The Danger of Freelance Diplomacy

Hey Nancy - leave foreign policy with the Executive Branch!

PMO denies peace message to Assad

Pelosi shrugs off Bush’s criticism, meets Assad. Democrat raises issues of Mideast peace, Iraq with Syrian president

Pratfall in Damascus - Nancy Pelosi's foolish shuttle diplomacy

Excerpt:

As any diplomat with knowledge of the region could have told Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Assad is a corrupt thug whose overriding priority at the moment is not peace with Israel but heading off U.N. charges that he orchestrated the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. The really striking development here is the attempt by a Democratic congressional leader to substitute her own foreign policy for that of a sitting Republican president. Two weeks ago Ms. Pelosi rammed legislation through the House of Representatives that would strip Mr. Bush of his authority as commander in chief to manage troop movements in Iraq. Now she is attempting to introduce a new Middle East policy that directly conflicts with that of the president. We have found much to criticize in Mr. Bush's military strategy and regional diplomacy. But Ms. Pelosi's attempt to establish a shadow presidency is not only counterproductive, it is foolish.

Comment: The above statement is from the Washington Post ... not a friend of Republicans or of the President!

Prime Minister Pelosi and Secretary of State Lantos undermine U.S. foreign policy--and maybe their own party

Excerpt:

Meanwhile, Speaker Nancy Pelosi made her now famous sojourn to Syria, donning a head scarf and advertising that she was conducting shuttle diplomacy between Jerusalem and Damascus. If there was any doubt that her trip was intended as far more than a routine Congressional "fact-finding" trip, House Foreign Affairs Chairman Tom Lantos put it to rest by declaring that, "We have an alternative Democratic foreign policy. I view my job as beginning with restoring overseas credibility and respect for the United States."