Tuesday, May 8, 2007

The April 27 editorial "No Results in Damascus" summarized grievances against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad that are correct, but the conclusion that the trip taken by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was pointless because Syria hasn't changed dramatically in three weeks is almost comical.

It's been five years since the Bush administration imposed its policy of isolation, and that has produced no better results.

As a participant on the Syria trip, I was proud to sit beside the speaker as she boldly detailed human rights cases to Mr. Assad, personally handed him copies of the dog tags of kidnapped Israeli soldiers, and challenged Syrian interference in Iraq and Lebanon.

No one expects Syria to change overnight, but as the bipartisan Iraq Study Group noted, engagement is an effective way to ensure that Damascus gets the message.

Having tried isolation with no discernible result, the administration should consider carefully this worthwhile recommendation of the Iraq Study Group and other foreign policy experts.

HENRY A. WAXMAN

U.S. Representative (D-Calif.)

Washington