6A NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY HAIRY KANSAN
THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2007
FOREIGN RELATIONS
Pelosi visits Syria's leader
BY ZEINA KARAM ASSOCIATED PRESS
DAMASCUS, Syria — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged the White House on Middle East policy Wednesday, meeting with Syria's leader and insisting "the road to Damascus is a road to peace."
That brought a sharp attack from the Bush administration, which has rejected direct talks with Damascus until it changes its ways.
"Unfortunately that road is lined with the victims of Hamas and Hezbollah, the victims of terrorists who cross from Syria into Iraq," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for President Bush's National Security Council. "It's unfortunate that she took this unilateral trip which we only see as counterproductive."
Washington accuses Syria of backing Hamas and Hezbollah, two groups it deems terrorist organizations. It also says Syria is fueling Iraq's violence by allowing Sunni insurgents to operate from its territory and is destabilizing Lebanon's government. Syrian security officials have been implicated in the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri in Beirut, though Damascus has denied a role.
Pelosi was the highest-ranking American politician to visit Syria since relations began to deteriorate in 2003. Then Secretary of State Colin Powell went to Damascus in May 2003.
The visit heightened tensions between the administration and congressional Democrats, who have stepped up their push for change
in U.S. policy in the Mideast and the Iraq war. But Democrats — and some Republicans — say the refusal of dialogue has closed doors to possible progress in resolving Mideast crises.
Pelosi's visit coincided with Iran's announcement that it would free 15 British marines and sailors captured in the Persian Gulf last month. Syrian officials claimed their country, an ally of Iran, played a key role in resolving the standoff. But they did not offer any specific details.
"We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace," said Pelosi, who met for three hours with Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Assad has repeatedly said over the past year that Darnascus is willing to negotiate with Israel.
King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al-Saudi of Saudi Arabia meets U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, left, at the royal palace in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, in this photo released by Saudi News Agency. Pelosi visits challenged the House staff, has rejected talks with Syria.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
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