It appears that saving whales is a threat to national security.

The following is a posting from the United States Office of Naval Intelligence:

04 Jan 06

OFFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE
CIVIL MARITIME ANALYSIS DEPARTMENT                   
WORLDWIDE THREAT TO SHIPPING                  
MARINER WARNING INFORMATION. . .

N.  ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC NON-STATE ACTIVIST
GROUPS:

1.  GREENPEACE - SEA SHEPHERD CONSERVATION SOCIETY - INSTITUTE
OF CETACEAN RESEARCH - ANTARCTIC WHALING:  According to the 
Japanese Institute of Cetacean Research, the Greenpeace vessels (ESPERANZA)and (ARCTIC SUNRISE) and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society vessel (FARLEY MOWAT) follow and attempt to impede Japan's whale research efforts in the Antarctic as of 21 Dec.  The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society's web site describes a near collision between the (FARLEY MOWAT)  and Japanese Research vessel (NISSHIN MARU) on 24 Dec in the vicinity of 62:55S 136:38E.  Greenpeace rejects the claims made by Japan that its members are disregarding the laws of the sea as they trail the Japanese whalers, and denies claims they are working in conjunction with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.  The Institute of Cetacean Research claims the fleet of six Japanese research vessels are operating under special permit in the Antarctic.  ONI NOTE:  Supporters of the Japanese projects are implying that Greenpeace and the Sea Shepherd Organization are acting in concert.  ONI sees no evidence for this despite the fact that the current high-profile Japanese expedition has drawn the attention of both groups (GP, Institute of Cetacean Research, Sea  Shepherd Conservation Society, ONI).

It is interesting that the United States government does not officially recognize the whaling operations of Japan as legal yet the memo describes the Nisshin Maru as a research ship. Greenpeace may not be working with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society but the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is working with Greenpeace.

"They are down here opposing illegal whaling," said Captain Paul Watson. "And we are down here opposing illegal whaling. We are down here together, working towards the same objective. I would say we are working together."

The question must be asked. Why is the U.S. Naval Intelligence office concerned with an issue that does not involve a U.S. ship in an area about as far from the United States as one can possibly get?

The Japanese whalers have attempted to ram both Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd ships yet that is not considered to be of any concern. The Japanese whalers have attacked Greenpeace crew with water cannons and struck Greenpeace crew with poles yet that does not seem to be a concern. The Japanese whalers have warned that if the whalers injure any protestors, it will be the fault of the protestors. This implies a threat yet there does not seem to be any concern.

Not one politician representing a government from the U.S., Australia, Canada, or New Zealand has condemned Japan's threats or Japan's actions.

What is going on here? These nations have policies that oppose what Japan is doing. Why are they defending illegal Japanese whaling?   

In Australia the Green Party has demanded that the government of John Howard intervenes to inquire against a claim by Japanese whalers that protestors are being monitored by the Office of Naval Intelligence.

As incredible as it seems, the Japanese whalers that are down in Antarctic waters conducting a blatantly illegal slaughter of whales are complaining to governments like Australia and the United States and accusing the people trying to stop their illegal activities of piracy. And Australia and the United States are both giving credence to the complaints of this criminal nation.

Is there no limit to the hypocrisy of these politicians and bureaucrats?