Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) has some strong opinions on what some Washington insiders are calling U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s "foolish shuttle diplomacy."

While visiting with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Pelosi announced she was delivering a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that "Israel was ready to engage in peace talks." Only one problem: the Israeli Prime Minister never gave Pelosi that message.

Senator Bond, visiting the State Capitol in Jefferson City, told reporters that while he wasn’t familiar with the specifics of this incident, this is one of the pitfalls of trying to supplant the constitutional authority of the President to conduct foreign policy.

"When I go abroad," said Bond, "I don’t undercut the President’s foreign policy and, regrettably, that’s what she’s tried to do.  Apparently, it’s backfired on her."

"Maybe, continued Bond, "She’ll learn not to try to conduct foreign policy – not to go visit countries that are supplying weapons to kill our troops in Iraq."

As for legislation on Capitol Hill that would put in play a withdrawal date for U.S. troops from Iraq, Bond says U.S. generals and other American military personnel on the ground in Iraq should not be micro-managed by Congress.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)