Do you notice that the Syrian regime treats any visit to Damascus by any US official, even a city council member from Kansas, as a victory for the Syrian regime, or as a vindication for the stance of the regime? The press treatment of the visit by Sen. Specter is only one example, but on a very grand scale. I saw the Syrian ambassador in DC brag on Syrian TV that Specter met with Bush for 4 hours a few months ago--to discuss Syria I am sure.