Secretary of Spine

Item: 8 U.S.C. § 1189(a):

The Secretary [of State] is authorized to designate an organization as a foreign terrorist organization in accordance with this subsection if the Secretary finds that -

(A) the organization is a foreign organization;

(B) the organization engages in terrorist activity (as defined in section 1182(a)(3)(B) of this title) or terrorism (as defined in section 2656f(d)(2) of title 22), or retains the capability and intent to engage in terrorist activity or terrorism; and

(C) the terrorist activity or terrorism of the organization threatens the security of United States nationals or the national security of the United States.

Item: 22 U.S.C. § 2656f(d) (2004):

(1) the term "international terrorism" means terrorism involving citizens or the territory of more than 1 country;

(2) the term "terrorism" means premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents; and

(3) the term "terrorist group" means any group practicing, or which has significant subgroups which practice, international terrorism.

Item: 8 U.S.C. § 1182(a)(3)(B)(1)(IV), defining inadmissible aliens to include representatives of:

(BB) a political, social or other similar group whose public endorsement of acts of terrorist activity the Secretary of State has determined undermines United States efforts to reduce or eliminate terrorist activities.

Item: Current List of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, updated Oct. 11, 2005:

12. HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)

Item: Associated Press, January 27, 2006:

Islamic militant Hamas' landslide victory in Palestinian elections unnerved the world, darkening prospects for Mideast peace and ending four decades of rule by the corruption-riddled Fatah Party.

Item: The Washington Post, January 27, 2006:

The arrival of Hamas, formally known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, in the Palestinian Authority as a nearly equal partner will severely complicate Abbas's efforts to begin negotiations with Israel under the U.S.-backed peace plan known as the "road map." Hamas, which emerged in 1987 during the first Palestinian uprising as an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, favors the creation of a Palestinian nation on land that now includes Israel rather than the road map's two-state solution. . .

Jubilant Hamas leaders reiterated Thursday that they had no plans to pursue peace talks or disarm the party's armed wing, a condition Israel has set for beginning negotiations under the road map. The plan, which calls for the creation of an independent Palestinian state by the end of 2005, has been frozen during recent years of violence.

Item: Secretary of State Condoleezza before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 7-8, February 15, 2006:

The people of Iraq and Afghanistan are helping to lead the transformation of the Broader Middle East from despotism to democracy. This is a generational challenge, in which elections are an important and necessary beginning. The freedom to choose invests citizens in the future of their countries. But as President Bush has said, one election does not establish a country as a democracy. Successful democracies are characterized by transparent, accountable institutions of governance; a thriving civil society that respects and protects minority rights; a free media; opportunities for health and education for all citizens; and the official renunciation of terrorism and ideologies of hatred. On this last point especially, we will continue to insist that the leaders of Hamas must recognize Israel, disarm, reject terrorism, and work for lasting peace.

Item: Palestinian National Authority, State Information Service, February 15, 2006:

In a statement on Tuesday from Egypt's President Hussni Mubark, the Egyptian leader said that threats from the newly elected Hamas party to destroy Israel should not be taken at face value, and that Hamas had showed signs of flexibility in recent days regarding its stance towards its neighbor.

Item: Spain Herald, February 15, 2006:

[EU foreign-policy boss Javier] Solana said yesterday in Cairo that Hamas must meet three criteria in order to make it an eligible negotiations partner for the EU: "peace, the acceptance of two states, and recognition of the other." But, though Hamas has not fulfilled even one of those conditions, as it still does not recognize Israel and calls for terrorism as "resistance," Solana saw no problem with Russian negotiations with the group. . .

De Villepin added that France considered Hamas to be a terrorist organization, but that the international community should "take into account the democratic option taken by the Palestinian people and try to accept as soon as possible the logic of peaceful dialogue with Hamas."

Item: Associated Press, February 15, 2006:

Rice also provided new detail about the future of U.S. aid to the Palestinians under Hamas, which the State Department lists as a terrorist group. Rice said the United States, which for years has provided aid to help the Palestinian people but very little directly to the Palestinian government, would not turn its back on such humanitarian programs as immunizing children against disease.

"But no money will go to that government," Rice said under questioning by Sen. George Allen, R-Va.

"I don't want a penny of taxpayer money going to Hamas," Allen told Rice.

"Neither do I," she replied.

Agreed: Thankfully, Bush won; we know what the B-team would do.

Backbone--it's what's for dinner.