[Peace-discuss] Rep. Blumenauer at HuffPo: "I will not participate in a calculated slight from the speaker ... to attack necessary diplomacy.."

[Robert Naiman]

First in the water in pledging not to attend, AFAIK.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-earl-blumenauer/speaker-boehner-cancel-ne_b_6570654.html

  Speaker Boehner, Cancel Netanyahu's Address to Congress
   Posted: 01/29/2015 9:14 am EST


[image: BOEHNER NETANYAHU]

For the sake of diplomacy, peace, and respect for our ally Israel, to say
nothing of stability in the Middle East, Speaker Boehner must cancel the
joint session of Congress with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. If he does
not, I will refuse to be part of a reckless act of political grandstanding.

The Republicans may have read the Constitution on the House floor, but they
don't seem to understand Article II, which vests the responsibility for
foreign affairs in the president.

If the invitation was aimed to extract a better deal from Iran and protect
our friend and ally Israel, then the speaker miscalculated, for it will do
the opposite. If the invitation was aimed at scoring political points by
undermining the administration, it's deeply troubling that the speaker is
willing to undercut diplomacy in exchange for theatrics on the House floor.

The U.S. is in the midst of high-stakes diplomacy between five major powers
and Iran. A joint session, organized in this manner, at this time,
undermines the only way of stopping a nuclear-armed Iran: a negotiated
solution. Preventing this would be not only inappropriate but extremely
dangerous. Let me be clear: I would oppose such tactics by any speaker,
Democrat or Republican. Leadership serious about bolstering Israel's
security should be focused on using the historic, multilateral sanctions in
place today that have brought Iran to the table. Sidestepping the White
House in this way could easily fracture the united front America has built
with Russia, China, Germany, and others.

Iran's extremists are eagerly awaiting any excuse to walk away from an
agreement. If negotiations do fail to progress, it must be crystal-clear
that it was Iran, not the U.S., who failed. This will be critical if we're
to have the mandate needed to respond accordingly, and in a multilateral
way in the future.

Netanyahu is finding this visit to be extraordinarily controversial within
his own country. To schedule the joint session immediately before a
national election is a dangerous and reckless precedent. I will not dignify
this irresponsible joint session -- an affront to diplomacy, process, and
security -- with my presence. Congress ought to heed the advice of experts.
As former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren recently stated when
asked about the ill-timed joint session, "It's advisable to cancel the
speech to Congress so as not to cause a rift with the American government."

There's still time for Speaker Boehner to reconsider his ill-advised
effort. Wait until Israelis have cast their ballots, and find out if the
time on the clock for negotiations runs out. I will not participate in a
calculated slight from the speaker and the House leadership to attack
necessary diplomacy. When nuclear security and Middle East stability hang
in the balance, no member who cares about peace and Israel should
participate in this effort to undercut our president.
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