In another insult to the intelligence of the American people, the US military is now getting special privilidges to kill endangered species for practice. (Didn't we just roll through Iraq in a matter of days? Are the Republicans expecting a bigger enemy? How are the laser-guided bombs affected by the survival of birds and fish?)
I watched a lot of war coverage and I never heard a solider wish he had killed more endangered species to practice for Iraq.
Those soliders that were not killed by enemy fire seemed to die in friendly fire accidents, rolling tanks into canals, flipping vehicles off bridges and hitting land mines. It would seem they need more practice in avoiding things and since we only have a few of the endangered species remaining on the planet it would seem to me that avoiding these critters is a good place to start.
The worst part of this bill is that it is not related to military or the war. It is about taking a swing at the endangered species act and attacking the concept that we have an obligation to protect species on the brink of extinction.
Federal lands have been used extensively as key components to habitat conservations plans (HCPs) which allowed private land owners to "take" additional habitat because federal lands were considered safe harbors for remaining populations. Endangered red-cockaded woodpecker survival depends on using military lands for remaining habitat.
Get pissed and do something.
