Syria Cries About US House of Reps Vote
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, responding to Syrian statements Thursday, said: "We don't think it's unreasonable or arrogant" to ask Syria "to stop support for terrorism, to stop support for groups whose goal is to kill people and disrupt the process of bringing peace to the region."
The measure itself will not have much economic impact on Syria. Diplomats estimate U.S.-Syrian trade at $300 million a year, and Syria is already under several U.S. restrictions because Washington considers it a state sponsor of terrorism.
But Wednesday's vote is meant to isolate Syria and more painful U.S. measures could follow, a Western diplomat said.
The Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act gives President Bush the right to impose a variety of sanctions on Syria, and accuses Syria of sponsoring terrorists, seeking weapons of mass destruction and occupying Lebanon with more than 20,000 troops.
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