Pelosi Conveying Israel Message to Syria

Pelosi Conveying Israel Message to Syria

www.forbes.com

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will convey an Israeli message to Syria that the country must stop supporting Palestinian militants before Israel will engage in peace talks, Israel said Sunday.

Pelosi met Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during the Israel part of her Mideast tour, which drew criticism from the White House because of her planned stop in Syria.

"Pelosi is conveying that Israel is willing to talk if they (Syria) would openly take steps to stop supporting terrorism," Olmert's spokeswoman Miri Eisin said. "But at this point the Syrian government, by openly backing terror all around the Middle East, is not a partner for negotiations."

(visit the link for the full news article)

Does anyone else find this disturbing, what is the speaker of the house doing meddling in foreign diplomacy firsthand?

I thought this type of thing is handled by the state department.

www.forbes.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

I looked and looked for the Speakers duties and did not find that "diplomat" was listed.
en.wikipedia.org...

Of course, any "citizen" can remark about world events and no one will likely hear about it.
But, since the Speaker is imprtant, her words are heard.
Perhaps she spoke out of turn...

Here is a reference to Congress' role in foreign policy

The Role of the Congress

Who Makes U.S. Foreign Policy?
Congress controls the purse strings, so they have a lot of influence over all kinds of federal issues - including foreign policy. Most important is the oversight role played by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House International Relations Committee.

The House and Senate Committees
The Senate committee has a special role to play because the Senate has to approve all treaties and all nominations to key foreign policy postings. Members, therefore, have a great deal of influence on how U.S. foreign policy is conducted and who represents the United States around the world.

The House committee has less authority, but still plays an important in passing the foreign affairs budget and in investigating how that money is used.

Senate and House members often travel abroad on fact-finding missions to places deemed vital to U.S. national interests.

Her actions appear to be infringing on the role of the State department.

I do not think relaying messages from Israel to Syria equate to a factfinding mission, it leans more towards policy IMO.

[edit on 2007/4/1 by JacKatMtn]

Here's an opinion story which questions Pelosi's role, remember it is an opinion but it looks like the lady Speaker is ruffling some feathers.

Pelosi Meeting With Syria's Assad Undermines Bush

While she should be supported for wanting to take the initiative to clear up misconceptions, she must remember she is the Speaker of the House, not Secretary of State who has been taken a policy totally in opposite to that of Pelosi.

Playing foreign policy games outside the scope of your assignment is a very dangerous game. Here, Pelosi is undermining the Administration after voting on a very important legislative instrument calling for the gradual cutting off of funding.

Pelosi has a role in foreign policy and it is not being Secretary of State. Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assad must be laughing all the way to bank waiving the flag—Mission Accomplished.

[edit on 2007/4/1 by JacKatMtn]

We've had several US Senators attempting to take matters into their own hands by visiting with Syrian Pres. Assad in the past. Israel was not too thrilled about this idea but it did happen. I guess these politicians are hoping they can hit the jackpot with fame if they can bring the 2 together. They don't realize that it is not in Israels interest to make peace. Anyway, what can you do. Were the Brits happy with France when they were helping us gain our independence by financing and supplying American forces? Israel intends on annexing everything, and anyone attempting to stray from that path is considered an enemy.

This woman thinks she is truly high and mighty to completely disregard the policies of the United States and visit foriegn governments WITH OUT aproval of the administration nor any policy currently in place by our government..

ER..

Anyways, talking to Syria about Israeli soldiers really is not going to do much anyways. Can you so publicity stunt?

The troops are most likely not alive either, I have not seen photos nor videos, and Israel is no longer seeking them. Sad, but they are most likely dead.

I have no idea what this woman thinks shes doing, except making a fool of her self.

(ps there are so many other Dems who should have the seat, why this nut?)

EDIT:

"And together we must have a simple message for Tehran, whose support of Hezbollah is well known: Iran must not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. The time to leverage all our power is now, and the way to do it is through diplomacy, with stronger sanctions and smarter policy choices."

She added that Iran "is a problem for the world."

She spews the same rhetoric Bush does.

I ask again. What is the difference between Dems and Reps? Not much

CNN

[edit on 4/1/2007 by Rockpuck]

Originally posted by JacKatMtn
Does anyone else find this disturbing,

She's a freak'n flake.

I'd be willing to bet that she's breaking the law. Syria is a terrorist nation. She is not authorized to be going over and negotiating. It's well outside of her job descriptions. I also think it most likely is not allowed for citizens to be meeting with leaders of countries that we have declared terrorist nations.

She's a major flake. The most frightening thought in America today is that this whack is just 2 heart beats from the oval office.

Here's a new article on Pelosi's visit, she isn't fazed by the White House's criticism and points to other Republican visits to Syria and asks where is the flak for them.

Pelosi shrugs off White House criticism

Pelosi, who is leading a congressional delegation on a fact-finding tour of the Middle East, said she would speak to the Syrians about Iraq, their role in the fight against terrorism, their support for militant groups such as Lebanon's Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas - whose exiled leaders live in Damascus - as well their influence in Lebanon.

Washington has accused Damascus of not doing enough to stop militants from crossing the Syrian-Iraqi border to join the Iraqi insurgency and stoking tensions in Lebanon.

A member of the delegation, Rep. Tom Lantos, a Democrat from California, said the group had no illusions about their visit to Damascus.

"We are going with the clear intention of making our position crystal clear to the Syrian leadership, basically indicating that it is in their interest to return to a position where they can be part of the positive forces in this region and not be in tight alliance with Ahmedinejad's Iran," Lantos said, referring to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

It surely sounds more like policymaking than fact-finding, I guess with the President in lameduck status, the door is open wide for those trying to implement foreign policy, ignoring the fact that this is not the function of Congress.


[edit on 2007/4/2 by JacKatMtn]

The news and further comment on this visit is continued in this News thread:

Bush Rival Breaks Syria Boycott