Shrugging off Bush policy, U.S. senator meets Syrian president

In a direct affront to the Bush administration, a Democratic United States senator spent an hour Wednesday with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus, asking him to do more to stabilize Iraq.

Senator Bill Nelson, a member of the Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees met with Assad after the State Department said that it disapproved of his trip.

The U.S. has limited diplomatic ties with Syria because of its support of Hezbollah and Hamas, which the U.S. deems terrorist organizations, and U.S. President George W. Bush has expressed reluctance to seek help from Damascus on Iraq until the Syrians curb that support and reduce their influence in Lebanon.

More Thursday morning.