The Lakota Indians, who gave the world legendary warriors Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from treaties with the United States, leaders said Wednesday.

...

A delegation of Lakota leaders delivered a message to the State Department on Monday, announcing they were unilaterally withdrawing from treaties they signed with the federal government of the United States, some of them more than 150 years old.

They also visited the Bolivian, Chilean, South African and Venezuelan embassies, and will continue on their diplomatic mission and take it overseas in the coming weeks and months, they told the news conference.

Lakota country includes parts of the states of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.

The new country would issue its own passports and driving licences, and living there would be tax-free -- provided residents renounce their US citizenship, Means said.

...

Withdrawing from the treaties was entirely legal, Means said.

"This is according to the laws of the United States, specifically article six of the constitution," which states that treaties are the supreme law of the land, he said.

"It is also within the laws on treaties passed at the Vienna Convention and put into effect by the US and the rest of the international community in 1980. We are legally within our rights to be free and independent," said Means.

posted by Scats : 12/24/2007 02:41:00 PM

Why, exactly, am I subscribing to your newspaper?

Again, a little post-debate chart counted up words used by candidates. The Dec. 14 chart, on Page A4, informed me that Sen. Joe Biden "mentioned these words" -- Bush, three times; education, five times, etc. Other candidates were treated similarly.

I can't stand it anymore. Why would I care about this? What information are you imparting to me from which I can make a rational judgment?

-- Alex Machina

Oakton

posted by Blicero : 12/23/2007 04:47:00 AM