September 17, 2008

Video: Did Obama Illegally Interfere With US Troop Withdrawal Negotiations?

I dunno, seems kind of like no big deal to me: Obama wanted the Iraqis to wait until his Messiahship would be annointed King to negotiate a status of forces agreement with his Holyship. Since Obama seems to think that his very presence at any negotiations will miraculously change the vital interests of foreign countries, perhaps he was well intended?

The problem is with Obama and many in Democratic circles thinking that individual personality is the key to diplomacy. Note to "reality based community": national interests matter and no charismatic figure can miraculously change conflicting national interests.

I think there's a word to describe that theory. Oh yeah: Realism.

Anyway, I'm getting bombarded by emails saying Obama violated the Logan Act which forbids "unauthorized citizens from negotiating with foreign governments".

Q: When was that last time someone was indicted under the statute?
A: 1803

Paper meet tiger.

Anyway, here's the video.

Obama isn't disputing that he tried to get the Iraqis to wait until his Holyship ascended to office.

That point is made here:

The three problems, according to campaign sources: The report was true, there were at least three other people in the room with Obama and Zebari to confirm the conversation, and there was concern that there were enough aggressive reporters based in Baghdad with the sources to confirm the conversation that to deny the comments would create a bigger problem.

The politics as motivation angle?Bob Owens:

If the claims in the article are correct, Barack Obama was telling Iraqis to keep the number of American troops at current levels, while pressuring American officers for a withdrawal date and telling the far left anti-war base of his supporters that he was pledged to a nearly unconditional withdrawal.

I'm not sure how to wrap this post up. How about a summation:

1) Obama tried to get the Iraqis to wait until he was President to sign an agreement.
2) While this may technically be a violation of the Logan Act, the act itself is mostly meaningless and unenforcable.
3) Obama probably was trying to do what he thought was in the best interests of the United States
4) This is exactly the problem with Obama who seems to think that his sheer Awesometude is enough to shape international relations.

It is point 4 above which is most worrisome.