Last night, I poured my thoughts and feelings about Israel and Iran onto the pages of this blog, understanding that this would not be the end of the story. Little did I know that while I was writing that post, so-called Conservative Republicans were finalizing a letter, spearheaded by former veteran and first-time SenatorTom Cotton, that aimed to destroy any chance at peace between the United States, Israel and Iran. This letter, sent to Iranian legislators, sent a clear message: do as we tell you or face the consequences. And what would those consequences be by any chance? Why, bombings and the beginning of a new war.
Once again I feel the need to reiterate that the United States Diplomatic Corps is in Tehran right now trying to finalize a peace deal that would ensure that Iran would reduce the refinement of nuclear materials to the amount needed only to power their plants in order to provide energy to the Iranian people. It would be too easy to say that this letter's (which was signed by 48 Republicans, including my Senator Ted Cruz, don't get me started there) aims were treasonous. That these legislators were aiming to create destabilization in the region in order to push to war. But I don't think that was their aim. This letter came a week after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed up at the Capitol building and lectured these same Republicans, his goal was to break down peace talks and prepare the way for an attack on Iran. Republicans, as you can see from the many videos showing the response, seemed rather open to such an idea.
I can't help but be reminded of how Republicans responded to 9/11 nearly fourteen years ago. How important it appeared to have an immediate response, something decisive over something tactical. Bear in mind that Republicans didn't militarily respond immediately and in fact it could be said they gave Osama Bin Laden the opportunity to escape in their hesitancy. But that wasn't what they did first. The first thing they did was tighten up security not just by creating new protocols that secured potential weaponized vehicles, but also create a system of invasive intelligence gathering. This letter to Iran was the Republican way of responding to what they consider an immediate threat. They consider it so immediate that they deemed President Obama complicit and acted yet again out of protocol.
And like 9/11, I can't help but think how these so-called Conservative Republicans would have responded if a group of Democrats came out against President Bush and offered their own agenda. In fact, we don't even have to imagine as any Democrat who didn't support the president's response was immediately ostracized and marginalized for not backing the executive branch in a time of crisis. And in a way, I can understand. But it appears that the Republicans have attempted to delegitimize the presidency throughout these events. And what's worse, it appears that the president's approach was getting results, therefore making this letter and those who sponsored it look petty.
And exactly how could Congress possibly back up this overzealous threat anyways? The power to declare war, as stated in the Constitution lies solely with the president. Congress' war powers only allow them them finance it. Considering that Obama has never allowed himself to be backed into corners by his opposition in regards to foreign policy, why would they think that this letter would cause President Obama to authorize war? Unless they knew that this letter was nothing more than a cheap ploy at gaining political points with their constituants, which would be not just be condemnable, but also a sign of inability to perform the job given to them by the voters of their districts.
My 11-year-old son gets angry when I won't allow him to play certain violent video games or act inappropriately. He has seen his friends and cousins get to do these things without getting into trouble and feels that it is unfair that he is held to a higher standard. Conservative Republicans hold themselves to a higher standard in many ways; they are the ones who support marriage and pro-life, the ones that proclaim a higher authority was involved in their political rise, the ones that judge those of different political ilk as inferior both logically and morally. But then they want to use the underhanded tactics and cheap shots that they proclaim their enemies use (and in many cases, that's not the case to begin with). Republicans can't fight fire with fire while complaining of arson. Either play by the rules set for themselves or cede the high ground. The Republicans are trying to have it both ways, which makes them look like cynical hypocrites and cheapens their brand to new voters.
The peace negotiations are not off the table as of right now nor does it mean that this letter was the reason that it didn't work. There was always a slim chance that this could work, but this letter makes it easier to blame Republicans for this and lay any future war and its cost at the their feet. But by that point, what does it matter? War still would've been waged, soldiers and innocents would die, the house of cards in the Middle East would've toppled. Blame at that point would be moot.
I only hope that Senator Cotton, upon the declaration of war, will have the good sense to resign and return to active duty. Allow him to drop the first bomb in a war that he helped, even inadvertently, to start.
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