Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Obama's Breach    [Amy Holmes]

I was stunned to read the report today in Amir Taheri's column that Obama attempted to undermine force strength negotiations of the sitting Commander in Chief in a time of war through secret, backdoor, election year negotiations of his own.  If true, the implications would, it seems to me, be serious and stunning.

A question for Corner experts: What does the Constitution have to say about such an act?  My understanding is that the International Commerce Acts of 1798 prohibits any private citizen or party from negotiating with a foreign power in matters of national policy or military action.  (H/T Google.)  Has this prohibition lost its power in modern politics (e.g. Jimmy Carter and Jesse Jackson's freelance diplomatic efforts.)  Is there any precedence for a presidential candidate to attempt to undermine a Commander in Chief and manipulate war time negotiations with a foreign power for his own electoral advantage?

One of the Democrats' favorite conspiracy theories against Reagan is that he secretly struck a deal with the Iranians during the hostage crisis to keep our fellow Americans imprisoned to ensure Carter's defeat and his own election.  I've never read anything to substantiate this claim, but I've certainly heard and read plenty about it from the Left.  It is one of their key indictments against Reagan.

If Amir Taheri's reporting is accurate, what are we to make of it?

Corner experts, I defer to you.

09/16 12:51 AMShare