Does the Bush Administration hold grudges to a higher value than peace?

Question

Cheney's objection, apparently, to Pelosi's visit to Saudi Arabia is that the U.S. has deliberately cut off the king because of his "bad behavior" and he says that the unfortunate thing about Pelosi's trip there is that it breaks down that barrier.

Seriously? Is our goal to try to alter bad behavior, or just to hold a grudge forever? Does this kind of grudge-holding make us any better than radical Muslims, who hate us merely because they're supposed to?

Or... is the administration so jealous that Pelosi was able to accomplish something and make the U.S. look good, making a good faith effort to extend a hand of peace in the Middle East, that they're just bashing her to try to counteract the good she's trying to do? Don't they realize that the world hears them renouncing efforts at peaceful negotiations, and that that makes the U.S. look like a bunch of reactionary monsters who would rather kill than talk?

ALASPADA: Your problem is not with the Constitution, which does not prohibit Pelosi from what she is doing. Your problem is that someone is seeking solutions that don't involve killing people. That's sad. Although I believe if the President was backing her, you'd have no problem with it. So maybe it's a mixture of partisanship and bloodlust.

jhl: No, I don't think so. Are we trying to create peace, or are we trying to create tension? In my mind, peace is better, and to accomplish that, grudges need to be dropped and conversations have to happen.

War hasn't worked. Why not try this?

Answer 1

Hey this really shows that you can talk to the leaders of countries instead of invading and occupying them like the current administration did and still does. Who cares if the table is round or square or if the chairs have cushions or not. This current administration never even tried to talk to anyone and for those who did not do as the administration just told them to do became the axis of evil. Plus the profits from the war would not be as great for them and their cronies, or the oil barrons if a peaceful plan was put into action, sad but we the tax payers are the ones making these pigs richer and richer.

Answer 2

I really don't know if I agree with either side on this issue. Yes, Pelosi went over there against the wishes of the President. If she is truly doing good, then I have no problem with it. But, I think it sets a bad example when she knowingly defies the wishes of the current Administration. What damage can this cause? She has only been "in the loop" for a year.

Edit to your additional details: Okay, but the US has isolated Assad because of his bad behavior, yet he gets a goodwill visit from a high-ranking official. Does this not send mixed messages?

Answer 3

I think mankind is in serious trouble when a cause has higher value than human life. What is the mark of a society when vengeance becomes its credo.
Killing the parents of the future generation only instills hate into the future and insures strife for years to come.
Peace will only be achieved when the wounds that caused pain and anger are healed. You can never heal these wounds by laying new wounds next to old.

Answer 4

This country is at war with us by supplying the insurgents and has a policy of denying Israel's existence. Talk does not work with them because Israel has been there since 1949 and they still refuse to accept them and now send in funds and men to kill Israelis. No we do not need to have multiple agendas with Syria, One plan taken care of by the Executive Branch which is the branch the Constitution calls on to handle foreign affairs like this.

Answer 5

Robert Novak, the same guy who outed Valerie Plame!, said it best: "setting conditions for talks is a classic mechanism for escaping talks altogether."

Interesting article about Bush's recent refusal of the Arabs offer for peace talks on Palestine.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040402317.html?hpid%3Dopinionsbox1&sub=AR

Answer 6

If you're going to criticize the Administration's wisdom and intelligence, you should at least get your facts straight.

It was Syria, not Saudi Arabia.

You appear not to have listened carefully enough in your briefings.

Answer 7

Guess you have not been paying attention, Terrorist, are
trying to kill us, not hurt our feeling. Having a Pelosi, going
over to meddle, tells the Terrorist, you are so afraid, you are
sending your mom over to defend you.Had to make it simple,
for you to understand.

Answer 8

regardless of your feelings, The administration sets foreign policy, not the house.