Despite President Bush's objections, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met today in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Afterward, Pelosi told reporters she "expressed concern" about Syria's support of Hamas and Hezbollah. She also carried the message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Omert that he is ready for peace talks. Describing the meeting, Syrian cabinet minister Bouthaina Shaaban said praised Pelosi for sending the right message to the Arab people and for coming to the region to "solve problems rather than to launch wars." The meeting--which Syrian officials are calling a "victory"--is being carefully watched in Lebanon. Is Pelosi's international diplomacy in Syria undermining President Bush or is it time for a breakthrough? We hear from journalists in the US and Middle East, historians and policy experts.
Speaker Pelosi Conducts Her Own Diplomacy in Syria
Credits
Guests:
- Hassan Fattah - Middle East Correspondent, New York Times
- Michael Young - Daily Star
- Joshua Landis - University of Oklahoma - @joshua_landis
- Brian Darling - Director of Senate Relations at the Heritage Foundation
- Charles Kupchan - senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; professor of international affairs at Georgetown University; former member of the National Security Council for European Affairs under President Obama - @CFR_org