[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 22]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 31097]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 OPPOSING THE SYRIA ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 21, 2003

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill despite 
being one of its cosponsors and having voted for it when it came before 
the House on October 15th.
  I strongly believe Syria's actions ought to be called into question. 
To say this regime is a bad actor is putting it mildly. Their actions 
are rightly condemned, especially when it comes to their tacit support 
for terrorism and ongoing occupation of Lebanon. The United States 
ought to use the tools at our disposal--both political and economic--to 
demand an end to their egregious policies.
  There is, however, a reason why I am voting against this resolution. 
It is based on my long held reservations about the President's 
intentions on foreign policy. Given his belligerent declarations 
yesterday, I have genuine concerns that he may seek authority in this 
resolution to pursue aggressive military action against Syria.
  After all, Mr. Speaker, this President did not need much to march to 
war against Iraq. At best, the evidence was soft, the intelligence was 
trumped up and now not a grain of proof can be found showing Iraq had 
any weapons of mass destruction. But, ultimately, President Bush used 
past declarations of Congress meant merely to reprimand Iraq for its 
policies to justify full-blown war against that regime.
  This resolution today contains provisions that rightly admonish 
Syria, but do so on the basis of reasonable beliefs and assumptions, 
not proven facts. Most notably, there is reference to Syria's ``hostile 
actions'' in regard to the United States and our troops in Iraq. 
Although our suspicions are well founded, there is as yet no proven 
connection between the government of Syria and terrorism in Iraq.
  I have concerns the President may not draw this distinction and take 
these words as grounds for pursuing preemptive military action.
  Frankly, Mr. Speaker, I don't trust this President. His actions 
toward Iraq have clearly demonstrated his willingness to lie to the 
American people. But, they also underscore his willingness to use force 
indiscriminately without the burden of proof.
  I cannot support a resolution that might be used as a vehicle for the 
President to act counter to the interest of the American people. I vote 
``no'' on this resolution.

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