Reply #43: Thread summary 3: along comes bush [View All]

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OK, a few responsible leaders take on a manageable problem. Then what happens?

"A secret US plan to wreck Tony Blair's G8 initiative combating illegal logging in the world's threatened rainforests has been revealed in a State Department memo leaked to the BBC's Newsnight programme."

Ooops. They didn't mean for that to get out. Better distract some people before anyone finds out.

Basically, the Bush administration planned to foil Blair and the EU.

"Faith Doherty, from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) in the UK, said: "I think it's completely outrageous. What we have is a country that does consume tropical timber, that does acknowledge that there is forest crime, environmental crime in Indonesia and other tropical countries; and to try to undermine what people have worked so hard for the last five years on this issue is just unacceptable."

Sounds like some Brits are pissed.

"Europe is strongly backing Mr Blair's initiative and the US tactics drew a furious response from rainforest campaigners."

Sounds like some more people are pissed.

"But industry lobbyists in the US have resisted moves to certify timber. A US state department memo leaked to the BBC's Newsnight shows that the US will refuse to sign up to the Benn initiative."

This looks like a showdown. Maybe the State Department had better think about it again. Oh yea, Colin Powell isn't there any more, is he?