By: Gary Fitleberg
jewsinthenews5@yahoo.com
October 10, 2003

U.S. CONGRESSMAN TAINTED WITH STORY OF SUPPORT OF TERROR.

We are all familiar with the California Recall election and Gray Davis’ chief nemesis Arnold “The Terminator” Schwartzenegger and his challenge for Governor. But few, if any will recall “The Initiator” of the “wild west”election Congressman Rep (R-Vista) Darrell Issa.

Issa was “The Initiator” and chief proponent of the California Governor recall initiative long before “The Terminator” even thought of running for political office. He in fact was the only candidate and funding source at the outset of the race.

We all know that all skeletons in the closet come to the surface during an election campaign thanks to the “digging efforts” of the media. The candidates life story becomes an open book to the world. We have seen many examples of people even finding out their ancestral past when running for a political office that even they didn’t know.

What was discovered regarding Darrell Issa led to a very quiet departure at the outset of the political campaign for the office of California Governor.

Apparently, Issa’s allies were radical Islamists and supporters of terrorism against Americans, Israelis, Christians and Jews. This story is big news to all those of us with anti-terrorism views!!!

The mainstream media did not publicize this discovery which is completely surprising based upon past evidence of skullduggery of political candidates past histories. That in an of itself is quite remarkable.

In a short political career, Issa’s actions and statements consistently defend terrorists, terrorist groups and terrorist state sponsors.

Debbie Schlussel, an attorney based in Detroit and radio talk show host compiled a very damaging accounting of Issa’s activities linking him to terrorism. The allegations, if true, could, should, and would lead to his downfall and recall from political office. Schlussel’s independent investigation yields the following facts regarding the potential terrorism link.

Saudi Arabia’s longtime lobbyist, James Gallagher, contributed to Issa’s campaign in November 2002, and Issa tried to overturn key classified evidence portions of President Bill Clinton’s 1995 counterterrorism bill. Issa is also credited with "declawing" the Patriot Act.

Then, there’s Issa’s dance with Hezbollah, an organization that is on the State Department’s terrorist list and one of the largest components of Al Qaeda. In the 1980s, Hezbollah — which means "Party of Allah" — murdered more than 260 U.S. Marines while they slept in Beirut and tortured to death Col. Richard Higgins (in 1990) and CIA attache William Buckley.

Hezbollah endorses "the use of hostages," "suicide (actually homicide) in jihad operations" and "the duty of all Muslims to engage in Islamic jihad if it ensures the ultimate goal [of] inflicting losses on the enemy."

Less than a month after Sept. 11th, Issa visited Syrian President Bashar Assad, praising Hezbollah and lauding Assad’s policies. Syria (with neighboring Iran) remains one of the top supporters of terrorism according to the U.S. State Department. Syria provides refuge and safe haven as well as financial support to such terrorist groups as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad. Syria allows offices and training camps to flourish within its borders.

The Tehran Times and IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency - Iran’s official news agency) quoted Issa’s statements to Assad in Damascus: "Hezbollah acts legitimately and has never been involved in terrorist activities.... Hezbollah and any other Lebanese group has the right to resist the ‘occupation’ of its territory.... Hezbollah’s humanitarian and governmental actions were legal.... Such behavior would be customary in any country."

Issa denies the statements, but as a recent Los Angeles Times cover story demonstrates he has a record of stretching the truth — about his military record, his criminal history, his business affairs and his political positions.

In November 2001, for instance, Issa told syndicated columnist Debra Saunders he was vehemently against Arabs suing the airlines and government over profiling. At the same time, he told the rest of the press of his plans to introduce legislation to make it easier for Arabs to collect monetary damages for airline and government profiling.

Issa’s other statements and actions corroborate their veracity:

Less than a month after Sept. 11, in an Oct. 9, 2001, interview with the Beirut Daily Star’s Ibrahim, during a trip to Lebanon, Issa said, "It is Lebanon which will determine whether the party’s [Hezbollah’s] activities constitute terrorism or resistance ... If [Hezbollah] wants the world to understand that its activities are legitimate, they should say it.... Resistance is a legitimate right recognized [by the U.N.]..... I have a great deal of sympathy for the work that Hezbollah tries to do." He expressed hope that Hezbollah would "reform" and become a "government" like the P.L.O.

Assad’s state-run SANA (official Syrian news agency) covered Issa’s November 2001 meeting with Assad, quoting Issa as saying: "Hezbollah or any other party has the right to resist occupation."

Occupation? Israel withdrew from Southern Lebanon at least a year before, and the U.S. withdrew over a decade earlier!!!

Issa’s January 2003 actions regarding Israelis captured by Hezbollah asserted the terrorist group’s moral equivalence with Israel. According to The Guardian of London, per Hezbollah’s demand, Issa asked Israel to allow the Red Cross to see captured Hezbollah terrorists in exchange for interceding with Hezbollah to allow the Red Cross to see four Israeli prisoners held by the group.

*On Oct. 31, 2001, the London Arabic newspaper, Al-Hayat, reported, "U.S. Congressman of Lebanese origin Darrell Issa, during his recent visit to Beirut in the mid of October," conveyed a proposal to Hezbollah leadership to remove Hezbollah from the State Department’s terrorist list and "normalize U.S. relations with" the group. Hezbollah refused the offer.

*On May 31, 2003, Issa publicly made a similar proposal to legitimize Hezbollah by giving Lebanon $500 million of taxpayer money to disarm the group and turn it into a political party.

*On May 9, 2001, during a House subcommittee discussion of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Extension Act of 2001, Issa praised Hezbollah, "in all candor, for the good things they do, too, the humanitarian, the hospitals, the schools they pay."

*On April 14, 2002, Issa told Fox News Channel’s Rita Cosby that Hezbollah has done "some good things" (and he also praised Yasser Arafat).

*In November 2001, Issa told the Financial Times of London, "Hezbollah does in fact have a limited scope. You must differentiate ... from other organizations that might have a global reach."

Global? Hezbollah murdered 86 Jews and wounded hundreds of people in Buenos Aires in July 1994, in addition to murdering Israelis and U.S. Marines and civilians in Lebanon and Iran.

*In a Sacramento radio interview, Issa said, "They do supply little old ladies with heating oil in the winter and all kinds of other activities," characterizing terrorist Hezbollah as a mere "political party" and "farmers," and adding, "I’d like to see a lot of them just go back to their farms, go back to some honest living."

Then there’s Issa’s strange respect for Arafat and the Arab “Palestinian” terrorists…

*Days after Sept. 11, Issa, during his House International Relations Committee’s discussion of fighting terrorism, tried to draw a distinction between "Palestinian groups that are resisting Israeli occupation" and Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

* During his November 2001 trip to the Middle East, Issa told his hometown newspaper, the North County Times, that he was "particularly impressed with Arafat."

"He is quite a charismatic individual, despite being a very small man and very old," the congressman said. "He has a wry sense of humor. He gives you food off his plate if you sit next to him."

Arafat’s personal food taster as your next governor?

*In April 2003, Issa spoke of Arafat’s "charm" (also in the North County Times).

Issa’s softness on Syrian-sponsored terrorism is legendary, too. Syria is home to several fugitives, including Nazi war criminal Alois Brunner, Hamas political director Moussa Abu Marzook, Islamic Jihad chief Ramadan Abdullah Shallah and Jamil Al-Gashey, the only surviving perpetrator of the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre — all wanted and/or indicted in the United States. However, Assad refuses their extradition.

*Issa vehemently opposes the Syrian Accountability Act, which imposes sanctions on Syria until it stops sponsoring Hezbollah and other terrorists. Issa said Syria is "cooperative."

*The Reform Party of Syria said Issa "helps Syria with [its] propaganda campaign" and "objects to Mr. Issa’s presence in Syria. The Baath Party of Syria is duping Rep. Issa and using him as a propaganda tool."

*In June 2003, Issa attended the Beirut signing of a major oil deal between Syria and two U.S. firms. The contract states the companies will spend $29 million in Syria and train the state-run Syrian oil company.

*Issa hosted a pro-Syrian Capitol Hill event with a pro-Syrian Arab business group. The event was organized by former staffers to Reps. David Bonior and John Dingell, who now lobby for a "change" to U.S. Middle East policy.

* After the Iraq War, during one of several frequent Syrian trips, Issa praised Assad, saying, "His word seems to be good."

Although Arnold Schwartzenegger became California’s governor despite allegations that he supported Adolph Hitler, Kurt Waldheim and even the documentary evidence of his own father being a Nazi stormtrooper the much bigger story is the political ploy by Congressman Darrell Issa and his own savvy and survival politically. A full-scale investigation into his statements and actions because if these allegations are accurate Issa has absolutely no interest to represent the United States of America in the global international “War on Terrorism”!!! We are all familiar with the California Recall election and Gray Davis’ chief nemesis Arnold “The Terminator” Schwartzenegger and his challenge for Governor. But few, if any will recall “The Initiator” of the “wild west”election Congressman Rep (R-Vista) Darrell Issa.

Issa was “The Initiator” and chief proponent of the California Governor recall initiative long before “The Terminator” even thought of running for political office. He in fact was the only candidate and funding source at the outset of the race.

We all know that all skeletons in the closet come to the surface during an election campaign thanks to the “digging efforts” of the media. The candidates life story becomes an open book to the world. We have seen many examples of people even finding out their ancestral past when running for a political office that even they didn’t know.

What was discovered regarding Darrell Issa led to a very quiet departure at the outset of the political campaign for the office of California Governor.

Apparently, Issa’s allies were radical Islamists and supporters of terrorism against Americans, Israelis, Christians and Jews. This story is big news to all those of us with anti-terrorism views!!!

The mainstream media did not publicize this discovery which is completely surprising based upon past evidence of skullduggery of political candidates past histories. That in an of itself is quite remarkable.

In a short political career, Issa’s actions and statements consistently defend terrorists, terrorist groups and terrorist state sponsors.

Debbie Schlussel, an attorney based in Detroit and radio talk show host compiled a very damaging accounting of Issa’s activities linking him to terrorism. The allegations, if true, could, should, and would lead to his downfall and recall from political office. Schlussel’s independent investigation yields the following facts regarding the potential terrorism link.

Saudi Arabia’s longtime lobbyist, James Gallagher, contributed to Issa’s campaign in November 2002, and Issa tried to overturn key classified evidence portions of President Bill Clinton’s 1995 counterterrorism bill. Issa is also credited with "declawing" the Patriot Act.

Then, there’s Issa’s dance with Hezbollah, an organization that is on the State Department’s terrorist list and one of the largest components of Al Qaeda. In the 1980s, Hezbollah — which means "Party of Allah" — murdered more than 260 U.S. Marines while they slept in Beirut and tortured to death Col. Richard Higgins (in 1990) and CIA attache William Buckley.

Hezbollah endorses "the use of hostages," "suicide (actually homicide) in jihad operations" and "the duty of all Muslims to engage in Islamic jihad if it ensures the ultimate goal [of] inflicting losses on the enemy."

Less than a month after Sept. 11th, Issa visited Syrian President Bashar Assad, praising Hezbollah and lauding Assad’s policies. Syria (with neighboring Iran) remains one of the top supporters of terrorism according to the U.S. State Department. Syria provides refuge and safe haven as well as financial support to such terrorist groups as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad. Syria allows offices and training camps to flourish within its borders.

The Tehran Times and IRNA (Islamic Republic News Agency - Iran’s official news agency) quoted Issa’s statements to Assad in Damascus: "Hezbollah acts legitimately and has never been involved in terrorist activities.... Hezbollah and any other Lebanese group has the right to resist the ‘occupation’ of its territory.... Hezbollah’s humanitarian and governmental actions were legal.... Such behavior would be customary in any country."

Issa denies the statements, but as a recent Los Angeles Times cover story demonstrates he has a record of stretching the truth — about his military record, his criminal history, his business affairs and his political positions.

In November 2001, for instance, Issa told syndicated columnist Debra Saunders he was vehemently against Arabs suing the airlines and government over profiling. At the same time, he told the rest of the press of his plans to introduce legislation to make it easier for Arabs to collect monetary damages for airline and government profiling.

Issa’s other statements and actions corroborate their veracity:

Less than a month after Sept. 11, in an Oct. 9, 2001, interview with the Beirut Daily Star’s Ibrahim, during a trip to Lebanon, Issa said, "It is Lebanon which will determine whether the party’s [Hezbollah’s] activities constitute terrorism or resistance ... If [Hezbollah] wants the world to understand that its activities are legitimate, they should say it.... Resistance is a legitimate right recognized [by the U.N.]..... I have a great deal of sympathy for the work that Hezbollah tries to do." He expressed hope that Hezbollah would "reform" and become a "government" like the P.L.O.

Assad’s state-run SANA (official Syrian news agency) covered Issa’s November 2001 meeting with Assad, quoting Issa as saying: "Hezbollah or any other party has the right to resist occupation."

Occupation? Israel withdrew from Southern Lebanon at least a year before, and the U.S. withdrew over a decade earlier!!!

Issa’s January 2003 actions regarding Israelis captured by Hezbollah asserted the terrorist group’s moral equivalence with Israel. According to The Guardian of London, per Hezbollah’s demand, Issa asked Israel to allow the Red Cross to see captured Hezbollah terrorists in exchange for interceding with Hezbollah to allow the Red Cross to see four Israeli prisoners held by the group.

*On Oct. 31, 2001, the London Arabic newspaper, Al-Hayat, reported, "U.S. Congressman of Lebanese origin Darrell Issa, during his recent visit to Beirut in the mid of October," conveyed a proposal to Hezbollah leadership to remove Hezbollah from the State Department’s terrorist list and "normalize U.S. relations with" the group. Hezbollah refused the offer.

*On May 31, 2003, Issa publicly made a similar proposal to legitimize Hezbollah by giving Lebanon $500 million of taxpayer money to disarm the group and turn it into a political party.

*On May 9, 2001, during a House subcommittee discussion of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Extension Act of 2001, Issa praised Hezbollah, "in all candor, for the good things they do, too, the humanitarian, the hospitals, the schools they pay."

*On April 14, 2002, Issa told Fox News Channel’s Rita Cosby that Hezbollah has done "some good things" (and he also praised Yasser Arafat).

*In November 2001, Issa told the Financial Times of London, "Hezbollah does in fact have a limited scope. You must differentiate ... from other organizations that might have a global reach."

Global? Hezbollah murdered 86 Jews and wounded hundreds of people in Buenos Aires in July 1994, in addition to murdering Israelis and U.S. Marines and civilians in Lebanon and Iran.

*In a Sacramento radio interview, Issa said, "They do supply little old ladies with heating oil in the winter and all kinds of other activities," characterizing terrorist Hezbollah as a mere "political party" and "farmers," and adding, "I’d like to see a lot of them just go back to their farms, go back to some honest living."

Then there’s Issa’s strange respect for Arafat and the Arab “Palestinian” terrorists…

*Days after Sept. 11, Issa, during his House International Relations Committee’s discussion of fighting terrorism, tried to draw a distinction between "Palestinian groups that are resisting Israeli occupation" and Al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

* During his November 2001 trip to the Middle East, Issa told his hometown newspaper, the North County Times, that he was "particularly impressed with Arafat."

"He is quite a charismatic individual, despite being a very small man and very old," the congressman said. "He has a wry sense of humor. He gives you food off his plate if you sit next to him."

Arafat’s personal food taster as your next governor?

*In April 2003, Issa spoke of Arafat’s "charm" (also in the North County Times).

Issa’s softness on Syrian-sponsored terrorism is legendary, too. Syria is home to several fugitives, including Nazi war criminal Alois Brunner, Hamas political director Moussa Abu Marzook, Islamic Jihad chief Ramadan Abdullah Shallah and Jamil Al-Gashey, the only surviving perpetrator of the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre — all wanted and/or indicted in the United States. However, Assad refuses their extradition.

*Issa vehemently opposes the Syrian Accountability Act, which imposes sanctions on Syria until it stops sponsoring Hezbollah and other terrorists. Issa said Syria is "cooperative."

*The Reform Party of Syria said Issa "helps Syria with [its] propaganda campaign" and "objects to Mr. Issa’s presence in Syria. The Baath Party of Syria is duping Rep. Issa and using him as a propaganda tool."

*In June 2003, Issa attended the Beirut signing of a major oil deal between Syria and two U.S. firms. The contract states the companies will spend $29 million in Syria and train the state-run Syrian oil company.

*Issa hosted a pro-Syrian Capitol Hill event with a pro-Syrian Arab business group. The event was organized by former staffers to Reps. David Bonior and John Dingell, who now lobby for a "change" to U.S. Middle East policy.

* After the Iraq War, during one of several frequent Syrian trips, Issa praised Assad, saying, "His word seems to be good."

Although Arnold Schwartzenegger became California’s governor despite allegations that he supported Adolph Hitler, Kurt Waldheim and even the documentary evidence of his own father being a Nazi stormtrooper the much bigger story is the political ploy by Congressman Darrell Issa and his own savvy and survival politically. A full-scale investigation into his statements and actions because if these allegations are accurate Issa has absolutely no interest to represent the United States of America in the global international “War on Terrorism”!!!

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs. Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Gary Fitleberg