For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government PJONSSON LIBRARY Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2250 Mail: Stop SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001 CONTENTS Page STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Saxton, Hon. Jim, a Representative from New Jersey, Chairman, Special Gaffney, Frank J., Jr., President and CEO, Center for Security Policy Murphy, Ambassador Richard W., Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for the Middle East, Council on Foreign Relations Pletka, Danielle, Vice President, Foreign Policy and Defense Studies, Amer- DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD: [There were no Documents submitted.] ASSESSING THE SUPPORT OF MIDDLE EASTERN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SPECIAL OVERSIGHT PANEL ON TERRORISM, Washington, DC, Thursday, May 23, 2002. The panel met, pursuant to call, at 9:15 a.m. in room 2118, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Jim Saxton (chairman of the panel) presiding. OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JIM SAXTON, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NEW JERSEY, CHAIRMAN, SPECIAL OVERSIGHT PANEL ON TERRORISM Mr. SAXTON. Good morning. The Special Oversight Panel on Terrorism convenes for a public hearing on the support that Middle East countries are or are not providing the United States in its global war against terrorism. The witnesses in today's hearing are Mr. Frank Gaffney, President and CEO of the Center for Security Policy; Ambassador Richard Murphy, a Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York; and Ms. Danielle Pletka, Vice President of Foreign Defense Policy at the American Enterprise Institute. Thank you all for agreeing to appear before the panel this morning. We look forward to your testimony. Last week the panel received a classified briefing from the State Department on the seven countries the United States considers "state sponsors of terrorism" and the manner in which each of these countries harbors, assists, funds, supplies, and otherwise supports terrorist groups and terrorist activities. Today, we hope to hear how and to what degree the so-called moderate countries in the Middle East are supporting or not supporting, failing to support, our efforts to fight terrorism. While it is certainly true that terrorism is not a phenomenon found solely in the Middle East, it is equally true that some of the most active, prolific, and dangerous groups are located in and receive support from this region. As such, winning the war against terrorism will be extremely difficult without the support of friendly Arab governments and their assistance in "draining the swamp," as the saying goes, that allows terrorists and their activities to live and thrive. Providing overflight rights, forward basing, and logistical support for coalition forces to attack targets in Afghanistan in this conflict but it has not been sufficient. Rather, victory will only be ensured when the Arab governments in the Middle East take positive steps to quell religious extremism, provide economic oppor |