Syria Executive Order

May 14, 2004

Comments

The White House – Executive Order Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, hereby determine that the actions of the Government of Syria in supporting terrorism, continuing its occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining United States and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and hereby declare a national emergency to deal with that threat.

The sanctions detailed are pretty severe–basically cutting off economic relations including air travel. Strangely, the order is dated Wednesday but I haven’t read or heard anything about it prior to seeing it on Memeorandum just now. It’s hard to argue with the particulars of the charges although I’m curious as to what prompted the issuance of the order at this point in time. Syria has been a terrorist state as long as I can remember.

Wretchard of Belmont Club has some thoughts on this issue worth reading.

3 responses to “Syria Executive Order”

Moe Lane

May 14, 2004 at 12:07 pm

Here we go.
sheerahkahn

May 14, 2004 at 6:31 pm

Based on President Bush’s past record I would call this his “shot across the bow,” warning to Syria.
My guess is that Bush is laying the ground work for his re-election celebration by getting the politics lined up for the next campaign called, “Gulf War goes inland.”