USA Today Says House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Stepped "Out Of Bounds On Ill-Conceived Trip To Syria."
"But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi crossed a line this week by visiting Syria, where she met with President Bashar Assad. She violated a long-held understanding that the United States should speak with one official voice abroad - even if the country is deeply divided on foreign policy back home. ... No matter that she claimed to have stuck closely to administration positions in her conversations with Assad, smiling photos of Pelosi and the Syrian president convey the unspoken message that while the U.S. president is unwilling to talk with Syria, another wing of the government is. Assad made good use of the moment." (Editorial, "Pelosi Steps Out of Bounds on Ill-Conceived Trip to Syria ," USA Today, 4/6/07)
The
Wall Street Journal Says Pelosi Undermined U.S. Foreign Policy.
"She purported to convey a message from Israel's Ehud Olmert expressing similar interest in 'the peace process,' except that the Israeli Prime Minister felt obliged to issue a clarification noting that Ms. Pelosi had got the message wrong. Israel hadn't changed its policy, which is that it will negotiate only when Mr. Assad repudiates his support for terrorism and stops trying to dominate Lebanon . As a shuttle diplomat, Ms. Pelosi needs some practice. ... With her trip, Ms. Pelosi has now reassured the Syrian strongman that Mr. Bush lacks the domestic support to impose any further pressure on his country. She has also made it less likely that Mr. Assad will cooperate with the Hariri probe, or assist the Iraqi government in defeating Baathist and al Qaeda terrorists." (Editorial, "Democrats at War," Wall Street Journal, 4/6/07)
Pelosi and Hobson have rewarded Syria for bad behavior.
