White House Criticizes Pelosi For Visit To Syria
The White House criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Friday for stopping in Syria during her trip to the Middle East.
Pelosi is in the Middle East on a bipartisan congressional delegation that arrived in Israel Friday with the goal of improving relations between the U.S. and countries in the region.
“We discourage members of Congress to make such visits to Syria,” White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. “This is a country that is a state sponsor of terror.”
Perino said Pelosi had not consulted anyone in the administration before scheduling her trip. The White House spokeswoman also questioned the wisdom of holding a photo op with Syrian President Bashar Assad. The speaker's office did not confirm that a media event with the Syrian president was on her schedule during her stop in that country.
“We think that someone should take a step back and think about the message that it sends,” Perino said.
A Pelosi spokesman responded that the stop in Syria is part of a broader effort to improve U.S. relations with other countries in the region.
"As recommended by the Iraq Study Group, a bipartisan delegation led by Speaker Pelosi intends to discuss a wide range of security issues affecting the United States and the Middle East with representatives of governments in the region, including Syria,” said Pelosi spokesman Brendan Daly in a statement Friday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the speaker is set to deliver a speech before the Israeli Knesset on Sunday, becoming the highest ranking American woman to address that country’s legislature.
In her remarks, Pelosi is expected to address the United States’ commitment to Israel and the challenges both countries face in confronting tensions in the Middle East, according to a release from her office.
These will be her first remarks before a foreign government.
The delegation will meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and other top officials during their time in Irsael. Pelosi will also be the guest of honor at an official state dinner, according to the Israeli embassy in Washington, a rare honor for visiting dignitaries.
During her visit, Pelosi will meet with the families of soldiers captured during last year’s conflict between armed militants in Hamas.
According to an embassy spokesman, this is the largest, bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel in at least three years. Other members include Republican Rep. David Hobson of Ohio and Democratic Reps. Tom Lantos of California, Nick Rahall of West Virginia, Louise Slaughter of New York, Henry A. Waxman of California and Keith Ellison of Minnesota, the only Muslim in the House.