Carnal Reason

Congress on foreign policy, in two acts.

WASHINGTON - Members of the House left Washington on Friday for their two-week spring break without weighing in on the international crisis tormenting the nation’s closest ally: the capture of 15 British sailors and marines by Iran.

The omission by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is being noted by some Republicans, who say they should have gotten the chance to join the Senate in denouncing Tehran’s bold actions.

“I am very disappointed that the speaker chose not to act,” said Rep. Charles Dent, R-Pa.

“I believe it’s important for us as Americans to show our solidarity with the Britons,” he added in a phone interview Friday. “The British are our closest allies, and I think we have to stand next to them in a moment like this.”

The Senate on Thursday, before adjourning for its one-week break, passed a resolution condemning the act “in the strongest possible terms” and calling for the sailors “immediate, safe and unconditional release.”

Pelosi’s spokesman Brendan Daly said the speaker was reluctant to weigh in on the incident without knowing that such a message would do more good than harm.

Speaker Pelosi shows great discretion. Except when she doesn’t.

ISTANBUL, March 29 — A planned vote in Congress that would classify the widespread killings of Armenians by the Ottoman Turkish government early in the 20th century as genocide is threatening to make bilateral relations unusually tense.

The speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, backs the resolution and at first wanted a vote in April. But under Turkish pressure, Bush administration figures have lobbied for the Democrats in charge of Congress to drop the measure.

Speaker Pelosi is reluctant to show support for England; to do so might do more harm than good. What harm it might do is unclear. But the Speaker is perfectly willing to enrage a current ally, Turkey, over matters that occurred in 1915, matters in which the US had no involvement. There it is critical for Congress to speak, now.

Posted on March 31st, 2007 by pwyll
Filed under: politics