WASHINGTON Ñ Legislation introduced in Congress calls on Syria to
end its missile and weapons of mass destruction programs.
The legislation introduced in both the House and Senate terms Syria's
missile and WMD programs a threat to the United States.
"The government of Syria continues to develop and deploy short and
medium range ballistic missiles," the draft bill, entitled Syria
Accountability Act, reads. :The government of Syria is pursuing the
development and production of biological and chemical weapons."
The legislation does not elaborate. But congressional staffers said the
reference is to the Scud D missile, with a range of 700 kilometers as well
as Syria's efforts to obtain the North Korean No-Dong missile. The No-Dong
missile has a range of 1,200 kilometers.
Last week, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the United States was
concerned by Syrian missile and WMD programs. Rumsfeld said Damascus was
developing biological weapons and was examining nuclear weapons.
The congressional legislation calls on Syria to halt the development and
deployment of short and medium
range ballistic missiles and cease the development and production of
biological and chemical weapons.
"The United States will work to deny Syria the ability to support acts
of international terrorism and efforts to develop or acquire weapons of mass
destruction," the legislation reads. "Syria's acquisition of weapons of mass
destruction and ballistic missile programs threaten the security of the
Middle East and the national security interests of the United States."
The legislation calls on the United States to deny any assistance to
Syria and oppose multilateral aid to Damascus until Syria withdraws its
troops from Lebanon, halts the development and deployment of weapons of mass
destruction and ballistic missiles, and complies with United Nations
Security Council sanctions on Iraq.
Syria already appears on the State Department list of terrorist sponsors
and harbors several Islamic and Palestinian insurgency groups. But the bill
imposes additional sanctions would include a ban on the export to Syria of
any weapons or munitions as well as dual-use items.
