White House: Syrian visits (by Senators--most Dem) hurt progress

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061214/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_syria_5

White House: Syrian visits hurt progress

By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 23 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The White House said Thursday that Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson (news, bio, voting record)'s trip to
Syria was not only inappropriate, but that it gave undue legitimacy to a government that is thwarting democratic reform in the Middle East.

Nelson emerged from a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Wednesday, saying Assad was willing to help control the
Iraq-Syrian border. The Florida Democrat said he viewed Assad's remarks as "a crack in the door for discussions to continue. I approach this with realism, not optimism."

But White House press secretary Tony Snow said the trip by Nelson, a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, and future visits to Syria expected by Sens.John Kerry, D-Mass., Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., send an unhelpful, mixed message to the Syrians.

"We want to make sure that they understand that just because they have visitors does not mean that the position of the United States government has changed," Snow said.

And he warned that the lawmakers could become ensnared in efforts by Damascus to burnish its image.

[John Gauger]

1. Bullshit.

That government is not less legitimate than this one. They're just trying to make their stupid, short-sighted policy look legitimate, which they are failing to do.

[BOSSHOG]

4. Maybe a couple of democratic senators can go to the white house

and meet with administration officials to give it some semblance of legitimacy. Imagine sitting down and talking to someone instead of killing them. What a novel idea.

[John Gauger]

14. Unfortunately,

it's a totally foreign concept to this administration.

[LSparkle]

2. White House: Dems making us look bad by doing real diplomacy

Thanks for representing the "silenced majority," Sen. Nelson!

[goforit]

11. Diplomacy only for ALL monarchies involved (Bush, Exxon, Haliburton, SA,..

Cheney, Carlyle, Chevron,KB&R, Lockheed Marttin, BP, the royal family, Israel, Kuwait, Pharmaceuticals)

Diplomacy my ass.

[Eugene]

3. Apparently the BushCo idea progress is still regime change.

Shrubya is dead set on staying the curse course.

[Old and In the Way]

5. It won't be democracy in Syria until we can kill 500,000 and destroy

their infrastructure. This talking to adversaries is so 20th century.

[aggiesal]

6. What progress? ...

This administration doesn't talk with anyone!

[yellowcanine]

7. Does the U.S. not "recognize" the Syrian government? If so, what is the damn problem?

[Pastiche423]

8. The Problem

is that someone that is an elected representative of our government chose diplomacy rather than "kill them all".

I realize your question was most likely rhetorical, but I wanted to answer it, nevertheless.

[goforit]

9. Bring it on Bush.... Keep whining how it's hurt YOUR progress.

[Hardrada]

10. Yeah, what fucking progress??

[rodeodance]

12. the WH wants complete control. can't stand it to have others involved.

[Tatiana]

13. I have no problem with the "adults" exercising DIPLOMACY.

Something the Idiot-in-Chief is incapable of doing.

F Bush if he has a problem with it. I'm glad some Senators realize the urgency of the situation in the ME and are trying to do something about it through dialogue and engagement.

[maxsolomon]

15. Prove It

no one is listening to you anymore, and after the new congress starts up, you'll mostly be answering subpoenas.

[Seeking Serenity]

16. Logan Act

Any chance of the Evil Empire invoking the Logan Act against Kerry, Nelson, et al.?