Pelosi's diplomacy: She speaks only for herself
Sunday, Apr. 8, 2007
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has taken it upon herself to launch diplomatic missions to several Middle Eastern nations and act not only as an official spokesman and representative of the United States, but as a messenger between hostile countries. This is more than foolish, it is dangerous.
Pelosi has made it clear that her reason for pretending to be secretary of state is because she disagrees with the Bush administration's handling of Middle Eastern affairs. So by its very nature her trip sends conflicting messages to our allies and enemies, weakens our position overseas and undermines the administration, which, by the way, is constitutionally entrusted with conducting foreign affairs. But since when has Pelosi been concerned about obeying the Constitution?
Yes, Republican members of Congress have visited these same countries. But they do so as individual members speaking only for themselves. Pelosi pretends to speak for the United States government, or at least the House of Representatives.
In addition to assuming powers she does not have, she's blundering through an incredibly sensitive political minefield. As The Washington Post reported last week in an editorial criticizing Pelosi's trip, she delivered a message to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad that "Israel was ready to engage in peace talks," and she claimed that Syria wanted to "resume the peace process." None of it was true.
"Ms. Pelosi not only misrepresented Israel's position but was virtually alone in failing to discern that Mr. Assad's words were mere propaganda," the Post wrote.
New Hampshire 2nd District Rep. Paul Hodes told us on Thursday that he supported Pelosi's trip because "it is important to engage in diplomacy with people you disagree with."
That might be so, but it is not the job of the speaker of the House to conduct foreign policy. And it is especially dangerous for her to do so with a murderous, hostile, terror-supporting regime.
The Democratic leadership in Congress has been in office only a few months and already appears drunk on its own power.
Its leaders think they can -- and have the authority to -- run a war and decide our foreign policy.
But Congress has no such authority, and now we see why.
unionleader.com |
