Hardly a shocker, but the Bush administration once again has declared itself above the law. The stated justification is, what else, "national security."
The Bush administration continues to show an absolute disregard for the rule of law and the seperation of powers. This time, the law in question is the National Environmental Policy Act. The issue is the use of naval sonar, and its impact on ocean life, specifically whales and dolphins.
There currently is a federal court injunction in place that forbids the Navy from using certain types of sonar along a delineated area of the California coast, or within 2200 yards of marine mammals.
But what is a little law or court order to the current administration? Apparantly nothing, as Bush has signed a memo that purports to exempt the Navy from the law. From where he presumes to draw this authority is a mystery. It must feel good to be the king.
The National Resources Defense Council is vigorously opposing this latest assault on the rule of law.
http://www.nrdc.org/...
The environmental impact of this action by the White House is important. Equally critical, however, is its impact on our future as a nation of laws, not man. I hope that many of you will help the NRDC in its efforts to fight this action.