Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain -- specifically, pay no attention to what he is eating.
I read the news today. Oh, boy:
President Bush called for a halt to all types of destructive fishing on the high seas Tuesday, saying the United States will work to eliminate practices such as bottom trawling that devastate fish populations and the ocean floor.
Bush's memo directs the secretaries of the State and Commerce departments to promote "sustainable" fisheries and to oppose any fishing practices "that destroy the long-term natural productivity of fish stocks or habitats such as seamounts, corals, and sponge fields for short-term gain." Bush also said the United States would work with other nations and international groups to change fishing practices and create new international fishery regulatory groups if needed.
I also read the news last month:
Your representative of a friendly newspaper is currently sitting under the trees at a lovely beach-front table, overlooking the Long Island Sound. We are dining on a delicious lunch of Chilean sea bass, topped with pea puree, cheese ravioli with a butter sage sauce, and salad of field greens, topped with dried cranberries and candied pecans – the very same fare, we are told, that the donors gathered inside the massive home of Scott Frantz, investment banker, are enjoying.
And this, too:
Judging by the body language Bush himself had said he would be watching, there were plenty of tensions to overcome over a light dinner of soup, sea bass and salad.
A little background on the sea bass:
International fishing agencies tried to crack down on toothfish [aka Chilean Sea Bass] pirates at sea. In his book, Knecht describes a three week long chase by the Australian fish police across the southern end of the earth -- through icebergs -- and wild seas for four thousand miles. Eventually, the pirates were taken into custody, ending a very expensive, 21-day chase.
It is legal to to eat the sea bass, provided it is caught and imported legally. But the demand for sea bass is so great that there are sea bass pirates. Perhaps the Bush administration should watch what they eat before they speak.