From The Hill -- "Speaker Pelosi Is 100% Right About Syria" (Brent Budowsky)

[scarletwoman]

Speaker Pelosi Is 100% Right About Syria

April 6, 2007
Brent Budowsky

With the administration of the most failed and catastrophic national-security policy in history in full-throated attack demeaning the Speaker, and mainstream media as usual parroting the attack with minimal response for the first 24 hours, it is time to make this case: The Speaker is absolutely right and it is important to consider exactly why.

First, let’s be clear about exactly what the Speaker did. She put pressure on Syria to do exactly what the president claims he wants Syria to do. She put pressure on Syria to do exactly what Israel wants Syria to do.

If there is any message received by Syria from this trip, it is that the Speaker and Democrats join the president in demanding Syria provide security guarantees to Israel, stop any support for terrorist groups, and stop any action that helps those in Iraq killing Americans.

What the Speaker did was advance the goals the president publicly says he favors, unless in truth the president prefers yet another unwise war to what he claims he wants diplomatically.

Second, let’s discuss what is really happening...

(please read the rest at the link -- it's really quite excellent)

sw

[alarimer]

1. Of course she is right- she is sane, unlike our President

Diplomacy often involves talking to people we don't much like. Clearly the warlike approach only manages to alienate and isolate us.

[Robson]

2. Besides, Olmert, AIPAC and Rush Limbaugh who thinks she shouldn't have dialogue with Syria

I'd like to send every PRO-Israli lobbyist to residence in Israel so they only influence THEIR government instead of OUR government.

Stay the fxxk out of our country, and stay out of our government, and stay out of our policy.

Pelosi did well by talking to Syria and any other country that she believes is necessary to help the INTERESTS of the USA.

[peacetalksforall]

3. Is what Bush says he wants really what he wants?

"If there is any message received by Syria from this trip, it is that the Speaker and Democrats join the president in demanding -
(1) Syria provide security guarantees to Israel,
(2) stop any support for terrorist groups, and
(3) stop any action that helps those in Iraq killing Americans."

The thing is -

This IS NOT want PNAC wants - they WANT perpetual war. They will get perpetual war if Syria does the opposite (keeps on doing the opposite).

What Bush says he wants is propaganda rhetoric. Only.

[indie_voter]

4. Great post. Thanks. I love this quote

I opposed the Iraq war from the beginning, as a centrist Democrat in the Sam Nunn, Lloyd Bentsen and John Glenn tradition. What has galled me the most, from the beginning of this catastrophe, is the radicalism, extremism and dishonesty of those who wanted this war the longest, whose damage to America was the greatest, and whose demeaning contempt for informed opinion and democratic institutions is more reminiscent of Putin’s Russia than Jefferson’s or even Reagan’s America.

YES!

"demeaning contempt for informed opinion" sums up the republican party these days quite nicely.