Our Views: Call for unity, ahead of time

The fiscal cliff, the automatic cuts, the GOP caucus split — all these seem to dominate the news from Washington. But one of the U.S. Capitol’s elder statesmen warned the other day that even tougher issues may lie in Congress’ immediate future.

“All parties should recognize the need for unity in the coming year when events in Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea and other locations may test American national security in extreme ways,” retiring U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana said.

The valedictory from the senator of 36 years, including a number of them as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, was as usual a bit of good judgment in an overheated political dome. Lugar himself is not leaving the Senate voluntarily but was defeated in a Republican primary by a tea party candidate who went on to lose the general election to a Democrat, Joe Donnelly.

So Lugar did not mince words about his own party, urging Republicans to “suspend reflexive opposition that serves no purpose but to limit their own role in strategic questions and render cooperation impossible.”

Lugar’s speech is timely, even as domestic affairs have become all the rage in Washington. Events in the larger world can move faster than anyone can predict.

What can be safely predicted is that the Senate will someday miss the expertise and common sense of the senior senator from Indiana.

Comments

1) Comment by DMJ - 21/12/2012

Yes well said, jdk944... the liberal media conspiracy theory never gets old. Oh, and next time you talk to the Founding Fathers so they can tell you what their intentions were, tell them I said what's up.

2) Comment by Whatnow - 21/12/2012

Well said, jdk944. Thank you.

3) Comment by 8point6 - 21/12/2012

Thank you, jdk944.

4) Comment by jdk944 - 21/12/2012

Your views bring up to glaring issues: 1. "The fiscal cliff, the automatic cuts, the GOP caucus split — all these seem to dominate the news from Washington." That's because that is what YOU and the majority of the rest of the Mainstream Media are focusing on, combined with the "slanted" journalist pieces which are predominantly just "their" opinions!! 2. Lugar being in the Senate 36 years. Another "career" politician. THIS was never then intent of our Founding Fathers when they developed our system!!! And unity can only occur when BOTH parties want to come to the table in honest negotiations. Not the grand standing plays like Obama holding a press conference the other day so he could "glout" over Bohner's latest proposal, one which strangely looks like what Pelosi wanted, and then tell us you won't support it!!

5) Comment by [e-mail] - 21/12/2012

Lugar had his moments in the sun; he was never a warrior, just a catspaw trading with the Democrats.

6) Comment by Being_Stupid - 21/12/2012

We have already gone over the Fiscal Cliff. That happened when Obama was re-elected. Romney was our last parachute. We will soon be hitting the ground.

7) Comment by Bighug - 21/12/2012

With enemies like the US has in congress, we don't need the likes of Iran and North Korea.