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 5 of 8)
61. Sam, Thank you for serving the American people in Vietnam. It was a tragic ending in Vietnam and we lost 55,000 or more troops.
Nancy Pelosi must be an absolute fool for going to the middle East. Does Mrs. Pelosi think for one minute that the President of Syria wants peace with Israel - NO! Syria has funded terrorists for year and we all know it.
President Bush has done the best he knows how and I can't say that for the liberal Democrats who send the wrong message to the world. Nancy Pelosi should be impeached and she is treading on thin ice if you ask me. Mrs. Pelosi is the wicked witch of the West and Hillary Clinton (the bigot & liar) is the wicked witch of the East. Both Pelosi & Hillary are very dangerous to America. I say we excommunicate them from public office by voting these idiots out.
God bless you Sam.
Rose
Rose at 1:43PM on Apr 9th 2007
62. hmmm.. the last time i ck'ed Bush is the president!!
Not some stupid far left dem! That's the reason we shouldn't have a woman running our country!!Pelosi is a screw up anyways.. This bitch is trying to use our tax$ to have her own custom jetliner built just so she can fly around the world and say things to make us look worse!
paul at 3:31PM on Apr 5th 2007
63. Pelosi and her ilk are those who makes my skin crawl. If she, Boxer, Reid, Dean, Biden, Gore et alii were president on 9/11, she/they would have surrendered the country to bin Laden.
This latest embarrassment by our shoot-herself-in-the-foot milquetoast is just another example of domestic left-leaning capitulation to the real criminals of this world. But what does anyone expect from a Democrat? The party of cowards and traitors.
Thomas at 3:38PM on Apr 5th 2007
64. Minister Ehud Olmert felt the need to take the "diplomacy" out of the comments made by Pelosi, but at least both sides are "talking", instead of making threats of war. The "positions" of both sides are well known, so Olmert's reiteration of that, means he will be less diplomatic in his dealings, but Pelosi was right to try to downplay the differences until further along in the discussions. No one is saying his position is "wrong", but name calling isn't the way to a diplomatic solution of any problems. GOD, IT IS TOO BAD SHE ISN'T OUR PRESIDENT. JUST WAIT, PILOSI, UNTIL OUR "UNDIPLOMATIC LEADER" IS IMPEACHED AND EVICTED.
Anne at 3:36PM on Apr 5th 2007
65. Is anyone else insulted when Nancy Pelosi dons a veil to be respectful of Islam when in Syria. This is the same woman who championed the right of US military women to not wear veils off base in Saudi Arabia. Ms Pelosi also continuously supports judicial decisions and "artistic" behavior by fringe elements in the US that are considered disrespectful at best and sacreligious by most Americans. The hypocracy of pretending to respect the dress requirements of Islam when she continually supports disrespect to the symbols of Christianity and Judaism does not fool the Syrians. It merely assures them that she is interested only in her own position and can be purchased with some fawning attention.
Sierra at 4:09PM on Apr 5th 2007
66. by the way -- Sam is absolutely correct!
Sierra at 4:12PM on Apr 5th 2007
67. I don't see Nancy Pelosi being effective in her position until she can set aside her personal hate for the President. Her primary goal I believe is to continue to find ways to work against the President and destroy his presidency. She comes across as this gofer for the Democrats, sort of like the office suck up. However when the Democrats are finished with their use for her, like true Democrats they will distance themselves just in time to try and win the 2008 election. Pelosi will be heading back to California without a job. What goes around in Washinton Ms. Pelosi, always has a way of coming back around to bite you right in your can!
Mike at 4:23PM on Apr 5th 2007
68. SHE WENT TO SYRIA, SHE COVERED HER HEAD AS A SIGN OF RESPECT FOR WHAT THE HEAD OF THAT STATE BELIEVES, SHE DELIVERED A MESSAGE FROM A COUNTRY AT ODDS WITH THE SYRIANS. THE ISRAELIS CLARIFIED HER MESSAGE. THE BALL IS IN THE SYRIANS COURT. IF SHE HAD NOT GONE THERE, THE MESSAGE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED OR ACCEPTED. IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN A SLAM DUNK BUT IT IS A START. THE BEAUTY OF THE SITUATION IS THAT SHE HAD THE FREEDOM TO GO AND TO SPEAK. A REPRESENTATIVE OF FROM OTHER COUNTRY MAY FACE A SHOOTING SQUAD UPON THEIR RETURN HOME. SAY WHAT YOU WANT ABOUT MADAM SPEAKER SHE IS DOING AMERICA'S BUSINESS. WE HAVE TO TALK BECAUSE OUR WEAPONS OF WAR ARE TOO MASSIVE FOR THE LITTLE GAMES WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT AMERICAN COULD HAVE WIPED IRAQ OFF THE MAP BY NOW. BUT THE FACT THAT IT HAS USED RESTRAINT IS AN INDICATION OF THE STRENGTH AND HUMANITY OF THE AMERICAN WARRIORS.
ADMITTING THAT A MISTAKE WAS MADE IN INVADING IRAQ MAY BE THE FIRST STEP TO GETTING OUT OF THERE WITH DIGNITY.
MADAM SPEAKER KEEP TALKING TO THE PEOPLE WHO WILL LISTEN AND WHO CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
E. Doss at 4:41PM on Apr 5th 2007
69. Grandma "Nancy Red" Pelosi has really crossed the line. The arrogance of this nut case is palpable. She has no diplomatic experience and little knowledge of foreign affairs and is equipped only with a hard core Leftist ideology and partisan purpose. It is stupid to allow yourself to be used by Americas enemies for their purposes, but she charges forth anyway. I do not want to hear anyone ever call her intelligent again.
I suggest that Republicans in the House introduce specific condemnation legislation and otherwise join in signing a letter condemning her behavior. She should be arrested as an enemy combatant and taken to Guantanamo!
(PS: She needs to lose a few pounds too. It looks to me like she wants to compete with Dolly Parton.)
Mike Moroney at 7:06PM on Apr 5th 2007
70. 5.
Very glad you're not the one in charge William. Calling for the ethnic cleansing of all Muslims....hmm sounds a little like a guy from Europe with a funny mustache we're all familiar with.
Peter at 7:17PM on Apr 4th 2007
ah... but its ok if the muslims call for the deaths of all christians isn't it peter? tell, me peter, which mosque do YOU worship at?
doc at 5:56PM on Apr 5th 2007
71. "Power Line Blog" isn't worth reading nor respnding to.
Tony Rozycki at 5:25PM on Apr 5th 2007
72. Olmert is about as popular in his country as Bush is here. I thank Pelosi for trying to bring some dialog to the Middle East. Bush has polarized that area enough, and it could stand a chance for a bit of peace now.
Tom Edgar at 7:22PM on Apr 5th 2007
73. Nancy Pelosis went to the middle east to spread lies. Democrats, I just don't get it. She's a liar and should immediately "resign" from public office.
Elaine at 5:58PM on Apr 5th 2007
74. Pelosi may have not been elected President, but neither was George Bush. Bush and Cheney must be impeached. Nancy will make a damn good President.
Papa at 5:45PM on Apr 5th 2007
75. I THINK PELOSI THINKS SHES IN SAN FRANCISO WHERE THEIR ALL SORT OF "FUNNY" IS A NICE WHY OF SAYING CRAZY.THIS WOMAN CAN"T EVEN SAY WHAT SHE WAS TOLD TO SAY "RIGHT" FROM ISRAEL.The Pelosi visit brought no immediate change in Syria's positions. Pelosi told reporters afterward she gave Assad a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that Israel was ready for peace talks with Syria, and that Assad told her Syria was also willing to hold negotiations.
Olmert's office quickly issued a statement making clear there was no new peace initiative, underlining Israel's stance that Syria must first stop support for the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
NANCY OH NANCY, USE THAT SPACE BETWEEN YOUR EARS FOR THINKING, NOT JUST COVERING IT WITH A SCARF.
AL GONN at 5:59PM on Apr 5th 2007