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 6 of 8)
76. If you voted for BUSH you are no more than a low life murderer.BUSH ,CHENEY, RUMSFIELD,DELAY.,AND ALL REPUBLICANSSHOULD HAVE TO GO FIGHT IN IRAQ .THE WAR WOULD END QUICK ,CAUSE THOSE COWARDS ALWAYS GETS SOMEBODY ELSE KIDS TO KILL FOR THEM.THERE WOULD BE NO WAR IF REP HAD TO FIGHT IT , THIS I GARANTEE YOU .DO THE RIGHTTHING AMERICA , CHARGE THE BUSH ADMIN.FOR WAR CRIMES , HANG THEM ALL..
James at 6:04PM on Apr 5th 2007
77. The wars in Iraq & Afghanistan are not winnable unless all countries in the world (including Muslims) with a competent military fighting force openly join us in fighting real terrorism within Iraq & Afghanistan. This would include Russia, China, Korea, Syria, Israel, and others. Since this is unlikely to happen anytime in the future, we cannot win the wars alone even with the help of Britain. It is inevitable that we will see a violent regime once again occupy and control the Iraqi & Afghan governments one day. It's just a matter of time and more Amnerican lives lost. We will never be able to do what no one else in human history has done in the middle east, and that's to permanently change a government's direction to do whats "good and just for the people" instead of what's good for the government. The people will always suffer and we'll not be able to stop that. It's sad but it will happen. It's the middle east after all...the most violent & persecuted civilizations throughout history. A society that is based on absolute and unchangeable religious ideals like Muslim countries will never die and will not be changed into the image of another country.
The Jews were conquered and absorbed into other societies for centuries, and yet they now live as a society of people who control a territory of land, have their own government, their own national language and religion. History teaches us that to "win a religious war" is short-term at best. And in the short term, we lose soldiers, money, materials, destroy families, and come home empty handed.
But guess what? Now that we have physically entered the middle east quagmire with our military, we have simply speeded up the enevitable and created a no-win situation for all sides pro and con. No matter what anyone says here, we are all losers in this war. We leave and it's a bigger mess. We stay and it's a bigger mess. You decide...
Tim at 6:47PM on Apr 5th 2007
78. It sounds like the Bush White House got to Israel and demanded they say something supportive of Bush or risk alienating the administration as allies. They basically repeated the same things Bush keeps saying, but after the fact. Especially, the "axis of evil" quote...defintelely Bushism.
Isreal's spokesman didn't deny that they sent a message through Pelosi, probably out of frusteration from the administration's "my way or the highway" attitude.
As far as I'm concerned this is not "mopping up" after Pelosi, instead I'd call it trying to "save face" for Bush. Israel relizes that come election time, they will be dealing with entirely different policies from the US and are cozying up to who they will be dealing with in the future; "posturing" I believe it is called.
Maryann at 6:08PM on Apr 5th 2007
79. I CAN'T TAKE MUCH MORE OF THE DECIDER WHO DECIDES THAT HE WILL DO AS HE PLEASES AND ANYONE THAT GETS IN HIS WAY BE DAMNED. AS FOR PELOUSI'S TRIP THERE WERE 3 REPUBLICANS THERE EARLIER. ALL THE PRESS IS BECAUSE ONE SHE IS A WOMAN OF HIGH STANDING.... TWO SHE IS A DEMOCRAT THAT HAS ALWAYS CHALLENGED BUSH AND THREE SHE VISITED THE SAUDI'S ALSO. HELL EVEN BUSHIES BROTHER NEIL DOES THAT AND OFTEN. WHAT? IF A REPUBLICAN DOES IT IT IS OK BUT A FEMALE DEMOCRAT IT IS NOT. THIS IS THE 21 ST CENTURY RIGHT???
LIZBETH ANDREWS at 7:18PM on Apr 5th 2007
80. Nancy Pelosi is doing her job very well!
She is a woman who understands what is needed to do in order to begin cleaning up the huge mess that Bush has created.
Bush had no idea what it takes to be an effective president when the Supreme Court appointed him. So naturally, he surrounded himself with the likes of Chenney, Rove, Rumsfeld and other crooks, who took advantage of Bush's ineptitude and created the biggest mess that we have ever seen, and damaged our country in more ways than one.
Another problem is that by using his ridiculous cowboy attitude (he cannot even lasso a cow)he made clear to the world that his macho airs are just and act to hide his cowardice. He is not even brave enough to fire Karl Rove or Alberto Gonzales!
Maria at 7:15PM on Apr 5th 2007
81. What is our world coming to? Now we have Nancy Pelosi, who is a one person delegation representing our country with all the expertise of a ground hog! She is hogging up as much publicity as possible wanting us to think she caused Iran to release all the British soldiers/sailers becuase of her discussions with Seria. If she thinks we democrats voted the way we did this last election was due to her speaking for our country, she is badly mistaken. If she and the other Democrats we supported think that all they have to do to please the American people is to bring our soldiers home from a war, she is badly mistaken. She needs to get off her rump along with the other worthless Democrats and start doing things that are better served by attacking high gasoline prices that are out of control and many other problems that face the working public. She is making a name for herself at the taxpayers expense.
Don Whitehouse at 10:53PM on Apr 5th 2007
82.
I don't worship at any mosque Doc, and you're a completely ignorant idiot if you think 1 billion Muslims in thw world all want to wipe out every Christian on the Earth.
You want to become as bad as the terrorists just because they don't play by the rules. That's the only thing really un-American here.
Peter at 7:18PM on Apr 5th 2007
83. Connie, Someone needs to remind Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts and Robert Aderholt, they are not the Presidents of the USA. WHAT were they doing in Syria talking to an evil dictator?
President Bush was appointed, then he was elected, after that the 109 Congress made him the KING. You see, KINGS decides everything that goes on in his country.
Savanahlosey at 7:28PM on Apr 5th 2007
84. For the first time in my 55 years I believe the Prseident of The United States is guilty of treason. Treason being defined as not supporting and defending the Cosntitution and the Country. This man named 'W' (apparently so he could spell it) has used his position to move a personal agenda forward (Like the Ambasador he recently appointed whose main qualification is that he financed attack ads against a legitimate hero)which is inimical to what America stands for. I believe our move into Afganistan was the last non-treasonous move this President made. Since that time he has sold out our troops, sold out our country and its people.
I believe had he been engaged in a real foreign policy, 911 would not have happened. I don't blame him for the attack, I blame him for not dealing with the problems in the middle east, refusing to deal with this area because he was in the power of Rove and Wolfowicz, the neo-cons who have charted our course. (Interesting word neo-con, I suppose it means new con artists).
I suggest we do the right thing and replace them, the President and the Vice-President, with the next person in the line of succession until the next election. Perhaps if we stop this administration now there will still be an America left for the next President. I can only say that the America they have fashioned is not the one our founders would recognize, or appreciate.
Everything else is just a sideshow, we need to act now or we will lose this country and what it stands for forever.
Z at 6:21AM on Apr 6th 2007
85. As for the veil, perhaps they should have locked her away like they do the rest of the female population for a long, long time and see how she liked it. Or, maybe they should have just strangled her with it. That would have solved a lot of problems. I have lived in the Middle East. They sell their women as slaves. Women that have married Middle Easterners and then come back to the Middle East because of their children are terrified. The men were no longer Westerners, they became the Middle Easterners. I talked with them at length and you cannot not imagine the horror of their lives. They can leave, but what mother leaves her children that were born before returning to the Middle East.
Carolyn at 8:32PM on Apr 5th 2007
86. Kntnew's foul language is typical of Republicans. At least, Pelosi is trying for a dialogue, which your HERO is too arrogant to try. The last peron we needed in the Presidency was a lame brain, inept bully and worse yet a LIAR whose slogan was: "My way or the highway" and a deaf and dumb President who would not listen to anyone. This is why he has failed so miserably as the worst President we have ever had in my 76 years.. I hope you're not a "woman hater" if so, you're stuck with women in government, henceforth..why? Any of them is smarter that YOUR President. PEACE ON EARTHmatters to the intelligent people. Bush is a warmonger, and he's involved in two that he has no intention of ending, only to dump his disgraceful, shameful mess in the lap of the next President.
Ann Richard at 8:32PM on Apr 5th 2007
87. When you talk about Fond you forgot Walter Conkite, they both should have had their American citizenshipt revoked and deported to their country of choice, preferably North Vietnam.
Carolyn at 8:32PM on Apr 5th 2007
88. You go Nancy!!!!!!! Show your real anti American colors and let the world know what the dems stand for!!!!!!!! It's really not for our Men and Women in uniform!
Michael at 9:19PM on Apr 5th 2007
89. Lets be honest, the media hates Bush for winning the election, they can't stand it and won't move on. At every fork they twist and turn for their own agenda. Clinton had the same intel just never acted on it. Most forget Sep/911 and the UN Resolutions - we had ever right to go into Iraq.
One must realize that fundamentalism at it foundations is about power add a little religion to it and you find people willing to blow themselves up for it. The promises they offer are bleak and a heaven they will never go to.
Saddam offer 25K to anyone’s family that would to this sort of thing.
The other day a suicide boomer left a couple of children in the car ... when you figure out how to talk to people like this let me know. Oh, yeah you also remember the BEHEADINGS aired on TV for all to see.
These people are determined to have it their way and will dance on your grave in your defeat. You want to live under this way of life being dictated too beyond what you think you know. Religious police and clerics tell you what you ... barbers who continued to shave men's beards were given death threats ... you got to be kidding!
Its one thing to convert ... its totally another to be forced into this...
The hatred of America taught in other countries has been going on for decades ... Do you think four years is going to change it. We are fighting for our way of life, for our lives and it will take one nuke in one strategic place to change all your minds. What will you say then ... will you blame Bush? Blame yourselves!
There has never been a time when we need to be united and there are those that want to give the emeny a timeline. To get out and leave what Goverment there to finish what they started. I tell you we leave before their ready and that blood be upon your hands. Iran, Syira and others will be laughing at the US for centries. We will be left with losing another one and the possibilities of a people to discover freedom will be but a distant dream.
You know the media could turn this around if they wanted too. Stop giving the emeny what they want ... PUBLICITY! But in our voyeristic society it just doesn't sell does it?
I hope Pres Bush veteos the PORK BILL on Iraq ... I hope he lists everybodies name who tried to bribe votes for it. What a shame! In our day in age,we still debate over power and agenda at the cost of these heroic men and women.
Stay the course!
Brian at 9:29PM on Apr 5th 2007
90. For those of you not aware : Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, IS NOT THE PRESIDENT of THE U.S.A. , for her to go to Syria , dress in a Burka and Head Scarf and aid and abet the Terrorists is horrendous ! She is unworthy to hold the position she is now holding ! She is doing so much harm and is allowing herself to "speak for us Americans" , she has no right to do so ! She is a total fool along with that wimp Former Pres.Carter : Both should hang their heads in shame ! Pelosi is sending mixed messages , she reaks of Socialism and should resign from the House ! When are these so-called Americans going to wake up ? Our country is at WAR , to pass a Bill which gives so much money via Pork Barrel Spending , YET will deny "our" Military men/women the necessary expendture to fight this war on terror is a HUGH mistake ! WHY is it so hard to understand that we must win this war ? I do not want to wear a Burka,nor give up my rights as an American ,in any regard ! If Pelosi really believes that "talking" to Terrorists will make them stop their war upon our nation or the free world, then she is a much bigger fool than I thought she was! And what about our men/women fighting this war, does she not see what her ctions are doing to them ? Syria is a Terrorist's play ground : Wake up, my fellow Americans , before it is too late ! God help us with people like Pelosi in such a high level position !
roseaquinl at 9:36PM on Apr 5th 2007