“Syria Accountability Act of 2003”
Definition
The “Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003” (hereinafter- the Act) is a federal law of the United States (12/12/03) which provides for the imposition of a series of US sanctions against Syria in light of the US war on terror and Syria’s status as a state sponsor of terrorism pursuing weapons-of-mass-destruction (WMD).
Background
The Act effectively constituted an effort by the US Congress to isolate Syria and change its behavior, based on the prosecution of the global war on terror and the accusation that Syria supports terror and pursues WMDs.
The Act’s stated purpose is to:
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end what the US sees as Syrian support for terrorism;
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end Syria’s occupation of Lebanon;
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stop Syria’s alleged development of WMDs;
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cease Syria’s illegal importation of Iraqi oil; and
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end illegal shipments of military items to anti-US forces in Iraq.
2006-04-01
Concepts and Terms
National Security
Regional Security
Despite these sanctions and other outside pressures, the Syrian behavior targeted by the US has remained largely unchanged.