U.S. Gives a Cold Shoulder to Treaties (LA Times)

[struggle4progress]

Bush's trend of opting out of international pacts might endanger America's standing in the world and hinder global efforts, some say.

By Evelyn Iritani, Times Staff Writer

When he helped pioneer an antismoking movement a decade ago, Eduardo Bianco looked to the United States for novel ways to keep young people in Uruguay from taking up cigarettes.

Today, the 49-year-old cardiologist no longer considers America a leader in the fight against smoking. That's because it is not among the 57 nations that ratified the first global tobacco control treaty, which took effect in recent weeks and imposes tough restrictions on tobacco advertising and packaging.

The Bush administration signed the treaty in May, but the president hasn't sent it to the Senate for ratification, saying it needs further study. Uruguay did ratify the treaty — and Bianco was among those who persuaded his government to do so. <snip>

The White House says that it supports global agreements as long as they don't undermine America's ability to act in its own best interests. But critics say the administration's stance is endangering America's standing in the world and hindering efforts to resolve global problems. <snip>

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-treaties13mar13,1,3036836.story?coll=la-headlines-nation

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. Remember one thing:

Treaties, once ratified by act of congress, are LAW.

This should tell you something about what this pack of scum thinks of the rule of law.

[struggle4progress]

2. Yep, that's in the Constitution. eom