U.S. is Only Vote Against Limits on International Illegal Gun Trade
The UN General Assembly’s First Committee yesterday overwhelmingly approved a proposal to develop a treaty aimed at combating the global trade in illegal firearms with 139 countries voting in favor and the U.S. casting the lone vote against the measure. America’s gun lobby, led by the NRA’s foaming-at-the-mouth Vice President Wayne “Black Helicopters†LaPierre, has sought to portray the treaty as a global assault on the Second Amendment, despite the fact that the effort is limited to illegal weapons.
Bush Interior Appointee Said to Ignore Endangered Species Act
Documents show that Julie MacDonald, appointed by President Bush in 2004 to serve as deputy assistant secretary of the interior for fish and wildlife and parks, rejected staff scientists’ recommendations to protect imperiled animals and plants under the Endangered Species Act at least six times in the past three years. Staff complaints that their scientific findings were frequently overruled at the behest of landowners or industry have led the interior’s inspector general to look into McDonald’s role at the agency. In six years, the Bush administration has listed only 56 species under the Endangered Species Act, for a rate of about 10 a year. Under Clinton, officials listed 512 species, or 64 a year, and under George H.W. Bush, the department listed 234, or 59 a year.
Hundreds of pages of records, obtained by environmental groups through the Freedom of Information Act, chronicle the long-running battle between MacDonald and Fish and Wildlife Service employees over decisions whether to safeguard plants and animals from oil and gas drilling, power lines, and real estate development, spiced by her mocking comments on their work and their frequently expressed resentment.
Amid the complaints, Interior officials have privately contacted the ranking Democrat on the House Resources Committee, Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (W.Va.), who plans to hold oversight hearings into the matter if his party retakes the majority in next month’s elections.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is said to be furious at U. S. pressure on him that appears timed to the American elections
The chief prosecutor in Saddam Hussein’s trial for crimes against humanity said Sunday that the verdict, currently scheduled for Nov. 5—two days before the midterm elections—may be delayed by a few days. News of the possible delay follows a week of public spats between U.S. officials and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is said to be furious at pressure on him that appears timed to the American elections.
Regards,
Jim
Andy Hailey