Cenk Uygur claims that Nancy Pelosi, by visiting Syria, "is doing [President] Bush's job for him." In support of this assertion, Uygur notes that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "had to find some way to get a diplomatic message to Syria. So, he chose the one responsible senior US stateswoman going there -- Nancy Pelosi." But Pelosi wasn't sufficiently responsible to avoid the need for Olmert to issue a clarification of his country's position following the Speaker's public statement on the subject.
In light of "quotes attributed to Pelosi," Olmert's office felt compelled to say that "although Israel is interested in peace with Syria, that country continues to be part of the axis of evil and a force that encourages terror in the entire Middle East." Olmert's office added that "in order to conduct serious and genuine peace negotiations, Syria must cease its support of terror, cease its sponsoring of the Hamas and Islamic Jihad organizations, refrain from providing weapons to Hizbollah and bringing about the destabilizing of Lebanon, cease its support of terror in Iraq, and relinquish the strategic ties it is building with the extremist regime in Iran."
This, of course, has been Israel's position throughout, so Uygur is completely off base in claiming that Olmert is employing Pelosi to any substantive purpose. Instead, Olmert had to waste his time mopping up after Pelosi. But if Pelosi remembered to tell Assad that he's "part of the axis of evil," it was worth the extra effort.
Reader Comments ( Page 4 of 8)
46. I am ecstatic that the one party system of the first term has ended. >>>
This is extreem revisionist history. The truth is democrats voted with Bush on everything, making everything that happened during the first term (other than tax cuts) were as bipartisan as it gets. I think it's telling that you now see those days as one party government. Do you really believe that ... or do you hope we will?
tom gassett at 12:50PM on Apr 5th 2007
47. The only time this slut, Pelosi, opens her mouth, is to change feet.
Denis Heurtevant at 12:51PM on Apr 5th 2007
48. I demand a vote of no confidence be taken concerning Nancy Pelosi's speakership! She has now enflamed tensions in the middle east and has embarressed the country! She had no right to defy the state department! She need to have the pseakership taken away from her. ASAP. Wite your representitves! Demand Pelosi be removed for this horrible travisty that our young boys will pay for with theri lives!
Ron at 12:53PM on Apr 5th 2007
49. She seems to think that "Speaker of the House" means "Speaker of the Country". This slut should be put in front of a firing squad when she returns.
Denis Heurtevant at 12:57PM on Apr 5th 2007
50. Nancy is a load of Fries short of a Happy Meal. She is PATHETIC. Even the news media thinks that she has over stepped her office. She is NOT the Commander in Chief; she is not Secretary of State.
She is a member of the House and subject to re-election every two years! She needs to shut her BIG MOUTH, and go home. She should be removed as Speaker of the House. She is an embarassment to the USA.
Diana Landahl at 1:14PM on Apr 5th 2007
51. As second in line to the presidency, Madame Speaker Pelosi has every right to go on her fact-finding missions. In fact, every congressperson and senator, whether dem or repub, should form delegations and visit the heads of state in every Middle Eastern country. There is always a right time for dialogue and diplomacy. We, the citizens of the U.S., pay their salaries and I'd rather have them earning their pay trying to head off future conflicts instead of the warmongering we've been subject to the past six years.It is downright shameful that our country has been divided and is now seen as "weak" in the eyes of the world. This must change immediately, and if Bush doesn't like it, well, at this point, who in the hell cares what he thinks.
LuAnn Ruse at 1:20PM on Apr 5th 2007
52. Are you that stupid? Really?
Jake at 1:29PM on Apr 5th 2007
53. Bush named the "Axis of Evil", as Iran, Iraq and North Korea, remember. Syria wasn't one of the three. Any country, who does not support Bush's ideas, is an Axis of Evil, however, he is just as bad...lying, cheating, warmongering, scandals and so defiant of the American people's wishes, proves he is an Axis of Evil to the American people. GO, PELOSI, GO! Let the other countries know we do not support this irrational, arrogant President and we want peace with all nations. Playing politics with American lives is a game with Bush!
Ann Richard at 7:59PM on Apr 5th 2007
54. Nancy Pelosi did not "Put her foot in mouth". Why did you use this line from Ms. Richards at the convention? The fact that an Isreali complains about an American in the Middle East is not News, and is unworthy of being printed at all. Athena
alison morey at 2:04PM on Apr 5th 2007
55. when are the liberal's going to learn that you can't negotiate with these animals. they have lived the last 3000 years hating and killing those opposed to their belief system. i am all about bringing peace to this messed up world, but in order to do that we must first realize what the Hebrew definition of peace is. as a seminary graduate with a bachelor of theology i can tell you this...the hebrew word for peace is defined "total destruction of your enemy" it sounds harsh but it is the truth. i had a prof who was raised in iraq. he told me that he was taught his whole life that we (america) were the devil. he was taught to hate us and to kill us in the name of alla. he is now living in america, he supports the war in iraq, he supports president bush and he also realizes what needs to be done. countries like syria,iran, pakistan, do not want to negotiate. they want to "destroy" the enemy. pelosi needs to stay out of this and let a man like president bush who has some testicular fotitude lead this great GOD fearing nation into victory and "perfect peace"
james brown at 2:10PM on Apr 5th 2007
56. What a mess! Bush is doing what he thinks is right. Pelosi is doing what she thinks Americans want to see and what will help Democrats in the polls. Both are ignoring what is increasingly becoming obvious to me. Peace in the Middle East ranks right up there with the Easter Bunny convincing Osama Bin Laden that non Muslims aren't so bad after all.
In my opinion (which is not always correct),this is not Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo versus the Allies.
What we have here is a religio-cultural war exacerbated by the economics of oil. The Sunni versus Shiite conflict in Iraq appears to be based on differences in approach to being a Muslim as well as to who should have what percentage of the profits generated by Iraq's oil resources. In a real sense, that same tension permeates Middle Eastern politics in general.
The non Muslim world is the target of all Muslims regardless of the methods advocated by 'radical' or 'moderate' practitioners to achieve taking that target. At the moment, the dominant method being used is terror (or as the politically correct would prefer - 'insurgency'). Assimilation is another, but longer term, approach to the same goal of domination. One world religion under the control of one religious dictator either benevolent or malevolent.
As I see it, whether I am Hindu, Christian, Jew, Buddhist, atheist or any other non-Muslim believer, I am part of the target. Destroying me and what I believe in is the goal of the Muslim community at large. In short, I am an infidel and, ultimately, cannot be tolerated.
Assuming that nothing is impossible, peace in the Middle East is possible. I suppose even peace in the world is possible. The problem is that not everyone wants 'peace.' Peace for me is tolerance among peoples and nations. Peace for you may be domination of all those you cannot tolerate.
When George and Nancy cannot agree on the road to peace (they are supposedly on the same side), our hopes for peace are, at best, whimsical.
DJB at 2:22PM on Apr 5th 2007
57. Dems and the GOP all want to do the right thing. But they differ in what the "right thing" is and how to do it.
When 9/11 occurred most folks agreed terrorists must be fought. Bush said then it would be a long and difficult battle.
Folks forget the war with Iraq may never have started had Saddam allowed inspectors an ability to randomly search his weapon facilities. Intelligence agencies throughout the west said he had WMD.
Say what you will, Bush has kept the fight in Iraq. He is the commander-in-chief, not Pelosi. If she wants that job she should get elected to it. Otherwise, she and her Dem clan should stop providing terrorists with the hope for a withdrawal deadline.
Dax at 2:34PM on Apr 5th 2007
58. If we, these United States, don't stop our senseless catering of the Israelis and start to conduct Middle East diplomacy in an even-handed, impartial manner in accordance with the principles of democratic behavior and common sense, regional stability will never be achieved. Although a Democrat, Peolosi apparently understand that. Bush and the neocons never have.
jim clemons at 4:48PM on Apr 5th 2007
59. Peters remarks regarding Saudi Arabia, strike me as being a little hypocritical. Just because a small minoroity of a country contribute money to a terrorist organisation, doesn't make that country a terrorist country. If that were the case, what does that make our country, as most of the money raised by the IRA to fight the British army came from a small minoroity of Americans. Jim.
Jim at 2:44PM on Apr 5th 2007
60. I can sum up Nacy Pelosi and her intrusion upon Syria in three words.
PHONEY BALONEY PELOSI
duane at 6:45PM on Apr 5th 2007