The Law of the Sea Treaty is not with other countries; it is with the United Nations. If we ratify it, we become subject to dispute-resolution mechanisms and ambiguities based on the U.N.'s interpretation.

Royalty payments start after six years of production at each site. In the 12th year, one-half of the revenue from our oil and gas resources extracted from the ocean floor would go to the International Seabed Authority, based in Kingston, Jamaica. They will also have the right to demand our technology be used as they see fit.

Thirteen of the 20 most corrupt nations are signators on the treaty. We will have one vote out of 126 votes.

Right now, since we are the major naval power, we enjoy navigational rights and freedoms, not through a treaty but through a combination of long-standing legal principles and persistent naval operations.

We have secured the free movement of ships, and I'm sure we will continue to do so in the Strait of Hormuz.

China wants this treaty so it can curtail our intelligence-gathering operations that sit beyond their shores. We will be subject to all U.N. decisions and must abide by their edicts.

We have been giving away our country piece by piece, and most of our citizens are completely unaware of just what is happening.

There are five treaties waiting to be ratified. Ratifying them means we change the Constitution. Treaties are not like executive orders that can be reversed by a new administration.

We don't want to weaken our military to a point that our Constitution can no longer be enforced.

Juanita Allan

Spotsylvania