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The Washingon Post says Pelosi's behavior in Syria was a "counterproductive," "foolish" attempt to "substitute her own foreign policy for that of a sitting Republican president."
USA Today says:
...House Speaker Nancy Pelosi crossed a line this week by visiting Syria, where she met with President Bashar Assad. She violated a long-held understanding that the United States should speak with one official voice abroad - even if the country is deeply divided on foreign policy back home.
...It's not up to the speaker to unfreeze relations with Assad.
And a Wall Street Journal article says she broke the law:
The Logan Act makes it a felony and provides for a prison sentence of up to three years for any American, "without authority of the United States," to communicate with a foreign government in an effort to influence that government's behavior on any "disputes or controversies with the United States." Some background on this statute helps to understand why Ms. Pelosi may be in serious trouble.
...the offense is greater when the usurpation of the president's constitutional authority is done by a member of the legislature--all the more so by a Speaker of the House--because it violates not just statutory law but constitutes a usurpation of the powers of a separate branch and a breach of the oath of office Ms. Pelosi took to support the Constitution.
Pelosi has been trying to impose her foreign policy strategy on the Presidency since the moment she became speaker, most notably with regard to Iraq. Per the Washington Post (same link as above):
The really striking development here is the attempt by a Democratic congressional leader to substitute her own foreign policy for that of a sitting Republican president. Two weeks ago Ms. Pelosi rammed legislation through the House of Representatives that would strip Mr. Bush of his authority as commander in chief to manage troop movements in Iraq.
Republicans should make sure to bring this to Pelosi's attention the very next time she tries to discuss such issues. Pelosi's foolish behavior ( the Washington Post called it a "pratfall" ) should be thrown in her face such that she never can say a word about foreign policy again.
#1
#2From the Wall Street Journal (same link as in the post):
Of course, not all congressional travel to, or communications with representatives of, foreign nations is unlawful. A purely fact-finding trip that involves looking around, visiting American military bases or talking with U.S. diplomats is not a problem. Nor is formal negotiation with foreign representatives if authorized by the president. (FDR appointed Sens. Tom Connally and Arthur Vandenberg to the U.S. delegation that negotiated the U.N. Charter.) Ms. Pelosi's trip was not authorized, and Syria is one of the world's leading sponsors of international terrorism. It has almost certainly been involved in numerous attacks that have claimed the lives of American military personnel from Beirut to Baghdad.
The U.S. is in the midst of two wars authorized by Congress. For Ms. Pelosi to flout the Constitution in these circumstances is not only shortsighted; it may well be a felony, as the Logan Act has been part of our criminal law for more than two centuries. Perhaps it is time to enforce the law.
#3My point exactly.
And it doesn't appear the three congressmen's trip was authorized either, as implied by the first article:
Three Republican congressmen who parted with President Bush by meeting with Syrian leaders said Wednesday it is important to maintain a dialogue with a country the White House says sponsors terrorism.
“I don't care what the administration says on this. You've got to do what you think is in the best interest of your country,” said Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va. “I want us to be successful in Iraq. I want us to clamp down on Hezbollah.”
Those three crossed the line, too. And Issa's latest statement doesn't sound like they come from the White House's talking points memo:
He told reporters in the Middle East that Bush has failed to promote the dialogue necessary to resolve disagreements between the United States and Syria.
“That's an important message to realize: We have tensions, but we have two functioning embassies,” Issa said after separate meetings with Assad and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.
Pelosi's not the only one trying to impose his or her own foreign policy. This f-in congress is a runaway train, going completely against the executive branch's wishes! It's time to rein them in!
Can the president dissolve Congress?
#4Good points, Scandinista. As I've posted previously, I don't support Congress using the legal system to paralyze the Presidency. I also would not support using the legal system on Pelosi in a case like this. But she is so far out of line that I would like to see Republicans use her demonstrated ignorance to keep her from continuing to attempt to usurp the powers of the Presidency.
Don't forget that the same needs to be said of other members of Congress! Reps. Frank Wolf of Virginia, Robert Aderholt of Alabama and Joseph Pitts of Pennsylvania all went right before Pelosi! (I think they just returned on Wednesday.)
San Diego Union Tribune article
And then Rep. Darrell Issa of California went to Syria TWICE! Once three years ago and then a day after Pelosi's visit! (I think he's still there.)
Another San Diego Union Tribune article
I don't know who else has gone to Syria, but according to the second link above, "more than a dozen U.S. lawmakers have traveled to Damascus to meet with Assad in the past four months after the nonpartisan Iraq Study Group recommended to Bush that engaging with Syria and Iran could help stabilize Iraq."
Let's get their names and let's watch the heads roll!