Another View: On Nancy Pelosi’s trip to Syria:

The White House can't have it both ways. It cannot condemn a visit to Syria by Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi without also denouncing a trip there by a group of Republicans that included U.S. Rep. Bob Aderholt of Haleyville (Ala.).

Bush accused Pelosi of failing to heed the administration's policy against American travel to Syria, which it ranks as a supporter of terrorism.

It is hypocritical of the president to ignore the visit ... by the group of Republicans a week before the Pelosi trip.

In truth, neither visit should be censured.

The bipartisan 9/11 Commission urged our elected leaders to engage states such as Syria that can help achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.

The Pelosi visit also included Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Israel.

A spokesman for the White House National Security Council called Pelosi's meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad "counterproductive." ...

But Pelosi said Assad gave her reassurances that he was ready to resume the peace process by engaging in negotiations with Israel. Those talks collapsed in 2000.

Assad's involvement is important because of his influence on Hamas, whose charter calls for the destruction of Israel. Syria also is influential in the affairs of other Arab nations.

Aderholt, who rarely parts company with the president, said last week that it is important to engage nations like Syria in dialogue and seek common ground on issues.

Bush is wrong to ignore Assad. By default, leaders in Congress are shouldering the responsibility to rekindle Middle East peace efforts.
—The Tuscaloosa News, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

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