Here is an early morning headliner. I really hate to to have point
this out, but Hillary had a request about this. The link to that
request resides in the sidebar on this blog and will until there is a
resolution - i.e. ratification. Here is proof positive that Hillary
goes for diplomacy first. Others prefer military force, but not she and the uniformed guys she brought with her to Congress in 2012.
By Christopher Bodeen, The Associated Press 1:51 p.m. EDT October 15, 2015
BEIJING
— As expectations grow that the U.S. Navy will directly challenge
Beijing's South China Sea claims, China is engaging in some serious
image-building for its own military by hosting two international
security forums this week.
The events kick off Friday with an
informal meeting of defense ministers from the 10-member Association of
Southeast Asian Nations known as ASEAN — four of which exercise claims
to seas and islands in the South China Sea that clash with Beijing's
own. It is the first time China has hosted such a meeting.
That
will be followed by the Xiangshan Forum, at which analysts, military
leaders and others from around the globe will grapple with Asian-Pacific
security, maritime issues and anti-terrorism.
Read more >>>>
For
those who believe Hillary Clinton has a happy trigger finger and is too
quick on the military draw, this is her testimony before the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations Washington, DC May 23, 2012. We could
have been at the table negotiating this rather than sending ships.
May 23, 2012
SECRETARY CLINTON:Thank
you very much, Mr. Chairman, Senator Lugar. After both of your opening
comments, I think you’ve made the case both eloquently and persuasively
for anyone who is willing to look at the facts. I am well aware that
this treaty does have determined opposition, limited but nevertheless
quite vociferous. And it’s unfortunate because it’s opposition based in
ideology and mythology, not in facts, evidence, or the consequences of
our continuing failure to accede to the treaty. So I think you’ll hear,
from both Secretary Panetta and General Dempsey as well as myself,
further statements and information that really reinforces the very
strong points that both of you have made.We believe that it is
imperative to act now. No country is better served by this convention
than the United States. As the world’s foremost maritime power, we
benefit from the convention’s favorable freedom of navigation
provisions. As the country with the world’s second longest coastline, we
benefit from its provisions on offshore natural resources. As a country
with an exceptionally large area of seafloor, we benefit from the
ability to extend our continental shelf, and the oil and gas rights on
that shelf. As a global trading power, we benefit from the mobility that
the convention accords to all commercial ships. And as the only country
under this treaty that was given a permanent seat on the group that
will make decisions about deep seabed mining, we will be in a unique
position to promote our interests.
Now, the many benefits of this
convention have attracted a wide-ranging coalition of supporters.
Obviously, as we heard from both Senator Kerry and Senator Lugar,
Republican and Democratic presidents have supported U.S. accession;
military leaders who see the benefits for our national security;
American businesses, including, strongly, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
seethe economic benefits. It has the support of every affected
industry, including shipping, fisheries, telecommunications and energy,
environmental groups as well. We have a coalition of environmental,
conservation, business, industry, and security groups all in support of
this convention.
And I would ask that my longer written statement
along with the letters that I have received in support of the treaty be
entered into the record.
Read more >>>>
I
am not just talking through my hat here. That is the brigade that
Hillary Clinton brought to Capitol Hill to testify about the Law of the
Sea Treaty. This is an avoidable crisis. Diplomatic efforts could have
diverted this had they attended to her request.
The Senate needs to ratify L.O.S.T. We can then take our seat at the table and avoid these conflicts. You may remember Marco Rubio bringing up the "synthetic islands" in the
last Republican debate. The whole issue could have been avoided years
ago.
