John Kerry Meets With Syrian President

[Rose Siding]

DAMASCUS, Syria -- Former Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry met Saturday with Syria's president and said he was hopeful that strained U.S.-Syrian relations could be improved, provided Washington seized "a moment of opportunity" currently available in the Middle East.
...
Sen. Kerry, D-Mass., met for two hours with President Bashar Assad and then with Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa, with both meetings centering on Iraq and how to prevent militants from moving from Syria into neighboring Iraq.

"I think we found a great deal of areas of mutual interest, some common concerns and some possibilities for initiatives that could be taken in the future to strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and Syria," Kerry told reporters after meeting with al-Sharaa.
...
...President Bush has warned Syria and Iran against "meddling" in the internal affairs of Iraq. Washington and Baghdad both have said that key support for the insurgency in Iraq was coming from a half brother of Saddam Hussein and Baath Party leaders based in Syria.
...
After Kerry left the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, 13-year-old Mustafa al-Nabulsi approached him with a drawing of the senator as a soldier in his Vietnam days.

"You have made me much more important than I was, though. You made me a general," Kerry said.

"I wish you were the president," al-Nabulsi said.

"Thank you very much. So do I," Kerry said.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-mideast-kerry,0,7261245.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[sportndandy]

1. so do I...

[smbolisnch]

2. And so do I. nt

[Pirate Smile]

3. Sweet interaction with the 13 year old. I wish he was President too.

:(

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/050108/481/dam10401081556

Here is a link to a picture of the 13 year-old showing him the picture. I don't know how to post it here.

[JI7]

10. here you go

The 13-year-old Syrian Mustafa al-Nabulsi approaches the U.S. former presidential candidate Senator John Kerry, a democrat from Massachusetts, to give him a drawing in which al-Nabulsi portrayed Kerry in his military uniform when he was a soldier in Vietnam on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2004 in Damascus following his talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa on Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the U.S.-Syria strained bilateral relations. Kerry, who arrived in Damascus on Friday, met earlier in the day with Syrian President Bashar Assad. (AP Photo/ Bassem Tellawi).

[Pirate Smile]

22. Thanks.

:)

[ginnyinWI]

14. dupe

delete

[Goldeneye]

4. So do I.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. Yes, Yes, Yes!!

a 13 year old kid from Syria knows we would have been better off with Kerry as pres...... WHY can adults here delude themselves so badly as to vote the * back in? It shouldn't have even been close!

[Child_Of_Isis]

6. So Kerry is off doing "Presidential" stuff.

Ha! Wouldn't that be funny if he just carried on as if he were president? I think he should. Just to mentally mess with the non-person who believes himself to be president now.

[SueZhope]

12. good point

the guy they call president is about as presidential as
as a toddler . (no offense to the children)

[bahrbearian]

42. Yes we need our own "Shadow Government"

[ashmanonar]

52. lol

president in all but name, huh?

he could probably pull it off...president de facto!

[meisje]

7. "So Do I" Wah Wah Fucking Wah

I think Kerry should have gone for the gold!Cryed like a baby, made a big stink! IT's not like he has to worry about money.

I can see the talking points in 2008 now: "When Kerry should have been fighting for the election, he missed yet another session of Congress" "He wanted to be president, but then he didn't"

[merh]

33. Okay, let me see if I can explain to you in simple terms why

it was best that he was not there on the 6th.

IT WAS ABOUT THE ELECTION PROCESS. If he had been there the repukes would have twisted it all and made it about him and his "refusal to accept the will of the people" and the flaws of our election process would have been ignored.

[meisje]

47. So you're saying it would have turned out differently?

We were ignored by the media and it will now be swept under the rug.

[merh]

48. Despite the media ignoring us, it was not swept under the rug

pre-Jan 6 and it will not be swept under the rug now. We won't allow it, but feel free to look at the negative things, it seems to bring you such pleasure.

[Rose Siding]

8. Question: Will he take heat for this- meeting with a foreign leader?

Don't govts usually meet with officials of like rank?

[LiberalEsto]

9. Jesse Jackson

has met with a number of foreign leaders...

[Rose Siding]

15. But he's not an elected official

I'm glad Kerry did it- his tone here is more respectful and reasonable than the US admin, but even Carter gets US approval before working with other countries.

I'm just wondering if this was a "sanctioned" visit.

[Pirate Smile]

17. Hopefully not. Senators need to be informed to make decisions and

judgments. We sure know you can't trust the information the Bush Administration gives to Congress or the people.

They "make" reality. They also love to "make" propaganda.

I'm not saying Kerry would trust what Syria says but you certainly find out a lot more being there.

I know his trip was different then the ones most of the Senators and House members have gone on to Iraq because he wanted to go places other then where BushCo wanted him to - not just a photo-op or to promote Bush's agenda. That is why he is alone.

[ginnyinWI]

18. it's fairly common for senators to visit other countries

and Kerry is on the Foreign Relations committee I think.

[Kitsune]

36. Cue exploding Freeper heads in 5...4...3...2... *n t*

[DoYouEverWonder]

37. Oh I bet he pissed off Geogie Boy

real good with this move.

Can't wait to hear Rush ranting about this one for the next month and a half.

LOL. I wish he was president too.

[ginnyinWI]

11. He's negotiating with heads of state--

he's talking with them rather than issuing warnings from Washington. He's stepping up to be the diplomat/head of state that smirkyboy isn't, and can't be. Bravo, John, bravo.

John Kerry, the Un-bush. Doesn't let a little thing like a thwarted election stop him from working for America.

[musette_sf]

29. and this is why I still support him

I just couldn't get behind the bashing posts. I know people are angry about many things... but honestly, I think JFK is such a class act. He knows what they (BFEE) are, and he does a decent job of playing them. :loveya: John Kerry is my President!

[truth2power]

46. "Kerry, the un-Bush" LOL! I like that. Let's use it. n/t

[IndianaGreen]

53. Kerry is a private citizen, he cannot "negotiate" with heads of state

Kerry's rubbing of elbows with Syria will not sit well with Israel and her friends in America. It doesn't sit well with me and I am not even a Likunik!

Kerry could have gone to Iraq during the campaign, and he could have promised to review the entire war if he was elected. That would have been an Ike moment for Kerry. Instead, he chooses to go to Iraq when it least mattered, and stay away from Washington when it most mattered. Loser!

[Solly Mack]

13. bet that chapped Shrub's ass

[Rose Siding]

16. That's exactly what I'm thinking

[Solly Mack]

21. They'll take a swipe or two at Kerry for this

I wouldn't doubt it if someone claims he was talking to the enemy.

[Child_Of_Isis]

28. They are going to dog Kerry no matter what he does.

So, he may as well do as he pleases.

[Rose Siding]

31. That'll be good- more coverage

Comparison's with Bush for this would be to a dem advantage

[Solly Mack]

32. Of course

[loudsue]

19. Of course it chapped shrub's ass! The media will crucify Kerry for this!

And I'm STILL glad Kerry is doing it! Everyone in the WORLD wishes Kerry was president, except Osama, of course.

I SURE WISH HE WAS PRESIDENT! After all, we really did elect him to be, and deep inside, I think he knows it. The election was stolen, plain and simple.

:kick::kick::kick:

[Solly Mack]

23. Anything that chaps Shrub's ass is a good thing

[goforit]

20. Hmmm....I don't understand why Kerry is going from country to country

What's the purpose?

He's not contesting the vote,...so is he trying to improve
Bush's Tyrrant-anti-democracy image?

It won't work.

[haele]

40. No - he's checking out the reality of the situation beforehand -

Syria's on the list. The next "conflict" will be a toss up between Syria and Iran.
If I were Kerry,and have come to the realization that this administration and it's OSP lies worse than a big ol' 300 lb lap dog (no offense to lap dogs), it's up to Congress to assess and verify what the situation actually is. What our troop strength actually is, how they're being treated. How the funding going to the "provisional government" and contractors is actually being used. What is actually going on in Iraq vis a vis the "insurgency", foreign fighting forces, civilian quality of life and casualties, etc...
What Syria is actually doing. Not only what the Syrian government is saying, but what the attitudes of the average Syrian civilian is - how "anti-West" they actually are - or if they are "anti-Crusader" instead. How much they are willing to blame a certain Middle-East agenda on how US policies are evolving.
If they are preparing to be invaded, or if they're just going on with life as usual.

In otherwords, what we can realistically expect when we invade Syria sometime next year, because Shrubbie needs to re-prove his manhood knocking down nations that can't fight back and is looking for a country where it's both vaguely plausible that there's a "reason" to go after them and it's very profitable.

Haele

[goforit]

54. Well, isn't this interesting. So, he is in search for the truth on the

other side of the fence. Well, I guess nothing bad can
come of this. I certainly feel we would be foolish to jump into
another war without solidifying Iraq.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. Someone needs to practice diplomacy since this admin won't and can't

[shadowknows69]

26. well, this guarantees we'll be going to waar with syria soon

the shrub will blow a gasket.

[HollyC]

25. sad, but

They should have SENT a GENERAL in the first place.

[impeachthescoundrel]

27. Damn

you made me cry again.

[Rose Siding]

30. Here's the Yahoo link, if you want to rate it

I'd hate to think this won't be covered well.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050108/ap_on_re_mi_ea/mideast_kerry_2

[rfkrfk]

34. prospects, should be doing this, not former this-er-that. n/t

[Rose Siding]

35. I disagree but it's moot; Kerry thinks he is a prospect

[YvonneCa]

38. So do I, and here's how I'll show it!!

This is from an earlier thread to a former Kerry supporter:


YvonneCa (4 posts)
Fri Jan-07-05 06:16 PM
Response to Original message

29. "They hope you will just go away, they are COUNTING on it."



...John Kerry, in email to his supporters.

I understand the frustration behind your decision to take down your yard sign and cover your bumper sticker. After voting for Wesley Clark in the primaries, I worked to support John Kerry in this election as I have never supported a candidate before, because after 2000, I knew the only way I could survive a similar result in 2004 was if I personally had done everything I could to prevent it. So I did. I think John Kerry did, too.
After November 2nd, while trying to understand what happened in this Presidential election, I started doing on-line research. Like many of you, I discovered the facts. I completely believe that Kerry won this election, and his actions from the beginning also show he knows it. I decided that my yard sign would stay until January 6th, when I would understand more about what had happened and could make a better decision about how to proceed. I decided my bumper sticker would stay there forever, because I want the world to know I didn't vote for this administration's planned policies (like changes to Social Security, pre-emptive war, etc.) John Kerry, in my opinion, would be an excellent president.
I watched yesterday's Electoral Vote challenge with great interest. On the positive side, I am thrilled that history was made, and that activists helped to promote that. While I was disappointed that Congressional Democrats did not vote for the challenge, I was, and am, so proud that they spoke in support of Election Reform, which should have happened after the 2000 Election. I am especially proud of Senator Barbara Boxer (from my home state of California) for being the senator to sign the challenge. Just the fact that there WAS a signed challenge this time, is a step toward the goal of fixing elections before 2008. On the negative side, we were mocked by Congressional Republicans...by both their words and actions. They don't want election reform, and I could see in their faces that they viewed this challenge as an annoyance and a joke. So the down side, for me, is I finally understand how hard this is going to be. I think John Kerry knew this from the beginning.
In John Kerry's email (way back in November) to his 3,000,000,000 on line supporters he included a videotape with the words, "They hope you will just go away...they are counting on it." When I first listened to his words, they seemed very "out-of-context" to me. I've listened to them several times since, and they fit the context of January, 2005 perfectly. While it was very disappointing to me that he seemed to be looking beyond Election 2004 and telling us (his base)what he wants us to do, after yesterday, I now see that he is right. We Democrats, liberal or moderate, are TOTALLY out of power. We have little say in Congress or in the courts, and no say in the executive branch. The only way we will be able to accomplish anything within this government, especially considering we have a broken election system, is if we do not just go away like the Republicans are counting on us to do. John Kerry said we must "stand firm" and he is right. In his most recent email to supporters (the one where he asked us to call Speaker Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Frist and then LET HIM KNOW WHEN WE HAD DONE SO ) Kerry has begun the fight. If we, his on line supporters, go away, Congressional Democrats will have even less success in this fight. I believe we must stay engaged and support John Kerry and Democrats (who spoke so eloquently yesterday) in their efforts.
I don't know who I'll vote for in 2008. I still think Wesley Clark is great. I like John Edwards' enthusiasm. If Al Gore ran again, I've always thought he would make a great president. Maybe John Kerry, with our support will yet surprise us all (I REALLY hope so!). But I do know I'll never vote for a Republican, and I do know I want my vote counted this time. I think Kerry IS still fighting for us and there IS something to hang on to. So no matter who I decide on for 2008, Kerry has my support until this election reform fight is won!

AND, in regards to Kerry's Middle East trip, He IS doing what the ELECTED President should be doing!!! :)

[yorkiemommie1]

39. smart kid n/t

[saltpoint]

41. The 13-year old has it right.

[stepnw1f]

43. Now He Works Above the Radar

Just enough for the people see what and how he works. I believe the media will watch him with intrigue, because unlike other losing candidates, John is back to work.

Good luck J.

[chrisbur]

44. "So shines

a good deed in a weary world.”
- “Willy Wonka” from “Willy Wonka” (taken from William Shakespeare

[DRoseDARs]

45. Oh lord, here it comes: "Democrats in league with the Syrians" n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

50. You're right

they've probably already put him on a terrorist watch list.

Hey John, let's see how pat downs they give you on the way home? Welcome back to Amerika.

[hollowdweller]

59. Yea Bush never consults any foreign leaders. Hell he doesn't even listen

to anybody in the US. He just shoots from the hip.

[Rican1]

63. or Kerry: " A traitor again"

[Vektor]

49. OMG Sweet. *Dies of cute*

"After Kerry left the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, 13-year-old Mustafa al-Nabulsi approached him with a drawing of the senator as a soldier in his Vietnam days.

"You have made me much more important than I was, though. You made me a general," Kerry said.

"I wish you were the president," al-Nabulsi said.

"Thank you very much. So do I," Kerry said."

Why the hell am I one of those sensitive weepy types that has to blubber over everything?

I LOVE THIS MAN.

[jaime_176]

51. I Think this is Wonderful!!

The right-wing may smear and obfuscate, the press may denigrate, but a majority inside our country and outside of it will see a strong and reasonable leader...who should be president. This makes such great contrast with ** ...how can anyone not compare and realize the mistake that was made? This is also showing the other countries that there are good, decent, and thoughtful people in the US; persons who do not see all differences as irreconcilable and as reason for war. I love it!! Yeah Kerry!! Yeah al-Nabulsi!! I think it will also make Bushco look worse when they do try to invade these other countries, because Kerry is looking for ways to strengthen relationships rather than destroy them.

[MasonJar]

55. This makes me so proud of Kerry. It also makes me despise

Rove, Cheney, and Stump more for denying the USA of a great president.

[AlbizuX]

56. look at that...

Kerry doing what President Bush SHOULD be doing....trying to improve relations with all the Presidents of the Middle East....

So much more presidential than Chimpy.

[Withywindle]

57. That's my President!

:loveya:



And what a sweet, smart kid. Looks like he can really draw too!

[mary195149]

58. Looks like John Kerry

is going to do what he can to save this country, in spite of Bush. I could see him being very proactive. He knows if things don't start getting done now, in 4 years we may not even have a country. I am all for standing behind John Kerry as he is our president. There's probably alot of things he can do to smooth things over in this country and I say let's rally around Kerry, the president who really won. Let him be as proactive as he sees fit to help get this country back to where it was. He's a fighter, let him duke it out with bushie. Let's keep sending the emails to Kerry letting him know we are proud of his efforts. I am sending him an email now, acknowledging his bravery of going to Iraq and total dedication.

[Name removed]

60. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[antigone382]

64. Umm, he's a thirteen-year-old, not a head of state.

And if he wants John Kerry to be the president, he DOES want what is best for America.

[JoFerret]

66. Can we trust Bush?

(You could always investigate both al-Nabulsi and GW Bush and decide without having to ask faux questions)

[darkism]

61. Touching

"I wish you were the president," al-Nabulsi said.

"Thank you very much. So do I," Kerry said.

:cry: So do I. :(

[madison2000]

62. I wish he was the president too

:loveya: :cry: :loveya: :cry: :loveya: :cry: :loveya: :cry: :loveya: :cry: :loveya: :cry:

[Last Lemming]

65. We've had the coup

Thus begins the counter-coup