The Los Angeles Times, in an editorial today, said the U.S. should exhibit leadership on climate change because at Copenhagen "an agreement seemingly thrown together at the last minute by representatives of the United States and four other big greenhouse-gas emitters…has no binding targets, monitoring mechanisms or legal force."
The Times wrote: "Washington needs to get its own house in order before it can play a leadership role in global climate talks, or expect them to bear fruit. Right now, we're less concerned about the lack of action in Copenhagen than about the lack of action on a climate bill by the U.S. Senate. Granted, the world has to contend only with demagogues like Chavez, who at least grasps the clear evidence that climate change is happening; we've got to deal with the likes of Republican Sen. James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, who considers it a hoax. Nonetheless, the U.S. bears an overwhelming burden of responsibility for the problem, and the world will follow only if it first sets a good example."
An editorial published today by the Washington Times said the disrespect shown President Obama at Copenhagen "says a great deal about American power and prestige when international leaders go to so much trouble to avoid meeting with the president of the United States. The American Century is over."
