Jordan king, Senator Kerry discuss Mideast peace (Kerry to meet with Syrian President Assad)

[ProSense]

Jordan king, Senator Kerry discuss Mideast peace

AMMAN (AFP) – Jordan's King Abdullah II held talks on Monday with visiting US Democratic Senator John Kerry on ways to resume Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, the palace said.

"The king and Kerry discussed efforts aimed at the resumption of negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis," according to a brief palace statement.

The king, whose country signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, said he is "looking forward to working with US President Barak Obama to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East," it added.

Kerry, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations committee, is on a regional tour that will also take him to Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Syria.

The tour comes as the Obama administration works to convince the Arab world that it will ramp up US involvement in the Middle East peace process.

"The Palestinian cause is the main issue in the Middle East, and finding a just resolution for it is key to solving other problems in the region," the king told a US congressional delegation ahead of his meeting with Kerry, the statement said.

Assad urges US to rebuild diplomatic road to Damascus

In rare interview, Syrian leader calls on Obama to restore envoy and make good on promise of dialogue

Syria expects the US to send an ambassador to Damascus soon to make good on Barack Obama's offer to engage in dialogue with countries the Bush administration shunned, President Bashar al-Assad told the Guardian today.

Assad used a rare newspaper interview to set out his hopes for a new relationship with the US now the Bush era is over – one he hopes will see Washington act as the "main arbiter" in the moribund Middle East peace process. "There is no substitute for the United States," Assad said.

Referring to Obama's call for countries to "unclench their fists" , Assad said he believed the new US president had been referring to Iran. "We never clenched our fist," he declared. "We still talked about peace even during the Israeli aggression in Gaza."

A US decision on whether to send an ambassador back to Damascus is part of a review Obama ordered on taking office. The US is attracted to the idea of engaging with Syria, seeing potential for bringing Assad in from the cold, helping with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and loosening Syria's close ties with Iran.

more

Syria's strongman ready to woo Obama with both fists unclenched

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is being actively courted by the new US administration, the EU as well as fellow Arab leaders making ­Damascus the Middle Eastern ­city to visit. In a rare and ­exclusive ­interview he talks to the ­Guardian's Middle East editor, Ian Black, in the Syrian capital

Ian Black in Damascus guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 17 February 2009 20.10 GMT

Bashar al-Assad, the ­Syrian president, sits back on a smart leather sofa in his honey-coloured hilltop palace, and gestures expansively - his fists visibly unclenched - as he explains his country's indispensable role in the Middle East in the hopeful era of Barack Obama.

Assad is a busy man. Hours before the Guardian called, he had seen a senior EU commissioner and the secretary general of the Arab League. Later this week his visitors will be Senator John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate foreign ­relations committee and Howard Berman, a senior Congressman – reflecting the intensifying relationship between old adversaries who seem anxious to make a fresh start.

In recent months Damascus has become the Middle Eastern capital to visit: Nicolas Sarkozy, with ­characteristic panache, blazed the way for France and Europe; David Miliband and other EU foreign ministers followed. Turkey is also playing a key role.

As the world waits for the Obama administration's first practical steps, expectations of change are high, though tempered by the Gaza war and the result of the Israeli general election, likely to result in a rightwing government under the Likud's Binyamin Netanyahu.

Assad volunteers he never had high hopes of change in Israel – and certainly not of Netanyahu, who has pledged never to return the Golan Heights to Syria - but puts his faith in a new ­American role.

"We have the impression that this administration will be different," he says "and we have seen the signals. But we have to wait for the reality and the results." He hopes "in principle" to meet Obama, "but it depends on what we discuss. I will be very happy to ­discuss peace."

more

Assad responds

Editorial The Guardian, Wednesday 18 February 2009

The sale of doormats featuring the Star of David, enabling Syrians to express their anger with Israel every time they enter or leave their homes, went up in Damascus during the Gaza war. But what Syria calls the "steadfast" position, combining alliance with Iran, support for Hezbollah and Hamas, hostility to Israel and opposition to the policies of the United States, has for some time been less monolithic than it once appeared.

With Turkey acting as the go-between, Syria has been tentatively exploring the possibility of peace with Israel and the return of the Golan Heights, the holy grail of Syrian politics. It has in principle decided to establish an embassy in Beirut, moving toward a recognition of the full sovereignty of the neighbour it dominated and occupied for many years. And it has been edging closer to Europe, pursuing talks on partnership status with the EU and receiving Nicolas Sarkozy earlier this year. Gaza disrupted this process, but it probably would have slowed in any case, as governments in the region awaited President Obama's assumption of office and the outcome of the Israeli elections. Mr Obama is now settling in, although the shape of the next Israeli government remains unclear. President Bashar al-Assad's readiness to respond to gestures from the new American administration, as expressed in the interview he gave yesterday to our Middle East editor, Ian Black, is to be welcomed.

Yet it would be foolish to leap to an immediately optimistic conclusion. John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, will be in Damascus in a week or so, and the US, which withdrew its ambassador after the assassination of the Lebanese leader Rafik Hariri in 2005, is expected to send a new envoy soon after. President al-Assad indicated yesterday that he might also have discussions with General David Petraeus, which would obviously concern Iraq. In theory a new Israeli government might find it easier to move on the Golan than on the West Bank and Gaza, so a scenario can be constructed in which Washington and Damascus move closer, and a Syrian-Israeli peace deal becomes a serious possibility.

But this ignores the fact that in the Middle East talking is often a substitute for action, or a means of postponing it. The price for the Golan would be a high one for Syria, involving at least a reduction in its ties with Iran, as well as hard decisions about its support for Hezbollah. In any case Damascus may well want to pause until it sees how Hezbollah does in the Lebanese elections in June. Obama has set off a long process of waiting, watching and manoeuvring in the Middle East. It is good that it has begun, but far too early to speculate on how it will end.

[Aloha Spirit]

1. I think Obama's "eternal optimism" will clear the way for George Mitchell to get down to bizness.

I accidentally typed "George Clinton" ... who knows, he could have been a contender ;-)

[tonycinla]

59. Bookmark this !

The chances of there being peace in the Mideast through negotiations in the foreseeable future is very close to zero.First of all Israel,Egypt and Jordan get large sums of US aid and assistance ,both directly and indirectly.It is a lot about money folks,surprise.If peace broke out our "friends "would lose money.We are being bribed.Do you have any idea how many prominent American Jews have Israeli passports?Netanyahu will be their next prime minister,this thrice married,American educated Israeli has no intention of giving back one square inch of the West Bank to the Arabs.AS I type the Israelis are appropriating more Arab land,establishing "facts on the ground".The Arabs will continue to fight among themselves and be their own worst enemy.In full disclosure on set of my grandparents come from the region.Unfortunately only if there is a major ,decisive war will there be peace.

[globalvillage]

2. Thanks!

I think I'll have to give you my last heart for bringing news of Sen. Kerry's ME trip.

I wish our TV media would report this stuff instead of the umpteenth time hearing Bristol Palin's views on teen sex or a dozen different wingers' same dumb-ass talking points on why the stim won't work.

Thanks for posting.

:yourock:

[ProSense]

3. Thanks.

:)

[crimsonblue]

4. Kerry better not be doing negotiating, or speaking on behalf of the country.

That's illegal.

[ProSense]

5. What? Are you assuming Senator Kerry is unaware of

his jurisdiction:

MEMBERSHIP AND JURISDICTION

OF SUBCOMMITTEES

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON

FOREIGN RELATIONS

111th Congress 1st Session

UNITED STATES SENATE

JANUARY 2009

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Relations



COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts Chairman



David McKean, Staff Director

Kenneth A. Myers, Jr., Republican Staff Director



JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS

(Excerpted from Rules of the Committee)

Rule 1 — Jurisdiction

(a) Substantive. — In accordance with Senate Rule XXV.1(j)(1), the jurisdiction of the Committee shall extend to all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects:

1. Acquisition of land and buildings for embassies and legations in foreign countries.

2. Boundaries of the United States.

3. Diplomatic service.

4. Foreign economic, military, technical, and humanitarian assistance.

5. Foreign loans.

6. International activities of the American National Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

7. International aspects of nuclear energy, including nuclear transfer policy.

8. International conferences and congresses.

9. International law as it relates to foreign policy.

10. International Monetary Fund and other international organizations established primarily for international monetary purposes (except that, at the request of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, any proposed legislation relating to such subjects reported by the Committee on Foreign Relations shall be referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs).

11. Intervention abroad and declarations of war.

12. Measures to foster commercial intercourse with foreign nations and to safeguard American business interests abroad.

13. National security and international aspects of trusteeships of the United States.

14. Ocean and international environmental and scientific affairs as they relate to foreign policy.

15. Protection of United States citizens abroad and expatriation.

16. Relations of the United States with foreign nations generally.

17. Treaties and executive agreements, except reciprocal trade agreements.

18. United Nations and its affiliated organizations.

19. World Bank group, the regional development banks, and other international organizations established primarily for development assistance purposes.

The Committee is also mandated by Senate Rule XXV.1(j)(2) to study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to the national security policy, foreign policy, and international economic policy as it relates to foreign policy of the United States, and matters relating to food, hunger, and nutrition in foreign countries, and report thereon from time to time.

(b) Oversight. — The Committee also has a responsibility under Senate Rule XXVI.8, which provides that “. . . each standing Committee . . . shall review and study, on a continuing basis, the application, administration, and execution of those laws or parts of laws, the subject matter of which is within the jurisdiction of the Committee.”

(c) “Advice and Consent” Clauses. — The Committee has a special responsibility to assist the Senate in its constitutional function of providing ``advice and consent'' to all treaties entered into by the United States and all nominations to the principal executive branch positions in the field of foreign policy and diplomacy.

link

You say this as if Kerry hasn't been a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for more than more than 20 years, or as if he's never traveled and met with world leaders in carrying out his responsiblities.

[TayTay]

6. This is not a violation of the Logan Act

And the Logan Act itself as never been tested, it might be unconstitutional.

At any rate, Senator Kerry is fulfilling the function of Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, one of the original committees of the Senate, and investigating ongoing issues that clearly fall within the jurisdiction of that committee under the Constitution.

Are you suggesting otherwise? If so, what do you base this detailed knowledge on and where did you get this knowledge?

[karynnj]

8. Not to mention - he may well have Obama's ear on issues

and he can, of course, pass messages from Obama.

[karynnj]

7. He has spoken of that in the past and has never broken the rules

But, he did negotiate in the early 1990s with the Vietanamese when he worked on the MIA/POW issue with the explicit approval of the Bush I administration. Even under Bush 2, he was involved with the negotiations at Bali - again working with the Bush administration and with their approval - "The fact that we had a treaty was significantly due to the fact that Senator Kerry was there. He was a virtual part of our negotiating team, without his day and night support and lobbying of the EU. we would not have gotten a treaty." http://www.kerryvision.net/2008/04/in_defense_of_treehuggers.html

He was unofficially, but publicly, Obama's representative to Poznan, and then to countries he visited including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. Kerry and his aides made it clear that he was there representing his role in the Senate - oversight, but it was understood that Obama had asked him to report back. Kerry has chaired the subcommittee overseeing this area for the SFRC for the last 2 years and he is very very good listening to what leaders are really saying. He is a major asset to the Senate and, very likely, to President Obama.

I don't recall you ever questioning his or Biden's past trips under a President completely on a different policy.

[blm]

27. A few powerful Dems want Kerry's voice muted so BCCI and CIA drugrunning are never revisited

and the powerful elite involved in those matters (and still are) can rest easy.

[Mass]

22. True, and my guess is he knows that better than you do.

[rvablue]

65. Oh. Please......((falling asleep.....)) n/t

[JayMusgrove]

66. You ARE kidding, right?

Or else when did this forum become the Republican Underground?

[YvonneCa]

9. Thanks, Prosense. n/t

[Honeycombe8]

10. Shouldn't that be Hillary's job? Or Biden's? nt

[globalvillage]

11. What? Talking to foreign leaders?

The Senate has a critical role in foreign relations, and it's the job of the Chairman of the SFRC to make sure it's fulfilled. Why would it be up to the executive branch to fulfill a legislative function?

[Honeycombe8]

13. Because that's why Biden was picked as VP, I thought. And Hillary is Sec of State, whose job it is.

to speak to foreign leaders.

[Fabio]

17. it's called oversight

just because the executive takes the lead on foreign policy, doesn't mean congress shouldn't do its own diligence.

[politicasista]

18. Good post

Don't understand why some are afraid of Kerry for doing his job. It's not like he is trying to embarrass or upstage VP Biden and SOS Clinton, when he is working with them and may have the ear of President Obama.

I am sure P Obama, VP Biden, and SOS Clinton would welcome this.





edit for clarity. :)

[Honeycombe8]

43. Oversight of what? The new admin. hasn't made it to Syria yet. Nothing to oversee

just yet. No big problem going on there.

Just a "hello, what's shakin'?" meeting?

[blm]

46. You haven't paid attention to that region much the last 20yrs, eh?

.

[karynnj]

50. They don't oversee the administration, but US foreign policy interests

They are supposed to be getting independent looks and opinions on those countries. The Senators can not negotiate in the name of the US, but they can speak to the leaders - discussing the leaders' views of what is possible.

I really don't get why YOU have a huge problem with Senator Kerry being there - and suggest that it may be that you have still have a problem with the fact that he didn't endorse HRC. He is starting his 25th year on that committee and he knows exactly what he can and can't do. He is there as part of his Senate responsibility. It is also very likely that Obama, Clinton and Biden will want to get his opinions. I know that Biden ( http://www.kerryvision.net/2007/09/biden_gives_props_to_senator_k.html ) and Obama, who had Kerry as his chief foreign policy surrogate during the election, respect his knowledge and insight.

[MarjorieG]

19. Kerry and Hillary met before they both left in different directions. Biden consulted, I'm sure.

[politicasista]

20. Good point

I remember reading that Kerry and Hillary talked before this trip. And I too am sure he talked with Biden.

Don't know why people never had a problem with the VP (when he was chair) doing the same thing. That is, just doing his job, under a GOP administration.

[blm]

25. Except Kerry knows Assad very well and is highly regarded there.

He maintained communications with Assad when Bush and those Dems who SIDED WITH BUSH on his policies at the time (Clintons and other hawks) were targeting his country unfairly and refusing to speak with him in any direct talks.

[Jennicut]

28. Biden talked to foreign leaders all the time as head of the SFRC and I expect Kerry to do the same

[karynnj]

36. In fact ALL the members of the SFRC talk to foreign leaders

concentrating on those in their subcommittees. So, Kerry, who had the near east and south Asia subcommittee (that Casey now has) spent a lot of time speaking to all the leaders he is now seeing.

I seriously don't understand why this is now an issue with some people here, when I don't think I saw a single person question Kerry, Biden or anyone else on this committee questioning any of the many trips 2005 - 2008.

[politicasista]

40. Yep.

I don't understand what the fuss over all this is. Kerry is doing his job. Just like VP Biden did his job when he held this position. I don't remember this being a big deal when Lugar (even though he is a repuke and Bush was pres) took trips overseas.

I think people are still afraid or scared of the senator somehow making PO, VPB, or SOSC look bad, which is definitely NOT the case, but it seems like a hunch.

[bdamomma]

55. when Biden was Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations

he also had diplomatic talks with other leaders.

[karynnj]

12. It is his job too - did you have a problem with Biden speaking to leaders in the past?

First of all, Kerry chairs the SFRC and he has a responsibility to make these types of trips. The fact is that the only one who will MAKE foreign policy is Obama. John Kerry can have discussions of various alternatives. I would imagine the gap between the Senate and Obama is actually handy because Kerry can speak just for himself and he will get the reaction o the leaders to various ideas. (Kerry and the other Senators spoke to Condi Rice before and after going - I find it very likely that Kerry will have spoken to Obama. He was after all, Obama's number 1 foreign policy surrogate all last year. Obama trusted him enough to not vet his convention speech.)

You do realize that the one who will be most involved on middle east peace is George Mitchell.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Besides Mitchell, there's....what's his name? The other guy Obama chose.

What IS his name?

[karynnj]

16. Mitchell is the man Obama chose

He has Holbroke in Pakistan/Afghanistan/India and Dennis Ross was rumored to be the one for Iraq.

[Honeycombe8]

41. Holbrooke, that's the name. I think Obama chose him, too. 2 men for the M.E., ea. with

a different expertise.

[Mass]

48. Holbrooke does not deal with the ME. He is special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

[karynnj]

49. Actually he has Mitchell dealing with Israel/Palestine and the surrounding parties

and Holbroke has India/Pakistan/Afghanistan. Both incredibly troubled, complicated powder kegs.

[ObamaKerryDem]

26. Exactly. And Senator Kerry is the perfect person for this role, IMO. k&r! :)

[Mass]

21. Weird comment. Kerry is head of the SFRC. It is part of his role to speak to

foreign leader as well , as it is the role of his counterpart in the House. This is why we have 3 branches of government and not a dictatorship.

[Honeycombe8]

42. Nothin' against Kerry. I voted for him. But I don't recall anyone whose ever been passed over for

SOS, going to see a particular leader before the new SOS/administration does.

I think he's making a point to Hillary. There's no love loss between the Clintons and Kerry.

[blm]

45. Kerry was NEEDED in the Senate - HRC was not - look at her record there. Obama has HRC helping him

deliver messages, but, no serious person who actually STUDIED her record would have her help investigate the facts and help develop a solution. Those are not her strongpoints. Plus - both Clintons were strong and steady supporters of Bush's foreign policy throughout his term and don't think Syrians and other regional leaders didn't notice just because so many Americans didn't bother to pay attention.

[Mass]

47. Name somebody who fits your description ( head of the SFRC and reported by the media to have been )

passed for SoS). May be then you can make a point.

Otherwise, I stand by my point that he is the head of the SFRC, and that it is his job to do just what he is doing. No need to try to imagine a dissension in a trip he has been doing every year for the last 4 years.

[karynnj]

51. Are you forgetting that he was Obama's unoffical representative

to the Poznan conference and to many troubled spots before Obama was elected. Obama officials made a point of saying this publicly. Given those comments, why would you think that Obama would not welcome Kerry making this trip to the middle east?

There is a BIG logical inconsistency in your statement - I am willing to bet that in any administration there has been at least one politician high in the SFRC, who could have been SoS, who went to at least one country before the SoS. If the rule is no one could go until the SoS went, there are many important countries visited by any top US leader for several years.

I think that YOU are too zealously guarding foreign policy as HRC's personal domain. The fact is the PRESIDENT will set foreign policy and he will take input from anyone he wants. At this point, it is not clear at all that HRC will have more influence than Kerry will have. He does after all have far more experience and knowledge - and many things Obama said on foreign policy seem straight out of things Kerry said before him. (In fact, HRC used Kerry language on Iraq in 2008 as well - echoing comments that her allies bashed him for around the time of Kerry/Feingold.)

Kerry is a very powerful Senator - chairing the SFRC, heading the most important subcommittee in Commerce and being a well regarded senior member of the Finance committee. Obama may have thought him to useful as an ally in the Senate. Hillary on the other hand was still a pretty junior Senator heading very little.

[globalvillage]

54. I heard JK and Hillary met before this visit

They had a breakfast meeting just before they both left on their trips.

This isn't a battle between Sen. Kerry and Sec. Clinton. They both have a job to do, and it looks like that's what they're both doing. I'm just glad to see our representatives so well received around the world. What a glorious change from just a month ago!

[TayTay]

62. Why, this frees HRC up to go to Indonesia

The largest Muslim nation in the world.

Diplomacy is waged on many fronts with many different people. Done right, it's not an acoustic solo, but an orchestra. Of course it helps if people have the sheet music, but some improvisation might sweeten the overall results.

[blm]

24. Kerry's considered an honest broker in Syria - he kept lines open to Assad while Bush refused

to speak with him. I'm sure Assad is well aware that Clintons sided with Bush and Lieberman on those policies, though I doubt many Americans were aware given the corpmedia's negligence in reporting these matters the last 8years.

[ProSense]

37. What: Chairman of the SFRC?

I'm 100 percent certain it's Kerry's.

[JayMusgrove]

67. Joe Biden, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton

in THAT order, people with most For. Pol. experience!!!!!!!!!!!

Obama is team leader, using his best assets well.

[karynnj]

68. Actually, Kerry is independent - as the top foreign policy person in a co-equal part of the

government - so technically he is not one of Obama's assets. I do think that Obama will listen to his observations on foreign policy as one input.

I agree with your description of the amount of experience on foreign policy - but the list does not show the huge gap between Kerry and Hillary Clinton. Both Kerry and Biden have over 24 years in the government working on foreign policy - Biden has more, but Kerry spoke rather influentially on foreign policy in 1971. A case could be made that either was better - as Kerry was clearly more influential on the Democratic position on Iraq (Kerry/Feingold) and on dealing with non-state terrorists - two of the biggest issues.

[politicasista]

15. Kick

:kick:

[Mass]

23. Thanks Prosense. It is good to see all the energies pushing in the same direction

(Obama, Biden, Clinton, House and Senate). Hopefully, this will allow progress to be made.

[karynnj]

30. It is impressive how many prominent people Obama

has out there. For the world, the shift from minimal diplomacy to full on attempts to tackle all the major problem areas must be a stunning change.

[karynnj]

29. Kerry was there with Teresa Heinz Kerry

Here are some photos from a DU JK Fedupinbushcountry post. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=273&topic_id=155826&mesg_id=155826

[politicasista]

31. Thanks

He and Momma T look good together. :bounce: :kick:


The more diplomats the better. :patriot:

[karynnj]

32. They always do -

In 2004, when Kerry gave his NYU speech on Iraq - his face suddenly and very noticeably relaxed and after he finished the point he was making - he introduced THK who had been at a difference appearance.

[politicasista]

33. Yep they do!

That's an awesome story. They and the Obamas are (one of) my favorite couples out there. :)

[blm]

34. Damn....Teresa is STILL a sizzler....

and as a fine a human being as exists.

[karynnj]

35. The guy she is with is a pretty incredible person too

[ProSense]

38. US wants Syria to help disarm Hezbollah: Kerry

US wants Syria to help disarm Hezbollah: Kerry

by Jocelyne Zablit

BEIRUT (AFP) – Senator John Kerry said on Wednesday that the new US administration will press Syria to help disarm Lebanese militant group Hezbollah as it forges ahead with a fresh diplomatic approach in the region.

"We want Syria to respect the political independence of Lebanon, we want Syria to help in the process of resolving issues with Hezbollah and with the Palestinians," said Kerry, after meeting President Michel Sleiman and Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

"We want Syria to help... with the disarmament of Hezbollah," added the former US Democratic presidential candidate, who is also due to visit Damascus on his regional tour.

The Shiite militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006 and has since refused to disarm despite a UN Security Council resolution calling on it to do so.

Kerry, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the new administration of President Barack Obama plans to adopt a fresh approach as it addresses key issues in the Middle East.

"Unlike the Bush administration that believed you could simply tell people what to do and walk away and wait for them to do it, we believe you have to engage in a discussion," Kerry said.

"So we are going to renew diplomacy but without any illusion, without any naivety, without any misplaced belief that, just by talking, things will automatically happen.

more

Key US senator meets Lebanese leaders

BEIRUT (AFP) – Former US Democratic presidential candidate Senator John Kerry held talks with Lebanese leaders on Wednesday on the latest leg of a regional tour.

Kerry met Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and was also to meet President Michel Sleiman and parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri.

On the agenda of the talks is Lebanon's June 7 parliamentary elections as well as relations between the two countries after President Barack Obama took office last month.

Kerry, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is on a regional tour that will also take him to Egypt, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Syria. He arrived in Beirut from Jordan where he met King Abdullah II.

The tour comes as the Obama administration works to convince the Arab world that it will ramp up US involvement in the Middle East peace process.

Kerry was to head to Jerusalem after his stop in Beirut.

[karynnj]

39. These are very interesting

I really like this comment. "Unlike the Bush administration that believed you could simply tell people what to do and walk away and wait for them to do it, we believe you have to engage in a discussion," Kerry said.

"So we are going to renew diplomacy but without any illusion, without any naivety, without any misplaced belief that, just by talking, things will automatically happen."

It will be interesting if things are such that Syria sees that it is better to not fund terrorists and to be a respected nation again - which it hasn't been for decades. This only will happen if they see that the interests of the Palestians are being cared for. It will be tough to move the mind sets to where Syria will feel that there are overt ways that they can be a champion for the Palestians, rather than by funding terror. This may be tough to get - but it sounds more likely than the neocon idea - of essentially throwing everything up into the air and hoping it would come down better. (This doesn't work with a puzzle either.)

[blm]

44. Hope these articles don't get lost down here.

Thanks, ProS

[politicasista]

52. Kick n/t

[ProSense]

53. John Kerry visits Gaza Strip

John Kerry visits Gaza Strip

Thu Feb 19, 8:24 am ET

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – U.S. Sen. John Kerry is in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip as part of a rare visit by American politicians to the area.

The former Democratic presidential nominee says he is in Gaza to see the aftermath of Israel's military offensive there last month. He is not meeting with anyone from Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group.

Kerry says his visit does not signal any change in U.S. policy. He told residents that Hamas must take moves toward peace and halt its rocket attacks.

Earlier Thursday, two Democratic congressmen traveled separately to Gaza.

http://d.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/400,http%3A%2F%2Fd.yimg.com%2Fa%2Fp%2Fap%2F20090219%2Fcapt.7abecd1b54b94460a7f4a9495d609f1a.mideast_israel_palestinians_jrl138.jpg http://d.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/400,http%3A%2F%2Fd.yimg.com%2Fa%2Fp%2Fafp%2F20090219%2Fcapt.photo_1235043848995-1-0.jpg

U.S. Senator John Kerry surounded by journalists as he visits
the destroyed the American International school in Beit Lahiya,
northern of Gaza Strip, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009. Kerry traveled
to the Gaza Strip on Thursday, in the highest-level visit by a U.S.
official since the Hamas militant group seized power nearly
two years ago.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)


U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) listens to a Palestinian man
during his visit to the destroyed American International School
in the northern Gaza Strip February 19, 2009. Senator Kerry
and two other lawmakers made a rare visit to the Gaza Strip
on Thursday but insisted a boycott of its Hamas Islamist rulers
remained intact.Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Kerry,
who ran an unsuccessful campaign for president in 2004, and two
members of the House of Representatives, Brian Baird and Keith
Ellison, entered the Gaza Strip separately. REUTERS/Suhaib Salem (GAZA)

[bdamomma]

56. this comment bothers me

"Kerry says his visit does not signal any change in U.S. policy. He told residents that Hamas must take moves toward peace and halt its rocket attacks".


Hamas must take moves towards peace and its rocket attacks????? what about Israel? damn.

[karynnj]

57. Kerry can NOT change the policy - only Obama can

He is NOT speaking to Israel there - he is speaking to the Palestinians and he is right. Nothing he says here addresses Israel's actions. But, there really can't be any moves towards peace while rockets continue to be sent into Israel.

[blm]

63. Kerry's been working behind the scenes for years to bring Syria into the solution for that region.

Even when Bush refused to have talks with Syria (and Clintons sided with Bush 's decision on that, btw) Kerry has met him several times over the last few years to maintain a relationship with him where he understood that there were lawmakers who wanted Assad's input in seeking a solution for the region.

[karynnj]

64. Here's an article from his January 25 trip with a cute story of a 13 yr old giving him a picture

he drew of Kerry in the military. (thanks to the wonders of the search function)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1133263

(the other interesting thing is that the linked articles are gone - the DU quotes are the existing historical record of what was written - pretty cool in one way - scary in the other. )

[karynnj]

58. Here are links to BBC radio coverage of the visits of Kerry and the congressmen

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7898801.stm

and

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml

[Sensitivity]

60. Kerry represents the 2nd branch on this mission, But we can be sure Barack has his back

[karynnj]

61. Exactly - Kerry is the top foreign policy person in Congress at this point

He has long term experience making these trips and has been helpful on diplomacy for past administrations. He really doesn't need Obama to have his back here - which is good for Obama, whose back Kerry has had, and for the country. Kerry was just re-elected for his fifth term by a huge landslide. He also is a very respected voice in the Senate with some very powerful committee positions. (In addition to SFRC chair, he is chair of the communications and technology sub-committee of the Commerce Committee and he is a member of the prestigious Finance committee. These are 3 super A committees - where the Senate rules dictate that the Senate has to waive anyone having more than 2 - and he is in strong positions in all of them.)

As the chair of the SFRC, he seems to be looking for ways to make that committee a more dynamic entity that could provide tremendous insight for both the Senate and the administration, which showed interest in his recent Afghanistan round table hearing. Senator Fullbright had used this type of hearing - where the witnesses and Senators sit informally around a table and there is a conversation, not the rigid rounds of questioning like normal hearings. (Here's a link to the Afghanistan hearing (the second half where people have become comfortable with the informality is the best part - http://foreign.senate.gov/hearings/2009/hrg090205a.html (ignore the agenda on this page - it is wrong - it is Afghanistan)

[ProSense]

69. In a Letter, a Leader of Hamas Makes an Appeal to Obama

In a Letter, a Leader of Hamas Makes an Appeal to Obama

By ETHAN BRONNER and TAGHREED EL-KHODARY
Published: February 20, 2009

JERUSALEM — A Hamas leader has asked President Obama to engage with his militant movement, rather than marginalize, it in a letter that was passed through United Nations officials in Gaza to Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts, during a visit there on Thursday.

Mr. Kerry said Friday that he did not know the letter’s contents and had given it to the American Consulate in Jerusalem so it would be sent to the White House. But the letter’s author, Ahmed Yousef, the Hamas deputy foreign minister, said by telephone that it was a two-page document urging the new administration to make a change from the Bush administration.

“There can be no peace without Hamas,” Mr. Yousef said he had written. “We congratulated Mr. Obama on his presidency and reminded him that he should live up to his promise to bring real change to the region. The Palestinian issue is the key to resolving all the problems in the area. We also said that Mr. Kerry’s visit to Gaza showed that the new administration has a clarity of vision and is not controlled by Israeli propaganda.”

The United States, like the European Union and Israel, considers Hamas a terrorist organization and has no official contacts with it. Mr. Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he had visited to see for himself the devastation in Gaza following Israel’s offensive there and that his trip did not represent a change in policy toward Hamas.

Still, it was the first time a senior American official had gone to Gaza in several years. Former Senator George J. Mitchell, the new American special envoy to the Middle East, has expressed support for reconciliation between Hamas and the Fatah movement of the Palestinian Authority, and the visit could signal the start of a re-evaluation of American policy toward the Palestinian question.

[karynnj]

70. It will be interesting if Obama can get Hamas to make the decision

to not be terrorists and accept the reality of Israel. The last paragraph is interesting. Every US leader has been a friend to Israel - it interesting that in different ways, this letter and comments show some trust that Obama, Mitchell and Kerry might also see that any real peace initiative has to also be seen as good for the Palestinians as well.

[jillan]

71. It's funny - or should I say not funny - I did not see much of this on the news today.

Kerry is alot luckier than Biden was. Biden had to go on these trips as a messenger of the Bush administration......

Kerry gets to represent Obama - who the world loves.
Kerry definitely got the better deal. ;)

Godspeed Senator Kerry!

[karynnj]

72. Biden was not a messenger for Bush,

he was, as Kerry and all the committee members were, representing the Senate - a co-equal branch of government.

That said, I agree that everyone - Biden, Kerry, and HRC etc - out there now representing the any part of the US government is in a much better situation. For Kerry, what it does is to let him have the same conversations he has had in the past - but with the important difference that there is a President more likely to act on opportunities identified.

There are some who have the opposite opinion - that heading the committee when the opposite party is in control is politically better - as they can do investigations and lead the opposition. I agree with you - that someone like Kerry (or Biden) probably prefers being part of a joint loosely connected effort to move forward and create change.

[politicasista]

73. This story made the local news

It was an NBC affiliate, but there was the report and video footage.

[ProSense]

74. US Senator Kerry meets Assad in Syria

US Senator Kerry meets Assad in Syria

by Roueida Mabardi Roueida Mabardi – Sat Feb 21

DAMASCUS (AFP) – US Senator John Kerry met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Saturday, SANA news agency reported, as Washington reviews its policies toward countries the previous administration regarded as hostile.

<...>

His talks with Assad were set to focus on Syria's support for Iran and regional Islamist militant groups, including the Shiite Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.

"We want Syria to respect the political independence of Lebanon, we want Syria to help in the process of resolving issues with Hezbollah and with the Palestinians," Kerry said on Wednesday in Lebanon.

"We want Syria to help... with the disarmament of Hezbollah," added Kerry, the most senior US official to visit Damascus since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2007.

more

http://d.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/400,http%3A%2F%2Fd.yimg.com%2Fa%2Fp%2Fap%2F20090221%2Fcapt.1ff486dc51f244a8a1e32d7d51814b8e.mideast_syria_us_bei107.jpg

http://d.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/400,http%3A%2F%2Fd.yimg.com%2Fa%2Fp%2Frids%2F20090221%2Fi%2Fr2277008282.jpg

Senator John Kerry, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, arrives to meet Syria's Vice President Farouq al-Shara
in Damascus February 21, 2009. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA)

http://d.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/345,http%3A%2F%2Fd.yimg.com%2Fa%2Fp%2Frids%2F20090221%2Fi%2Fr699910119.jpg

[politicasista]

75. Yup. That was the one

Meaning, the story that made the local news this evening. Pics and all. Thanks for posting it.

[karynnj]

76. Kerry helped change Israeli policy on letting truck loads of pasta into Gaza

"However, an incident occured last week at a crossing into the Gaza Strip that gave a very different impression to a senior observer. When Senator John Kerry visited the Strip, he learned that many trucks loaded with pasta were not permitted in. When the chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee inquired as to the reason for the delay, he was told by United Nations aid officials that "Israel does not define pasta as part of humanitarian aid - only rice shipments."

Kerry asked Barak about the logic behind this restriction, and only after the senior U.S. official's intervention did the defense minister allow the pasta into the Strip. The U.S. senator updated colleagues at the Senate and other senior officials in Washington of the details of his visit."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1066821.html