U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will represent the United States at the donors’ conference in Cairo next month to raise money for the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip. Clinton told reporters her goal was “to try to get humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.” Egypt’s Foreign Ministry, host of the conference, says at least 70 nations will be in attendance at the conference. Meanwhile, the first of back-to-back congressional visits to Damascus was held on Wednesday when Maryland Senator Ben Cardin met with Syrian President Bashar Al-Asad. Cardin told reporters the Syrians had themselves to blame for their isolation by sponsoring terrorism and providing a safe-haven for terrorists. This week, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), will be the next American to bring a delegation to Damascus. Kerry’s visit is attracting great interest because of his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and for his close ties to President Barack Obama.