Letter to United States President George W. Bush

HELP CAPTURE IRANIAN SUSPECTS IN ARGENTINE JEWISH ATTACK, WEINER TELLS BUSH

Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn & Queens) wrote to President Bush asking that the United States help capture eight former Iranian officials suspected of ordering the deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Last month, an Argentine judge issued international arrest warrants for Iran's former political leaders, but so far they have evaded extradition to Argentina.

"I write to urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure full United States cooperation in the investigation of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association 1994 bombing," Rep. Weiner wrote in his letter to President Bush.

To aid in the capture of the Iranian officials, Rep. Weiner requested that the United States confiscate their foreign and domestic assets, place them on the terror watch list and work with U.N. officials to ban their international travels. Rep. Weiner also urged Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to ask the International Court of Justice to prosecute the case.

Under the USA Patriot Act, the Treasury Department has the authority to seize terrorist assets and, under another provision of the law, President Bush could set up a compensation fund to redistribute terrorist assets to victims of terrorist attacks.

"I hope you will agree that bringing these international terrorists to justice is in the interests of the United States," Rep. Weiner concluded.

On July 18, 1994, a car bomb destroyed the seven story headquarters of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA), a Jewish community organization located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The attack, which killed 85 people and injured 300 more, is the deadliest terrorist attack in Argentine history.

For over a decade, justice eluded the victims and their families until Argentine prosecutors took a renewed interest in the case in recent years. In October 2006, prosecutors indicted Iran's former leaders charging that the Hezbollah attack was ordered by the "highest authorities."

Acting on the recommendation of Argentine prosecutors, an Argentine judge issued arrest warrants on November 9, 2006 for the eight former Iranian officials, including former Iranian President Rafsanjani, the former head of the Revolutionary Guard, and the former Ministers of Intelligence and Foreign Relations. To date, the suspects remain in Iran, avoiding extradition to Argentina where they will stand trail upon their capture.

A full copy of Rep. Weiner's letter to President Bush is attached to this release.

President George W. Bush

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

I write to urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure full United States cooperation in the investigation of the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association 1994 bombing.

It's been more than 12 years since the worst terrorist attack in Argentine history claimed 85 lives and injured 300 others. Argentinean federal judge Rodolfo Canicoba Corral issued eight international arrest warrants on November 9 for former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and other former top officials.

I urge you to take the following steps at once to ensure full United States cooperation in closing this chapter of justice for the victims and their families:

You should direct the National Counterterrorism Center to place the eight Iranian officials Argentina has issued international arrest warrants for, Ali Akbar Rafsanjani, Ali Fallahijan, Ali Akbar Valayati, Mohsen Rezai, Ahmad Vahidi, Mohsen Rabbani, Ahmad Reza Asghari/Mohsen Rendjbaran, and Imad Fayez Moughnieh, on the terror watch list to facilitate bringing them to trial.

Furthermore, I encourage you to task the Department of Treasury with confiscating all assets, foreign or domestic, associated with these terrorists and terrorist offenses as authorized by the USA PATRIOT Act, particularly section 981. Also consider allowing victims of terrorist attacks access to these confiscated assets, as encouraged in the sense of Congress in section 404 of the USA PATRIOT Act.

Finally, I urge you to instruct Secretary Rice to seek supportive steps from the international community, including bringing this matter before the International Court of Justice and ensuring the eight suspects are placed on the United Nations No-Travel List.

I hope you will agree that bringing these international terrorists to justice is in the interests of the United States. I look forward to your response.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ny09_weiner/061207Argentina.html