Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Federal Judge Orders Navy Not To Use Sonar


Federal Judge Florence Marie-Copper, barred the U.S. Navy on Monday from using Sonar off of California's Channel Island, fearing that the Sonar may harm up to 30 species of marine mammals and up to 5 species of whales.

The White House immediately said that Navy Attorneys will move expeditiously in filing an Appeal with the U.S. 9th Circuit.

Navy Sonar is an invaluable tool in protecting the United States and its importance has grown as more nations have acquired inexpensive and very quiet submarines. Sonar is the only effective way of detecting and quickly targeting hostile subs and keeping the shipping lanes open for commercial ships and oil tankers as well as our own naval forces.

Activist Federal Judges diminish the rule of law and have no legitimate grounds to make decisions based upon their own personal views about public policy absent a real conflict with the constitution. Judges should use self-restraint and not intrude into areas of making policy that undermines our national security.