February 3, 2006

Addendum to the fourth report from Syria submitted to the Counter-Terrorism Committee

The United Nations Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) - an oxymoron if there ever was one. Here we have a newly-released report (regardless of the UN's practise of back-dating) of Syria to the CTC. It is all about Syria's fabulous new law on combating "terrorist financing." The slight problem relates to Syria's notion of who is a terrorist. Says the report - "a terrorist-financing offence" is defined as "a terrorist act...according to the Syrian laws and regulations in force or international, regional or bilateral agreements to which Syria is a party." Needless to say, Israelis, Americans and many others are fair game by Syrian rules. But the UN Committee is sure to write a cordial letter back to Syria asking another round of questions (which it is unlikely to make public) and sit back and wait for another self-congratulatory report. The Committee will make no requests for a visit or on-the-ground inspections, since they only go when invited and Syria would hardly extend such an invitation.