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White House Denounces Visits to Syria by US Legislators
Voice of America ^ | December 15, 2006 | Scott Stearns

Posted on 12/15/2006 1:29:21 PM PST by IntelliQuark

The White House says it is inappropriate for members of Congress to meet privately with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. VOA White House correspondent Scott Stearns reports, one senator visited Damascus earlier this week, and several others are planning visits to the Syrian capital.

White House spokesman Tony Snow criticized Florida Senator Bill Nelson for meeting with President Assad Wednesday, saying it is neither helpful nor appropriate.

"The point is that, even lending a further specter of legitimacy to that government undermines the cause of democracy in the region," said Mr. Snow. "The Syrians have been adventurous and meddlesome in Iraq, and in Lebanon, and working against the causes of democracy in both of those countries."

(Excerpt) Read more at voanews.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: benedictarnolds; congress; democrats; elections; iran; iraq; kerry; nelson; syria; tonysnow; traitors; wot
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The Senators are defying and undermining the official US policy and are giving aid and comfort to our enemies.
1 posted on 12/15/2006 1:29:24 PM PST by IntelliQuark
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To: IntelliQuark
"The Syrians have been adventurous and meddlesome in Iraq, and in Lebanon, and working against the causes of democracy in both of those countries."

... and have Saddam's WMDs.

2 posted on 12/15/2006 1:32:43 PM PST by gov_bean_ counter ( I am sitting under my cone of silence, inside a copper wire cage wearing a tin foil hat...)
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To: All
Related:

Senator Kerry urges dialogue with Iran, Syria

"Kerry left the Uunited States on Wednesday for a nine-day visit of the Middle East, including Iraq, and a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but not a visit to Iran. "

Senator Kerry says willing to go to Iran

3 posted on 12/15/2006 1:34:17 PM PST by IntelliQuark
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To: IntelliQuark

Why is it that 'moderate' dems like Nelson always seem to pull this stuff a month AFTER they get re-elected? They count on voting public having a short memory.


4 posted on 12/15/2006 1:34:45 PM PST by CaptainMorgantown
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To: gov_bean_ counter

Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, receives US Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in Damascus, Syria

5 posted on 12/15/2006 1:35:17 PM PST by IntelliQuark
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To: IntelliQuark

This isn't Kerry's first visit to Syria, bet he is aiding and abetting them in some way.... also, wasn't it Rockefeller who clued Syria in on the date of the coming attack on Iraq?


6 posted on 12/15/2006 1:36:19 PM PST by Arizona Carolyn
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To: IntelliQuark

I'm glad the WH said something, at least. That said, I thought it was illegal for a private citizen - which is all these guys are - to "negotiate" with a foreign government on behalf of the US. That seems to be what they are trying to do.


7 posted on 12/15/2006 1:36:44 PM PST by livius
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To: IntelliQuark

Two words....Logan Act



Doogle


8 posted on 12/15/2006 1:39:32 PM PST by Doogle (USAF 68-73...although it's been said many times many ways Merry Christmas tooooo you)
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To: livius

see post #8


9 posted on 12/15/2006 1:40:24 PM PST by Doogle (USAF 68-73...although it's been said many times many ways Merry Christmas tooooo you)
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To: All
Longer article in the LA Times:

White House decries senators' visits to Syria

Excerpts:

"The White House on Thursday stepped up its pressure on senators who are engaged in direct talks with Syrian leaders, saying their trips to Damascus risk undermining U.S. efforts to encourage democracy in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, the administration criticized Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) shortly after he met with Assad in Damascus.

On Thursday, Snow extended that criticism to two other Democratic senators, Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut and John F. Kerry of Massachusetts, and a Republican, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.

He (Snow) said that regardless of the message delivered by the senators, "the Syrians have already won a PR victory" because the visits were "lending … legitimacy" to the Assad government."

As I said, they are guilty of treason, giving aid and comfort to the terrorists and undermining our War against the terrorists and terrorist nations.

10 posted on 12/15/2006 1:41:00 PM PST by IntelliQuark
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To: CaptainMorgantown

He's a democrat. That means his standards are adjustable.

Remember the democrats who screamed about some kind of conspiracy to keep the hostages to help Reagan get elected? Now we find that Fat Teddy K was the one working against Carter with the KGB but there isn't a peep out of the democrats about it.


11 posted on 12/15/2006 1:41:58 PM PST by cripplecreek (Peace without victory is a temporary illusion.)
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To: IntelliQuark

Too bad so many of the American people are so stupid - they mostly sent the wrong Congress critters packing. Unfortunately, it isn't only the stupid ones that will suffer the consequences of their choices.


12 posted on 12/15/2006 1:42:25 PM PST by MEGoody (Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.)
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To: IntelliQuark
The Senators are defying and undermining the official US policy and are giving aid and comfort to our enemies.

They are getting a little bit too big for their "new majority" britches.

Time for somebody in the WH to deliver a strong smackdown. If they don't do something about these 'RATS meeting with the enemy, it's only going to get worse; and American soldiers will suffer the consequences of the traitor pols' actions.

13 posted on 12/15/2006 1:42:35 PM PST by tgslTakoma
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To: livius

They claim they are only on a "factfinding" mission.
Probably trying to find out how much, as in $$$$$$$$$$$$$, would Assad pay them to change US policy and defund our War on Terror and don't think this isn't a serious possibility.


14 posted on 12/15/2006 1:43:18 PM PST by IntelliQuark
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To: IntelliQuark

Revoke their passports for reentry to the US because now they have ties to a terrorist nation.


15 posted on 12/15/2006 1:44:53 PM PST by tobyhill (The War on Terrorism is not for the weak.)
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To: IntelliQuark; potlatch; devolve

16 posted on 12/15/2006 1:46:10 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: IntelliQuark
PS. Not to mention working with Assad to undermine Bush, to give more power to the Dems.

Remember, that when the Soviet Union was our enemy, Carter try to sell us out and work with them and get help from them against his Republican opponent, Ronald Reagan.

Democrats are willing to align themselves with our worst enemies, against Republicans.

17 posted on 12/15/2006 1:46:44 PM PST by IntelliQuark
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To: Arizona Carolyn; potlatch; devolve

18 posted on 12/15/2006 1:47:13 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
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To: IntelliQuark

The Logan Act : Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

Senate Democrat Defies Bush, Visits Syria
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson Says Assad Appears Willing To Work With U.S. On Iraq

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/12/13/politics/main2255768.shtml


19 posted on 12/15/2006 1:49:51 PM PST by sure_fine (*not one to over kill the thought process*)
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To: sure_fine

Thanks for posting the Logan Act.

It surely seems to apply to these Senators.

The US Attorney General should prosecute them under this Act. If a few of them would land in jail, it would definitely send a message.


20 posted on 12/15/2006 1:52:02 PM PST by IntelliQuark
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