Others may defend Nelson’s trip, saying he was not holding himself out as having any actual authority but simply wanted to open up a dialogue between our two nations. But that doesn’t excuse Nelson’s actions. He has no right even to open up a dialogue when it is the official policy of the United States not to initiate such a dialogue.

Of course Nelson was purporting to speak for the U.S. -- at least for Bush’s political opponents. This wasn’t a social trip. He was clearly trying to influence Assad’s policy -- he asked him to do more to stabilize Iraq. If nothing else, Nelson definitely sent a signal to Assad that powerful people in the U.S. disagree with the nation’s official policy and will do everything they can to change it.

And, of course, Assad is going to tell the hapless senator that he’ll cooperate because it makes President Bush look bad -- at least to those who believe we should negotiate with terrorists.

This strengthens Assad’s hand and encourages him to play up the idea that Bush is stubbornly refusing to deal with him. Alternatively, it gives Assad tacit permission to continue to misbehave, with the hope that his actions will go unpunished as long as Democrats accede to the executive branch in 2008.

Sen. Kerry recently took a similar trip to Egypt. Other senators, including Republican Sen. Arlen Specter, are planning such trips in the future. We know about Sen. Kennedy’s dishonorable missions in the past.

But surely reasonable people, even those who disagree with Bush’s posture toward Syria, will understand that their preferred policy end does not justify the means of violating the Constitution and turning our foreign policy into a jumbled mess.

We are talking about vitally important foreign policy during time of war. Where is the outrage? We shouldn’t dismiss these trips so lightly, and the Bush administration must condemn them in stronger terms.