Pact to Ban Chemicals

* How green is our Bush? Not very. In “Bush Announces U.S. to Sign Pact to Ban Chemicals” (April 20) we learn that President Bush staged a high-profile event in the Rose Garden to announce that the U.S. will sign the treaty to ban the “dirty dozen” chemicals. Yet 14 column inches down we can read that “the U.S. already has banned or restricted use of the chemicals covered under the treaty, and most have not been produced for years.” Sort of makes it a hollow gesture, doesn’t it?

If Bush was genuinely stung by the criticisms of his retreats on environmental policy it proves one thing: He shares his father’s knack for being wildly out of touch with the mood of the public.

BILL TIERNEY

Hermosa Beach