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... Pelosi, they say in Washington, didn’t like the Israeli clarification. It made her look slightly ridiculous, like a rookie in foreign policy. Upon her return to the U.S. it became evident that her attempt to conduct independent foreign policy for Congress’ Democratic majority was not appreciated from wall to wall. The administration, predictably, attacked her, but not just the administration.

... The thing is, Pelosi is not setting independent foreign policy, but domestic policy. Feet in Damascus, head in New Hampshire. It was not Israel’s interest nor Syria’s that guided her, but the good of the Democratic party.

... However, in the race for 2008, the risk to Israel is increasing. The Middle East is at the center of the American agenda. Every detail in U.S. policy regarding Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Hamas, radical Islam and terror affects Israel directly. Every detail affecting that policy is at the center of a profound debate, at least on the rhetorical level.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=pelosi&itemNo=847312