February 14, 2002

7:14 PM

Bush Announces Clear Skies & Global Climate Change Initiatives. An olive branch to Venice, Bangla Desh, and other low lying countries? A Commander-in-Chief tanks up on biodiesel, throws the rudder hard over for a Willamson turn, and attempts to get all those folks left of Atilla the Hun back on the boat? We'll let him speak for himself. (BTW, if you're concerned about the "axis of evil", check out your tax $ at work today at the State Dept.)
posted by sheauga (8 comments total)

Whitehouse.gov is more informative than it used to be, eh? It's also pretty good for practicing your Spanish. Was today's speech "the end of global warming," or even a step in the right direction? Can anyone actually speak to the issues, which are considerably more important than personal opinions on Mr. Bush?
posted by sheauga at 7:21 PM on February 14, 2002

They have a pet cow named Ofelia. She'll tell you about her baby cows. Moo.
posted by phoenix enflamed at 7:30 PM on February 14, 2002

sheauga: which part of the long State Dept. transcript are you referring to re: tax $$$ at work?
posted by davidmsc at 7:38 PM on February 14, 2002

well, its the State Department, so, all of it.
posted by techgnollogic at 8:00 PM on February 14, 2002

when did the official position shift from "global warming is not a problem" to "yea, it's a problem but with the right tax incentives it will fix itself"?
posted by victors at 9:14 PM on February 14, 2002

Amazing. A policy initiative about global climate change and the phrase "carbon dioxide" does not appear once in it.
posted by jamsterdam at 10:07 PM on February 14, 2002

Today at the State Dept: "The Canadian Foreign Minister made some remarks about attacking sovereign countries without good reason was a recipe for international chaos ... does the United States believe in a rule-based system based on the United Nations and international law?"

A very good question to ask on the day that the US again rejects the Kyoto Protocol! Sure, it was a goodwill gesture to announce a different initiative, but if we lose Venice, and zillions of Bangla Deshis drown, everybody's gonna go, like, "Y'all rejected the Kyoto Protocol, we told ya so!" It would be great if today's speech on climate change marks a turning point, where the US shows it has the political will to change course and commit to strong action against global warming.

I also liked the exchange regarding Iran's reaction to being designated part of an "axis of evil."
--"I don't think a statement of fact, a statement of truth, a statement of clarity like the President's, requires any particular explanation."
--"Well, perhaps it ... doesn't require an explanation, but what it means might require an explanation, because people all over the world seem to be rather confused about that."
Count me among the confused. Must be the fundamentalist upbringing, which says you ask forgiveness for your own sins, declare very firmly and loudly, "get thee behind me, Satan!" and get on with your life. I feel concerned when any leader appears to believe more strongly in an "axis of evil" than in the importance of international law.

Is Bush serious about committing to alternative energy, alternative fuels, and a new direction on climate change, or is he just declaring once again that the US doesn't have to play by anybody's rules?
posted by sheauga at 10:35 PM on February 14, 2002

Slightly tangential :

"...does the United States believe in a rule-based system based on the United Nations and international law?"

I think the answer to that is clearly "No."

To take one example, in the case of Nicaragua and the contras, the World Court ordered the United States to end the "unlawful use of force," and to pay reparations, a decision seconded by the General Assembly. The U.S. goverment ignored the judgements and escalated their aggression.

Other examples are available.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 11:44 PM on February 14, 2002