Rep. Howard Berman of California Will Lead the House Foreign Affairs Committee

He will have to fill a giant’s shoes, and a shrill and partisan tone isn’t a promising start for that:

“I deeply appreciate the confidence that my colleagues have shown in me today. While I can never replicate the unique historical perspective and natural eloquence that Chairman Tom Lantos brought to this position, I’ll work very hard as chairman to repair the damage done to America’s standing in the world over the past seven years by this Administration. My highest priority will be to reassert the role of Congress in developing a foreign policy that reflects our national interests and is true to our values.

Especially that terrible unilateralist war. You know, the one Berman voted for.

“I believe it is extremely important for the Foreign Affairs Committee to increase its legislative activity. I intend, in the next Congress, to work with the Senate to resume the practice of passing foreign aid and State Department authorizations bills, both of which are essential for strengthening the tools of effective diplomacy. I also expect to begin laying the groundwork for a major overhaul of U.S. assistance to other countries. I want to explore how we can make foreign aid more effective, ensure that our money isn’t wasted or diverted, and make sure we get the best bang for our buck.

“Perhaps the most serious threat facing the world today is the nexus between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Our most immediate challenge is to dissuade Iran — the world’s most active state sponsor of terrorism — from developing nuclear weapons, and to complete the job of denuclearizing North Korea, consistent with the Six-Party Talks. But the committee will also work to develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy to prevent the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and the means to deliver them. This strategy will include steps the United States should take — as outlined by Sam Nunn, Henry Kissinger, Bill Perry and George Schultz — to devalue the currency of nuclear weapons.”

You can tell much about politicians by what issues they emphasize, and Berman rightfully chose North Korea as one of the key issues. As with most Dems, however, his emphasis is on comatose diplomacy that lives on an endless IV drip of American concessions. I look forward to seeing how Berman plans to address the world’s worst human rights violations. To some, ignoring them seems to be either a strategy or a substitute for one.

Here, it’s interesting to note that Berman was a co-sponsor of the North Korean Human Rights Act. The State Department has effectively flouted that law, and we’ll soon see how much steel Berman put on target, assuming his views were more than just a token nod.

Another cause for mild optimism about Berman is that China probably isn’t celebrating his rise.

Berman’s official site is here. Berman represents Hollywood, which should tell you something about his ideological orientation. I’ve never seen him as an especially strong presence at his Committee’s hearings. Here is a link to a recent speech he gave on the subject of nonpropliferation. What he said back in 1997 when Agreed Framework 1.0 began to fail may also give some idea of his views.