WASHINGTON, DC -- In a letter sent today, United States Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) called on President Bush to reverse his decision to send a high level advisor to a conference on counter terrorism sponsored and attended by countries that sponsor and support terrorists. President Bush's top counter terrorism advisor Frances Townsend, is scheduled to attend the international conference on terrorism this weekend in Saudi Arabia.

"The conference aims to 'confront and uproot terrorism, prevent its growth, and stop its funding sources.' However, among the participants are three countries -- Iran, Syria, and Sudan -- that remain on the Department of State's (DOS) list of state sponsors of terrorism. These countries currently support terrorist groups by providing funding, arms, or other material support; or by providing training, logistical support, sanctuary, or diplomatic facilities," wrote Lautenberg.

"Having members of the Bush administration actually sit down and discuss counter terrorism with the very countries that support terrorists is absurd," said Senator Lautenberg. "The President should spend his time going after the terrorists rather than sharing sensitive counter terrorism information with countries that sponsor terrorism."

A copy of Lautenberg's letter to the President is attached to this release

February 4, 2005

George W. Bush President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush,

I was disturbed to learn recently that a delegation from the United States -- led by your Homeland Security Advisor Frances Townsend -- will participate in an international conference on Counter-Terrorism being hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia this weekend.

The conference aims to "confront and uproot terrorism, prevent its growth, and stop its funding sources." However, among the participants are three countries -- Iran, Syria, and Sudan -- that remain on the Department of State's (DOS) list of state sponsors of terrorism. These countries currently support terrorist groups by providing funding, arms, or other material support; or by providing training, logistical support, sanctuary, or diplomatic facilities. Discussing and sharing counter-terrorism strategies with these three state sponsors of terror -- not to mention Saudi Arabia -- is itself hypocritical, and also undermines our stated commitment to the global war on terror.

You have consistently called for a forward-leaning strategy in the Middle East, and I support your Administration's efforts to advance democracy in the region. But our policy choices must reflect our rhetoric, and I believe that U.S. participation in the creation and exhange of effective counter-terrorism strategies with known sponsors of terror defies good policy as well as common sense.

I urge you to reconsider the decision to send American officials to the conference in Saudi Arabia.

Sincerely,

Frank R. Lautenberg