Graham amendment to Iraq supplemental - 10/15/03 - Invasion was for Israel

Mods - imho, I believe this addresses a current issue, given Hollings' recent statements, and applies so factually to our current stature-sapping, economy-sapping, humanity-sapping quagmire this is the bush conquest of Iraq. For those reasons, I believe this belongs in the GD forum, despite the fact that that Israel is indeed a central focus.

This was a post I made back in March in an LBN thread entitled:"Iraq War Launched To Protect Israel- Bush Advisor."

This vote ocurred seven months ago, and, in light of what Sen. Hollings had to say recently, I thought it worth shining a little new light on.

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http://www.peacenow.org/nia/leg/10172003.html

On October 15th the Senate took up a slightly modified version of the amendment proposed by Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to the Iraq supplemental (SA 1806 to S. 1689 - see the October 3rd edition of the Round-Up for details of the original amendment). The amendment marks the first time Congress has formally linked the U.S. military effort in Iraq to Israel.

In its final form adopted by the Senate by a vote of 95 in favor, two opposed. The amendment adds a Sense of Congress to the bill stipulating that "the removal of the Government of Saddam Hussein has enhanced the security of Israel and other United States allies." The amendment is as follows:

Sec. 3002

(a) Congress finds that--
(1) Israel is a strategic ally of the United States in the Middle East;
(2) Israel recognizes the benefits of a democratic form of government;
(3) the policies and activities of the Government of Iraq under the Saddam Hussein regime contributed to security concerns in the Middle East, especially for Israel;
(4) the Arab Liberation Front was established by Iraqi Baathists, and supported by Saddam Hussein;
(5) the Government of Iraq under the Saddam Hussein regime assisted the Arab Liberation Front in distributing grants to the families of suicide bombers;
(6) the Government of Iraq under the Saddam Hussein regime aided Abu Abass (sic), leader of the Palestinian Liberation Front, who was a mastermind of the hijacking of the Achille Lauro, an Italian cruise ship, and is responsible for the death of an American tourist aboard that ship; and
(7) Saddam Hussein attacked Israel during the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War by launching 39 Scud missiles into that country and thereby causing multiple casualties.
(b) It is the sense of Congress that the removal of the Government of Iraq under Saddam Hussein enhanced the security of Israel and other United States allies.

Here's the link to the old thread:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=451918#451988