[Hacksaw]

I'm all for protecting whales - IMO there is no need for whale hunts anymore. But specious claims like this environmental group is making should have at least some evidence. And I think think whales are smart enough to distinguish between their own calls and the sonar.

It would be interesting to know if any of these environmental groups that seek to block military training are getting any money from foreign nations - say China for example.

[digger48]

I see one of H.W.’s appointees survived 16 years in the abyss(mal) 9th Circuit and still has some sanity remaining.

[ConorMacNessa]

For once I hope the Supremes affirm a ruling of the 9th Circuit.

[fish hawk]

Whales and dolphins beach themselves all the time whether there is sonar training going on or not. No one knows why they do it, possibly global warming and for sure Bush’s fault, no doubt. (sarcasm) If one was to make a study of all the beachings in the last twenty years and found out just how many of them happened while sonar training was going on, one would find the percentages in the zero to 1 percent range. This whole thing is a “Spotted Owl” of the ocean ploy.

[Judges Gone Wild]

The 9th Circuit gets something right. Someone must have been praying.

[DoughtyOne]

IMO the verdict is still out on this. I’m all for the Navy using the latest tech for it’s purposes, but I’m not in favor of killing or even damaging marine life to accomplish their goals.

I don’t know enough about it to know which is the right decision here. I do hope that if the Navy does use the new sonar, it is found to have no effect on Marine life.

It’s my opinion that the environmental folks have gone overboard once again on this, but like I said I’m no expert on this.

I say go Navy, but limit the first tests in order to observe any ill effects. If none are seen, then increase the frequency of them so that it can be clear every step of the way that marine life doesn’t suffer a negative impact.

In this manner, both sides can be assured of the best outcome.

It had occurred to me that it might be possible to alter the frequency of the pings out of the whale’s range of hearing. Would that sort of option be possible?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

They finally get one right!

[concentric circles]

“Today, dozens of countries — including North Korea and Iran — have extremely quiet diesel-electric submarines, and more than 180 of them operate in the Pacific,” said Vice Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet. “Active sonar is the best system we have to detect and track them.”

[Califreak]

Wow. I can’t believe they actually made the right decision for once!

[Fast Moving Angel]

I share the sentiment of all of you who are astonished that the 9th Circus finally got one right.

Saw an article in a legal paper a couple of years ago that said that only 96% of the 9th Circus’ decisions were overturned by the Supremes — so that means they get a whopping 4% of them right!