Clinton pressures Congress for $100 billion Syrian deal

WASHINGTON -- The Clinton administration is pressing Congress to approve a more than $100 billion peace package to ensure peace between Israel, Syria and Lebanon.

Congressional sources said President Bill Clinton has threatened to blame Congress for any breakdown in peace efforts if the GOP leadership does not approve the proposed package. The sources said the package includes U.S. peacekeepers in the Golan Heights as well as billions of dollars of both civilian and military aid to Damascus and Jerusalem.

"The administration is threatening that if Congress does not appropriate the money and approve the deployment, the White House will turn to the public and argue that they [Republicans] intentionally derailed a historic once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make peace, and are thus risking American interests and lives," a GOP congressional source said.

The administration package is based on a U.S. effort to woo Syria away from Iran. This includes the replacement of Iranian oil to Damascus.

The sources said GOP leaders in Congress are drafting a response to Clinton's threats. They are proposing a peace package that will be much less expensive to American taxpayers. The package does not include the deployment of U.S. troops on the Golan Heights.

Congressional sources, including Democrats, said Clinton has dismissed concerns regarding the administration's peace plan. This includes U.S. approval of a permanent Syrian occupation of Lebanon.

Instead, they are urging the administration to wait until Assad dies and a stable government emerges in Damascus, one that could be headed by Assad's brother, Rifaat, deposed as vice president in 1998. The experts said at that point Washington should woo the regime to support U.S. policies.

On Feb. 16, Lebanese leaders from the diaspora and Maronite Church urged congressional leaders not to approve a package that would leave 35,000 Syrian troops and Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Lebanon.