Anti-terror law worries Jewish activists

WASHINGTON (September 25) - A new anti-terrorism law proposed by the Bush administration gives wide authority to the president to reward countries that cooperate in the new US-led war on terrorism, including state sponsors of terrorism that have heretofore been banned from receiving US assistance and sanctioned because of their practices.

The broad language has given pause to some Jewish organizational leaders and pro-Israel advocates in particular, who fear that countries like Iran and Syria, with which the US has been talking about a possible anti-terrorism partnership, may benefit from an easing of US sanctions or even direct US assistance in return for only minimal action.

The proposed language of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 as sent to Congress by Attorney General John Ashcroft does not specify countries by name.

Section 505 - Assistance to Countries Co-Operating Against International Terrorism - "would give important new extraordinary authority for five years to the President to provide assistance or take other beneficial actions in favor of countries that support US efforts to fight international terrorism."

It would also "allow the President to provide anti-terrorism assistance to entities, as well as countries, without being subject to any restrictions."

Officials in the Jewish community were concerned that the type of assistance demanded was not clearly defined, and that some countries like Syria or Iran could benefit by providing intelligence on the al-Qaida network, for example, without eliminating domestic cells or abandoning state sponsorship of terrorism directed largely toward Israel.

One official with a Jewish American organization said he was concerned about "how far we're going to go to build this coalition. It's something to be concerned about."

A few days ago Bush unilaterally lifted sanctions on India and Pakistan, imposed after those countries conducted nuclear tests in 1998, as a reward for their cooperation so far.

Other sanctions could be dumped as well, as the administration zooms in on the terrorism problem and abandons others priorities.

The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2001 deals mostly with how to expand the authority of law enforcement and intelligence agencies to monitor private communications and access personal information.

One new provision would enable US law enforcement officials to impose roving wire taps on suspects.

The act builds on a similar act passed five years ago.