I wonder if the Bush administration will push charges or will they let these felons skate.

I am sure politics and not the law will determine what happens.

Since no Senator or Senate Committee has Constitutional authority to enter into any agreement or compact with a foreign power, what does Nelson hope to accomplish

Not much. It’s just about building relationships and “fact finding.” Nelson wanted to meet the man so he could get a personal read on him.

It’s still illegal to negotiate with terrorists. If they want to look like the idiots they are, and break the law, they should have sent JF’n Kerry, he’s experienced at that.

Who says they negotiated? The administration new about the trip in advance. There are more similar trips coming. If this were illegal, it could be stopped.

Looks like you’ll get your wish. From the article:

He said he expects Senators John Kerry, Christopher Dodd and Arlen Specter to also visit Syria.

Fortunately, our patented Blogotronicâ„¢ recorder was able to capture the visit and it delivered this high-quality, exclusive transcript of the proceedings…

It’s still illegal to negotiate with terrorists. If they want to look like the idiots they are, and break the law, they should have sent JF’n Kerry, he’s experienced at that.

Hey, this just disgusts me that a Democrat would try to talk to a country that harbors terrorists. Call me crazy!

Why? Do you really think we don’t or shouldn’t talk to our enemies? You usually don’t want to do it on an official level, because that would hand credibility to them, but you have to talk to them on some level. Do you think Libya just cold-called the White House and asked asked “What’ll you give us if we clean up our act?”

This particular news is just walking the line. The question many of us are asking is whether it shifts the burden of proof onto the Democrats on the earlier accusations that they met with actual terrorists (Hamas). I mean, meeting with a government that supports Hamas would logically lead one to wonder.

In the court of public opinion, sure. It’s reasonable to infer an increased probability due to the connection. It’s circumstantial as heck, but it’s something.

This particular news is just walking the line. The question many of us are asking is whether it shifts the burden of proof onto the Democrats on the earlier accusations that they met with actual terrorists (Hamas). I mean, meeting with a government that supports Hamas would logically lead one to wonder.

Its absolutely disgusting.

I still don’t understand the disgust. This is a very typical way for two countries lacking in diplomatic relations to begin talking. They’ll have lots of secret talks between officials of various levels all while the official policy continues to be pure hatred towards one another. Eventually, circumstances change and the relationship can begin to be formalized.

According to the Mercury News, the administration was aware of the meetings. It officially opposes them, but it’s within the realm of possibility that they actually asked Mr. Nelson to go. They certainly didn’t do anything to stop it, even though a simple press release could have killed the whole thing.

Nelson said Assad agreed that Syria and the United States had “a common interest to stabilize Iraq” and that Assad “clearly indicated the willingness to cooperate” with the U.S. or the Iraqi army to secure Iraq’s border with Syria.