Joe Scarborough: “I guess my biggest concern is regarding part B, which talks about financial transactions with terrorists. The Sudan has…”

“I guess my biggest concern is regarding part B, which talks about financial transactions with terrorists. The Sudan has been considered by most human rights groups as one of the greatest sponsors of terrorism across the globe. And what this really strikes to is the fact that President Clinton during 1996 granted a waiver to Occidental Petroleum to basically do business in the Sudan to the tune of about $90 million and, by doing so, continues to fund the regime that is tottering and has, in fact, worthy opponents that are trying to bring it down. What we are doing by allowing people to continue to do business while providing this waiver is continuing to fund perhaps the most barbarous antireligious-faith regime in the world today. Again, 1.5 million Christians have been murdered since 1989, and the acts are unspeakable. Former President Jimmy Carter has been to the Sudan and has tried to intervene, and intervention has not provided any results. In fact, if my colleagues could name more than two or three organizations that remain in Sudan, I would be enlightened. Because from speaking to the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Wolf] and others, I understand that all have pulled out because the regime is just so despicable and cannot be worked with. It is one of the most barbarous regimes on the globe today. And if we allow business interests to trump human rights interests and freedom of religion, then we are sending an absolutely miserable message across the globe.”