The Failure of U.S. Leadership.

• Author: Smith, Anne

As the last remaining superpower, the United States is afforded countless opportunities to take a leadership role in international agreements that affect the health and security of the planet. Unfortunately, the U.S. government has not only failed time and again to provide leadership, but has actively obstructed forward-thinking protocols - whether because of the ideological fanaticism of its representatives, exaggerated concerns over national sovereignty, or unwillingness to accept costs to itself: Consider the following cases:

* The Landmines Treaty: As one of three major landmine producers, the United States continues to withhold its support of an internationally acclaimed treaty to ban the use and production of these weapons. While it pays lip service to the treaty's goals, the United States insists its continued use of landmines is necessary - though the majority of those killed or maimed by these weapons are women and children.

* The Kyoto Protocol: The United States has yet to ratify the Kyoto accord and commit to reducing C[O.sub.2] emissions - a step lawmakers are reluctant to take since the U.S. economy might "suffer" in accommodating the reductions. Senator Jesse Helms, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, is unwilling to acknowledge the support of most Americans for this accord. He has asked the president to submit it to the Senate so that it can be rejected.

* International Family Planning: U.S. support of family-planning aids and education has been gutted, again in large part because of Senator Helms - in this case due to his ideological opposition to abortion. By using abortion as an excuse to withhold funds, a misguided minority is actually...