Thank a liberal Kalifornia judge. [?=National security sacrificed for the dubious benefit of whales!] LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The Navy must follow environmental laws placing strict limits on sonar training that opponents argue harms whales, despite President Bush's decision to exempt it, a federal judge ruled Monday. A federal judge ruled that the Navy must limit sonar training that some say hurts whales. The Navy is not "exempted from compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act" and a court injunction creating a 12 nautical-mile no-sonar zone off Southern California, U.S. District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper wrote in a 36-page decision. "We disagree with the (exemption) judge's decision," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said. "We believe the (exemption) orders are legal and appropriate." Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Cindy Moore said the military was studying the decision. The president signed a waiver January 15 exempting the Navy and its anti-submarine warfare exercises from a preliminary injunction creating a 12 nautical-mile no-sonar zone off Southern California. The Navy's attorneys argued in court last week that he was within his legal rights. Environmentalists have fought the use of sonar in court, saying it harms whales and other marine mammals. Don't Miss White House candidates and the environment Read the judge's decision (PDF) "It's an excellent decision," said Joel Reynolds, attorney for the National Resources Defense Council, which is spearheading the legal fight. "It reinstates the proper balance between national security and environmental protection." The Navy last week wrapped up a training exercise by the carrier strike group of the USS Abraham Lincoln in which sonar was used. There are currently no task force training exercises off the coast of California using sonar. When he signed the exemption, Bush said complying with the law would "undermine the Navy's ability to conduct realistic training exercises that are necessary to ensure the combat effectiveness of carrier and expeditionary strike groups." Said Reynolds: "I've always felt that the president's actions were illegal in this case, and the judge has affirmed that point of view with the decision today." E-mail to a friend Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. [/?]
How exactly does this stop the Navy from simply conducting the sonar training outside of the 12 nautical mile exclusion zone?
Even if there were, this ruling does nothing at all to change our ability to stop said attack. We don't normally go around blazing sonar all through the water as a matter of course as it is. The uproar over this ruling is stupid.
Perhaps that pleasant little interlude known as the Cold War escaped your notice. I hear it was in all the papers. And Russia still has one big honkin' pile of nukes to play with. I reckon they're pointed at somebody . . . like maybe the only country that could make them go poofy?
Last time I checked, Russia had a whole lot of nukes. If they ever did decide to start a nuclear war with America, I doubt their subs would make much of a difference either way.
Is it likely? No. Does our ability undermine their ability to engage in a nuclear offensive decrease that chance? Absolutely.
I'm not in an uproar, I'm just enjoying another chance to laugh at the greenies. Just goes to show California is still the land of fruits and nuts.
No, but why should that matter? Just because we're not actively subverting their international influence and fighting proxy wars doesn't mean they're not the biggest threat to our survival. We dialed it a back, so did they. Doesn't change the fact that we both have the ability to utterly annihilate each other in the blink of an eye.
OK, kill all the whales. Just don't blame me when a space probe shows up, spills your whiskey, kills all life on Earth and then prompts a messy battle over the sequel novel. Don't say you weren't warned.
Why hell are you guys killing the judge? He was simply enforcing the law as it was written by Congress. I thought you guys hated judges that "legislated fromt he bench?" The President just doesn't have the right to disregard laws he finds hard to follow. If he wants them changed he can ask Congress to change them.
