The U.S. is expected to finally throw its hat into the ring of international cooperation during July's G8 summit in Japan, according to ... hey, what do you know, the White House. And we aren't talking about "unnamed sources" or speculation. None other than the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, James L. Connaughton, has been talking to the press about America's newfound willingness to cooperate.

The assistant to President Bush for International Economic Affair, Daniel Price, said point-blank that the U.S. is prepared to accept "binding international obligations." Connaughton is also trying to clarify the Administration's seemingly 180 degree change in position by explaining that it was mistaken in its tactic of focusing negotiations on what they weren't willing to do, which overshadowed the fact that they were willing to negotiate- really!

Pick your chin up off the floor, because there are strings attached, of course.

Price stressed that the U.S. is only committing to mandates as long as it is a global affair, meaning developing countries like India (currently the #5 largest GHG emitter) and China (who is either tied or has surpassed the U.S. as the world's largest emitter) will be forced to reduce their emissions as well. Bush had previously refused to sign on to Kyoto because only industrialized nations are required to reduce their emissions, while poorer countries were allowed to emit away.

Bush isn't just flexing his lame duck muscles if he does indeed allow the U.S. to start being a meaningful part of international negotiations (as opposed to our usual role of being an exasperating pain in the ass). By committing the U.S. to his approved numbers, he could be tying the hands of POTUS 44 from requesting even deeper cuts at the Conference of Parties in Copenhagen next year, where participating countries are expected to finalize post 2012 (after Kyoto expires) targets.

Can't you just picture him leaving office humming, "I Did It My Way"?