Neocon congressman had secret meeting in Syria (not criticized like Pelosi's!)

[gauguin57]

My VERY conservative congressman, Joe Pitts, met w/the Syrian president (sounds like his meeting was w/Bush approval) -- of course, Pitts wasn't publicly criticized!!
http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/202433

Pitts in Syria before Pelosi
But county’s U.S. rep. draws less criticism

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. - While U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's upcoming visit to Syria has caused the White House to bristle, a little-publicized rendezvous took place Sunday between Syria's president and Lancaster County's congressman.

And though Bush administration officials have been criticizing Pelosi, it's not clear what role the White House and the U.S. Department of State played when U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts and two other Republican congressmen met with Syrian President Bassar Assad. ...

Gabe Neville, Pitts' chief of staff, said Monday the conference between Assad and the three Republicans was intended to be "low profile. ... It was done in cooperation with the administration," he said. However, White House spokesman Alex Conant said Monday the Bush administration — as a blanket policy — "discourages all of (Congress') visits" to Syria, a country believed by the White House to sponsor terrorism.

The House Speaker's office criticized the Bush administration for focusing their criticisms — until Monday — on Pelosi, the top House Democrat, for leading a congressional delegation to meet with Assad later this week. "There's a Republican trip going before her, and no one is criticizing that," Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said. "So clearly the White House's motives here are in question." ...

[Norquist Nemesis]

1. "So clearly the White House's motives here are in question."

Zing!

:applause:

[rodeodance]

2. this issue REALLY IRKS me!

[rodeodance]

3. saw Bob Sheifer on Sun talk show chat about this to Bartlett--but no mention

of Repugs going!!!!!!!!!!!

[rodeodance]

4. K and REC

[DCKit]

5. What is Nancy's message?

I can only hope she's making the following points:

1) We're in charge now, things are going to get better. Have patience.

2) We will do whatever we can to prevent further escalation. Please help us out.

3) The mood in the us is changing. The American people don't want war. This is HIS war.


Oh, and, if you are, stop supplying weapons to Iraq. We can't leave until things quiet down. If you want us out, please work with your allies and neighbors to help us leave... quietly.