Today TruthOut published a disturbing report: Pentagon to Jettison Environmental Responsibilities. This report details a proposed new Defense Department Directive, which would allow the DOD to divest itself of many obligations it currently incurs under both national and international law; particularly those pertaining to the Environment.

The Pentagon's proposed new Directive is unacceptable for many reasons. Perhaps most important among these in the context of CFD is the total rejection of responsibility, of the concept that there is a fundamental causal connection between conduct or actions on the one hand and the world outside the self or organization on the other.

Gov. Dean speaks often and forcefully about responsibility. He reminds us that the Democratic Party's value system stresses responsibility on all levels, from personal conduct to governmental stewardship of the Environment. Furthermore, such stewardship is a profoundly faithful (Christian) and Pro-life commitment. Certainly, it is a commitment one would expect from the administration of so ostentatiously Christian a man as Fearless Leader.

As has been observed here many times before, however, Fearless Leader is not a Christian. He seems sincere in his belief that he is a fine and true Christian. Yet, not all those who cry, Lord, Lord, will be saved, as Our Lord reminds us:

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

One neither can nor should judge Fearless Leader as a private individual. However, based on his public actions, one can assert confidently that he has built on sand rather than rock. Certainly, his administration has brought forth evil fruit in abundance. The Defense Department's current attempt to place itself above both U.S. and international law is only the latest dismal harvest.

Since, according to the TruthOut article, the new Pentagon Directive is not subject to Congressional review, writing to Congress may not be the best use of our time and effort. Instead, write to media outlets via Prinews. In the current climate, it may be quite risky, but if you're feeling courageous you could also e-mail the President and The Defense Department. (In the interests of full disclosure, I should point out that I am not courageous enough to do either of these things; though, I shall be writing my local paper this week.)

No person or institution is above the law, either Man's law or God's law. When a person tries to place himself above the law, the consequences are usually calamitous for him. When an institution tries to place itself above the law, the consequences are often calamitous for the public. But, when a government tries to do so, the consequent damage - both at home and abroad - is incalculable. In a number of ways, including Alberto Gonzalez' advice to Fearless Leader to ignore the Geneva Conventions and the new Pentagon Directive, this administration has attempted to place itself above the law. What the end results of such machinations will be is beyond my power to predict. That those results shall be damaging and traumatizing to our beloved nation is, however, beyond doubt.