Counterterrorism Blog

The schedule of terrorism-related events in the U.S. Congress could include resolutions by both houses addressing the Israel-Hezbollah war. Senior staff in both houses are drafting resolutions now, and the draft Senate resolution is below. (UPDATE 7/18: Both houses will pass resolutions this week - draft House resolution includes this text according to Fox News: "Be it resolved that the House of Representatives reaffirms its steadfast support for the state of Israel; further condemns Hamas and Hezbollah for cynically exploiting civilian populations as shields ... calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldiers held captive by Hezbollah and Hamas; (and) affirms that all governments who have provided continued support to Hamas or Hezbollah share responsibility for the hostage-taking and attacks against Israel and, as such, must be held accountable for their actions.")

The schedule of open terrorism-related hearings is also below and includes hearings on the impact of the Hamdan trial, the cost of the Global War on Terror, and on the sale of F-16s and other weapons to Pakistan (rescheduled from last week).

Draft Senate resolution on Israel-Hezbollah War:

Whereas Israel fully complied with UN Security Council Resolution 425 of 1978 by completely withdrawing its forces from Lebanon, as certified by the UN Security Council and affirmed by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on June 16, 2000, when he said, “Israel has withdrawn from [Lebanon] in full compliance with Security Council Resolution 425”;

Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 of 2004 called for the complete withdrawal of all foreign forces and the dismantlement of all independent militias in Lebanon;

Whereas, despite the Security Council decision, the terrorist organization Hezbollah has not disbanded, has amassed thousands of Katyusha rockets aimed at northern Israel, and has entered the Lebanese government;

Whereas the Government of Lebanon, which includes representatives of Hezbollah, has done little to dismantle Hezbollah forces or to extend its authority throughout its territory;

Whereas Hezbollah receives direct financial, military and political support from Syria and Iran;

Whereas the Congress of the United States has enacted several pieces of legislation, including the Syrian Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act and the Iran Libya Sanctions Act, calling for the imposition of sanctions on Syria and Iran for, inter alia, their support for terrorism and terrorist organizations;

Whereas the Government of Israel has shown great restraint even though Hezbollah has launched at least four separate attacks into Israel using rockets and ground forces over the past year;

Whereas, without provocation, on the morning of July 12, 2006, Hezbollah launched an attack into northern Israel, killing seven Israeli soldiers and taking two hostage into Lebanon;

Whereas on June 25, 2006, despite Israel’s complete evacuation of Gaza in 2005, the terrorist organization Hamas, also supported by Syria and Iran, entered sovereign Israeli territory, attacked an Israeli military base, killed two Israeli soldiers, and seized an Israeli soldier and refuses to release him;

Whereas more than 1,000 rockets have been launched from Gaza into Israel since Israel’s evacuation;

Whereas both Hezbollah and Hamas refuse to recognize Israel’s right to exist and call for the destruction of Israel;


Therefore be it resolved by the United States Senate, the House of Representatives concurring, that:

The United States Congress:

1) Reaffirms its steadfast support for the State of Israel;

2) Supports Israel’s right of self-defense and to take appropriate action to deter aggression by terrorist groups and their state sponsors;


3) Urges the President of the United States to continue fully supporting Israel as it exercises its right of self-defense in Lebanon and Gaza;

4) Calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldiers held captive by Hezbollah and Hamas;

5) Condemns the governments of Iran and Syria for their continued support for Hezbollah and Hamas, and holds the governments of Syria, and Iran responsible for these acts against Israel;

6) Urges the President of the United States to use all available political and diplomatic means, including sanctions, to persuade the governments of Syria and Iran to end their support for Hezbollah;

7) Calls on the Government of Lebanon do everything in its power to find and free the kidnapped Israeli soldiers being held in its territory, and to fulfill its responsibility under Security Council Resolution 1559 to disband and disarm Hezbollah;

8) Calls on the United Nations Security Council to condemn these unprovoked acts and to demand compliance with Security Council Resolution 1559, requiring that Hezbollah and other militias be disbanded and disarmed, and that all foreign forces be withdrawn from Lebanon.

Congressional Terrorism-Related Hearings This Week:

Senate Committees

July 18, 2006
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Islam and the West
Full committee hearing on "Islam and the West: Searching for Common Ground."
Witnesses: Bruce Hoffman, corporate chairman in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency at the RAND Corporation; Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center; Akbar Ahme, chairman of Islamic studies, School of International Service, American University; and Muqtedar Khan, assistant professor for political science and international relations, University of Delaware
Location: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building. 10 a.m. (July 18, 2006)
Contact: 202-224-4651

July 19, 2006
Senate Armed Services Committee
Detainee Trials
Full committee hearing on detainee trials in light of the Supreme Court ruling in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.
Witnesses: TBA
Location: TBA. (July 19, 2006)
Contact: 202-224-3871

House Committees

July 18, 2006
House Government Reform Committee
War on Terror Cost Estimates
National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations Subcommittee hearing on "Global War on Terrorism (GWT): Accuracy and Reliability of Cost Estimates."
Witnesses: U.S. Comptroller General David Walker of the Government Accountability Office; John Roth, deputy comptroller, Defense Department; Bradford Higgins, assistant secretary and chief Financial officer, State Department; James Kunder, assistant administrator for Asia and the Near East at the U.S. Agency International Development; Donald Marron, acting director of the Congressional Budget Office; Amy Belasco, defense budget specialist, Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division, Congressional Research Service
Location: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. 2 p.m. (July 18, 2006)
Contact: 202-225-5074

July 20, 2006
House International Relations Committee
Aircraft/Weapons Sales to Pakistan
Full committee hearing on the "Sale of F-16 Aircraft and Weapons Systems to Pakistan."
Witnesses: Assistant Secretary of State John Hillen of the Bureau for Political-Military Affairs
Location: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building. 1:30 p.m. (July 20, 2006)
Contact: 202-225-5021 [Note: Rescheduled from July 13.]