http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4741.htm
Syria, Libya Listed as 'Rogue States'
By Timothy M. Phelps
WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF
September 17, 2003
Washington - The Bush administration named Syria and Libya yesterday as
"rogue states" whose weapons of mass destruction must not just be
controlled but must be eliminated by whatever means necessary.
Syria, it said, is of particular concern because it has been supporting
terrorist groups and letting militants cross its border into Iraq to fight
U.S. forces.
But some Democrats in Congress complained that the tough rhetoric from
Undersecretary of State John Bolton on Syria, in particular, did not match the
administration's actions.
Bolton told a House International Relations subcommittee that Secretary of
State Colin Powell is not ready to endorse the imposition of economic
sanctions on Syria, though one New York congressman said the administration
appears to be moving in that direction.
In what Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-Jamaica Estates) called "the axis of evil
plus," Bolton testified that Syria and Libya had weapons of mass
destruction programs that must be "rolled back" and eliminated. Two
years ago, President George W. Bush named North Korea, Iran and Iraq under
Saddam Hussein as the "axis of evil."
Bolton said diplomacy is the administration's preferred approach but that
"every tool in our nonproliferation toolbox" was an option. Bolton
refused to rule out "regime change" as an administration option in
Syria.
His testimony bore the hallmarks of a struggle within the administration.
Powell prefers persuasion to get Syria to stop supporting terrorists, pursuing
weapons of mass destruction and allowing "volunteers" to enter Iraq
to fight Americans. A hawk on Syria, Bolton pointedly emphasized Powell's
position, exaggerating each point.
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-Bronx), a co-sponsor of a bill to allow economic sanctions
on Syria, said the struggle appeared to reflect, in part, a desire by some in
the administration to use Syrian companies and other Syrian resources in
Iraq's reconstruction. Both Engel and Ackerman were critical of the
administration for not moving forward with sanctions.
Imad Moustapha, Syria's acting ambassador here, said his country would gladly
give up weapons of mass destruction if Israel would as well. He said Syria had
done everything possible to help in the war against al-Qaida.
Bolton, in his prepared remarks, reiterated past testimony that Syria
continues to test chemical munitions, is developing an offensive biological
weapons capability and has a nuclear research and development program. He did
not address Libyan weapons, but the CIA has said Libya's government is seeking
to acquire chemical and biological weapons.
