Pelosi in Damascus

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently led a Congressional delegation to meet with political leaders in Syria. This visit was heavily criticized by the Bush administration: “‘We don't think it's a good idea,’ said the White House deputy press secretary, Dana Perino... ‘We think that someone should take a step back and think about the message that it sends,’” reported the New York Times. The Bush administration has not met with Syria, citing its support for terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah. “In our view, it is not the right time to have these sorts of high-profile visits to Syria,'” said Sean McCormack, a spokesman for the State Department.

The bipartisan Iraq study group however, specifically recommended discussions about Middle East security and stability with Syria and other Middle Eastern countries. Speaker Pelosi told reporters that “‘There is no division on policy between us and President Bush, be it on Israel, Palestine or Syria.’”

What happens to the separation of powers? Are the President and his State Department the exclusive controllers of U.S. foreign policy? Can the Speaker of the House represent the United States abroad? How (if at all) should the suggestions of the Iraq study group be implemented and who should decide?