Changes

===Support for Syria and Assad===

===Support for Syria and Assad===

Pelosi traveled to Damascus, Syria in April 2007 to meet with Syrian [[Ba'athist]] leader [[Bashar al-Assad]]. Pelosi indicated at a press conference that she had carried a message from the government of Israel.  "Our message was President Bush’s message," Pelosi told The Associated Press in Portugal.<ref>[http://cnsnews.com/news/article/pelosi-delivered-wrong-message-assad-israel-says Pelosi Delivered Wrong Message to Assad, Israel Says], [[CNSNews]] Apr 7 2007.</ref> Pelosi told reporters the meeting "enabled us to communicate a message from Prime Minister Olmert".

Pelosi traveled to Damascus, Syria in April 2007 to meet with Syrian [[Ba'athist]] leader [[Bashar al-Assad]]. Pelosi indicated at a press conference that she had carried a message from the government of Israel.  "Our message was President Bush’s message," Pelosi told The Associated Press in Portugal.<ref>[http://cnsnews.com/news/article/pelosi-delivered-wrong-message-assad-israel-says Pelosi Delivered Wrong Message to Assad, Israel Says], [[CNSNews]] Apr 7 2007.</ref> Pelosi told reporters the meeting "enabled us to communicate a message from Prime Minister [[Ehud Olmert|Olmert]]".

The Israeli Prime Minister's office stated Olmert told Pelosi that Israel continued to regard Syria as "part of the axis of evil and a party encouraging terrorism in the entire Middle East." The ''Jerusalem Post'' reported sources at the Prime Minister's Office said, "Pelosi took part of the things that were said in the meeting, and used what suited her." <ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=845618&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0 PMO: Pelosi did not carry any message from Israel to Assad], Yoav Stern and Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondents and AP, 5 April 2007.</ref>

The Israeli Prime Minister's office stated Olmert told Pelosi that Israel continued to regard Syria as "part of the axis of evil and a party encouraging terrorism in the entire Middle East." The ''Jerusalem Post'' reported sources at the Prime Minister's Office said, "Pelosi took part of the things that were said in the meeting, and used what suited her." <ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=845618&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0 PMO: Pelosi did not carry any message from Israel to Assad], Yoav Stern and Amiram Barkat, Haaretz Correspondents and AP, 5 April 2007.</ref>

The trip was praised by terrorists as "brave". Members of the Islamic Jihad have said Pelosi aligns to their views about terror much better than Bush and Dr. Condoleezza Rice.<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3385140,00.html Terrorists endorse Pelosi's 'good policy of dialogue'], Aaron Klein, Israel News, 04.05.07. "Palestinian terror group members call US House speaker's visit to Damascus 'brave' and hope for talks with Iran; ‘I think the Democratic Party can do things the best,’ Islamic Jihad member says"</ref> Khaled Al-Batch, spokesman for [[Islamic Jihad]], which along with Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades has taken responsibility for every suicide bombing in Israel since 2005,<ref>http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3392403,00.html </ref> expressed [[hope]] Pelosi and the Democratic Party will pressure Bush to create dialogue with Syrian rebel and Middle East "resistance movements" and prompt an American withdrawal from Iraq.

The trip was praised by terrorists as "brave". Members of the [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad]] have said Pelosi aligns to their views about terror much better than Bush and Dr. [[Condoleezza Rice]].<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3385140,00.html Terrorists endorse Pelosi's 'good policy of dialogue'], Aaron Klein, Israel News, 04.05.07. "Palestinian terror group members call US House speaker's visit to Damascus 'brave' and hope for talks with Iran; ‘I think the Democratic Party can do things the best,’ Islamic Jihad member says"</ref> Khaled Al-Batch, spokesman for Islamic Jihad, which along with [[Hamas|Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades]] has taken responsibility for every suicide bombing in Israel since 2005,<ref>http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3392403,00.html </ref> expressed [[hope]] Pelosi and the Democratic Party will pressure Bush to create dialogue with Syrian rebel and Middle East "resistance movements" and prompt an American withdrawal from Iraq.

In the lead editorial of Thursday, April 5, The ''[[Washington Post]]'' commented on '''"The Pratfall in Damascus":'''<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040402306.html Pratfall in Damascus], [[Washington Post]]</ref>

In the lead editorial of Thursday, April 5, The ''[[Washington Post]]'' commented on '''"The Pratfall in Damascus":'''<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040402306.html Pratfall in Damascus], [[Washington Post]]</ref>