OVERCOMING FOREIGN POLICY DISUNITY.

• Author: Hornblow, Michael

OVERCOMING FOREIGN POLICY DISUNITY

By Senator Richard G. Lugar

http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/overcoming-political-disunity-7752

There was always a sense of relief when we learned that a CODEL (Congressional Delegation) headed by Senator Richard Lugar was headed our way. We knew that it would be a serious visit, headed by a serious and civil man and that the visit could be helpful in resolving issues with our host nation. And they invariably were helpful because seriousness and civility tend to beget reciprocal actions and Lugar always left behind a residue of good will, with but one exception. During the August recess in 2005 Lugar then traveling with an inexperienced freshman senator from Illinois, Barack Obama, was on a visit to Russia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine to inspect nuclear facilities. While in Perm, Russia, a city near the Ural Mountains, Lugar and Obama were detained for three hours by the authorities. They were released after a brief dialogue between U.S. and Russian officials and the Russians later apologized.

The Tea Party, and the NRA and Sarah Palin did a lot more damage to him in the spring of 2012 than the Russians. Lugar with his sterling reputation had seemed invincible. He was first elected to the senate in 1976 and won a sixth term in 2006 with 87% of the vote. By the spring of 2012, however, he was 80 years old and incredibly did not have a real residence in Indiana, staying in an Indianapolis hotel on visits. He was accused of being too close to Obama, too willing to compromise and had voted for TARP and to confirm two Obama nominees to the Supreme Court: Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. The primary vote was not even close with Lugar losing to Congressman Joe Donnelly 61-39%. Now, after thirty-six years and over 12,000 senate votes Lugar is leaving the stage, but with a strong valedictory statement which should be heeded.

Lugar, more in sorrow than anger, laments the changes that have taken place in Congress' consideration of foreign policy. In the relatively good old days there was an undercurrent of bipartisanship and communication between party leaders. But, Lugar asserts, correctly, that this is no longer the case and partisan divisions now are much sharper than in the past. He believes Congress has retreated from legislation dealing with foreign policy: there have been no Foreign Affairs Authorization Bills; no ratification of treaties; and...