ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS: GOP’s 47 senators roll dice with letter to Iran

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

So what do we make of the 47 Republican senators who decided to write a letter to Iran’s leaders in the midst of nuclear arms negotiations between President Obama and the mullahs’ less-than-transparent nation?

At this juncture, we know that Iran has operated secret nuclear facilities in the past and that estimates suggest Iran could have 190,000 centrifuges enriching uranium within a matter of several weeks. The lack of transparency observed by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is very concerning for anyone living outside of Iran, as inspectors are kept in the dark regarding the nation’s nuclear program. It has been revealed that Mr. Obama’s current deal with Iran’s leaders involves numerous concessions: These include a sunset period (the deal will cease to take effect after a certain date) of 10 years, as well as an inability to destroy nuclear facilities belonging to Iran.

Since Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and 46 other Senate Republicans sent Iran’s top officials a letter last week, there has been much controversy as to whether or not they have violated the Logan Act, a 1799 law that forbids any U.S. citizen (acting without official U.S. authority) from influencing “disputes or controversies” that involve a foreign government and the U.S.

While the senators in this case are clearly attempting to sway negotiations, it is less clear whether the Republican congressmen are acting without official U.S. authority. One may argue that those who have signed this letter do in fact wield “official U.S. authority” and that these signatories serve as federal officers considering their role in the United States Congress.

But regardless, what should we think of this entire situation? Mr. Cotton and his colleagues are evidently worried about the path on which Mr. Obama and his administration are headed. In interviews, they have alluded to their constituents’ concerns, and in their letter warned Iran’s leaders that “we will consider any agreement regarding your nuclear weapons program that is not approved by the Congress as nothing more than an executive agreement between President Obama and Ayatollah Khamenei.”

While the letter was certainly a bold idea, the purpose of its content may be misrepresented or misperceived. It now appears that, because of media reports and the White House’s reaction, the conversation has shifted from foreign policy to a political fight between a sitting Democratic president and Republican congressmen. Even Sen. Bob Corker, Tennessee Republican and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, advised against the letter by saying, “I didn’t think it was going to further our efforts to get to a place where Congress would play the appropriate role that it should on Iran.”

And Iran’s leaders have dismissed the letter as a propaganda ploy, saying it bears no legal value and shows the worried nature of one group.

Well, it is clear that we all should be worried. Vice President Joseph R. Biden denounced the letter by saying it was “beneath the dignity” of the Senate; White House spokesman Eric Schultz described the letter as a “blatant, flagrant and partisan attempt to interfere with negotiations”; and the president himself told Vice News he was “embarrassed for them.” Even former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton tweeted: “GOP letter to Iranian clerics undermines American leadership.”

Are these opinions right? At this point, it doesn’t really matter. Yes, going around colleagues’ backs to sign letters in the midst of negotiations may seem childish. Will it ultimately even help the situation? Only time will tell. But know this one thing: If our own legislative and executive branches are not talented at striking solid deals between each other, do not expect a promising negotiation to arise after talks with a foreign adversary.

• Armstrong Williams is sole owner/manager of Howard Stirk Holdings and executive editor of American CurrentSee online magazine.