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I did not think of this angle but it seems to have a serious foundation:
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.UP to 3 years in Prison!
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 flaunt 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.
Did the republicans that went to Syria also commit a felony?
ReplyDeleteFrom Bloomberg.com:
Perino's remarks come as a group of Republican lawmakers has embarked on their own trip to Syria. Michael Lowry, a spokesman for Representative Robert Aderholt, said that the Alabama lawmaker will visit Syria as part of a Republican delegation led by Representative Frank Wolf, a Virginia Republican. Wolf is the top Republican on the House appropriations subcommittee that funds the State Department.
Typical neocon doubletalk. Chickenhawks, war profiteers and hypocrites.
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ReplyDeleteXeric asks an excellent question, and the answer is: Nancy Pelosi’s trip was not authorized by the President and in fact she was specifically asked not to make the trip. Pelosi not only made the trip but engaged in an unauthorized and uncoordinated policy initiative that was not authorized by the President, which is the law (Logan Act). The Republican congressmen did have authorization and did not engage in any policy initiatives. Their trip was a classic fact-finding trip. That having been said, I would have also opposed even that mission but it was clearly not “illegal”. Pelosi on the other hand, clearly broke the law by initiating her own “peace” initiative, circumventing the US Executive Branch which is the only government branch constitutionally authorized to conduct foreign policy initiatives and negotiate with foreign authorities on behalf of the United States.
ReplyDeleteAs for your other comments, about me being a “chicken hawk” and a “war profiteer”: 1) I volunteered and served in a combat airborne infantry unit between 1979 and 1983; 2) I have never profited a penny from any war and I own no stocks in companies that may. 3) As for whether I am engaging in “doubletalk” I will let the readers decide. On the other hand, your personal insults without knowing anything about me, is more of a reflection on you than it is on me.