It does raise the points which you have made that it is not really clear just in terms of law enforcement.

As seven CNOs wrote in a joint letter back in 1998, 'there are no downsides to this treaty--it contains expansive terms, which we use to maintain forward presence and preserve U.S. maritime superiority.'

As the world's foremost maritime power, our national security interests are intrinsically linked to freedom of navigation.

The only way we are going to do this in today's world is to engage in alliances and partnerships.

The only way to protect that outside of this is to accede to the treaty.

We say that every time we go--we argue with Iran. Every time we argue with North Korea, we argue on the basis that they are not abiding by international rules.

As Senator Lugar has said, to oppose this Convention on economic grounds requires one to believe that U.S. industries as diverse as oil and gas, fishing, shipping, seabed mining, and telecommunications do not understand how best to grow…

Worse still, these sizable 'royalties' could go to corrupt dictatorships and state sponsors of terrorism.

The treaty creates a United Nations-style body called the 'International Seabed Authority.'

It would constitute a massive form of global welfare, courtesy of the American taxpayer.

Despite the unanimous vote in the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bill Frist, then the majority leader, declined to bring the Convention up in the Senate.

Mr. Chairman, I join you in welcoming Secretary Clinton, Secretary Panetta, and General Dempsey.

How, Secretary Panetta, would you begin to describe the military problem here?

the Law of the Sea Treaty remains a sweeping power grab that could prove to be the largest mechanism for the worldwide redistribution of wealth in human history.

If we do not accede to this treaty, our major mining companies... will not drill, will not exploit.

Kudos to Ronald Reagan and the folks who negotiated this.

There is no ability to bring an environmental suit against us.

We are fighting and putting people on the line, and they are there trying to exploit copper.