Bush unhappy about Pelosi's visit to Syria

US Features

By Mike McCarthy Apr 4, 2007, 10:05 GMT

Washington - US President George W Bush is not happy with the visit to Syria by the top US lawmaker and his chief political adversary, Nancy Pelosi, saying it sends mixed signals to a country he is trying to isolate. Pelosi, speaker of the US House of Representatives, arrived Tuesday in Damascus in defiance of Bush, who has resisted pressure from experts and members of Congress to open direct, high-level discussions with Syria to get help in stabilizing Iraq. Bush argues that Syria has done little to stop the flow of violent militants into Iraq, is meddling in Lebanese affairs, backs terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, and that past efforts to change Damascus' behaviour have failed. Pelosi and other leading Democrats believe it is necessary to talk to the Syrians to get their support, and that Bush's current policy to weaken the insurgency in Iraq is not working. She is scheduled to meet Wednesday with Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan panel of experts assembled by Congress to explore a new strategy, released its report in November urging Bush to engage Syria and Iran, another country suspected of fomenting violence in Iraq. Bush has rejected that recommendation and accuses Pelosi of undermining his effort to isolate Syria. Instead, Bush backs a multilateral format for addressing the strife in Iraq, like the conference that took place last month in Baghdad, attended by US, Syrian and Iranian officials. A second, higher-level conference is expected to take place in the coming weeks and is to include US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. 'Photo opportunities and/or meetings with President Assad lead the Assad government to believe they're part of the mainstream of the international community, when, in fact, they're a state sponsor of terror,' Bush said. Pelosi, second in the constitutional line of succession behind Vice President Dick Cheney for the presidency, has no authority to cut any deals or negotiate with the Syrians because foreign policy is run by the White House - not Congress. Pelosi said her visit was meant to lay the groundwork for restoring confidence between the two countries, and while she had 'no illusions' about the nature of the Assad regime, she was optimistic that there could be some progress. 'We think it's a good idea to establish the facts to hopefully build some confidence between us. We have no illusions, but we have great hope,' Pelosi said Monday in Beirut, pointing out that the White House did not complain about earlier Damascus visits by Republican delegations. Her visit shows a Democratic-controlled Congress eagerly seeking to influence Bush's foreign policy, especially over the unpopular war in Iraq. While the Democrats cannot dictate policy, they can use their control over the budget to press Bush. Pelosi led Democratic efforts in the House to attach a withdrawal deadline to a funding bill for troops in Iraq. A similar measure was passed in the Senate. Pelosi is the most prominent elected or appointed US official to visit Syria since then-deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage in January 2005. US-Syrian relations were already strained over Iraq and worsened a month later when Damascus was implicated in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, prompting Washington to pull its ambassador out of Damascus. Joining Pelosi on the trip was Representative Tom Lantos, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Representative Keith Ellision, who became the first Muslim member of Congress when he won a House seat in November's elections. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Talkback

Add your comment (no registration required)

page: 1

BUSH THE BUTCHER OF MUSLIMSApr 4th, 2007 - 11:08:18

Hypocrisy at its extreme! Let us look at the profile of all her company.

Let us find who is employed by what agency?

Report this comment

NoharnessApr 4th, 2007 - 13:16:39

The Bushbaby cannot understand that the stability of a country is, in large part, reliant on the control of its borders. Closing off Iraq's border with Syria would be no picnic, but it can be and should be done.

Report this comment

SP4:Oval Office BreakfastApr 4th, 2007 - 15:05:27

Bush: Whats up Karl?

Rove: Pelosi's in Syria

Bush: Yes, Karl, we know

Rove; Well??

Bush: Sales Call Karl. You know, give em th game plan and ask them to go along. She's there selling out the jews, and selling all th other sh-t that goes along. Too bad we didn't have her workin for us.

Rove: That's f--ked up!

Bush: No argument there karl!

Rove: Well sir, what are we gonna do?

Bush: Nothing. Oh, I'll make noise, But Karl..look at me...I'm outa here in 20 months. Economy's rolling, what th f--? These libs are more interested in listening to AG taco bender testify than passing any real legislation. The Ragheads are gonna play because it's in their interest. They end up with another Clinton, and this time Karl, He's a she. The store is open and the blue light's a turnin, Karl. Pelosi's handing out gift cards. They'll roll out fatboy as soon as they pull his pants up, get Sandy Berglar off probation..well..you know.

Rove: Great sir, but what about the next guy?

Bush: Where were they when I was running? See my point? Thunder Thighs is th favorite Karl. Time to wake up. She's gonna sell us out with N. Korea. Remember the last deal they made? Guess what the 411 on Iran will be? That's right, nothing. Oh, they'll get Ban, or tran, whatever th f--k this guys name is to complain, but..Karl..you know th drill! In the end, they're gonna roll over and spread their legs! Karl! They're from Arkansas!

Rove: Mr. President, we want a republican to win!

Bush: Good luck Karl. We have record employment, overflowing tax receipts, lower taxes, hell I must be the the owner of Rudolph, Donner and Blitzen! Do you think the libernazi press is gonna point this out? Not in 7 years!

Rove: Mr. President, we need to attack!

Bush: Karl, get a life. Take a day off. Get laid. Go see a movie. I came in to pass some legislation and go back to Crawford. We stand guard until the next guy is in! I'm going out swinging Karl, but just at the towelheads.

Report this comment

Blue LadyApr 4th, 2007 - 15:21:19

lololol

Report this comment

I'm not surprised by SP4's post ...Apr 5th, 2007 - 16:11:44

I'm not surprised that SP4 would post a 'make believe conversation' ... since he lives in 'make believe land'

Report this comment

SP4: Yeah, make believe...Apr 6th, 2007 - 21:27:10

Like the scarf on Pelosi's head?

Who's she trying to fool?

Answer, everyone!

Bush: Hi Nancy, nice dress!
Pelosi: Funny Bill Clinton said that too...
Bush: Oh, Im sure, Nancy. Just watch out for the cigars...
Pelosi: What did you wish to discuss, Mr President?
Bush: Well, Nancy, Karl Rove and I need you to Help Dick Cheney in...Mexico.
Pelosi: How so, sir?
Bush: Cheney's going hunting with their president and needs some help...
Pelosi: I don't think so sir...
Bush: Nancy! You'll be great! Just go out and walk with Dick. If he's had a couple of beers, try to keep behind him, and, for god's sake, watch his barrel swing. You'll be great! Take Harry Reid with you...by the way, ya got insurance, right?

Report this comment

Hey SP4, why don't you mention ...Apr 6th, 2007 - 22:56:25

Hey SP4, Why don't you mention the Republican Senators who went along with her on the trip?

(You always seem to leave out relevant facts ... google it if you don't believe me ... Republican Senators DID go on the trip too)

Report this comment

SP4: They didn't shoot their mouths off.Apr 7th, 2007 - 01:06:17

Did they.

Report this comment

Actually they did ...Apr 7th, 2007 - 06:57:22

They said Pelosi emphasized Bush's policies to Syrian gov't (concerns over Iraqi border intrusions from Syria etc)

I'll say it again, why you don't criticize the Repubs for goin over there too?

Report this comment

page: 1

Add your comment (no registration required)

US

Bush unhappy about Pelosi's visit to Syria

US Features

Talkback

Similar articles

Latest Headlines in US

Latest Articles on The Tech Herald

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print