Pelosi Asks Saudis: Where Are The Women?

House Speaker Raises Issue Of Saudi Arabia's Lack Of Female Politicians

(AP)  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she raised the issue of Saudi Arabia's lack of female politicians with Saudi government officials on the last stop of her Mideast tour.

Pelosi, the first woman House speaker, said she had not discussed King Abdullah's recent criticism of the U.S. occupation of Iraq, focusing instead on praise for the king's Mideast peace initiative, and efforts to quell conflicts in Somalia and Darfur.

She met with the king Wednesday and with several members of the Shura Council, an unelected advisory assembly named by the king, on Thursday.

Asked if she had discussed the lack of women on the council, she told reporters, "The issue has been brought up in our discussions with the Saudis on this trip."

Pelosi arrived in Saudi Arabia from Syria, where she defied the White House's Middle East policy by meeting with President Bashar Assad and saying "the road to Damascus is a road to peace." The Bush administration has rejected direct talks with Damascus and criticized Pelosi for her visit.

In an interview with ABC News, Vice President Dick Cheney said Assad has "been isolated and cut off because of his bad behavior, and the unfortunate thing about the speaker's visit is it sort of breaks down that barrier."

Pelosi was met at the Riyadh airport by officials including Abdul-Rahman al-Zamel, the head of the Saudi-American friendship committee at the Shura Council. He described the speaker's visit as a "breakthrough" and praised the inclusion of the first Muslim member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., in her delegation.

Pelosi wore a lavender pantsuit instead of the long black robe, called an abaya, that women, Saudi and non-Saudi, have to wear in the kingdom.

Visiting women dignitaries are not expected to wear the robe, and other female U.S. government officials who have visited Saudi Arabia in the past few years, such as U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, did not wear abayas when they met with Saudi officials.

Ihsan Abu-Holeiqa, a member of the council, said the meeting with Pelosi Thursday included discussion of the new difficulties Saudis have in getting U.S. visas, with some waiting four to five months. The lengthy process followed the Sept. 11 attacks carried out by 19 hijackers, 15 of them Saudis.

"We told her there should be some movement on the visa issue because, while we understand the security needs, the situation is unacceptable," said Abu-Holeiqa.

Al-Zamel also praised Pelosi's visit to Syria, saying Syria "is part of this Arab world, part of the issues to be resolved, and to ignore people gets you nowhere."

Pelosi was the highest-ranking American politician to visit Syria since relations began to deteriorate in 2003. Then-U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell went to Damascus in May 2003.

Washington accuses Syria of backing Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups it deems terrorist organizations, and fueling Iraq's violence by allowing Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory.

Pelosi's visit heightened tensions between the Bush administration and congressional Democrats, who have stepped up their push for change in U.S. policy in the Mideast and the Iraq war.

But Democrats — and some Republicans — said the lack of dialogue had closed doors to possible progress in resolving Mideast crises.

Pelosi said she expressed to Assad "our concern about Syria's connections to Hezbollah and Hamas" and militant fighters slipping across the Syrian border into Iraq.

"We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace," said Pelosi, who met for three hours with Assad.

Assad has repeatedly said over the past year that Damascus is willing to negotiate with Israel, insisting the talks must lead to the return of the Golan Heights, seized by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War.

"He's ready to engage in negotiations for peace with Israel," Pelosi said of the Syrian leader.

[processor2]

WHAT THE LIBERAL NEWS (cbs,abc,cnn,npr,msnbc) DIDN'T REPORT yesterday was that NANCY PELOSI STEPPED IN IT big-time.

Pelosi told the Syrians that Israel is ready to talk. WHICH WAS A LIE, Israel gave her no such instructions.
An agitated Prime Minister of Israel then had to go on Israeli TV to explain that NANCY PELOSI WAS WRONG, didn't know what she was talking about, and that Israel's foreign policy had not changed. Just because of Nancy's stupidity.

Queen Nancy needs to calm down.

...

[realpatriot1]

Sir ***,

What's funny is that you don't know that the Senate is part of the legislative branch or that impeachment begins with hearings in the House and/or Senate.

Only if and when Articles of Impeachment are voted out of committee does Impeachment move exclusively to the Senate for trial.

[sirbass73]

Its funny. Any impeachment must come from the senete not the legislative branch. I really dont think the socialists will go against one of their own and impeach her as they REALLY want to see the U.S. LOSE in Iraq. If we lose in Iraq then the socialists can say they were right. But if we win in Iraq the socialists will be proven that they were wrong on more then a few accounts. Why dont you ask your fellow socialists why they refuse to bring up charges and impeachment procedings against her?

They really dont want the world to know just how screwed up they want to make the world. Let alone the U.S.

[rdndv]

Pelosi is right on this time. Bush's policy of ignoring enemies is completely idiotic. I don't know how he plans to get anything done. Cheney's explanation-that assad has been isolated because of his bad behavior-wouldn't be a bad idea except for the fact that assad doesn't care too much about his isolation. & he certainly doesn't care enough to stop his "bad" behavior.

[realpatriot1]

mudrose,

Funny you should mention Neville Chamberlain. Grandfather Bush made his fortune by doing business with the Third Reich for the duration of WW2. You see, the Bush family always puts thier pocketbook ahead of America.

When Bush 41 was President, Sadaam asked the American ambassador if we minded if he invaded Iraq and was told we didn't care. Now that was a Neville Chamberlain moment!

[realpatriot1]

Superpatr898,

If you aren't proud of your language then why can't you let the garbage out of your brain without it? It seems you have a big problem.

You can't be too proud of who you are because no matter how often you're asked you refuse to say whether you are Israeli or American. Your silence up until this point has left no doubt as to the answer. So stop questioning the patriotism of Americans who pay the foreign aid which allows your country to exist. Get your Israeli butt ti Iraq!

[agnim]

"Pelosi Asks Saudis: Where Are The Women?"

The women are UNDER THE REAL MEN, where they belong by nature! Duh! LOL

[mudrose-2009]

The Soros group is too indoctrinated to realize that they have been indoctrinated. This is the by-product of not being taught history in the schools. These people have no concept of how government runs; no historical framework of this Continent or the European Continent. Soros and his group has great plans for this country as does that social dingbat Pelosi. Open borders, take every incursion against our country to the do-nothing U.N.; have unfetted abortions, tear down all our institutions - marriage, military, branches of government. This is what the left advocates and the silly little disciples that follow them have no clue what they are in for. For those of us that spew venom out of shear frustration that they won't ever get it, well, we've been here before in WWII. The Chamberlain crowd has once again arrived. We've beat them once, we will do it again.

[jpesot]

I have to admit that I get a real kick out of the "Guttermouth" talk and other taunts of a sexual nature ...

Particularly those from what must be True Christians ... (given the interesting swings taken at athiests) ... and then all this on Good Friday.

Yea... I'm sure the Lord is looking down and smiling at all the Peace, Compassion, and Love being modeled by such True Belivers.

Joy to the World!

[superpatr898]

Interesting. Very interesting.

We have the usual toilet water sipping, hate filled stooges of MoveOn.Org, ANSWER, International Solidarity, the Nazi Party, and of course Pelosi's Dems - who promised us a new America for the people calling Republicans and those who DO stick up for this country "incredibly ignorant" - LOL.

Of course these brain dead, bitter, atheists (after all, at least two of the leading Goosesteppers have described themselves as such), Blame America, Jooz-bait, Christian hate clowns - including a few who describe themselves as vets (of whom?) don't wish to be confused with the facts, won't accept that Ho Pelo rewarded a country that murdered Americans, won't deal with reality. They just want Sharia, or Adolf, or whatever. They don't want this country to win.

I see bluestarbigot, whom yesterday wanted Johnny Walker Lindh hanged because his son serves - is back to Jew-baiting. Nice. This bigoted clown can't tell the difference between friends and the enemy. But go kiss Pelosi's a$$ while she s*cks off Assad's d*ck. That's about your speed.

Yeah, I chose the guttermouth, and am not proud of it, I can acknowledge that, but idiots and cowards like the Left Nazis and bimbos like NYCKate, well, they're so dumb that's probably the only language they get.

[jpesot]

mudrose -- if what they have done is illegal, then I'm sure Alberto Gonzalez will have no problem bringing the charges and shipping them off to Gitmo. But I've been watching the news for the last few days and have yet to see such charges brought.

The real problem here is that bubble boy's diplomatic approach is little better than that of the school yard bully. "I'm biggest, I say what goes". The other kids may learn to fear you, but they also learn to hate you.

If GW was a real president and we were really at war, he would have pulled the Democrats into the decision making process immediately -- they represent ~50% of the country. Instead, he locked them out completely, and used 9/11 for political purposes.

Now he, and his followers, can stamp their feet and hold their breath all they want. The American people are moving away from him and his blind followers. In every press conference he becomes more and more unhinged, bewildered that the Congress no longer rubber stamps his every wish. The GOP was happy to do that so long as he never vetoed the record levels of PORK they put in their bills.

Persoannally, I'd like to see the Legislative branch impeach the fool. But that takes too long, his term would be over by then.

So while we're stuck with 43 (which happens to also be his ranking as a President), I'm very happy to see the Congress finally step forward.

[grazinggoat]

Question is, though, if she were so "gutsy" in wearing the lavender pantsuit in Saudi, why didn't she wear western garb all the way through her visits to the Arab countries? Despite what our resident Islamonut GrazingJack would scream, she'd send a clearer message to the tyrants - that is, not the groveling one she gave with wearing the abaya.

Of course she did wear a skirt in Syria - so much to better service Assad, Jr. - Botox 'Ho she is.
Posted by Superpatr898

-Superfarrt699, such an idiot. When a House Speaker goes around the world, she's normally accompanied by advisors who know the habits and sanctities of a visited country. What's wrong for Pelosi to wear what Jewish women ( supposedly Christian women as well) wear all day long i.e. decent wearing, that Muslim Women wear all day long. Superfarrrt doesn't really care about others to wear things that may look controversial. Of course he has a fixing complex over Nancy. He wished she could walk nude in the streets of Damascus or SaudiArabia.

As a woman, I honor this Nancy Pelosi, and rather see her a raw model for many American Girls/Women.

Superfarrrt, if you prefer seeing a woman going naked in front of Presidents such as Assad and King Abdullah, why don't you send you wife or daughter and do it. You seem to like it so much.

[jpesot]

Another funny thing in one of the recent right wing posts below .... fredgrad2000 complains that Nancy (and the dems I guess) don't realize that we're fighting Islamic Extremism.

Why is this funny? Because Nancy made her comments about women while in Saudi Arabia. You know, our friends, Saudia Arabia. I mean GW's really GOOD friends in Saudia Arabia. The one's he holds hands with (insert your own inappropriate sexual joke here).

See this is really funny. The right wingers are mad that Nancy is in Saudia Arabia, ignoring the fact that they are Islamic extremsists. And yet GW can hold hands with them, no problem. Cheney jumps on a plane when they call, no problem.

But Nancy asks them why there aren't more woman in the political system there, and she is doing something wrong.

Wake up. If you are going to play this game, at least recognize which flavor of Islam you are hating and stick to it. Bush loves the Saudis (even if most of the 9/11 hijackers came from there).

So if Bush loves them, and they are our friends and allies, certainly Nancy should be able to go see our friends.

Or, is Bush wrong the Saudis are Extremists?

(btw .. .I think they are ... and Bush has given them a complete pass on all of the Sunni led violance and terrorism, like 9/11).

[mudrose-2009]

To grumpas/jpesot

Sorry you can't follow us, maybe you should study English as a first language. As to rightwing nuts, sorry, there aren't any the likes of what Pelosi did. Since when does the Legislative Branch of government tell foreign bodies and enemies as well that "We have an alternative Democratic Policy. I view my job as beinning with restoring overseas credibility and respect for the United States." Congressman Langos. Who died and appointed these people Secretary of State and President? They are so power hungry they are "frothing" at the mouth. Do you need a definition of "frothing"? I don't want to talk over your head. What they have done is illegal and why don't you google and find out what the Logan Act is all about. She should be bound and quartered. Pelosi and Lantos. And to answer one further question, she did not ask the State Department's permission to go abroad and represent us. Or, the State Department told her not to go. Other delegations that went went with the blessing of the Presidency and the State Department. How much publicity did they get stupid? Why, because their intention was not an "alternative republican policy". Got it. This Democratic Party is lost in space. They are delusional and in lust for power. Anyone that follows them deserves the same fate.

[grumpas]

I have noticed one common problem with right wing nut cases!!!! They are all incrediably ignorant!!!!! Most of the right wing posts are so difficult to read being filled with childish second grade language, infantile referrences and error's in grammar they are down right impossible to read! One simply gives up after a sentence or two. It's not worth the effort to wade through it. One ran his sentence on and on to the point I got completely lost in the maze! All I can say is about Nancy Pelosi! Maybe she wouldn't have to go to the middle east and mend fences if we had a competent leader who was something other than an arrogant brat! How can you hope to bring enemies to your way of thinking if you shut them completely out?

[jpesot]

Why aren't the right wingers here bashing the GOP members who just went to Syria? Hummmm?

Members of congress have always traveled to foreign countries and talked to their leaders. This is no different. (btw ... Hassert went to Columbia when Clintion was prez and told them to ignore Clinton and owrk with the congress).

The right wingers also don't seem to complain when Laura Bush or Condi covered their heads while in the middle-east. Why not?

The right wing posters here do seem very comfortable using sexual references in their attempts to attack Pelosi. Most of which weren't funny ... but that's certainly not out of character, and of course factually irrelevant.

I suspect you are all ticked off that Iran gave those hostiages back before GW got a complete erection and launched him some missles ...

....see now that's funny.

[fredgrad2000]

Female politicians in Saudi Arabia!? Hahaha, I really hope Grandma was making a point, and not just ignorant of the radical Muslims she doesn't want us to fight anywhere at all (See how her new Congress just banned use of "Global War on Terror")...before women could be come politicians in Saudi Arabia or any area the Taliban/Al-Qaeda would control, they'd have to be allowed to drive, go to school for an education, walk outside without having to be accompanied by a male relative, allowed to be distinguished from other women running by not having to cover themselves head to toe in burqas, and be allowed to not get stoned for being raped (in those areas, if a woman gets raped and cannot product FOUR MALE witnesses, she'll be stoned or lashed for adultery)...these are the "fascist" rules our Islamo-fascist enemies ascribe to (including the Wahhabi clerics who control social policy in Saudi Arabia in return for supporting the Monarchy)...and the ones that would make ALL follow if Osama and his crew had their way; "Grandma" would be wearing a Burqa locked in her house, not wearing designer suits and visiting men (foreign officials) in foreign countries, or anywhere for that matter.

[pussylib]

Its also VERY WRONG AND BAD to call the speaker HANOI NANCY for visiting Syria. If we could all just hold hands as brothers and sisters this could all end,

[superpatr898]

Surely you jest, pussylib - or does your moniker - LOL - speak volumes!

[pussylib]

I think Its very RUDE to critisize MOTHER NANCY for fighting for womens rights in Arabia. All they need in the middle east is a good talking to not bombs and violence. If only Nancy were president all our worries would be over.