https://medium.com/@ChrisMurphyCT/behind-the-scenes-of-my-trip-to-ukraine-and-munich-c1398a06ff0bhttps://twitter.com/chrismurphyct/status/1229794884107808774?s=21Senator Chris Murphy details in his own words his secret trip to Ukraine and Munich to conduct unauthorized foreign policy and his meeting with Iranian FM Zarif
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I met w the Iranian Foriegn Minister in Munich. It’s dangerous not to talk to adversaries, esp amidst a cycle of escalation.
First, I urged him to control any Iranian proxies in Iraq who might attack U.S. forces and allies there.
Second, I pressed him to release American citizens being unlawfully detained in Iran.
Third, I pushed him to end the Houthi blockage of humanitarian aid in Yemen.
Congress is a co-equal branch to the executive. We set foreign policy too. Many of us have met w Zarif over the years, under Obama and Trump. So though no one in Congress can negotiate with Zarif or carry official U.S. government messages, there is value in having a dialogue.
I wish President Trump would see that value too. Because our current policy of blind, non-strategic escalation is just making Iran more powerful and menacing, and making America weaker and less secure.
and in other reiteration;
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"But if Trump isn’t going to talk to Iran, then someone should. And Congress is a co-equal branch of government, responsible along with the Executive for setting foreign policy. A lack of dialogue leaves nations guessing about their enemy’s intentions, and guessing wrong can lead to catastrophic mistakes."
He also detailed meeting with Zelesnky, pressuring him not to help Rudy Giuliani
How do you guys feel about Murphy's novel interpretation of constitutional powers that give him the ability to conduct foreign policy, meet with and pressure foreign dignitaries, but not explicitly 'negotiate' with them or carry formal 'messages'? For decades, senators have danced around foreign policy powers and avoided taking any open position of giving themselves constitutional powers that would usurp the executive's sole dominion of foreign policy, even as they did it anyway. Trying to leave it in a fairly ambiguous state. But Murphy has come out in response to the controversy over his trip to talk to the Iranians and declared that he has official powers to conduct foreign policy as a member of congress and granted himself authorization to meet with and pressure the Iranians, outside of the executive branch. He avoided explicitly opposing the administration in the policies he listed on Iran, but sure trod close to it with Ukraine.
Also, given the position he's staking out, he has to pretend that John Kerry was invited on the trip as an official surrogate for a member of congress, acting under his authorization. Because he can't really pretend that John Kerry, private citizen, is authorized to conduct foreign policy under an interpretation that gives that power to congress, unless he's saying congress authorized him.
also, there's the pretty bad look that;
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I made a point of telling him that getting involved with Rudy Giuliani and the Trump reelection campaign was potentially disastrous for Ukraine. And I knew that I had to deliver the same message to Zelensky now.
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Then, I turn to the touchier subject. “Mr. President, your instinct has always been right, to stay out of American politics. You’ve always understood the damage that could have been done if you got involved in our presidential election. But there are reports that Mayor Giuliani isn’t done trying to dig up dirt on Trump’s opponents — he was here in Ukraine in December, we understand — and I just want to ask you directly if you are still feeling pressure to help with his investigations?”
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On the short walk back to the conference, I buttonhole Portman to support the legislation I am considering drafting to increase American help for Ukraine. “That sounds like a good idea,” Portman says.
So he's simultaneously telling Zelenksky not to get involved with Rudy Giuliani, while telling him that he'll draft legislation to increase foreign aid to Ukraine.
GEEE
DOES THAT SOUND LIKE A CERTAIN LATIN PHRASE?
This post was edited by Goomshill on Feb 18 2020 03:32pm
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