A Short List of Pelosi's Admirers

Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to Israel and Syria has left most of us scratching our heads and wondering what in the world does she think she's doing and who in the world does she think she is?

Fortunately, WorldNetDaily reveals that there are those who are able to see the whole affair clearly and with applause. Among these Pelosi supporters are:

Jihad Jaara, a senior member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades terror group and the leader of the 2002 siege of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, declared that,

I think it's very nice and I think it's much better when you sit face to face and talk to Assad. It's a very good idea. I think she is brave and hope all the people will support her. All the American people must make peace with Syria and Iran and with Hamas. Why not?"

Abu Abdullah, a leader of Hamas' military wing in the Gaza Strip, said the willingness by U.S. lawmakers to talk with Syria "is proof of the importance of the resistance against the U.S."

Khaled Al-Batch, a spokesman for Islamic Jihad, expressed hope that Pelosi would continue winning elections, and added that her Damascus visit demonstrated she understands the Middle East.

Meanwhile, today's editorial in the left-leaning Washington Post had something a little less enthusiastic to say:

Ms. Pelosi was criticized by President Bush for visiting Damascus at a time when the administration -- rightly or wrongly -- has frozen high-level contacts with Syria. Mr. Bush said that thanks to the speaker's freelancing Mr. Assad was getting mixed messages from the United States. Ms. Pelosi responded by pointing out that Republican congressmen had visited Syria without drawing presidential censure. That's true enough -- but those other congressmen didn't try to introduce a new U.S. diplomatic initiative in the Middle East. "We came in friendship, hope, and determined that the road to Damascus is a road to peace," Ms. Pelosi grandly declared.

Never mind that that statement is ludicrous: As any diplomat with knowledge of the region could have told Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Assad is a corrupt thug whose overriding priority at the moment is not peace with Israel but heading off U.N. charges that he orchestrated the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri. The really striking development here is the attempt by a Democratic congressional leader to substitute her own foreign policy for that of a sitting Republican president. Two weeks ago Ms. Pelosi rammed legislation through the House of Representatives that would strip Mr. Bush of his authority as commander in chief to manage troop movements in Iraq. Now she is attempting to introduce a new Middle East policy that directly conflicts with that of the president. We have found much to criticize in Mr. Bush's military strategy and regional diplomacy. But Ms. Pelosi's attempt to establish a shadow presidency is not only counterproductive, it is foolish.

What to make of all this?

I would suggest that the word "chutzpah" might be appropriate except for the fact that I would not like to further insult the nation of Israel by associating a nice Yiddish word with someone who managed to make Syria look good at Israel's expense.

On the other hand, I don't think that Israel would take any offense if I suggested the word "yenta" instead.

HT: PowerLine