Israeli Prime Minister told Nancy Pelosi to pass a message to the Syrians that Israel is open to dialogue. This might have gotten him in some political trouble at home, so he felt a need to issue a clarification.
The clarification was that Israel and Syria are not allies and that Israel still considers the Syrians bad guys. Wow!!! You don't say. We still consider Syria the bad guys -- that doesn't mean you shouldn't talk to them. We have talked to our adversaries for time immemorial -- that's how you do diplomacy.
Conservatives these days think that just labeling someone an enemy is good enough reason to never talk to them again. Third graders across the country agree. "Suzy told Johnnie that I like him, and I don't, so I'm never going to talk to her again!"
There are reports out now that Syria might have helped in negotiating the release of the British sailors from Iran. It turns out if you talk to other countries, even ones you disagree with, you might get some thing out of it. Wow. Revolutionary breakthrough called ... diplomacy.
Remember that every Republican and Democratic president before Bush has talked to our enemies in the Middle East and beyond. Reagan had summits with the evil empire again and again. The only exception was Iran because of the Iranian hostage crisis. But we found a way to have meaningful and productive conversations with all other countries through all other presidencies -- until this one.
None of the stories cited by any conservative actually mentions anything inappropriate that Pelosi actually said or did. They just mention that she dared to visit Syria, along with some Republican colleagues. And that Israel had to issue a clarification -- not of what she said, but of their position.
I'll put that one in the whoop dee do category. Every time a country reaches out to an adversary, they immediately remind everyone that they are still going to stick to their position. This is done so that they don't appear weak by offering a compromise. Until any deal gets done, you always explain how you're not going to budge an inch -- until you do. It's Negotiations 101.
Ultimately, Republicans are doing more damage to themselves here than anything else. Americans see Nancy Pelosi trying to do what this administration refuses to do -- open up a dialogue and pursue diplomacy. This is exactly what the bipartisan Iraq Study Group recommended and any sensible person would agree to. Except we do don't have sensible people in the White House. So, Americans look at George Bush holding his breath until he turns blue in the face and refusing to talk to anyone who hurt his feelings, and rightfully think he's acting like an immature brat.
In the end, Nancy Pelosi looks reasonable and diplomatic and Bush looks childish and irresponsible. If conservatives want to keep harping on this, be my guest. We'll take the position of diplomacy and you take the position of not talking to any "bad guys," and see if that works out for you.
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Diplomacy Means Talking to the "Bad Guys"
Posted Apr 5th 2007 9:48AM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Middle East, Politics, George Bush, Young Turks, Democrats, GOP, Nancy Pelosi, Syria
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Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. One thing is for sure. As a result of Nancy Pelosi's trip we'll likely find out whose stance and strategy with respect to contemporary Middle East issues is closer to reality.
Maybe Mr. Bush has been "wrong" and "stubborn" by being unwilling to talk to the likes of Syria and Iran.
Or maybe Nancy Pelosi will find out her trip merely contributed to Global Warming (all that jet fuel burned)and not a damn thing will change except she'll be feeling like a jilted lover.
Either way, we'll know in the coming months as events unfold.
I have a quarter that says Nancy Pelosi will be crying into he pillow.
Lee at 9:15PM on Apr 5th 2007
17. HELP WANTED AD: Wanted: CEO to Conduct USA Foreign Policy and be Commander in
Chief. Requirements: Bring along about $100 million dollars, and be
prepared to be on call 24/7 for the next 13 months during a campaignprocess.
Selection Process:The American People will let you know by February 2008 if you made the cut. Serious candidates who expect to
win must be active through Nov 2008.Serious Candidates may express
ideas, but are not authorized to conduct Foreign Policy or be
Commander in Chief until elected. If you have questions, kindly refer
to the written job description, which can be found in the Constitution
of the United States.
----------------------------------------------
Bob at 11:01PM on Apr 5th 2007
18. Yes, the Congress should do their part of oversight in legislation,
hearings, making of laws, etc. But to Usurp Foreign Policy under
the guise of an "equal branch of Government" because certain members
and the speaker "don't like the President's Policy " is absolutely
unconstitutional ! Perhaps we should now ask the third co-equal
branch and send over a "few Supreme Court Justices" because "they are
pretty smart people and maybe they can also be helpful." Somehow I
think most Americans know this is NOT the right way to conduct
Foreign Policy! Congressional junkets to "ascertain facts" have
been common, but Congress should BUTT OUT of conducting Foreign
Policy. As it turned out, she didn't get the message right, but the
press will spin this and suggest we give her a pass because she was
"trying to be helpful." She is not trained as a Diplomat or Foreign
Policy Expert, but is more like most Congressional representatives,
merely higher grade political hacks. She should stay in Washington
and "mind her knitting."WANT AD: Wanted: CEO to Conduct USA Foreign
Policy and be Commander in Chief. Requirements: Bring along about
$100 million dollars, and be prepared to be on call 24/7 for the
next 13 months during a campaign process.Selection Process: The
American People will let you know by February 2008 if you made the
cut. Serious candidates who expect to win must be active through Nov
2008. Serious Candidates may express ideas, but are not
authorized to conduct Foreign Policy or be Commander in Chief until
elected. If you have questions, kindly refer to the written job
description, which can be found in the Constitution of the United
States
Bob at 11:03PM on Apr 5th 2007
19. YOU TALK TO THE BAD GUYS YOU IGNORANT LUNATIC. SIT DOWN WITH YOUR IRANIAN FRIEND AND LET HIM LOP YOUR HEAD OFF. TALK TO SYRIA THEN LET THEM LAUGH UNTIL THEY DROP AFTER YOU LEAVE. SEND A DUMB BRAIN DEAD BITCH LIKE NANCY PELOSI TO SCREW UP DECADES OF DIPLOMACY. YOU TELL NICK BERGS FAMILY ABOUT TALKING TO THE BAD GUYS. THE TROUBLE WITH LEFT WING LIBERAL REPORTERS LIKE YOU IS THAT YOU ARE EITHER BRAIN DEAD OR DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT. ARE YOU RELATED TO PELOSI?
Michael Walsh at 8:40AM on Apr 6th 2007
20. Really...Olmert gave Pelosi a 'message' and now has to do damage control? You KNOW this as a fact, or does your statement fit your liberal groupthink mentality. Pelosi is not a diplomat and has NO constitutional power to conduct diplomacy...no matter what liberals think. Just like Clinton appeasing Arafat, which did nothing toward achieving peace in the middle east, Pelosi now goes after Assad...unbelievable. (also, please don't correct any spelling mistakes I may have made, it has nothing to do with the posting).
rmh at 9:46AM on Apr 6th 2007
21. 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 11:23AM on Apr 6th 2007
22. Yes, yes, yes, talk to me. Come closer, closer.....no closer still, I can't hear you from there. Come talk to me....said the spider to the fly.
Jean at 1:43PM on Apr 6th 2007
23. Let's face the bullies my good people!
When I was a kid and in my neighborhood or in the schools that I attended, there was always the "big bad guys". You know...the bullies. They are the guys who are always shooting their mouths off about how big and bad they are and how they are "gonna whup your butt"!
Well, other kids always thought I was stupid, because I wouldn't back down from these guys. I figured that I would have to deal with the bum sooner or later and I figured I'd just as well do it sooner rather than later and get it over with. About 90% of the time they would back off when I would face them. Some times they would have respect for me because I had the guts to stand up to them, and at other times they weren’t quite sure that they could “whup” me.
You see they don't mind inflicting pain on others, but they aren't too willing to take punishement on themselves. That is why they always single out the ones who look the most vulnerable or the ones who appear to be pacifists. Those that I did have to fight with, I came out winner about 50% of the time. That ain’t bad brother.
Just as the world did in the 30’s with the bullies Hitler, Mussolini, and Tojo, everyone just let them rant and rave about how they were “gonna whup butt”. “Aw, they just make a lot of noise just like a bully and if they leave me alone I will leave them alone”. So the attitude was to shy away or appease the bullies rather than confront them for the sake of peace.
The Iranians and all of the Islamic Fascists are determined to rule the world for Allah and they are making no bones about it. They intend to annihilate every Jew on the planet earth. So what is the European Union, Russia and the America doing about it. “Oh, let them rant and rave, we just want peace”. Chamberlain thought that in ’38 and you see what “negotiations” did for the world.
Having said the above, let's relate this concept to the Iranian government. We should let them know as soon as we can and as convincingly as we can that they either shut up and back down or we are “gonna whup your butts”. They will back down pronto!
It is interesting that they are not giving China mainland any hassles and are buying things they need for warfare, etc. from the Chinese. The Islamic fascists know better than mouth off to China and they know China would “whup their butts”!
So, c’mon world, these fascists are the same as Nazi Germany. Are we going to have to wait until it is too late as we did before World war II?
Arthur Coburn at 2:02PM on Apr 6th 2007
24. To Arthur:
Thanks, there is nothing further to state on the matter, great post.
Bob Rogan at 11:46PM on Apr 6th 2007
25. What country do you claim as yours Cenk, because you sure don't sound like a true American, but rather some kind of transplant with Old European ideas. Yeah, like diplomacy worked with Saddam, Hitler and Mussolini. Show me where you think diplomacy has work anywhere recently. We're the yanks and everybody hates us for being successful you can't change that.
Richard Dove at 12:46PM on Apr 8th 2007