[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H8877-H8880]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONDEMNING THE ATTACK ON THE AMIA JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER IN BUENOS 
                     AIRES, ARGENTINA, IN JULY 1994

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 188) condemning the attack 
on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 
1994, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows

                            H. Con. Res. 188

       Whereas on July 18, 1994, 85 innocent people were killed 
     and 300 were wounded when the Argentine Jewish Mutual 
     Association (AMIA) was bombed in Buenos Aires, Argentina;
       Whereas extensive evidence links the planning of the 
     attacks to the Government of Iran, and the execution of the 
     attacks to the terrorist group Hezbollah, which is based in 
     Lebanon, supported by Syria, and sponsored by Iran;
       Whereas on October 25, 2006, the State Prosecutor of 
     Argentina, an office created by the current Government of 
     Argentina, concluded that the AMIA bombing was ``decided and 
     organized by the highest leaders of the former government of 
     . . . Iran, whom, at the same time, entrusted its execution 
     to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah'';
       Whereas on October 25, 2006, the State Prosecutor of 
     Argentina concluded that the AMIA bombing had been approved 
     in advance by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamene'i, Iran's 
     then-leader Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Iran's then-Foreign 
     Minister Ali Akbar Velayati, and Iran's then-Minister of 
     Security and Intelligence Ali Fallahijan;
       Whereas on October 25, 2006, the State Prosecutor of 
     Argentina stated that the Government of Iran uses ``terrorism 
     as a mechanism of its foreign policy'' in support of ``its 
     final aim [which] is to export its radicalized vision of 
     Islam and to eliminate the enemies of the regime'';
       Whereas on October 25, 2006, the State Prosecutor of 
     Argentina identified Ibrahim Hussein Berro, a Lebanese 
     citizen and member of Hezbollah, as the suicide bomber who 
     primarily carried out the attack on the AMIA;
       Whereas on November 9, 2006, Argentine Judge Rodolfo 
     Canicoba Corral, pursuant to the request of the State 
     Prosecutor of Argentina, issued an arrest warrant for Ali 
     Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a former leader of Iran and the 
     current chairman of Iran's Expediency Council, for his 
     involvement in the AMIA bombing and urged the International 
     Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) to issue a capture 
     notice (commonly known as a ``red notice'') for Rafsanjani;
       Whereas on November 9, 2006, Argentine Judge Rodolfo 
     Canicoba Corral, pursuant to the request of the State 
     Prosecutor of Argentina, also issued arrest warrants for Ali 
     Fallahijan, a former Iranian Minister of Security and 
     Intelligence, Ali Akbar Velayati, a former Iranian Foreign 
     Minister, Mohsen Rezai, a former commander of Iran's Islamic 
     Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Ahmad Vahidi, a former 
     commander of the elite Al-Quds Force of the IRGC, Hadi 
     Soleimanpour, a former Iranian ambassador to Argentina, 
     Mohsen Rabbani, a former cultural attache at the Iranian 
     Embassy in Buenos Aires, Ahmed Reza Asghari, a former 
     official at the Iranian Embassy in Buenos Aires, and Imad 
     Moughnieh, a leading operations chief of Hezbollah;
       Whereas on March 5, 2007, the Executive Committee of 
     INTERPOL supported the issuance of red notices for Hezbollah 
     operative Imad Moughnieh and five Iranian officials noted 
     above for whom Argentine Judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral issued 
     arrest warrants;
       Whereas Iran has appealed the INTERPOL Executive 
     Committee's decision, and the General Assembly of INTERPOL 
     will issue a final ruling on the red notices when it meets in 
     Morocco in November 2007;
       Whereas the inability to reach suspected Islamist militants 
     and Iranian officials has debilitated the efforts of the 
     Government of Argentina to prosecute masterminds and planners 
     of the 1994 AMIA bombing;
       Whereas the current Government of Argentina has made 
     significant advances in the AMIA investigation; and
       Whereas Argentina recently approved anti-terrorist 
     legislation which seeks to criminalize financing, fund-
     raising, and money laundering activities of groups linked to 
     terrorism: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That Congress--
       (1) reiterates its strongest condemnation of the 1994 
     attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, 
     Argentina, and honors the victims of this heinous act;
       (2) expresses its sympathy to the relatives of the victims, 
     who have waited 13 years without justice for the loss of 
     their loved ones, and may have to wait even longer for 
     justice to be served;
       (3) applauds the current Government of Argentina for 
     increasing the pace of the AMIA bombing investigation, as 
     well as on its recently approved anti-terrorism legislation;
       (4) urges the Government of Argentina to continue to 
     dedicate and provide the resources necessary for its judicial 
     system and intelligence agencies to investigate all areas of 
     the AMIA case and to bring those responsible to justice;
       (5) calls upon the General Assembly of INTERPOL to uphold, 
     issue and implement the red notices supported by the 
     Executive Committee of INTERPOL in March 2007; and
       (6) calls upon responsible nations to cooperate fully with 
     the investigation, including by making information, 
     witnesses, and suspects available for review and questioning 
     by the appropriate Argentine authorities, and by detaining 
     and extraditing to Argentina, if given the opportunity, any 
     of the Iranian officials and former officials, Hezbollah 
     operatives, and Islamist militants against whom Argentine or 
     international arrest warrants are pending in connection with 
     the AMIA case.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Ros-Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from American Samoa.

[[Page H8878]]

                             General Leave

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from American Samoa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, 13 years ago this month, 85 innocent people lost their 
lives in the bombing of a Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires. Today 
we commemorate the profound pain of the families who had their loved 
ones brutally taken from them. We also recall the shock felt in Jewish 
communities throughout the world at this ferocious attack on innocent 
lives in a city where Jewish people had previously felt secure. But 
with consideration of this resolution today, we not only commemorate 
but we demand justice. It is absolutely imperative that the 
international community push ahead with the critical investigation to 
bring the perpetrators to justice.
  Mr. Speaker, just last fall the state prosecutor of Argentina 
concluded that the attack had been approved in advance by Iran's 
Supreme Leader and by the highest officials of the Iranian Government. 
The former Iranian Ambassador to Argentina actually provided key 
information in planning to carry out this vicious attack.
  There is a new leader in Tehran these days. He is no less anti-
Semitic and no less menacing, but he threatens to develop infinitely 
more dangerous weapons than those used to perpetrate the slaughter in 
Argentina.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States cannot and will not allow the reckless 
Iranian leader Ahmadinejad to obtain nuclear capabilities. There is 
also little doubt that the Iranian masterminds in 1994 called upon 
their Hezbollah thugs to execute their nefarious plans. We also know 
that the Hezbollah terrorist cell that carried out the attack received 
financial and logistical support from sympathizers in the tri-border 
region between Paraguay, Argentina, and Brazil. The suicide bomber 
himself may have entered South America and traveled to the Argentina 
capital through this lawless frontier.
  Mr. Speaker, although nothing like the bombing has been replicated in 
South America since 1994, supporters and facilitators of Islamic 
terrorist organizations have gathered in scattered outposts throughout 
the western hemisphere. Operating from hard-to-reach areas in Chile, 
Colombia, Venezuela and Panama, these individuals lend financial and 
logistical assistance to terrorist organizations in the Middle East.
  Mr. Speaker, although these isolated communities have yet to grow 
into operational cells of Islamic terrorists, the threat to regional 
security remains strong and requires constant vigilance. We must 
redouble our efforts to root out terrorist fund-raising networks in the 
western hemisphere and to unearth the growing web of links between 
terrorist financiers and narcotic traffickers.
  This important resolution encourages the Government of Argentina to 
continue its pursuit of the criminals in the bombing, and it calls upon 
the General Assembly of INTERPOL to uphold and implement international 
arrest warrants recently issued for the Hezbollah and Iranian 
operatives.
  Mr. Speaker, only by taking the investigation of the AMIA bombing to 
its ultimate conclusion, the capture and punishment of those who 
planned it, will we show Iran, Hezbollah, and those who support 
terrorism that we are serious about combating it. International 
terrorists have demonstrated that they will not rest in pursuit of 
their villainy. This resolution once again puts them on notice that 
they will fail whether they are in the Middle East or in the Americas.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 188.
  Mr. Speaker, 13 years ago, on July 18, a radical Islamist with ties 
to the terrorist group Hezbollah bombed the AMIA Jewish Community 
Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the heart and soul of the largest 
Jewish community in South America, killing 85 innocent people. From the 
beginning of the investigation into this horrific act of anti-Semitism 
and mass murder, the evidence pointed to the involvement of Hezbollah 
and its state sponsor, Iran. Moreover, the AMIA bombing opened our 
eyes, 7 years before 9/11, to the growing threat of radical Islam and 
Islamic extremists and terrorists in the western hemisphere, our own 
backyard.
  The tri-border area, where Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meet, 
continues to be a lawless zone where Islamist terrorist groups meet and 
engage in arms, drug dealing and contraband smuggling that finances 
their deadly deeds and aims. It could easily become a base of 
operations to carry out further terrorist attacks that could even 
strike on U.S. soil. Therefore, to address this threat to our interests 
and national security, the United States and our allies must bring to 
justice those responsible for past acts of terror. We must vigilantly 
combat radical Islamic terrorist groups before they strike again.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, for over a decade those responsible for the 
atrocity at AMIA have not been captured and prosecuted, causing our 
enemies to be emboldened to strike again. Nonetheless, despite numerous 
obstacles, the wheels of justice have started to gain momentum.
  Last October, the state prosecutor of Argentina concluded that the 
AMIA bombing was, in his words, ``decided and organized by the highest 
leaders of the former Government of Iran whom, at the same time, 
entrusted its execution to the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.''
  Last March, acting on the state prosecutor's conclusions, INTERPOL's 
executive committee recommended the issuance of red notices for five 
Iranian officials and one Hezbollah operative in connection with the 
bombing.

                              {time}  1530

  Iran, still determined to act with impunity, has appealed the 
Executive Committee's decision to INTERPOL's General Assembly, which 
will meet upcoming this November.
  It is vital, vital, Mr. Speaker, that INTERPOL's General Assembly 
uphold the recommendation of the Executive Committee and issue the red 
notices, which could lead to the arrest of these individuals.
  To successfully prosecute this case, Argentina must be able to arrest 
and extradite the named Islamic militant and Iranian officials.
  It is important to note that at least one of the five indicted 
Iranian officials worked for the Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires at the 
time of the AMIA bombing.
  The evidence appears to indicate that Iran used officials who have 
diplomatic immunity to help support and plan the attack, and that Iran 
has used its embassies abroad to further its terrorist plots and 
radical Islamic goals.
  Indeed, all signs show that Iran is vigorously increasing its 
diplomatic presence in the western hemisphere, seeking to increase its 
power, to spread its radical Islamic ideology, to undermine the United 
States, and to wreak havoc throughout the region. These dangerous 
efforts must be addressed, Mr. Speaker.
  Many nations in the hemisphere have joined with the United States and 
regional organizations to fight the growing threat of Islamic 
extremists that has become evident since the AMIA bombing. For example, 
several nations participate in joint counterterrorism training and 
simulations and have joined counterterrorist protocols and agreements.
  Argentina deserves particular commendation. In addition to its 
significant progress in the AMIA investigation during the past year, 
Argentina recently approved legislation which criminalizes financing, 
fund-raising, and money laundering by groups linked to terror.
  Mr. Speaker, these nations deserve our continued support and 
encouragement. However, there is much left to be done.
  H. Con. Res. 188, which I introduced with the distinguished chairman 
of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Lantos, seeks to address a number 
of

[[Page H8879]]

issues that we have raised. The resolution condemns the AMIA attacks, 
honors the victims, and, thirdly, expresses our sympathy to their long-
suffering families.
  It also calls upon the General Assembly of INTERPOL to issue and 
implement the red notices supported by INTERPOL Executive Committee, 
and calls upon responsible nations to cooperate fully with the AMIA 
investigation.
  Mr. Speaker, for years, Chairman Lantos and I have spoken in this 
Chamber calling for justice to be served in the AMIA case. Finally, 
those responsible for this atrocity are running scared, recognizing 
that they may not escape the consequences of their crime, that we are 
determined to prevent history from repeating itself.
  Justice may be delayed, but it must be denied. Therefore, I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I do want to commend my good friend, 
the gentlelady, as the prime sponsor of this resolution.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. If I could ask the gentleman to yield for a 
request.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I yield.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I have to go to another meeting, and if you would 
allow me, I would like to yield the balance of our time to Mr. Boozman, 
a member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade 
on the Foreign Affairs Committee.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I have no problem with that, Mr. Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) will control the balance of the gentlewoman's 
time.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my good friend, 
my colleague from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago this Congress passed H. Con. 
Res. 469, which condemned the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community 
Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and expressed the concern of the 
United States regarding the continuing decades-long delay in the 
resolution of the case. I voted for that resolution because I believe 
that justice deferred is justice denied, and all those who are 
responsible certainly must be brought to justice.
  I joined my colleagues in saying that we don't condone terrorist 
actions or military posturing by any nation, nor have I seen any 
evidence that suggests that those who have been accused are innocent.
  But responsible foreign policy means thoughtful and insightful 
discussion between nations that reflects a desire for both peace and 
security here at home, in the Middle East, and around the world.
  In the 110th Congress, the House of Representatives has passed 
several bills calling into question the actions of either the country 
of Iran or the leaders of Iran with respect to their foreign or 
domestic policy. Today, this Congress has brought up, under suspension 
of the rules, an additional three bills designed with the same intent.
  This continuous renewal of U.S. objections to Iran's and foreign 
domestic policy can easily have the effect, intended or not, to beat 
the drum for war against Iran. I mean, isn't this very familiar?
  The U.S. House of Representatives treats these resolutions today as 
being uncontroversial. Let this Congress be warned that the Bush 
administration can use these resolutions against this body and declare 
the passage of these resolutions as a green light to engage in 
aggression against Iran, and Iran could then be the next Iraq.
  I believe this House is better served by demanding sensible and 
responsible diplomatic foreign policy initiatives from the Bush 
administration; that we should demand that the administration engage 
immediately in high-level diplomatic negotiations.
  By continuing to neglect this duty and engaging in the ongoing 
condemnation of Iran, without opening of diplomatic channels, what 
we're doing is systematically destroying every available route to 
restoring peace and security in the Middle East.
  We know that Iran is guilty of belligerent statements. We need to 
look no further than the second in command, President Ahmadinejad, to 
recognize the escalation of rhetoric and escalation of provocation 
between Iran and other nations.
  But we also need to look at what's happening in our own country, with 
the actions of our Vice President, to know that the U.S. Government 
hasn't been exactly clean on these matters. On March 7, 2006 in 
reference to Iran, Mr. Cheney stated: ``For our part, the United States 
is keeping all options on the table in addressing the irresponsible 
conduct of the regime, and we join other nations in sending that regime 
a clear message. We will not allow Iran to have nuclear weapons.''
  Now when he said that, it's very clear and unambiguous what that 
means. When you say all options on the table, you mean a military 
attack included, including the use of nuclear weapons. This is widely 
understood to be what the context of that statement was.
  So here we are talking about trying to take a direction in foreign 
policy that would protect this country, and at the same time, we're 
jeopardizing our very troops in Iraq by rattling the sabers of war 
against Iran.
  And so I think you cannot look at these resolutions apart from the 
context of administration policy. The same sentiments regarding Iran 
are reiterated by the Vice President on February 24 at a press briefing 
in Australia where he said, ``I've also made the point, the President 
made the point, all options are still on the table.''
  Now I think that we have to be careful that this House isn't really 
acting as a pawn of the administration or emulating irresponsible 
examples when it comes to our Nation's foreign policy.
  Last week the administration announced plans to sell $20 billion 
worth of U.S. weapons to Saudi Arabia and five other Middle Eastern 
countries. Arms groups, as well as human rights groups, question this 
decision, as well they should. The distribution of more weapons in the 
region when the United States purports to desire peace in the Middle 
East is counterproductive and counterintuitive.
  So we really have to look at this doctrine that we're operating 
under, and I think this Congress has to demand responsible foreign 
policy initiatives, whether it's in regard to the Middle East or any 
other part of the world.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I desire.
  Obviously, there's nothing in the bill pertaining to any sort of 
aggressive action against Iran as far as military action. This, or a 
similar bill, has been introduced several times since the AMIA bombing, 
and so there's no way that this is being ginned up by the 
administration.
  Last October, Argentina's state prosecutor concluded that the AMIA 
bombing was decided and organized, I quote, ``decided and organized by 
the highest leaders of the former Government of Iran, whom at the same 
time entrusted its execution to the Lebanese group of Hezbollah.''
  Last March, acting on the state prosecutor's conclusions, INTERPOL's 
Executive Committee recommended the issuance of red notices for five 
Iranian officials and one Hezbollah operative in connection with the 
bombing.
  This is about an effort to get justice. Delayed justice, as Mr. 
Kucinich said, is justice that we certainly need to get done.
  And, again, this is not about ginning up in an effort to support the 
President with some sort of military operation. This is about taking 
the actions that INTERPOL, taking the actions that the Argentineans 
want to take, and encouraging them with a sense of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute just to say 
that I do want to thank the gentleman from Ohio for his concerns about 
this proposed legislation. But as my good friend has stated, this is 
not in any way to suggest that this is giving more ammunition to the 
current administration to suggest that we're going to attack Iran in 
the near future.
  I, for one, and I'm certain that every member of the House Foreign 
Affairs Committee, am going to scrutinize and screen this very, very 
carefully on any formal proposal coming from the administration as far 
as taking arms against Iran
  Mr. Speaker, I don't have any further speakers.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H8880]]

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Having no further speakers either, I just want to thank 
the chairman for his hard work on this; thank Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for 
introduction of the bill, and the staff for their hard work.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I also yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from America Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res 188, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________