Pelosi Tours Syria, Rebuffs Criticism
President Bush Blasts Visit; Speaker Counters That He Didn't Criticize Republican Visitors
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Play CBS Video Video Pelosi In Syria House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is in Syria and sending a strong message home: The isolation of Syria has failed, and so has the President's war policy. Democrats want change. Wyatt Andrews reports.
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Video Bush Vs. Congress The Iraq war has cost taxpayers about $378 billion. At the heart of the latest battle is how much more money will be spent and who will decide when to bring the troops home. Bill Plante reports.
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Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, right, welcomes House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the Damascus International Airport, April 3, 2007. (AFP/Getty)
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President Bush speaking to the media at the White House, April 3, 2007. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Israeli soldiers argue with a Palestinian man during a protest against checkpoints at the Beit Fourik roadblock, one of several Israeli checkpoints leading to the West Bank city of Nablus, April 2, 2007, as security was tightened in advance of Passover. (AP)
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Interactive Mideast Conflict Events, key players and a history of the world's most unstable region.
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Photo Essay Historic Vote Palestinians vote in their first parliamentary election in a decade.
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Fast Facts Syria Learn about the people, economy and history.
Democrats have argued that the United States should engage its top rivals in the Mideast, Iran and Syria, in order to make headway in easing crises in Iraq, Lebanon and the Israeli-Arab peace process. Last year, the bipartisan Baker-Hamilton commission recommended talks with the two countries.
Mr. Bush firmly rejected the recommendations. But in February the United States joined a gathering of regional diplomats in Baghdad that included Iran and Syria aimed at dealing with the bloodshed in Iraq.
A day earlier in neighboring Lebanon, Pelosi shrugged off White House criticism of the Syria visit, pointing out that Republican lawmakers met Assad on Sunday without comment from the Bush administration.
"I think that it was an excellent idea for them to go," she said. "And I think it's an excellent idea for us to go as well."
She said she hoped to rebuild lost confidence between Washington and Damascus and will tell Syrian leaders that Israel will talk peace with them only if Syria stops supporting Palestinian militants. She has said she will also talk to the Syrians about Iraq, their role in neighboring Lebanon and their support for Hezbollah.
"We have no illusions but we have great hope," said Pelosi, who earlier Tuesday met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Relations between Washington and Damascus soured in 2003 over U.S. accusations Syria was assisting foreign fighters to cross its border into Iraq, a charge Syria denies. Relations reached a low point in early 2005 when Washington withdrew its ambassador to protest the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, blamed on Syria by many in Lebanon. Syria has denied involvement.
Since then, Washington has succeeded in largely isolating Damascus, with its European and Arab allies shunning Assad. The last high-ranking U.S. official to come to Syria was then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who visited Damascus in January 2005.
But that isolation has begun to crumble in recent months, with visits by U.S. lawmakers and some European officials.
Syria treated Pelosi's visit as a diplomatic victory. "Welcome Dialogue," proclaimed a front-page headline in one state-run newspaper next to a photo of Pelosi.
Syria's Ambassador to the United States, Imad Moustapha, described the visit as a "positive step" but said "it does not necessarily mean that the U.S. administration would suddenly change its position" from Syria.
In comments to the state-run Al-Thawra daily published Tuesday, he said the visit should be a "reminder that even though we might disagree on politics, we should remain diplomatically engaged in dialogue to reach some understandings."
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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See all 316 CommentsIranians release British sailors
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We are all feeling your joy also.
Just try to tell me Nancy didn't have anything to do with this. Way to go Nancy & fellow Democrats. More appropiate would be to canonized St. Nancy. Just the thought of her being in Syria caused Tehran to rethink there position.
Next stop should be to visit Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Don't forget the Hamas & Hezbollas and all the countries in that area.
Don't quit now St. Nancy you're making outstanding progress. All of us can clearly see that the Democrats bold journey is making progress.
I must agree with the stance the Democrats have shown so far in congress to bring all the countries of the middle east together and get rid of the area that is creating the most problems.
Way to go Democrats! You can do it. We love ya! I'd like to buy the world a Coke.
Israel's Olmert under fire for Arab talks call
BEIT-UL-MOQADDAS (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert drew widespread criticism on Monday for saying he was willing to meet Arab leaders to discuss a Saudi-drafted plan for peace in the Middle East. "I invite all the heads of the Arab states, including of course the Saudi king whom I consider a very important leader, to hold talks with us," Olmert told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Jerusalem late on Sunday.
Posted by Superpatr898 at 04:25 AM : Apr 04, 2007
Your playground name calling really makes you sound mature and so profound as well......
I can understand why the neocons are so bitter. They lost the House, lost the Senate, see their policies being bought by about a third of the electorate, know they'll lose the White House next year and where does all that leave them? One the fringe where they belong.
Posted by Superpatr898 at 01:15 AM : Apr 04, 2007
Hating Israel and despising Israel's apartheid against the Palestinians and their using us as their 800 pound gorilla at the UN are two different matters.
I do not hate Isreal. I do have a big problem with my country being prostituted by a group that only wants to effect aparthed.
Posted by Superpatr898 at 01:15 AM : Apr 04, 2007
You are nothing in the profound thinking department, pal. You claim that anyone who doesn't subscribe to the neocon agenda is an "America hater".
How many people serve a country in combat that they hate? C,mon, think about that. I know it probably hurts for you to try to do so, but do you really think people volunteer to go fight for a country they despise?
I know this will come as a real shock to you, but the neocons do not own patriotism, regardless of wht you may think.
There once was a little shepherd boy named lieberman. He used to amuse himself by shouting "NAZIS !! NAZIS !!" so the townsfolk would come running.
Then they would go back to the town in disgust, as little lieberman roared with laughter.
But one day the Nazis really came. Little lieberman ran to the hilltop and screamed "NAZIS !! NAZIS !! NAZIS !!" But this time the townsfolk shook their heads and said "He's just fooling around again."
So no one believed lieberman or came to help him. And the Nazis took lieberman away, shaved his head, tatooed his arm, and put him in a camp. Afterwards they gassed him and burned his body.
Moral of the story: Don't cry "WOLF !!" unless there really is a wolf.
how's hitler these days? Would you care to join him??? He'd could sure use some company from you and the other Jooz haters on board. The Christian haters too.
Interesting how these bozos and a couple of bims - probably from the Eva Braun Appreciation Society defend Pelosi. Never mind her ILLEGAL hiring, Never mind that she promised not to shovel Pork, but like a typical Leftist MoveOn.Org stooge, she's pushing it. Never mind that she DOES NOT support the troops but is betraying them. And yet, idiots like Ex-Lax and Bluestarbigot tout her pro-vet credentials.
And now, acting on the advice of the Neo-Nazi Dems favorite Republican, James A$$HOLE Baker, she goes to Syria to appease Assad. Never mind the dead Marines in the Beirut barracks, Ex-Lax and Dally don't care. Or the murdered over Lockerbie - the rest of the idiot fascists will always make excuses for Mussolini's botoxed daughter - and traitor.
But then again, they hate this country with a passion. But are so afraid to go to their ideological homes...gutless Left Nazis.
Is George afraid someone might recognize that it might be payback time for all his years of crushing the constitutional rights of the other 2 branches of the government?
Guess what, Constitutional rights are sprouting back up like the spring flowers and that goes for more than this country.
The "loyal Bushies" ought to take their own worn out advice and if they don't like a government run by the people - Join your corrupt treasury emptying corporate first associates, desert the ship of state and skip on over to Dubai - before someone thinks about prosecuting for WAR CRIMES, Profiteering, illegal activities, etc.
Posted by Superpatr898 at 01:15 AM : Apr 04, 2007
Reagan said Afghanastan would be happier under Sharia and dedicated a Shuttle Mission to the freedom fighters.
Don Rumsfeld said the Iraqis are happier under Sharia and sold Saddam tons of weapons.
But now Bush figures Sharia wasn't happy enough and decided complete bloody instigated lawless chaos is the way to go.
Posted by Superpatr898
And what are you??
A coward like Bush or Cheney?
He said Assad had not reined in Hamas and Hezbollah and has acted to destabilize the democratically elected government of Lebanon.
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Israel's bombing made Lebanon more stable? And what about Iran's democratically elected government(s)?
Venezeula's democratically elected government.
Palestine's democratically elected government.
Guatamala's democratically elected government.
Italy's democratically elected government.
Chile's democratically elected government.
Dominican Republic's democratically elected government.
Brazil's democratically elected government.
Indonesia's democratically elected government.
All removed and replaced by cruel dictators courtesy of the CIA.
Like Bluestarphoney and Exlax, another know-it-all.
I never disparage the Vietnam Vet unless - I repeat unless they start acting like a bitter anti-USA bigot. Many of my friends are Vietnam veterans and NONE of them would ever talk like bluestarbigot, Ex-lax, Dilly Dally, Skybozo or RandyBS. Also - you could ask any of them who America's friends are, and they'd tell you.
Their answer would not be those who danced and cheered when the jetliners crashed into the Twin Towers. But their answers would definitely get these hyenas and sorry excuses for Neo-Nazis bent out of shape. 9 out of 10 would list Israel, Britain, Australia in the top ten.
Of course this arrogant stupid bimbo named Pelosi who mocks THEIR service wouldn't be caught dead among them - but among these Bush-haters and Islamonazi apologists she's their playboy bunny. Her and the equally lame Mrs. Fat Pig Wilson aka Bimbo Val.
They hate this country and they hate Israel - maybe they'd be happier under Sharia. After all I'm sure Iran will give THEM vet benefits.
'She stopped at an elaborate tomb inside the mosque said to contain the head of John the Baptist and made the sign of the cross in front of the tomb. About 10 percent of Syria's 18 million people are Christian.'
It deosn't seem to no one here that Syrians are converting Christians to Islam, you bigot.
Posted by grazinggoat
Singinrick likes to make things up and pretend it is the truth. Stay with him a little while and he will start spouting scriptures out of context. He is an amusing phony.
Posted by Singinrick. (in another posting)
-Well ScikRick, take this paste from this very article :
'She stopped at an elaborate tomb inside the mosque said to contain the head of John the Baptist and made the sign of the cross in front of the tomb. About 10 percent of Syria's 18 million people are Christian.'
It deosn't seem to no one here that Syrians are converting Christians to Islam, you bigot.
-The AIPAC losers want her to eat McDonald fattening ice cream and wear the unaffordable Gucci-Mucci jewelry and step on allergenic-synthetic fabric carpets.
-They only want her to ***-kiss Turtle-Face Olmert, and not talk to savage rag-head Arabs. The AIPAC losers will be the biggest losers fi Pelosi didn't step into this courageous and bald trip to Syria, Lebanon, where most of our saints have lived, travelled and are burried.
The situation there now had been predicted since the late 1980's if Saddam were ousted without at least 400,000 troops to maintain control and offer a reasonable chance of success. Bush41 wisely heeded the advice and stopped Desert Storm short of Baghdad. Clinton also listened. Then bush43 "decided" that his expert military judgement could overcome the obstacles in those predictions. Once again the reach of his hubris far exceeded the grasp of his ability.
Each day more of his sycophants lose the battle against recognizing the realities of both his failed war and presidency. Reality constantly seeks to intrude on their illusions about his delusions. Avoiding reality gets harder each day until they face it unless they have their own serious issues. He may prove to be our first president who is a sociopath; it's just one more distinction for him.
So what if President Assad allows the Sunni Insurgents to operate from its territory, and sponsors terrorism by backing Hamas & Hezbollah governments in Lebanon and other countries bordering Isreal.
Its a crying shame that we do not recognize Hamas & Hezbollah governments. What's the big deal? They explained where they're coming from. Nancy should take the time to talk to them as well as Iran. Lets keep this dialog going and not come back until the problem area is taken care of and the mission is accomplished.
All this international traveling is costing the taxpayers money and contributing to global polution & warming.
Some experts are predicting that within the next year we will begin to see its devastating effects.
Putting that aside, I have to agree with the Democrats on this bold journey. God Bless You Nancy & keep up the good work fellow Democrats. We're all behind you.
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