The Halloween Treaty: Law of the Seas

Today, the Senate will consider a Halloween treat, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. More than 150 nations have joined the convention, which was signed by President Clinton in 1994, although the Senate has yet to ratify it. Although President Bush and his administration urge ratification, the Senate would do well to reflect before accepting treats — or treaties — from the United Nations.

Of course, parts of the Law of the Sea Treaty, appropriately titled LOST, make sense. LOST grants governance rights of "exclusive economic zones" within 200 nautical miles of shore. With sovereignty over islands throughout the Pacific, America would have strong claims on large swaths of oceans. Indeed, we would have the largest oceanic claims in the world. Thus it is not entirely surprising that the State Department and the Department of the Navy are ardent supporters of LOST.

Read entire article, October 31, 2007