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 8 of 8)
106. In reply to #44, if you didn't notice the midnight congressional sessions or refusal for Dems to bring anything to the floor, you were not paying attention. The Reich abused their power and now they're disgruntled because they did not fix enough of the election and lost the house. I believe this was the Dems last gasp, however, because fascists have no tolerance for setbacks. And there are still plenty of Zom-Bushes out there terrified by anything different. Read this blog. Note the hatred and you can feel which way this wind is blowing. It's an evil force. Read your Bible, Satan was the prince of lies, and that is all we get from Dubya, Cheney, Gonzo, Scooter and Rove. What WAS the K Street project? How was the vote in the black districts repressed in Ohio and Florida. It was not about democrqacy, it was about power despite the will of the people. We have one last chance to save it in 2008, but I'm skeptical. Not with the corporate media from the Reich cherry picking the stories. Yea, now it shows som eof what the opposition has to say, but come election, the wind will shft.
It was all about one party. The Dems voted for war based on the lies of WMD. Let's not pretend we had good evidence to prove WMD. Colin Powell brought crayola creations to the UN, not proof. Let's not pretend that Joe Wilson had not indicated otherwise. Let's not pretend that traitors never gave up his wife, traitors in the White House and in the press. Clearly you are smart enough to make an argument, but your defense of these treasonous, self-absorbed, blinded by profit at any cost to people, the environment or even their family [Cheney's gay daughter works for the Reich. What kind of self-hatred do you have to have to do that? What kind of father slithers around in the circles of those who believe his daughter's seexual orientation is evil.] Frankly, I would admit you are smart, but you disgust me.
Gregor at 11:08AM on Apr 6th 2007
107. 27. U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa meets Syrian president in Damascus
The Associated PressPublished: April 5, 2007
DAMASCUS, Syria: A U.S. Republican congressman met President Bashar Assad on Thursday, a day after a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, spurning the White House policy of isolating the Syrian leadership.
Congressman Darrell Issa of California said U.S. President George W. Bush had failed to promote the dialogue that is necessary to resolve disagreements between the United States and Syria.
"That's an important message to realize: We have tensions, but we have two functioning embassies," Issa told reporters after separate meetings with Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.
Issa, a Lebanese-American who frequently travels to the Middle East, said he and other members of Congress would continue to encourage the Bush administration to engage Syria.
"I have no illusions. We have serious problems to be resolved but we will resolve them," he said.
Assad and Issa discussed "the mechanisms and means that must be available to build a solid U.S.-Syrian relationship," the official Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
Foreign Minister al-Moallem stressed Syria's keenness to talk to the U.S. and said the congressional visits helped to "formulate a joint vision for finding solutions to the problems in the region," SANA reported.
Bush sharply criticized Pelosi, a Californian Democrat, for calling on Assad, saying her visit eased the country's isolation. However, his administration stayed relatively quiet about a similar visit days earlier by a three-man Republican delegation.
Pelosi said the congressional visits were an "excellent idea" and said she was hopeful that Syrian-U.S. confidence could be restored through dialogue.
Pelosi's visit followed one by three congressmen from Bush's own party who also met with Syria's leaders.
"I don't care what the administration says on this. You gotta do what you think is in the best interest of your country," said Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia, who was part of the delegation.
Tim at 11:25AM on Apr 6th 2007
108. Pelosi is not so stupid as to relay a message without discussion and forethought. I believe what happened so infuriated Bush, that he contacted Olmert and placed him in a position where he had to issue a "clarification" undermining Pelosi so she would look like a fool.
Vincent at 12:37PM on Apr 6th 2007
109. Phuck Israel.
Free at 1:28PM on Apr 6th 2007
110. THE TRULY UGLY AMERICAN IS BACK. NANCY PELOSI FOR SOME REASON THINKS SHE HAS BEEN PUT IN HER POSITION AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SO SHE CAN RULE THE USA. SHE IS NOT THE PRESIDENT.SHE WAS NOT ELECTED TO THIS POSITION BY THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA.
WHY IN THE WORLD DOES SHE THINK HER VISITS WILL HELP THE USA WHEN SHE IS NOT A DIPLOMAT. SHE HAS NO TRAINING ON THE COMPLICATED WORLD OF POLITICS.ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST.WHERE WOMEN ARE CONSIDERED UNWORTHY AND BELOW MEN.
COULD SHE TAKE A LONG EXAM AND CORRECTLY GIVE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE LEADERS AND THE COMPLEX HISTORY ON EACH COUNTRY SHE IS VISITING.WHY IS SHE BEING FRIENDLY TO COUNTRIES THAT THE USA HAVE ISSUES WITH? THESE MEN ARE LAUGHING BEHIND HER BACK. IF SHE WAS NOT AN AMERICAN. DOES SHE REALLY THINK THEY WOULD LISTEN TO HER. WHO CARES WHAT SHE THINKS. MAYBE SHE SEES HERSELF AS THE FUTURE PRESIDENT. MAYBE SHE DOES NOT SEE HILLARY AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT.MAYBE THIS WILL WAKE UP THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. WITH PELOSI AND HILLARY..WHY DO THEY NEED ANY OF THOSE OLD GEEZERS IN WASHINGTON. THOSE TWO WOMEN THINK THEY COULD RUN WASHINGTON WITHOUT ANY OF THOSE OLD PARTY MEN.
Doris Griffin at 1:17PM on Apr 7th 2007
111. The United States should be talking to Syria. There is a difference between the Syrian leadership and the Iranian leadership. Syria's leaders have made a calculated decision that their country can have more power in the Middle East, and their leadership in Syria will be more secure, if they support the very worst elements in the region, just every so often providing surprising support to the US (as in the 1991 Gulf War). By contrast, Iran's leaders are simply insane--they will play brinkmanship until someone really does blow them away.
But Nancy Pelosi is utterly inept. She plays into their strategy, confirming them in their view that they should take as hard a line as possible with the US and demand a mushy Middle East policy from the US. She apparently agreed to take a message from Israel when she went to Syria and then misrepresented that message. It is instructive that, in issuing his correction, the PM of Israel used President Bush's phrase "axis of evil" to describe the alliance of the most vicious nations.
Mrs. Pelosi and her sort simply do not grasp that there are real, honest-to-goodness bad guys in the world who won't become sweet and reasonable in response to being sweet and reasonable with them, or that Syria is one of those bad guys.
An intelligent foreign policy, as to Syria, talks to the Assad government, but does so bluntly. They have a choice before them. Either they continue playing footsie with the world's terrorists, and perhaps something very bad might happen to them, or they suppress the terrorist organizations within their borders and discontinue their support to terrorist operations elsewhere, and find that there are benefits to a western alliance.
In Iran, there are the crazies, running their government at the moment, and there are people who recognize that some degree of reconciliation with the West is necessary, that there will be no restoration of the Caliphate and no Twelfth Imam, that attempting to generate chaos in order to bring the Twelfth Imam will only result in the utter destruction of Iran and the misery of its people. We must reinforce the second perspective.
Ken Howes at 11:46PM on Apr 7th 2007
112. I think that Nancy Pelosi is a very wise woman who had to take a dump and thought it would be nice to do so at the tax payers expense and conduct her business in Syria; never on one's own front lawn! She also brought Republican Issa with her; it is always nice to add a Californian Republican to the mix, which can be interpreted as the right wing of the Socialist Party! I hope he brought the pooper scooper!
dalosophy at 7:37AM on Apr 8th 2007
113. no good resulted from her trip to syria, nothing! she attended meetings wearing her "do rag", and went down hill from there. her statements required Israel to restate their policy towards syria after her visit - which was an exact restatement of their policy before her visit. how someone who supports womens rights could meet with such terrorists is an insult to America. nancy IDIOT and her party need to realize they are not playing with rational people who want to get along. she is dealing with blood thirsty terrorists who have demonstrated their hatred towards the United States since the late 1970's and are using her party to help them. the current democratic party members have lost touch with reality. our country will be much better when we see their actions over the next two years, at which time they will be voted out for good.
clay at 3:02PM on Apr 8th 2007
114. Nancy Pelosi began a process of dialogue with the Syrian President. This should have been going on for the last 6 y ears, but Bush just didn't get it. He had the whole world with us after 9/11 and he just had to go it alone. He had already decided to do what he wanted and to tell any lie to sell it to Congress and the American people. Early on his deception worked well but now we are catching on to his lies. The last election was an indication of just how fed up the American electorate is with the Bush Administrations policies in Iraq. Whatever Pelosi said was better than anything Bush has said during the last 6 years. He continues policies that are made to order for terrorist development and expansion. If you lived in Iraq would you welcome the occupation of your home by American soldiers on an unannounced visit? Would you believe the terrorist who told you to fight against the occupation? What price would you pay to have the invaders leave your home and family alone? Let's get out and leave their ancient hatreds of one another behind. We cannot solve this militarily. We can facilitate an end to the killing diplomatically and politically.
bob at 9:35PM on Apr 8th 2007
115. Respond #111/Bob: I love the lack of integrity displayed by liberals. You can't admit that you don't have morals or standards, except with respect to how you might use any law or standard as a weapon to keep a conservative in check. You sons of Saul Alinski believe in disobeying and disrespecting any law or constitutional provision that you disagree with and you can always find a good reason to support anarchy! When a conservative applies the law your kind say that it is wrong. When a liberal breaks the law your kind say that it is right. You have tried to make conservatives the new niggers of America and you have tried to make lies the Kool-Aid for all America to drink. I am not talking about Nancy Pelosi Bob; I'm talking about you, because you are the one promoting a lie and disrespecting the laws of this nation and trying to twist it into something that someone else has done wrong. You are a disgrace and a waste! You should be glad that you live in a nation like the United States where you have the ability to tear down the country with lies and slander without retribution!
dalosophy at 1:10AM on Apr 9th 2007
116. when i want to get rid of al anti- semitic tawana brawley loser sharpton or jesse hymietown jackson where do i go as a white american. who are the leaders to fire these 2 hypocrites. these 2 jokers have as much right to have don imus canned then the klan does asking them to be fired. when white and black hip hop artist call all our daughters hoes and slaves where are these losers. i cant stomach these 2 wastes because they live on hate. instead of race relations actually being discussed and maybe one day fixed these 2 jokers fearmonger everyone. so be happy hymietown andwhite jew hating sharpton, you got a 66 year old man fired who really was clueless to what was going to happen. you set race relations back 20 years. and al roker get a damn life, you have a right to say anything. another hater heard from. keith olberman who i can chronicle the comments mr. hypocrite himself has said at espn. and i like countdown, but i ask you keithie how many african american shows are on msnbc ahh none. and allison stewart is great now why havent there been more anchors of color at nbc. mr. roker what about that ahhh i dont know, i just do the weather. when all the hypocrites in both communities go away maybe the real america can get down to fixing what still is a horrible problem. RACISM AND TRUST. we will fix it, regular americans so all you losers on both sides limbaugh, sean hannity etc. shut up and let us do the real work. and as for don imus i hope you learned from this mistake and i hope your back real soon.
craig mattes at 8:38AM on Apr 14th 2007