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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Despite Bush's objection, Dem. Senator meets Assad |
| 2006-12-14 |
| 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, 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 US deems terrorist organizations, and President George W. 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 US says foreign fighters often enter Iraq across that boundary. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #17 If I were pres, I would have attacked Syria while he was there. Heh, heh, heh. Assad to Wx, we have your senator. Wx to Assad, I know, I attacked you just to bust his balls. Assad, wha ? Wx, I'll withdraw now, so send him home but there better be hammer marks on his scrotum or I will attack for real. |
| Posted by: wxjames 2006-12-14 17:53 |
| #16 I was less-than-half-paying-attention to the Fox Panel last night. Seems like Congresskritters can go on fact-finding missions to get it strat from the despot's mouth. It seems it's only courtesy that restricts donkeys from making asses of themselves. What they do over there could be another matter. And Kerry, who was still in the military (if not the service) when he grandstanded with the North Vietnamese, is another kettle of fish altogether, |
| Posted by: Bobby 2006-12-14 16:22 |
| #15 and he's negotiating with Assad with what authority or power? Isn't there some law that he's breaking here? If not there certainly should be. For anyone to be able to go talk to another country without the go ahead of our president is just wrong. I too would like to know how this trip was paid for. |
| Posted by: Jan at work 2006-12-14 16:00 |
| #14 Who paid for the trip? US Senators have no mandate to conduct foreign policy except at the behest of the Executive. Impeach his ass. |
| Posted by: mcsegeek1 2006-12-14 14:36 |
| #13 After hearing so much in the media about "dictatorship" and "assasination", I thought it appropriate to give President Assad the opportunity to lie to my face. He did so convincingly, and my job now is to make other people believe in the sincerity of a despot so that I don't look like the only idiot in the room. |
| Posted by: Sen. Bill Nelson 2006-12-14 13:52 |
| #12 Isn't there a law regarding private individuals (or even Senators or Representatives) lobbying foreign governments or interfering in US foreign policy? |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-12-14 12:45 |
| #11 More treason. Tar and feather him. Is that legal because I can get my hands on the tar. |
| Posted by: Icerigger 2006-12-14 11:36 |
| #10 former astronut? |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-12-14 11:30 |
| #9 I'm curious if the news of this meeting came out before the election how that would have affected things. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2006-12-14 11:01 |
| #8 Supposedly, John Fn Kerry will be meeting with him on his "it was just a botched joke" tour. Maybe he's having flashbacks and thinks Zippy is Uncle Ho? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-12-14 09:10 |
| #7 More treason. Tar and feather him. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2006-12-14 09:02 |
| #6 An so it starts. |
| Posted by: gromgoru 2006-12-14 08:00 |
| #5 Flordia Roach swaps spit @ Roach Motel in Damascus. |
| Posted by: RD 2006-12-14 03:33 |
| #4 Thanks for embarrassing Florida, you putz. |
| Posted by: Swamp Blondie 2006-12-14 02:59 |
| #3 Assad "clearly indicated a willingness to cooperate" in controlling its border with Iraq, Nelson told reporters Looks like they know which category to file you under, Nelson. |
| Posted by: gorb 2006-12-14 02:14 |
| #2 He's under the delusion that a) he's the President and b) that he matters. Wotta maroon. |
| Posted by: .com 2006-12-14 01:35 |
| #1 Nothing new here. Nelson has always been an ass. It is so disappointing when people live down to expectations. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-12-14 01:02 |