezbollah has expanded its operations in the West 
     Bank and Gaza Strip, providing training, financing and 
     weapons to Palestinian terrorist organizations on the 
     European Union terrorist list, including the Al Aqsa Martyrs 
     Brigade, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the 
     Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine;
       Whereas in 2004 Hezbollah instigated, financed, or played a 
     role in implementing a significant number of Palestinian 
     terrorist attacks against Israeli targets;
       Whereas the European Union agreed by consensus to classify 
     Hamas as a terrorist organization for purposes of prohibiting 
     funding from the European Union to Hamas;
       Whereas the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
     Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175) urges the 
     Government of Lebanon to assert the sovereignty of the 
     Lebanese state over all of its territory and to evict all 
     terrorist and foreign forces from southern Lebanon, including 
     Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards;
       Whereas, although the European Union has included Imad 
     Fayiz Mughniyah, a key operations and intelligence officer of 
     Hezbollah, on its terrorist list, it has not included his 
     organization on the list;
       Whereas the United States, Canada, and Australia have all 
     classified Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and the 
     United Kingdom has placed the Hezbollah External Security 
     Organization on its terrorist list;
       Whereas leaders of Hezbollah have made statements 
     denouncing any distinction between its ``political and 
     military'' operations, such as Hezbollah's representative in 
     the Lebanese Parliament, Mohammad Raad, who stated in 2001 
     that ``Hezbollah is a military resistance party, and it is 
     our task to fight the occupation of our land. . . . There is 
     no separation between politics and resistance.'';
       Whereas in a book recently published by the deputy 
     secretary-general of Hezbollah, Sheikh Naim Qassem, entitled 
     ``Hezbollah -- the Approach, the Experience, the Future'', 
     Qassem writes ``Hezbollah is a jihad organization whose aim, 
     first and foremost, is jihad against the Zionist enemy, while 
     the political, pure and sensible effort can serve as a prop 
     and a means of support for jihad'';
       Whereas United Nations Security Council resolution 1559 
     (2004), jointly sponsored by the United States and France, 
     calls upon all remaining foreign forces to withdraw from 
     Lebanon and for the disbanding and disarmament of all 
     Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias;
       Whereas in December 2004 the Department of State placed Al-
     Manar, Hezbollah's satellite television network, on the 
     Terrorist Exclusion List, and in December 2004 the French 
     Council of State banned the broadcasting of Al-Manar in 
     France
       Whereas France, Germany, and Great Britain, with the 
     support of the High Representative of the European Union, 
     have created a working group with Iran to discuss regional 
     security concerns, including the influence of terror 
     perpetuated by Hezbollah and other extremist organizations;
       Whereas on March 10, 2005, the European Parliament voted 
     overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution that stated ``Parliament 
     considers that clear evidence exists of terrorist activities 
     on the part of Hezbollah and that the [EU] Council should 
     take all necessary steps to curtail them.''; and
       Whereas cooperation between the United States and the 
     European Union regarding efforts to combat international 
     terrorism is essential to the promotion of global security 
     and peace: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) urges the European Union to classify Hezbollah as a 
     terrorist organization for purposes of prohibiting funding 
     from the European Union to Hezbollah and recognizing it as a 
     threat to international security;
       (2) condemns the continuous terrorist attacks perpetrated 
     by Hezbollah; and
       (3) condemns Hezbollah's continuous support of Palestinian 
     terrorist organizations on the European Union terrorist list, 
     such as the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hamas, the Palestinian 
     Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of 
     Palestine.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
South Carolina (Mr. Barrett) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and

[[Page H1399]]

extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 101.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from South Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 101 urges the European Union to add Hezbollah to 
its terrorist list. I strongly support this measure, which was passed 
by voice vote during a subcommittee mark-up and by unanimous consent 
before the full Committee on International Relations.
  Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based extremist organization that has a 
network of cells located throughout the world. Its primary sources of 
political, financial, and organizational support stem from Iran and 
Syria. According to the most recent State Department ``Patterns of 
Global Terrorism Report,'' Hezbollah is dedicated to the elimination of 
Israel and the establishment of an Islamic theocracy in Lebanon. 
Hezbollah is also a strong supporter of the Syrian presence in that 
country, a position clearly at odds with both the desires of the 
international community and the Lebanese people.
  Hezbollah has been known or suspected to have been involved in 
numerous terrorist attacks against Americans, including the suicide 
truck bombing of the United States Embassy and the Marine barracks in 
Beirut in 1983 and the embassy annex in Beirut in 1984. Three members 
of Hezbollah are on the FBI's list of the 22 most wanted persons for 
the hijacking of a TWA flight in which an American Navy diver was 
killed. Elements of the terrorist organization have also been involved 
in the kidnapping of Americans and other Westerners.
  In past years, Hezbollah has increasingly supported groups that have 
already been designated by the EU as terrorist organizations. It defies 
logic that the EU would classify these other groups as terrorist 
organizations and not include Hezbollah, a group that is among the most 
lethal terrorist organizations in the world.
  The manager's amendment includes changes based on comments received 
on the resolution from the State Department and some changes 
communicated to me by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler), the 
ranking member on the Subcommittee on Europe of the House Committee on 
International Relations. The amendment is designed to clarify some of 
the language contained in H. Res. 101. In addition, the amendment adds 
a clause recognizing that the European Parliament voted on March 10 on 
a resolution that stated that ``clear evidence exists of terrorist 
activities on the part of Hezbollah'' and that the Council of the EU 
``should take all the necessary steps to curtail them.''
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Saxton) for introducing H. Res. 101. This legislation has strong 
bipartisan support with over 70 co-sponsors. I urge the passage of this 
important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. 
Speaker, the resolution before the House condemns the ongoing terrorism 
perpetrated by Hezbollah and urges the European Union to classify 
Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
  Last session, after the introduction of House Resolution 285 urging 
the European Union to classify Hamas as a terrorist organization and 
thus prohibiting the channeling of funds from the territory from the 
European Union to Hamas, the Union agreed by consensus to add Hamas to 
its terrorist list. It is our hope that this resolution about Hezbollah 
will have similar results. The inclusion of Hezbollah on the European 
Union's list of terrorist organizations is long overdue.
  As we all know, Mr. Speaker, Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based extremist 
organization with terrorist cells throughout the globe. Its primary 
sources of political, financial, and organizational support come from 
Iran and Syria. Not surprisingly, Hezbollah is the only significant 
Lebanese organization that supports the continued occupation of Lebanon 
by Syria.
  As the master of possibly the most widespread network of terror in 
the world, Hezbollah has led a 23-year global campaign of terror 
targeting American, European, and Israeli civilians. In fact, Hezbollah 
perpetrated its terror on nearly every continent on this planet, 
including the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. 
Parenthetically, Mr. Speaker, several of us visited with these 
wonderful Marines just weeks before Hezbollah terrorist activity 
destroyed their lives.
  Among the most notorious examples of Hezbollah crimes outside the 
Middle East are its attacks on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires in 
March 1992 and the Jewish Cultural Center in Buenos Aires in 1994.
  Most recently, both Israeli and Palestinian officials have complained 
about an alarming increase in Hezbollah support for terrorism in the 
Palestinian territories. Israeli officials say that about one-fifth of 
Israeli causalities from terrorism last year were caused by Hezbollah-
backed terrorist cells.
  Hezbollah even terrorizes the Lebanese Government itself, 
perpetuating its occupation of southern Lebanon in defiance of the 
international community's demands that it be disarmed.
  Mr. Speaker, given Hezbollah's bloody record, the charges against 
Hezbollah made by both Israelis and Palestinians and the European 
Union's frequent protestations of its commitment to Middle East peace, 
it is very odd, indeed, that the European Union continues to omit 
Hezbollah from its list of terrorist organizations. But it is 
completely stupefying that this omission continues while Hezbollah 
trains and equips many of the very groups already on the European 
Union's terrorism list, such as Islamic Jihad, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, 
and Hamas. The logic of the European Union's decision-making on this 
matter is at best baffling.
  Europeans sometimes point out in their defense that Hezbollah holds 
seats in the Lebanese Parliament. Let me point out, Mr. Speaker, that 
Hitler's Nazi Party held seats in a democratically elected German 
Parliament before the onset of World War II. Furthermore, Hezbollah's 
limited electoral success does nothing to revive the victims of 
terrorism. Europeans, of all people, should know that when terrorists 
succeed at the polls, they do not become moderate. They merely exploit 
their elected parliamentary positions to serve their terrorist aims.
  Other Hezbollah apologists cite the group's domestic social programs 
within Lebanon as reason that it should not be considered strictly 
terrorist. But the credibility of those programs in Lebanon is mocked 
by Hezbollah's merciless disregard for human life in all of its other 
operations. The Bolshevik Party of the Soviet Union similarly provided 
social programs. Yet it had a devastating impact on generations of 
Soviet citizens.
  By simply declaring the transparently obvious, that Hezbollah is a 
terrorist organization, Europe could deprive Hezbollah of access to 
millions of dollars in European banks and other financial institutions, 
while making an enormous contribution to Middle Eastern stability and 
saving hundreds of lives that will otherwise be Hezbollah's future 
victims. That is why I strongly support this resolution and urge all of 
my colleagues to join me in that support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), the author 
of the legislation.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Barrett) for yielding me time. I would also like to thank 
the chairman and ranking member and other members of the committee that 
made it possible for this resolution to come to the floor on a strictly 
bipartisan basis.
  I would also just like to say that during the consideration of the 
previous resolution, it was pointed out by the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Dreier) and others how encouraging it is to see 
democracy springing up around the world, particularly in the Middle 
East. This is a trend which is tremendous for us to see, and certainly 
it should be the policy of the House of Representatives and our 
government

[[Page H1400]]

generally to do whatever we can to help promote the trend which is so 
well under way. And of course at the same time it, would be good if we 
could help remove obstacles that may stand in the way of democracy 
being successful in places like Lebanon and the trend which is under 
way perhaps in Egypt and Iraq and Afghanistan and many other places.
  So let us be clear on this subject of Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a 
radical terrorist organization, and this resolution simply asks the 
European Union to officially list it as such.

                              {time}  1615

  Its core beliefs are based on a perverse doctrine of anti-Westernism 
and anti-Semitism. Hezbollah has led a 23-year campaign targeting 
American, German, French, British, Italian, Israeli, Kuwaiti and 
countless other civilians from a variety of other countries.
  Whether it is the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 
where 241 Americans were killed, the deadly attacks against Jewish 
targets in South America during the 1990s or any other atrocious acts 
of tyranny perpetuated by this organization, there is one thing clear: 
Hezbollah represents a clear and present danger to the national 
security of the United States, to the progress of countries that are in 
the process of democratizing and to many others around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, there is no denying the fact some of us in this Chamber 
disagree from time to time on tactics, on techniques and procedures 
that are needed to win the war on terror. However, we all agree, beyond 
a shadow of a doubt, that organizations that openly call for the death 
of innocent civilians have no constructive role to play.
  H. Res. 101 was not introduced for the purpose of angering our allies 
on the other side of the Atlantic. It is no secret that without the 
assistance of various European intelligence services and the steadfast 
support of many of our allies there would be more terrorists at large 
today and more threats to our national security than there is at this 
time.
  However, it is with these thoughts in mind that I urge our European 
friends to ponder the following facts:
  The main reason that France has led the efforts to block the European 
Union from placing Hezbollah on the list of terrorist organizations is 
due to the fact that the French believe that the military and political 
wings of the organizations are separate and, therefore, must be judged 
in that way. My question is simple: How can one separate the political 
and military wings of an organization if members of that organization, 
of the organization in question, have made statements contrary to that 
very fact?
  For example, Mohammad Raad, a member of the Lebanese Parliament from 
Hezbollah, stated very plainly, ``Hezbollah is a military resistance 
party and its task is to fight the occupation of our land. There is no 
separation between politics and resistance.''
  In a book recently published by another member of Hezbollah, Sheikh 
Naim Qassem, Hezbollah's deputy secretary, he states, ``Hezbollah is a 
jihad organization whose aim, first and foremost, is jihad against the 
Zionist enemy, while the political, pure and sensible effort can serve 
as a prop and a means of support for jihad.''
  Mr. Speaker, after hearing these statements stated by members of 
Hezbollah, how can anyone, European or American, deny the simple fact 
that the ideological fabric of Hezbollah is based on the ideals of 
radical Islam and the central purpose of the organization is to kill 
innocent human beings?
  I have been concerned during the last several days about constant 
references in the media that seem to indicate that at the behest of our 
European allies, our government in the United States is ready to accept 
Hezbollah as a legitimate political force in Lebanon.
  Despite the disconcerting statements being perpetuated by the media, 
just yesterday Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice declared in the 
clearest of terms that the United States still regards Hezbollah as a 
terrorist organization, and I was encouraged last Thursday when our 
colleagues in the European Parliament passed a resolution that was 
mentioned just a few minutes ago by my friend from California that the 
EU Parliament has passed a resolution urging the European Union 
leadership and the governments there to list Hezbollah as a terrorist 
entity. The resolution stated the simple fact that there are 
``irrefutable proofs of Hezbollah's terrorist actions.'' It is my 
sincere hope that the EU leadership will follow the advice of their own 
parliament.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this important piece of 
legislation and send a message to the European Union that in order to 
secure a peaceful future for the people of Lebanon, the greater Middle 
East, and the world, organizations such as Hezbollah must not be 
tolerated.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve our time.
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter), a member of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I will not reiterate House Resolution 
101's litany of why Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, for the 
resolution's authors and my colleagues before me have given a full and 
fair accounting of this therein.
  I rise then to urge the European Union's acknowledgement of this 
resolution's list of terrorist particulars on Hezbollah's part, and in 
doing so, I further urge the European Union's addition of Hezbollah to 
the EU's terrorist list.
  Indeed, since the Coalition's liberation of Iraq from the inhuman 
rule of Saddam Hussein, from some EU quarters has come a strident call 
on the U.S. and its allies to diminish reliance upon force; i.e., hard 
power, and increase utilization of diplomatic means; i.e., soft power, 
within our war on terror.
  Now, here rests the opportunity for those strident voices in the EU 
to put their morality where their mouth is, for if despite all the 
evidence and the consequences of Hezbollah's terrorist activities, the 
European Union refuses to place Hezbollah on its terrorist list, then 
we will be left but to conclude some in Europe's insistence upon a 
sophisticated, soft power diplomacy in pursuit of stability, at the 
expense of liberty, is in reality no less than a disingenuous, 
shortsighted exercise in craven accommodation.
  The choice is theirs, but this vote is ours, and I urge adoption of 
the resolution.
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays), chairman of the Subcommittee on 
National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations of the 
Committee on Government Reform.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the 
time, and I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for their involvement in this 
important legislation.
  I think the thing that is most refreshing about President Bush's 
administration is the effort to have an honest dialogue with our allies 
about what is happening around the world. And we need to have this 
honest dialogue.
  The bottom line is Hezbollah is a terrorist organization through and 
through. It may have a political arm, it may have a public relations 
arm as the gentleman from California (Ranking Member Lantos) pointed 
out, but so did the Nazi Party. This is a terrorist organization and to 
use a phrase that Congressman Lantos uses quite often, it ``boggles the 
mind'' that they would not be included as a terrorist organization 
within the European Union.
  When we look at the resolution, there are 20 whereases, and each one 
is powerful

       Whereas Hezbollah is a Lebanon-based radical organization 
     with terrorist cells based in Europe, Africa, North America, 
     South America, Asia, and elsewhere, receiving financial, 
     training, weapons, and political and organizational aid from 
     Iran and Syria;
       Whereas Hezbollah has led a 23-year global campaign of 
     terror targeting American, German, French, British, Italian, 
     Israeli, Kuwaiti, Saudi Arabian, Argentinean, Thai, 
     Singaporean, and Russian civilians, among other . . .

and it goes on.
  I cannot believe frankly that if our colleagues from Europe read this 
resolution they will not readily agree that they need to take this 
action. Once again I thank my colleague for yielding me time, and I 
hope we pass this with a resounding ``yes.''

[[Page H1401]]

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In closing, let me just say that the European Union calls into 
question its own appropriateness in serving on the quartet, attempting 
to bring some stability and peace to the Middle East. This is such a 
clearcut case. We are dealing with a global terrorist organization 
which has cold-bloodedly massacred large numbers of civilians of many 
nationalities. There is no earthly reason to continue the defiance of 
common sense by the European Union in failing to put Hezbollah on the 
terrorist list.
  The European Parliament itself a few days ago called on the union to 
list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, and at long last it is our 
hope that they will do so.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Murphy). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 101, as 
amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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