In a letter sent to the White House today, the 24 members of Congress said the decision to remove Syria and Lebanon from the Majors List was "based on assumptions supported neither in the relevant law or by the facts." The letter went on to criticize the manner in which the president made his decision to remove these countries from the list, saying "the change in policy and approach was not discussed with Congress nor was there an effort made to establish justifications for this action."
Grassley said, "Just eight months ago, President Clinton declared Syria ?decertified' as a cooperating partner in the war on drugs. Now, he has taken them to the other extreme and removed them from the list altogether," said Grassley. "Yet, from all accounts, including the State Department, Syria remains a major drug trafficker. I urge President Clinton to rethink his decision in this very important matter."
Watts said, "Syria is a rogue state whose participation in the international drug trade helps to finance its support for vicious terrorist groups operating in Damascus and occupied Lebanon. These terrorists have American blood on their hands. Syria's ongoing research into weapons of mass destruction and acquisition of other advanced weapons are also financed by the drug trade. President Clinton's action to certify Syria is unconscionable."
The Majors List is a list of countries that are classified annually as major drug producing or transit countries. Each year, the president must deliver the list to Congress by November 1. This year, the list was delivered to Capitol Hill on Sunday, November 9, after Grassley protested the fact that the deadline had been missed.
In a formal response, President Clinton said he removed Syria and Lebanon from the list because U.S. Government surveys indicate "no current opium poppy cultivation." The President conceded "both countries are transit areas" for South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin, but said "there is no evidence that any of these drugs reach the United States in quantities that significantly affect the U.S." Yet, a March report prepared by the U.S. State Department stated, "Syria is a major transit country for hashish leaving Lebanon and for opium and morphine entering Lebanon from Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkey; in many cases, shipments proceed onward to Europe and the United States."
Under the terms of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, "the term ?major drug-transit country' means a country -- through which are transported such drugs or substances (significantly affecting the United States)."
Grassley serves as chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control. In October, he co-chaired a hearing of the Caucus and Senate Foreign Relations Committee to consider cooperation by Mexico in U.S. efforts to control illegal drugs.
Watts serves as a member of the House National Security Committee where he is active in counter-terror and counter-narcotics issues.