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Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Let's Talk Treason, Shall We?

Nearly half of our senators sent an open letter to the Iranians telling them that they can't come to an agreement with America if they just go through President Obama. The Left has been outraged.

"Treason" has been coming easily from the lips of the Left. Holy Dissent be damned, I guess:

More than 155,000 people by Wednesday had signed a petition to the White House urging charges be filed against 47 Republican senators who they say committed "treasonous" offenses by writing Iran's leaders about ongoing nuclear negotiations.

But let's talk treason shall we?

Let's talk Ted Kennedy:

Kennedy's message was simple. He proposed an unabashed quid pro quo. Kennedy would lend Andropov a hand in dealing with President Reagan. In return, the Soviet leader would lend the Democratic Party a hand in challenging Reagan in the 1984 presidential election.

Huh.

And remember, I was disdainful of Speaker Pelosi's trip to bow to Assad of Syria, but I didn't charge treason or any such rot. I just had no respect for it.

Given the body count in Syria under Assad, was Pelosi right to think Assad could be our partner in talk?

UPDATE: Back to Iran. The Left is saying the letter is treason, which is giving aid and comfort to the enemy. Amazingly, Iran has to be an enemy for this charge to work.

And as for Iran? Does this sound like the letter gave them aid or comfort?

Mehr quoted [Iran's "Supreme Leader" Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei as saying: "Of course I am worried, because the other side is known for opacity, deceit and backstabbing.

"Every time we reach a stage where the end of the negotiations is in sight, the tone of the other side, specifically the Americans, becomes harsher, coarser and tougher. This is the nature of their tricks and deceptions."

So in the negotiations, who is providing the aid and comfort to Iran?

Oh, and for the record, I think our administration is idiotic and unworthy of directing our foreign policy. I don't think they are treasonous.

But it does anger me that there is a not insignificant number of those on the Left easily flinging the "treason" charge.

UPDATE: Well, at least the critics haven't questioned the patriotism of the senators, right?

UPDATE: Wait. What?

During his first presidential campaign in 2008, Mr. Obama used a secret back channel to Tehran to assure the mullahs that he was a friend of the Islamic Republic, and that they would be very happy with his policies. The secret channel was Ambassador William G. Miller, who served in Iran during the shah’s rule, as chief of staff for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and as ambassador to Ukraine. Ambassador Miller has confirmed to me his conversations with Iranian leaders during the 2008 campaign.

So Iran blew off talks with Bush 43 to wait for President Obama? (Tip to Instapundit)

I eagerly await the petition for the 48th arrest.

UPDATE: This is late but I ran across it and it is very appropriate.