Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R – CA), the chair of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, and emerging threats, has announced that he will be leading a Congressional delegation on an official visit to Russia some time in February to meet with members of Russia’s parliament, the Duma.
The delegation is to talk with Russian Duma members on possible topics of cooperation between the two nations, with Rohrabacher mentioning “cooperation on space activities” as a particular subject. He added that the rise of ISIS, as well as President Obama’s anti-Russia sanctions were likely to come up during the visit.
It isn’t clear who all is going to be in the delegation, but Rohrabacher said he hoped to “bring some people with me who seem antagonistic toward having better relations,” saying he hoped it could lead to real dialogue “instead of screaming epithets at each other.”
There was some speculation within the Washington Post that committee chairman Rep. Ed Royce (R – CA) might block the trip, citing House Speaker Paul Ryan (R – WI) declaring that “Russia does not share America’s interests.” It is worth noting that despite this speculation there was no statement from any official opposing the visit itself.
Sounds good except for the part of taking antagonists over there. Why bother.
I agree. These are not the people that are just opposing the idea of establishing contacts. They are ideologically deep in their world, and no information can help them. What on earth can produce people like that — perhaps I am naïve. It may be the load of election campaign money. But who would really be that ideological?
Adept of you to ask Rick.
Naivety is the only possible answer I can think of. An upstart thinking he can fix the world all by himself?
Positive aspect is that Putin can use him for something useful maybe?
luv from Canada.
What right to Ryan and Royce have to tell Rohrabacher where he can or can’t travel? Rohrabachers should tell them to stick it where the sun don’t shine.
“House Speaker Paul Ryan”
It’s like I’m trapped in the movie ‘Idiocracy’.
“Vice President Mike Pence”… yes, we are trapped – and it doesn’t get any scarier, I hope.
Except it’s a real life version that never ends.
Mr. Ryan may find out that American voters do not share his interests. As will some of the other fossils that were voted in by Trump’s supporters. Now they act as if THEY WON. And I thought only Democrats were this boneheaded.
No money in peace and cooperation (at least not for the arms dealers) so expect a lot of pushback. These people didn’t purchase our congress just to sit on the sidelines and let freedom, liberty, and peace ruin their profits.
I have never voted for him, but I have spoken to him about this (ran into him at Costco one day), and I must say, that for a GOPer he may have some value to rational people. He appeared to be chagrined by the anti-Russia hysteria in the press and inside the beltway and I found myself warming to him a bit. Just a bit. I mean, I can change…
Also, I like the idea that he might take neocons with him. After all, even that nitwit Hannity is singing a decidedly different tune these days. Can neocons change? Let’s hope so.