Bob Barr - Should a New York mayor threaten Israel's prime minister?

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he would consider arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city. Is that a legitimate stance on international law or a mayor stepping far outside his authority?

Bob Barr, former Congressman and former CIA analyst, joins the show to discuss the legal questions surrounding the International Criminal Court, U.S. sovereignty, and what this controversy could mean for America's relationship with Israel. 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:09

Hey, welcome back to the Lars Larson show. You know, New York City's mayor, Zoran Mamdani, says that he could arrest Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, if the Prime Minister comes to New York. Is that international law, or is that the mayor trying to pick a fight that is way outside his lane? Thought we'd put that question to Bob Barr, former CIA analyst, former member of the U.S. Congress. Bob, welcome back.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

Well, thank you, Lars. And, you know, I I saw a headline on a in an article today that uh accurately captures uh what uh Mayor Mamdani is, and that is John Fetterman, Senator Fetterman uh called him a clown uh over uh his uh threats to arrest the uh Israeli Prime Minister if he comes uh to New York, which he's planning to do for the UN. Uh you know, this guy Mamdani is uh he's a he's a weirdo. I mean, he's he's far left. Uh you look at his background, his family, uh uh trace its roots back, and you look at uh positions he's taken over the years, both in the uh New York Assembly and and as mayor, I mean he's he's far out there.

SPEAKER_01 1:18

Well, and and does he let's let's start at the beginning of this. Does he even have the legal authority to arrest a foreign head of state who sets foot on uh on land in the in the state of New York, in the city of New York? My understanding of the UN uh the UN uh the laws that created the ability to have the United Nations there say the city of New York has no authority to take any of those people into custody, do they?

SPEAKER_00 1:45

Uh that that's correct, they don't. Now, if if a foreign head of state were coming to New York City uh on a personal visit, that would be different. But uh coming to New York uh city for uh United Nations business or for other official business, uh no, the uh the mayor of New York does not have the authority to uh to arrest them, and if he tried, he would uh have a real problem with the federal government. So is the mayor subject to arrest.

SPEAKER_01 2:12

So is this crazy communist socialist mayor, is he just trying to be obnoxious? Because I don't think I don't know how much you accomplish by just being obnoxious that way.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

You get a headline, uh, and this guy seems to live for headlines. And you know, you make outrageous statements and uh stake out positions like this, and people are going to pay attention, and no matter how goofy your position might be that you've taken, there are going to be people out there who are cheering him on. Not a majority, hopefully, but enough so that he you know feels uh feels like he's uh done something right.

SPEAKER_01 2:49

Well, in fact, when they talk about the International Criminal Court, d does that thing have any real legitimacy at all worldwide? Because the ICC is referenced all the time, but I'm not aware that they've actually brought anybody uh to justice in any way, shape, or form. And my last recollection is the United States has not even signed on to that. Uh so it doesn't really apply to us anyway, does it?

SPEAKER_00 3:15

Uh it does not. Uh the United States uh properly has refused to join uh the ICC. Uh and when the ICC a couple of times in the past, I think it was with regard to uh uh an African official, uh, tried to uh arrest them uh for a violation of human rights uh or something, uh they were uh ruled uh uh out of order uh at The Hague. So the uh the ICC really doesn't have anything other than just a uh uh uh the microphone to uh spout its uh leftist babble.

SPEAKER_01 3:50

You know what's funny about this, Bob, is that I got really it kind of got under my skin that the mainstream media, the legacy media, would frequently cover Donald Trump and they would say uh words to this effect, they say President Trump with no authority at all announce this, or with no factual basis for it announced that. And I would think if they're gonna apply that kind of coverage to the president of the country that they're part of, that the very least they would do is when the ICC is mentioned, say the ICC, which has no validity under U.S. law and the U.S. is not a segmentary, except I don't see them do it. And when they do talk, they don't talk that much. Yes. How dare you? I know. It's like time Mark Twain said consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds. But I just I don't understand this guy. If this is how he plans to deal with things, what is he gonna do when later on this year or next year, as these fixes that he promised to bring to New York City that most of us didn't believe he was going to be able to do anyway? But when he starts to fall flat on his face and it becomes clear how much time he's wasted on other garbage like this, then people are gonna say you're wasting all your time on the ICC and things like that, and you can't even take on the real issues of the city that you ran to be mayor of.

SPEAKER_00 5:12

Well, the problem is uh a lot of people don't pay attention to the details once somebody is elected. They'll pay attention maybe a few months before the next uh uh re-elect comes around. Uh and he as the mayor, he has enough uh largesse that he can hand out to keep uh his uh very loud uh opposition at least quiescent. So uh unfortunately, as the mayor, he can he can do an awful lot to uh keep himself in there, at least to the end of this term, which is can can result in a lot of damage, right?

SPEAKER_01 5:45

Or until the money runs out. Is Donald Trump at some point going to have to tell New York City, hey, uh Trump to New York drop dead the way what was it, Ford, Ford did back in the day?

SPEAKER_00 5:58

Yeah. Uh and and uh knowing Trump uh as you and I do from following him and so forth, uh he would not only say that, but he might even use more colorful language.

SPEAKER_01 6:10

Yeah, because because they are going to run themselves in entirely into the ditch. I mean, my read is he's gonna be the proof positive of Lady Thatcher when she said the problem with socialism is when you run out of other people's money. I have a feeling New York City is gonna hit that point. I th I know they've been bailed out by Albany so far, but at some point, would it surprise you to see New York City going to the U.S. Congress saying, you gotta give us some money, we're broke, and and being told no.

SPEAKER_00 6:40

I can see that happening because there's only so many places he can go uh for additional money. And if city taxpayers are not gonna pay more, and if uh Albany is not gonna pay more, he'll come uh come to his uh buddies in the Congress. But so long as uh the Republicans have a majority, I cannot see him, and Lord, I hope not, uh getting anywhere.

SPEAKER_01 7:01

No, and I would hope that what they do is say, if you want to have a balanced budget, go back and spend within your means and leave it alone. That is Bob Barr. Bob is a former member of Congress, former CIA analyst, and always welcome on this program. Bob, thank you very, very much. By the way, I wanted to tell you about something very simply. A dollar doesn't buy what it did 10 years ago. Now you know that, and I know that. It's something every single family has experienced to a greater or lesser degree, from groceries to gas to housing. The question isn't whether prices change, it's whether you're prepared for what comes next. And that's why I want to encourage you to stay informed before you make any important financial decisions. Swiss America has been educating Americans about precious metals for more than 40 years, and they're offering right now a free report called The Secret War on Cash. It explains why many Americans are looking for ways to help preserve their purchasing power over the long term. There's no obligation, just straightforward information from a trusted company with decades of experience, Swiss America. Don't wait till rising costs force you to start asking those questions. Learn about all your options and do it today. Call or text 800-289-2646, or you can visit SwissAmerica.com slash Lars to get your free copy of that report. Again, that's 800-289-2646 or Swiss America dot com slash Lars and tell them Lars sent you message and data rates may apply. When we get back, I'll get to your phone calls and emails. You're listening to the Lars Larson show.