Bush administration seeks Libya waiver
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is asking Congress to exempt Libya from a law allowing terrorism victims to seize the U.S. assets of state sponsors of the attacks.
The law was part of a defense policy bill that President Bush signed in January.
The bill’s passage had been held up over Bush’s objections to the provision letting victims of state-sponsored terrorism sue responsible foreign governments and collect judgments by seizing their assets in the United States. Bush was concerned the provision would be applied to Iraq, so Democrats gave ground by giving the president permission to waive it for that country. He did so immediately upon signing the legislation.
Now, the administration has asked lawmakers to quickly grant Bush waiver authority for Libya.
Gordon Johndroe, Bush’s national security spokesman, said the seizing of assets provision in the law could discourage nations like Libya that have renounced the export of terrorism from now helping the United States to fight terrorism. There is potential for billions of dollars in investment by U.S. companies in Libya’s oil sector, as well as in other areas, meaning Libyan assets increasingly could wind up on American soil.
...Johndroe said the Bush administration’s waiver request does not mean it is backing out on victims of terrorist attacks.
“We continue to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators of such acts to justice,” he said. “We are also committed to helping American victims of terrorism obtain fair and appropriate compensation.”
Susan Cohen of Cape May Court House, N.J., who lost her 20-year-old daughter Theodora on Pan Am 103, said she was disgusted at such talk from the White House. She said she stands to collect no money in any lawsuit, but can’t abide what she says is a move to let Libya off the hook in order to help oil companies.
Thank you for not reading this, Trekkie Rod.
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