Day By Day© by Chris Muir.

March 31, 2007

Pelosi Ignores Brit Sailor Plight

You know, for a leader (the highest-ranking woman in the US, we are constantly reminded), Nancy Pelosi sure has a lot to learn. She and her hand-selected companions (including the token Republican) left for the Middle East yesterday, with nary a word on the plight of the 15 British sailors and Marines being held hostage in Iran.

"I am very disappointed that the speaker chose not to act," said Rep. Charles Dent, R-Pa.

"I believe it's important for us as Americans to show our solidarity with the Britons," he added in a phone interview Friday. "The British are our closest allies, and I think we have to stand next to them in a moment like this."

Agreed. Since we got over our differences over 200 years ago, Britain has been our staunchest ally. Even if we can't actually do anything about the situation in Iran until (1) the British act first and (2) they ask us, a show of support and solidarity from our elected leaders is the very least we should offer at this juncture.

But Pelosi & Co. obviously don't see things that way. That the priority is to travel to the Middle East to speak to the president of Syria (against the wishes of this administration) in a blatant affront to President Bush speaks volumes. Britain's situation is just a minor detail.

Obviously, Britain needs to step up to the plate first. Their dithering is making the situation even worse. Iran is doing its best to show other Middle Eastern countries that the West is all bluff and bluster. Continued attempts at diplomacy in a situation where diplomacy is a joke simply bolster Iran's position amongst its neighbors.

No doubt the recent Congressional vote to pull out of Iraq on a specified date is contributing to Iran's renewed beligerence. But power here at home is more important than international consequences.

Democrats worry more about the good opinion of countries like France and Germany, even though France and Germany do everything they can to jam a stick in our foreign policy spokes, and ignore Britain when she needs us. We should all feel embarrassed on their behalf, since they obviously aren't.