The idiotic missive issued by Republican Senators will have serious repercussions.
Why would you ever negotiate any form of treaty or convention with the US?
We already blithely refuted the Geneva Conventions by the use of torture and preemptive war and excused our crimes by exceptionalism. Obviously it applies to other countries, but not "us". After all we cant even bring ourselves to ratify Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court of 2002, because like Israel and Sudan we believe even though we signed the Rome Statute that it does not apply to "us", and have no intention of ratifying it. Apparently we move forward from our war crimes and crimes against humanity, no need to actually prosecute or punish anyone. Because, well because, fuck you, USA USA.
Our President, Department of State and our allies can negotiate a non proliferation treaty with an emerging nuclear power, however this is pretty much just a piece of paper the next Republican Government can ignore.
We are subjected to our own propaganda about freedom, justice and responsibility, how we intend to show the world just how to behave as the greatest nation on earth, the greatest nation ever in fact!
Then part of our government before anything has even been decided says, fuck you, we will go back on any international agreement. Their only proposition? Can you smell the depleted uranium in the morning?
So basically by our own actions and the Republican letter each international treaty and every convention needs to be renegotiated with every change in our government. Even then, we can choose to ignore anything we sign. So in fact the international community should treat "us" as a rogue state. Hell we even saw this type of idiocy coming
In United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp. (1936), however, Justice Sutherland wrote in the majority opinion: "[T]he President alone has the power to speak or listen as a representative of the nation. He makes treaties with the advice and consent of the Senate; but he alone negotiates. Into the field of negotiation the Senate cannot intrude, and Congress itself is powerless to invade it." Sutherland also notes in his opinion the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations report to the Senate of February 15, 1816:
There is a reason we write laws like this, credibility.
It's one thing to engage in political squabbling at home it's another entirely when you seek to undermine International relations from within. If you are not percieved to have the intention of honoring treaties and conventions that "you" sign, what is the point of negotiating in the first place? Why would anyone bother to believe us for a second?
The Republicans in their obstructionist and radical drive for power have forgotten what "in good faith" means. The have thrown collective responsibility under bus and made it quite clear that they are not fit to govern by this and past actions.
Hell, if Republicans can seek to deny our own citizens their right to vote, anything is possible.
Rogue State
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) a state that conducts its policy in a dangerously unpredictable way, disregarding international law or diplomacy
just a thought