Thread: Law of the Sea Treaty on Fast Track to Ratification

Law of the Sea Treaty on Fast Track to Ratification
By Lt. Col. Oliver North

Washington, D.C. — In his 2004 State of the Union Address, President Bush said, “America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country.â€

Reject the Law of the Sea Treaty


Friday, November 16, 2007
Problems with Law of the Sea Treaty Reaffirmed in WorldNetDaily Piece; Bush Administration Can't Answer Critics

Advocates for the Law of the Sea Treaty find themselves in an unenviable position - they're unable to answer the questions and concerns of treaty critics. This point was underscored yet again in a piece in today's World Net Daily.

When confronted by a WND reporter about LOST's numerous persisting problems, the best that White House spokesman Dana Perino could muster was a "I understand that there are concerns, but we believe that those have been addressed."

Really? It is curious that if - as the White House claims - all concerns with the Law of the Sea Treaty have been addressed, the entirety of the Senate Republican leadership and every Republican presidential candidate have come out agaisnt it.

Just as worrisome, when asked about whether LOST would hamstring U.S. military operations similar to President Kennedy's blockade of Cuba or President Reagan's invasion of Grenada, Perino could only state that she doesn't comment on hypotheticals. That's a safe move for any administration, but in this case her answer squares perfectly with the actions of other Law of the Sea advocates - avoiding public debate if at all possible and ramming the treaty through the Senate before the country is any the wiser.

The Coalition to Preserve American sovereignty feels that that it is incumbent upon the Adminstration to openly present its case to the country so that the American people can be given a front-row seat to the tragedy that is the Law of the Sea Treaty.

Posted by Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty at 8:22 AM 0
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Thursday, November 15, 2007
Doug Bandow in Law of the Sea Treaty Interview with Texas Newpaper: "Bad Treaties Never Die"

On Thursday, Doug Bandow of the Competitive Enterprise Institute weighed in heavily against the Law of the Sea Treaty in a published interview with the Tyler Morning Herald of Tyler, Texas.

Bandow, one of America's foremost experts on LOST and member of the Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty, runs down the littany of reasons why the treaty ought to resoundingly rejected by the Bush Administration and Congress.

For starters, he notes that LOST will circumvent the tax powers of Congress by allowing the treaty-created International Seabed Authority to levy taxes on U.S. business that work on the Outer Continental Shelf. For those who believe in "No Taxation Without Representation," the is problematic, to say the least.

Bandow goes on to note that our accession to the Law of the Sea Treaty would subject us to a bevy of potentially crippling lawsuits brought by overzealous international lawyers. We could expect a spate of new regulations and restriction that would harm U.S. interests, and could even hamstring our military.

All in all, Bandow argues, the dangers of the LOST far outweigh its benefits: "Enshrining collectivism as international law through creation of a mini-me United Nations would be as foolish as it would be costly."

Posted by Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty at 10:50 AM
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Thursday, November 8, 2007
LOST a Dangerous "Booby Trap," Says NY Sun; Reagan Rejected it on Principle

Need a clear reminder about what President Ronald Reagan thought of the Law of the Sea Treaty? None clearer than that in today's New York Sun will be found.

In an editorial entitled "George W. Haig," Sun readers are treated to an anecdote from former Reagan official Ken Adelman, who relates that the president's objections to LOST were not based on arcane specifics, but on common sense.

According to Adelman, Reagan refused Secretary of State Alexander Haig's push for the ratification of LOST, calling it "really stupid," and rejected the idea that just because most other nations of the world had signed on, we should ratify it too. His forthright assertions of U.S. sovereignty were, and remain, an indication of what principled governance is all about.

The Sun goes on to chide the Bush Adminstration for walking the path of Secretary Haig and forfeiting U.S. interests to a supranational bureaucracy by pushing for American accession to the Law of the Sea Treaty. It calls the treaty "an ivitation to war" against American interests, and warns that our joining would subject us to "a collection of security, financial, and administrative booby traps."

The Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty commends the Sun for joining the rising groundswell against U.S. ratification of the LOST, a disastrous document that President Reagan wisely spurned twenty-five years ago.

Posted by Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty at 7:16 AM
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Wednesday, November 7, 2007
American Legislative Exchange Council Makes Statement on the Law of the Sea Treaty

On Monday, November 5th, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released a statement which sets forth their opposisition to the Law of the Sea Treaty.

ALEC, a prominent bipartisan coalition of state legislators who advocate for "limited government, free markets, federalism, and individual liberty," indicated their view that the Law of the Sea Treaty represents a grevious threat to American sovereignty, and that our ratification of it would be a colossal error.

The statement highlights a few of the most egregious stipulations of LOST. For example, ALEC notes that the treaty "empowers the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to impose taxes on American companies" and that it "would give the United Nations control over seven-tenths of the world’s surface. We must be cautious because he who rules the sea will rule the land."

The Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty commends the American Legislative Exchange Council for its stand against American accession to the Law of the Sea Treaty.

View the Full ALEC Statement

Posted by Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty at 7:36 AM
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Latest LOST Update

(11/7/07) "Scuttle LOST," Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editorial

Posted by Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty at 4:00 AM
Monday, November 5, 2007
Latest LOST Update

Saturday's Opinion Journal featured a piece that strikes a heavy blow against ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty. In it, the writers take the best arguments of Treaty proponents and deftly demonstrate their inadequacy, inaccuracy, or irrelevance.

For example, on the Bush administration's assertions that LOST won't affect U.S. military operations:

"Consider the treaty's potential effects on military activities. The Administration says these are excluded from the treaty and, further, that the U.S. gets to decide what constitutes such activity. But then how to explain Article 20, which states that "In the territorial sea, submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag." How will this affect the ability of U.S. submarines to gather intelligence in coastal waters or deploy special forces on hostile shores? Last we checked, a $1 billion submarine called the USS Jimmy Carter had been built precisely for that purpose."

We could go on, but you should read the piece for yourself. Treaty advocates can't get around points such as these; they can only hope to push LOST through the Senate before the public is any the wiser. The Opinion Journal has helped make sure the Law of the Sea Treaty gets the thorough-going examination it deserves.

Posted by Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty at 6:37 AM
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Friday, November 2, 2007
Senate Republican Leadership Calls for More Time, More Hearings on LOST

On Wednesday, October 31st, the Senate Republican leadership made what could be a crucial move in the ongoing struggle to make sure that the Law of the Sea Treaty is given the full, deliberate investigation it deserves.

Senators Mitch McConnell, Trent Lott, John Kyl, Kay Bailey Hutchison, John Cornyn, and John Ensign expressed their wish that Senator Biden back away from forcing a vote on LOST and allow the Senate to conduct "a more thorough and rigourous examination of the Treaty."

The signatories argued that becuase LOST touches on the jurisdictions of so many Senate Committees, and since there are so many new members who have had no exposure to the treaty, that "it is vital that other committees hold hearings to investigate matters within their purview."

View the letter from the Senate Republicans to Senator Biden (PDF)

Posted by Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty at 7:35 AM
http://www.rejectlost.blogspot.com/

I just got the following reply from Frankenstein. I do not feel reassured by any means.

Dear Mrs. xxxxxx:



Thank you for writing to me about the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. I appreciate the time you took to write to me.



I understand you have serious concerns about this convention. If the Senate should consider ratification of this convention, please know that I will study it diligently and I will be sure to keep your views in mind.



Again, thank you for writing. If you have any more comments, please feel free to contact my office in Washington, D.C. at (202) 224-3841.



Sincerely yours, Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

Further information about my position on issues of concern to California and the Nation are available at my website http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/. You can also receive electronic e-mail updates by subscribing to my e-mail list at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/inde ... nup.Signup.

Call your senators on this one folks, if you haven't already, and call them AGAIN, if you have!

In order for the treaty to be ratified does it not have to go through the Senate AND the house???

The senate is full of globalist traitors, but if lost makes it to the house, it would probably be DOA, as no one wants to be seen as signing away American sovereignty before an election.

Originally Posted by Hapexamendios

In order for the treaty to be ratified does it not have to go through the Senate AND the house???

The senate is full of globalist traitors, but if lost makes it to the house, it would probably be DOA, as no one wants to be seen as signing away American sovereignty before an election.

Ratification of treaties (as opposed to "agreements", like NAFTA and CAFTA) are submitted to the Senate only for ratification, and require 2/3 majorities, to pass.

CPAS Letters to the Senate:

As part of its effort to inform U.S. policymakers about the potentially grievous effects of our accession to the Law of the Sea Treaty, the Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty (CPAS) has submitted letters to 8 different Senate committees with the aim of calling hearings to the debate the demerits of LOST. Up to now, Treaty proponents have tried to push it through the ratification process and give no voice to the arguments and concerns of those who oppose it.

The following are each of the nine letters drafted to the relevant committees - Armed Services; Energy; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Intelligence, Homeland Security; Finance; Environment and Public Works; and Judiciary. They are presented in PDF format.

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on the Armed Services
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... Frank2.pdf

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... Frank2.pdf

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... Frank2.pdf

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... %20828.pdf

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on Intelligence
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... Frank2.pdf

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... Frank2.pdf

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on Finance
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... 0Frank.pdf

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... Frank2.pdf

CPAS letter to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... 0Frank.pdf

CPAS letter to Senator Biden recapitulating President Reagan's objections to LOST
http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/ ... erhead.pdf

The Coalition to Preserve American Sovereignty has taken the lead in bringing together members of Ronald Reagan's national security team to help inform the Senate of the LOST's negative security implications. Part of this effort includes the submission of letters to the Senate expressing grave reservations about LOST.
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:Xa ... cd=5&gl=us

Ratification of treaties (as opposed to "agreements", like NAFTA and CAFTA) are submitted to the Senate only for ratification, and require 2/3 majorities, to pass.

Damn that 17th amendment. We have 2 house due to that rediculous amendment. This wouldn't happen if the senators had to answer to the states that they represented if it wasn't for that idiotic 17th amendment.



The republic is dead.