Protecting Whales Is More Important Than Protecting America
…according to Clinton-appointee Seattle judge Florence Marie Cooper.
This is one of the most idiotic things I have seen in a long time. From SeattlePI.com:
A federal judge forbade the Navy on Thursday from using a powerful form of sonar within 12 miles of the California coast and slapped other restrictions on naval war exercises in a ruling that could have repercussions in the Pacific Northwest.
U.S. District Judge Florence Marie-Cooper said noise from the Navy’s midfrequency sonar far outstrips levels at which federal rules require ear protection for humans on the job. Whales’ hearing is extremely sensitive.
“The court is persuaded that the (protection) scheme proposed by the Navy is grossly inadequate to protect marine mammals from debilitating levels of sonar exposure,” Marie-Cooper wrote in her ruling.
The Navy offered to reduce the sonar’s intensity when whales approached within about 1,100 yards and power down further before shutting the sonar off when the creatures got within 200 yards. The judge ordered sonar shut off when marine mammals are within 2,200 yards.
Environmental groups, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, brought suit as part of a campaign to rein in sonar use, which they contend violates several federal laws. They had sought a ban on naval exercises out to 25 miles from shore.
The Navy argued that it must train sailors against a new generation of quiet submarines that can’t be detected by traditional “passive” sonar, but are picked up by the midfrequency version.
The service said exercises off Southern California are important because they give sailors training around undersea mountain ranges like those where they might chase subs elsewhere in the world.
“Despite the care the court took in crafting its order, we do not believe it struck the right balance between national security and environmental concerns,” said Jeff Davis, a Navy spokesman at the Pentagon.
The judge also required the Navy to watch for marine mammals for an hour before using the sonar, among other conditions.
Nods to Newsbusters.
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free the willies
January 4th, 2008 at 11:43 amWe’ve allowed judges to gain way too much power. Since the 40’s judges have maintained their oligarchy over this country. And it is time to tell this hyphenated fool where to get off.
In time of war, you don’t play PC games. The Navy needs that sonar and is entittled to test it under real-time conditions. If the judge has a problem with that…it is because she is a fool.
The saftey of America is job 1.Time to over rule this asshole.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:10 pmIt’s not going to ever get any better. The commies control the law schools of this country. They spew out commie lawyers faster than wetbacks spew out anchor babies. Has anyone noticed what it takes to put a constuctionist on the bench? Almost takes an act of God. The commies know where they get their power from.
The solution? The 2nd.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:17 pmMaybe the Navy should just remove them from their maps. I hear Subic Bay is a real boomtown these days.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:41 pmReminds me when I had to remove a fat lefty from the bed of an old truck I had because he didn’t like my bumper sticker:
Be a hero, save a whale
Save a baby, go to jail…
He didn’t like being dragged by the leg and hitting the pavement with his ass either. My massive brother-in-law thought it was great sport, though.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:14 pmThat lib central state sure don’t mind taking the dollars that the military generates for that libtard cesspool.
Bangor, Bremerton,,Whidby Island, Fort Lewis, McChord, damn near the biggest employers in the state.
Some left wing, three name, POS Bitch judge whines about whales,and shuts down the G** D*** training for the armed forces of the United States. WTF
January 4th, 2008 at 4:48 pmWhile I am pro enviroment, I do think our soldiers and sailors should get the right training. If they don’t get the right training, they might not come home at all.
January 4th, 2008 at 6:43 pm@ mindy
January 5th, 2008 at 6:57 amIt’s not so much about “soldiers and sailors” coming home.
With the new generation quiet submarines the ChiComs have, they could plant a missile in your backyard from any U S coastal water and the dolphin free tuna will become the least of your worries.