Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

  • Policy Issues
    • Fact Sheets
    • Countries
    • Nuclear Weapons
    • Non-Proliferation
    • Nuclear Security
    • Biological & Chemical Weapons
    • Defense Spending
    • Missile Defense
    • No First Use
  • Nukes of Hazard
    • Podcast
    • Blog
    • Videos
  • Join Us
  • Press
  • About
    • Staff
    • Boards & Experts
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financials and Annual Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Donate
  • Search
You are here: Home / Press Room / Center in the News / The Hill Publishes Piece by Board Member Col. Richard Klass on GOP Letter

March 13, 2015

The Hill Publishes Piece by Board Member Col. Richard Klass on GOP Letter

The Demise of American foreign policy

March 13, 2015

By Colonel Richard L. Klass (USA, Ret.)

I wonder who will take “credit” if the Iranian nuclear talks fail. Will it be Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), based on his unprecedented partisan invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress, and on the rapturous applause he received from the GOP attendees? Or will it be freshman Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton’s (R) impertinent and flawed letter to the Iranian government, signed by forty-six GOP colleagues? While GOP members of Congress are exchanging high fives, will they take note of the smoldering embers of U.S. foreign policy and the vastly diminished U.S. influence in the world?

Cotton has been clear in his intention to stop any agreement on curbing the Iranian nuclear program, stating in January that, “The end of these negotiations isn’t an unintended consequence of congressional action. It is very much an intended consequence.” He contended, however, that his current epistle was merely intended to educate the Iranians on U.S. constitutional procedures. If so, he was a poor teacher, mistakenly characterizing the role of the Senate in ratifying treaties.

In return, Cotton and his colleagues received a terse tutorial on international law from Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who noted that international agreements, the vast majority of which are executive agreements and not treaties, are obligations entered into by governments, not legislatures. But Cotton and his colleagues’ aim was not to educate or be educated but to undermine the president’s authority and, frankly, kill the negotiations.

Click here to read the full article on The Hill.

Posted in: Center in the News, Iran Diplomacy, Press & In the News on Iran Diplomacy, Press Room

Tweets by Nukes of Hazard

Recent Posts

  • Growing number of high-security pathogen labs around world raises concerns March 17, 2023
  • Global Biosafety Fears Grow Amid Rise in Labs Handling Dangerous Pathogens March 17, 2023
  • Evolving Threats, Un-evolving Solutions: Geo-Politicization of Export Control Policy March 17, 2023
  • Fact Sheet: The Australia Group March 16, 2023
  • Fact Sheet: Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones March 14, 2023
Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation

820 1st Street NE, Suite LL-180
Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202.546.0795

Issues

  • Fact Sheets
  • Countries
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Non-Proliferation
  • Nuclear Security
  • Defense Spending
  • Biological and Chemical Weapons
  • Missile Defense
  • No First Use

Countries

  • China
  • France
  • India and Pakistan
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • United Kingdom

Explore

  • Nukes of Hazard blog
  • Nukes of Hazard podcast
  • Nukes of Hazard videos
  • Front and Center
  • Fact Sheets

About

  • About
  • Meet the Staff
  • Boards & Experts
  • Press
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Financials and Annual Reports
  • Contact Us
  • Council for a Livable World
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

© 2023 Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
Privacy Policy

Charity Navigator GuideStar Seal of Transparency