Pelosi’s Vigilante Diplomacy Should be Prosecuted

There is a myriad of long-standing laws on the books prohibiting American citizens and unauthorized officials from negotiating public agreements with other nations outside normal diplomatic channels. It is absolutely clear that House leader Nancy Pelosi’s recent trip to Syria violates those laws. She should therefore be prosecuted to their fullest extent, along with everyone else in her entourage.

Vigilante behavior, no matter how noble it’s goals may be perceived by some, is still rightly abhorred in this country. Reminiscent of discredited frontier justice in the old West and rampant lynch mobs in the Deep South, it is just as disgusting now as it ever was, and even more dangerous when it is carried out by highly placed officials who think themselves above the very laws they create yet expect the rest of us to abide.

The late president Lyndon Johnson once wrote, "I am a free man, an American, a United States Senator, and a Democrat, in that order," wise words too many politicos have forgotten. Fortunately, most of our citizenry still believes that’s the way things should be. We are still capable of lifting the fog of party affiliation and thinking like Americans, making it much easier for us to answer these next questions:

Is it right for any public official to flaunt America’s laws simply because they hold an elected office? Is it right for anyone to place themselves above the clear path of diplomacy our country has established and falsely take up the mantle of a completely different path without sanction by those whose responsibility it is? As Americans, a nation that depends on the adherence to laws, the answer can only be a resounding "No," which means that the Justice Department should immediately begin proceedings against those who recently traveled to the Mideast, as visibly and succinctly as possible. Failure to make an example of this outrage will only result in more criminal behavior, and even more dangerous disregard for the law by our officials.

Unfortunately, few people in Washington these days would embrace the sensible words of President Johnson and put their party affiliation on the back burner. Instead, we have a Democrat party that will likely reward their House Leader for her vigilante diplomacy, and a Justice Department too skittish to do the right thing for fear of creating further political strife for their Republican (rather than American) bosses. A public prosecution would no doubt simply provide more fodder for the already overworked Democrat strategy for Bush-bashing.

But once again, the Democrats have run the risk of overplaying their hand. It is clear to even the most detached observer that the Democrat’s entire agenda is simply to continue to undermine anything and everything the administration does. As long as they kept their vituperous rhetoric within our shores, it could be excused, even tolerated because of our faith in the First Amendment.

But now that the incessant Bush-bashing has traveled overseas in a quasi-official status by fellow Americans, the line has been crossed, and Pelosi and her "bi-partisan" cohorts must be punished, not because of their party affiliation, but because they are citizens who broke the laws of our nation. If we fail to prosecute them simply because of their official positions or political affiliations, it will truly be a clear sign that vigilantism has regained it’s former ill-gotten legitimacy, and our more civilized America has completely, and sadly, lost its way.