Visits to Syria by Senators irritates Tony Snow and the Bush Team

Because the Bush White House has been so adept at foreign policy, the spokesperson is challenging the credibility of U.S. Senators who are visiting Syria. The New York Times reports on Tony Snow's "harsh words" about Bill Nelson and the other Senators who are headed to Damascus:

With the Democrats about to take control of Congress after an election that was widely viewed as a referendum on the war, the visits reflect an increasing willingness to challenge the White House over foreign policy. The sharpness of the White House response suggests an appetite to use the issue as a basis for a political fight.

“We think it’s inappropriate,” Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, said on Thursday, adding, “The concern here, among other things, is that this does not strengthen the hand of democracy in the region.”

Mr. Snow said the visits “may cost some people their credibility.”

The White House has no credibility. None. Nothing Bush has done has strengthened the hand of democracy in the region. He's made it worse.

To understand just how pathetic and puerile the Bush team is, note the press release they sent while Nelson was in Damascus:

While Mr. Nelson was in Damascus, the White House on Wednesday issued a statement under Mr. Bush’s name in which the president called for the immediate release of Syrian political prisoners. “Syrians deserve a government whose legitimacy is grounded in the consent of the people, not brute force,” the statement said.

Mr. Snow said Thursday that the statement was not timed to coincide with Mr. Nelson’s visit.

Sure, Tony. They make everything personal.