NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/04/27/5-in-Congress-arrested-at-Darfur-protest/UPI-79551240858966/


spokesman for Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., told The Hill that the five and organizers of the protest from the Save Darfur Coalition crossed a Secret Service perimeter around the embassy and ignored three warnings to leave the property. They were expected to be fined for a misdemeanor and released.

Members of Congress arrested were Edwards; Jim McGovern, D-Mass.; John Lewis, D-Ga., a veteran of the civil rights movement in the 1960s; Keith Ellison, D-Minn., the only Muslim member of Congress, and Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif.

Also arrested were Jerry Fowler, coalition president; John Prendergast, co-founder of the Enough Project, and Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.


So, a few US congressmen got arrested. Things are going to get real tense I think.

Tense? That's what you're using to describe this? TENSE? *Uproarious laughter, quickly followed by a US Strike team and/or invasion in Sudan*

What have we to be worried about? *nervous laughter*

No seriously what is there to be worried about?

Let me get this straight.

Five members of the US government deliberately violated the secure perimeter of an embassy to make a political statement, and refused to leave when they were told to.

One assumes they will lose their position in government for this ? Or at least that Obama will formally offer apologies ?

Nothing will happen. There will be some dickwaving and posturing, and then the Sudanese will release the congressmen.

Let me get this straight.

Five members of the US government deliberately violated the secure perimeter of an embassy to make a political statement, and refused to leave when they were told to.

One assumes they will lose their position in government for this ? Or at least that Obama will formally offer apologies ?

Don't be silly. Sudan has disrespected the worldwide authoritah of the USA by treating its citizens as if they were subject to the law. The US will take its typical measured, proportionate response. Like nuking the entirety of Africa.

I think they were arrested by Capitol PD, DC PD or the Secret Service, not by Sudan...

Let me get this straight.

Five members of the US government deliberately violated the secure perimeter of an embassy to make a political statement, and refused to leave when they were told to.

One assumes they will lose their position in government for this ? Or at least that Obama will formally offer apologies ?

If it was any country but Sudan Id say he should.


But its Sudan. Fuck 'em.

They got off lucky. If it was an American embassy abroad, and random folks went walkabout the grounds despite repeated warnings....


*bang*
*bang*
*bang*

Don't be silly. Sudan has disrespected the worldwide authoritah of the USA by treating its citizens as if they were subject to the law.

Well, no. I do believe it is quite legal (and wise) to shoot people who despite repeated warning enter the secure zone of an embassy. The congressmen should be dead.

Let me get this straight.

Five members of the US government deliberately violated the secure perimeter of an embassy to make a political statement, and refused to leave when they were told to.

One assumes they will lose their position in government for this ? Or at least that Obama will formally offer apologies ?

They won't lose their position in the government. The easiest way to kick someone out of Congress is to defeat them in an election.

I think they were arrested by Capitol PD, DC PD or the Secret Service, not by Sudan...

Capital PD I think.

Let me get this straight.

Five members of the US government deliberately violated the secure perimeter of an embassy to make a political statement, and refused to leave when they were told to.

One assumes they will lose their position in government for this ? Or at least that Obama will formally offer apologies ?

A: Why would they lose their positions? Making political statements is something politicians are supposed to do.

B: Why would Obama apologize for the actions of others he did not authorize? It's not his actions to apologize for.

A: Why would they lose their positions? Making political statements is something politicians are supposed to do.

In certain ways, yes. Politicians entering a secure area of another nation uninvited to try to change that nations policy is ... not the way. Technically one could even call it a declaration of war. Or terrorism - people have been thrown into Gitmo for less.

Which personally I would not mind where Sudan is concerned, but hey.

B: Why would Obama apologize for the actions of others he did not authorize? It's not his actions to apologize for.

He is the prez. The head of government. Members of his government misbehaved. His responsibility.
What was it that Uncle Ben said ? Something about great power...

In certain ways, yes. Politicians entering a secure area of another nation uninvited to try to change that nations policy is ... not the way. technically one could even call it a declaration of war.

Which personally I would not mind where Sudan is concerned, but hey.



He is the prez. The head of government. Members of his government misbehaved. His responsibility.

Hmm, you're from a Commonwealth country, aren't you? The US doesn't work that way. While Obama is Head of State, he isn't the Head of Government the way Commonwealth PMs are, and he has no real control over them. If they were Secretaries in his cabinet (like Ministers, but not elected) he could fire them, but he has no power over elected members of Congress.

Hmm, you're from a Commonwealth country, aren't you?

I thought he was from Belgium?

I thought he was from Belgium?

Ah. Although differing in particulars (interesting electoral process - I just looked it up) Belgium uses the same "Government - Opposition" system that the Commonwealth parliamentary democracies do - and the US does not.

They got off lucky. If it was an American embassy abroad, and random folks went walkabout the grounds despite repeated warnings....


*bang*
*bang*
*bang*

Just another typical bit of knee-jerk anti-Americanism.

Yes, America's government does stupid and immoral things. Like every fucking government on the planet. But I find it questionable that they would shoot an unarmed person trespassing on an embassy without trying to arrest them first (nevermind that these were not "random folks," and that if they had been, I would not have been surprised to see Sudan treat them far more harshly). And I highly doubt Sudan will suffer any major reprecussions over this. This is a minor incident that probably won't even merit front page news. So why don't we stop pretending that Americans are warmongers with dicks for brains who always have their finger an inch from the nuclear launch button.