Letter to Condoleezza Rice Demanding Answers from State Department Concerning Iran

The Editors

Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC), co-chair of the 120-member, bipartisan House Anti-Terrorism/Jihad Caucus and a tireless promoter of educating the public about the dangers that Islamic Jihad poses to America, recently sent a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the UN personnel from five countries, including Iran, that the State Department has designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism:

Dear Secretary Rice:

On September 16, 2008, the United Nations General Assembly will reconvene in New York City. This gathering will draw diplomats from around the world, including personnel from five countries the State Department has designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism.

I am deeply concerned about the personnel coming from Iran because of Iran’s history of espionage activity. In June 2002, November 2003, and June of 2004, public reports stated that personnel from the Iranian mission to the United Nations were caught videotaping bridges, tunnels, the Statue of Liberty and other buildings and infrastructure.

I encourage you to ensure that your visa analysts conduct thorough investigations into diplomats and other personnel coming from Iran, as well as the personnel coming from other countries designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism.

As I understand it, Section 306 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act (EBSVRA) of 2002 pertains to the issuance of visas to aliens from State Sponsors of Terrorism. Do you apply Section 306 of EBSVRA to diplomats and their staff? Have you sent a memo to your analysts stating this policy in clear terms? If such a memo or policy exists, please send me a copy.

I would like to know the names of the Iranian diplomats, and any staff coming from Iran to work at Iran’s UN mission, who have requested entry. This should be public record. If there are any security concerns, we would also like to know the potential security issues that pertain to these individual.

I also formally request a meeting with the analysts who handle diplomats from Iran.

I would like to personally ask the analysts if there are any members of the Iranian delegation from years past, or from this year, that in their opinion may have raised national security concerns but were given visas because the State Department lacks the legal authority to deny them.

Due to time-sensitive nature of this issue and the importance of protecting the security of the people of New York, and the United States as a whole, I ask that you expedite your responses.

Sincerely,

Sue Myrick
Member of Congress

As Family Security Matters informed you earlier this year, Myrick's impressive "Wake Up America" agenda aims to reverse the trend of public complacency about the dangers of Islamic Jihad due to the fact that we have not been attacked since 9/11. Myrick wants to "explain to people what the roadblocks are" regarding the fight against terrorism here in America.

Terrorism is not a partisan issue, but an issue critical to all Americans, and you can count on Family Security Matters to continue to bring you the latest on Myrick's activities and other information you need regarding these vital concerns.