Republicans Challenge Obama on Iran

Republicans are once again going after President Obama’s foreign policy, particularly his policy on one of our long time nemesis’, Iran. Legal scholars are raising questions over whether Sen. Tom Cotton and the 46 Senate Republicans were in violation of The Logan Act, when they submitted a letter to Iran’s leaders warning them not to agree to any deal with The White House.

The Logan Act, which was enacted in 1799, prohibits any unauthorized citizens to make contact with the leaders from foreign governments. Leading the way for the letter to Iran is Arkansas Republican, Senator Tom Cotton. Cotton and 46 other Senators, all Republicans, warned Iran to call off nuclear talks with President Obama. Although The Logan Act has been around for well over 200 years, it has only led to one indictment and zero total prosecutions.

The real question here, is were these Senators acting, “without authority of the United States?” Senator Cotton, defended the actions while Vice President Joe Biden, stated that not only was the letter “illegal” but nothing more than “an attempt to derail President Obama.” Tensions are flaring across Washington DC over this.

Meanwhile, in Tehran the capital of Iran, Iranian leaders seem underrated and not worried about the letter. Congressional and Senate Republicans have long been critical of President Obama’s foreign policy. Everything from President Obama’s “apology tour” as it was called to the terrorist attack at a US consulate in Libya in 2012. Neither Iran or the Republicans are backing down and some worry that the letter could further nuclear tensions between Iran and The United States.

John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee weighed in by saying, “I certainly think I should have signed it, and I think that the message needs to be sent.”

What the letter specifically said was that any nuclear agreement made between The Ayatollah of Iran and President Obama would only remain law for as long as President Obama remained in office. There is some speculation that what’s going on right now is a ploy by the Republicans to make this an issue in the 2016 Presidential election and use it as an issue against the Democratic nominee.

German Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, told reporters in Washington on Wednesday that the letter was not useful. He also added, “it’s unhelpful is an understatement.” Some of the Republican Senators have been called traitors. Only time will tell about what kind of throwback occurs from this event.

REUTERS/JOSHUA ROBERTS