Bush orders new round of sanctions against Syria

[Praxius]

Since this related not just to the US, I figured it suited here:

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2008/02/13/syria-sanctions.html

U.S. President George W. Bush ordered new sanctions against Syria on Wednesday to punish the Middle Eastern country for its alleged efforts to undermine stability in Iraq and undercut Lebanon's sovereignty and democracy.

Bush, in a written executive order, said he was freezing the assets and expanding penalties against any senior Syrian government officials and their associates deemed to be responsible for — or to have benefitted from — public corruption. The order did not specifically name any officials.

The measures follow complaints by the United States that Syria was supporting militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and failing to stop guerrillas from crossing the border into Iraq.

A White House statement on Wednesday said Syria was undermining efforts to stabilize Iraq and allowing Syrian territory to be used for that purpose.

Syria's government "continues to pursue other activities that deny the Syrian people the political freedoms and economic prosperity they deserve, and that undercut the peace and stability of the region," according to the statement.

Evidence? Oh yes, what a silly question.... never mind.

"Syria continues to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty and democracy, imprison democracy advocates, curtail human rights and sponsor and harbour terrorists,"

the statement said.

"The United States will continue to stand with the people of Syria and the region as they seek to exercise their rights peacefully and to build a brighter future."

The White House said Wednesday's order expanded action taken in May 2004, when Bush issued an executive order banning all U.S. exports to Syria except for food and medicine.

He ordered the 2004 sanctions to give strength to long-standing complaints that the Middle Eastern nation was supporting terrorism and undermining U.S. efforts in Iraq.
The measures Bush imposed in 2004 also included:

• A ban on flights to and from the United States.
• Freezing assets of Syrian nationals and entities allegedly connected to terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, occupation of Lebanon or terror in Iraq.
• Restrictions on banking relations between U.S. banks and the Syrian national bank.