Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International
Security John Bolton is planning to testify that Syria has
not stopped terrorists from crossing its border into Iraq to
kill American soldiers. Bolton will also say that the
administration is concerned about what it sees as Syria's
continuing support for terrorist groups like Hamas, and he is
expected to reiterate accusations that Syria has an ambitious
program to develop chemical, biological and nuclear
weapons.
The testimony, some of which will be public and some behind
closed doors, was prepared in advance in order to have it
approved by other officials. The testimony was thus approved
by the intelligence community and the White House. A copy of
the public testimony scheduled to be given to the
International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and
Central Asia was provided to The New York Times in
advance by individuals who feel that the accusations against
Syria have received insufficient attention.
"It's going to be very hard-hitting," one senior
administration official said. Bolton had originally been
scheduled to testify in July, but the Bush administration
decided to postpone the testimony. The White House hopes
Bolton's account concerning Syria, rather than questions
about the administration's prewar contentions about Iraqi
weapons of mass destruction, will be the focus of the
discussion now.
Mr. Bolton's testimony says there is no information that
Syria has transferred any unconventional weapons to terrorist
groups. He also says the administration "has been unable to
confirm" reports that Iraq covertly transferred
unconventional weapons to Syria "in an attempt to hide them
from United Nations inspectors and coalition forces."
Syria has denied the charges.
Mr. Bolton's suggestion that Syria is partly responsible for
the attacks on American troops in Iraq and his allegations of
unconventional-weapons programs and support for terrorists,
reflect the administration's growing frustration that
Damascus has not responded to demands that it curb such
activities.
Just before and during the war this spring, Syria "allowed
military equipment to flow into Iraq," Bolton's testimony
says. "Syria permitted volunteers to pass into Iraq to attack
and kill our service members during the war, and is still
doing so," the prepared testimony says.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said in Iraq last week
that of more than 200 foreign fighters captured in Iraq, many
were from Syria and Lebanon. One intelligence official said
60 to 70 percent of those detained were believed to be
Syrian. Many were carrying large sums of money.
A Pentagon official said that while Syria had done some
things to limit militant cross-border traffic, "they have not
done nearly enough."
The administration, under political pressure as American
soldiers continue to die in Iraq, is trying to do whatever
possible to stop foreign militants from entering Iraq.
"Although Damascus has increased its cooperation regarding
Iraq since the fall of the Iraqi regime," Mr. Bolton's
testimony says, "its behavior during Operation Iraqi Freedom
underscores the importance of taking seriously reports and
information on Syria's W.M.D. [Weapons of Mass Destruction]
capabilities."
In an interview with the New York Times,
Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the chairwoman
of the subcommittee, said Syria's "porous borders and the
hatred for Americans are very disturbing."
Mr. Bolton's description of Syria's weapons programs is
consistent with earlier Central Intelligence Agency
descriptions of Syria's efforts to acquire nuclear, chemical
and biological weapons. But officials said this is the first
time the administration is presenting a somewhat detailed,
public assessment of such activities.
The testimony alleges that Syria has "a stockpile of the
nerve agent sarin that can be delivered by aircraft or
ballistic missiles, and has engaged in the research and
development of more toxic and persistent nerve agents such as
VX." Syria is not a party to the international treaty banning
chemical weapons.
Syria is also continuing to develop an offensive biological
weapons capability and has not signed the treaty banning
those weapons, according to the testimony. It also notes that
Russia and Syria "have approved a draft program on
cooperation on civil nuclear power," expertise that could be
applied to a weapons program.
