Bad Idea
A group of US legislators has made a trip to Cuba with the stated intention of opening dialog with the police state Fidel Castro built.
HAVANA (Reuters) - The largest delegation from the U.S. Congress to visit Cuba since 1959 arrived in Havana on Friday seeking to open a dialogue with the communist government of acting President Raul Castro despite White House opposition to such contacts.
The stepping aside of ailing Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who has not appeared in public for four months, has set the stage for ending political hostility dating from the start of the Cold War, they said.
"We sense this is an important time and we hope to meet with officials and hopefully launch a new era in U.S.-Cuba relations," said Rep. Jeff Flake, an Arizona Republican.
The six Democrats and four Republicans hope to meet with Raul Castro, who took over July 31 after his brother underwent emergency surgery for an undisclosed illness.
This sort of thing has been happening more and more frequently where Congressmen and Senators have taken it upon themselves to push their way into foreign policy. Regardless of political party, this is wrong. Whether the legislators agree with the policy or not, American policy toward Cuba has been pretty much the same since John Kennedy occupied the White House. It is not their place to circumvent that policy in this manner. If they want to change the policy, there is a well established method for doing so. It is called "passing a bill" and it is not rocket surgery.
Additionally, foreign policy is the bailiwick of the Executive Branch. They know that, but have chosen this route of going around the institutions, limits and constitutional requirements of the government anyway. Stunts like this are disrespectful of the system of government they represent and to their constituents. This undermines the entire government, all branches. It also sends a bad signal to the world about how the United States operates. Go home, people and stop disrespecting the office you hold and the nation you represent.
Politics, World news | Gaius Saturday, 16 December , 2006
