Posted on 12/13/2006 9:54:16 AM PST by Sub-Driver
Fla. senator defies Bush, visits Syria
By ANNE PLUMMER FLAHERTY, Associated Press Writer 14 minutes ago
In a direct affront to the Bush administration, a Democratic senator spent an hour Wednesday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus, asking him to do more to stabilize Iraq.
Sen. Bill Nelson (news, bio, voting record) of Florida, a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, met with Assad after the State Department said that it disapproved of his trip. The United States has limited diplomatic ties with Syria because of its support of Hezbollah and Hamas, which the U.S. deems terrorist organizations, and President Bush has expressed reluctance to seek help from Damascus on Iraq until the Syrians curb that support and reduce their influence in Lebanon.
Assad "clearly indicated a willingness to cooperate" in controlling its border with Iraq, Nelson told reporters in a conference call following the meeting. The U.S. says foreign fighters often enter Iraq across that boundary.
Nelson said he reported the information to embassy officials and will brief his congressional committees on the trip. He said he expects Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., to also visit Syria.
The diplomatic push from Congress comes on the heels of a recommendation by a bipartisan panel that the U.S. engage Iran and Syria on the war in Iraq. Bush has remained cool to the proposal by the Iraq Study Group, which was led by former Secretary of State James A. Baker III and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind.
Nelson said he ultimately received logistical support from the State Department in what he called a "fact-finding trip" across the Middle East, being transported by embassy officials from Jordan's capital city of Amman to Damascus.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
A Democrat being friendly with our enemies? What's the news?
He should be arrested immediately upon his return.
Bill Nelson is as dumb as a box of hair ping!
If those jerks can visit Syria, why can't the rest of us visit Cuba?
--there is a law forbidding this, IIRC but it has been ignored --(Jesse Jackson and Jimmah Cahter come to mind)--
Now the Syrians are going to think all Americans are as stupid as Nelson.
I thought that was Wink Martindale!
Cheers
Jim
"Nelson said he reported the information to embassy officials and will brief his congressional committees on the trip. He said he expects Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and Arlen Specter, R-Pa., to also visit Syria. "
Ahhh... Trolling for campaign cash.
Hey Bill whats the policy on Bosnia and Kosovo? You comb-over dope!
I don't care that Nelson went to Syria. What bothers me is that he's coming back.
Is there any creature more vile than that of "Democratic Senator"? Maybe "moderate Republican senator", but not quite.
" thought that was Wink Martindale! "
No, Wink is much smarter and more of a statesman.
Not from Bush. A guy that has made himself an adopted bro of the impeached bent one, a guy that let Teddy Kennedy write the education bill, the guy that won't stand up to an illegal invasion, a guy that fought a war with political correctness, etc. Naw, he would rather have lunch with Sheila Jackson Lee than Tom Tancredo.He's probably sending Meuller out to a CAIR breakfast meeting while he's meeting with BONO giving away another 15 mill of our money on another failed policy to rid Africa of aids.
Sure Senator,Syria would love to help you stabilize Iraq.Just look at the success they've had stabilizing Lebanon.Soooo...a few pro-democracy politicians in Lebanon were assassinated.Hey,as Marx once said "in order to make an omelet one must break a few eggs".
And,BTW Senator,did Assad take you on a tour of the facilities used to store all the stuff that was trucked from Iraq to Syria in the weeks leading up to the war? If so,did you wear your hazmat suit...or weren't you offered one?
Is he going by his nickname given to him by the Shuttle Astronauts---"Astronaut Ballast"?
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