April 17, 2002

MEMORANDUM TO: OPINION LEADERS

FROM: GARY SCHMITT

SUBJECT: White House Waives Sanctions on Arafat

Late Tuesday, President Bush waived statutory prohibitions against U.S. aid to Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). As a result, the Palestinians will now receive approximately $100 million in American assistance.

In the wake of September 11, President Bush said that any nation or group that harbors terrorists or aids terrorism should be labeled for what they are -- terrorists -- and that all the tools of American power (whether economic, diplomatic or military) would be brought to bear against them.

There is no question that Arafat, the Palestinian Authority, and the PLO have condoned terrorism and in fact directed it. (Key documents substantiating this point can be found on the Project’s website at www.newamericancentury.org under the section "Middle East.") By waiving the sanctions, the White House has deprived itself of a lever over Arafat, the PA, and the PLO, and has further undermined what once was a clear doctrine and strategy for the war on terrorism.