House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has enough to do in Congress without stepping into Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's shoes.

While it's true that the Bush administration's cold refusal to deal with Syria because of its terrorist ties is a flawed approach, Pelosi's meeting this week with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus was the wrong move.

Regardless of dissension here at home, as a matter of foreign policy the United States should speak with one voice abroad. Disregarding that policy risks sending mixed signals. That's a risk we can't afford, considering the fragility of the region.

Pelosi's meeting with Assad could logically be viewed as contradictory; she's the highest-ranking U.S. official to break the freeze and deal with Syria since 2003.

She also, it seems, lacks the skill to deal with diplomacy at this level. Her "message" delivered to Assad from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reflected that lack of expertise. While she rightly expressed concern over Syria's terrorists ties, Pelosi also told Assad that Israel is "ready to engage in peace talks" with Syria. Olmert, apparently feeling the message had been botched, promptly issued a statement saying Israel's position remains the same, adding that it views Syria as "part of the axis of evil."

Pelosi said she made the visit in response to the Iraq Study Group's recommendations, which urged talks with Syria. Those are the good intentions. She should put them to use urging a new and improved policy here at home.