By Associated Press
Washington, DC – Three Republican congressmen who parted with President Bush by meeting with Syrian leaders said Wednesday it is important to maintain a dialogue with a country the White House says sponsors terrorism.
Representative Robert Aderholt of Haleyville said this is an area where they disagree with the administration.
Bush sharply criticized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, for leading a delegation to meet with Syria's president, Bashar Assad.
The White House, however, stayed relatively quiet about a similar trip just a few days earlier by Aderholt and G-O-P Representatives Frank Wolf of Virginia and Joseph Pitts of Pennsylvania.
Returning on Wednesday, the lawmakers said they made clear to Assad that they support Bush and were not representing the administration. But they said they felt it was important to maintain dialogue.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)