Honorable Members of the United States Congress:

As we commemorate the terrorist attacks of September 11, we Americans of Lebanese descent extend our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and share with them the sense of outrage at these lawless acts.

We sincerely hope that the events of September 11, 2001 have changed the way this nation views Islamist terror. If we stay the course to end this international scourge, then 3,000 people will not have died in vain. If we continue down the same path of diplomatic maneuvering and avoid addressing the real source of terror, then we will have desecrated their memory.

A giant step toward preventing more terror is the passing of the "Syria Accountability Act".

Syria is a leading element in the reign of terror. It is hailed as a shining example of the effectiveness of terrorism, having driven the US out of Lebanon in '83 by killing more than 300 Americans and Europeans while at the same time gaining the world's acquiescence to occupy and oppress the only democracy in the Middle East.

Syria has over the years built an extensive terror network. In early 2001, it brought together most of the Islamist terrorist groups into a unified alliance that includes Al-Qaida, Hizbullah, Hamas and many others, with Damascus and Syrian occupied Lebanon as the nerve center for all operations. In essence, Syria and its terror network present the most direct and dangerous threat to our interests and those of our allies and will be the source of terrorist retaliation against the US should a war take place with Iraq. Unless we undo Syria's terror network we will never be safe. We will never eradicate terrorism.

We cannot fight terrorism in alliance with terrorists. Syria's network must be dismantled not embraced. Syria's occupation of Lebanon has to end! The regime must be changed or bottled up and held fully accountable for every terrorist action.

The facts are clear. We cannot afford to lose this war on terror. The security of the US and the world demands action.

The "Syria Accountability Act" is an excellent start.

Ahrar North America

American Lebanese Alliance

American Lebanese Christian Coalition

American Lebanese Culture Union

American Maronite Union http://www.maroniteunion.org

International Maronite Foundation http://maronet.org/

Lebanese American Council for Democracy http://www.la-cd.org 

Lebanese Information Center http://www.lebanese-information-center.org/

Ohio Lebanese-American communities

The National Alliance of Lebanese Americans   http://www.nala.com  

US Committee for a Free Lebanon, Inc. http://www.freelebanon.org/

US Kataeb http://www.kataeb.com

World Lebanese Organization http://www.wlo-usa.org

© Copyright 1997-2004 United States Committee For A Free Lebanon. All rights reserved.

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