In a remarkably schizophrenic gesture, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service apparently ordered its scientists not to discuss polar bears, sea ice, and climate change even as it concedes that polar bears indeed might be threatened by global warming and the loss of sea ice.

As the New York Times, Greenwire, and dozens of other papers reported today, this "new requirement" prohibits U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists or other employees traveling in the Arctic from discussing the three issues unless they are designated as an official "spokesman" and verify that they understand the "administration's position" on them.

Recall that the Bush administration issued a formal proposal to protect the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act, admitting that climate change and the loss of sea ice is a major factor in the polar bear's demise. 

Our colleague Kieran Suckling of Center for Biological Diversity (one of the groups that petitioned for polar bear protection) offers a characteristically astute assessment:  "This is positively Orwellian.  Only the worst cynic could admit the polar bear is being driven extinct by global warming, then issue a gag order to stop government scientists from talking about it."