KEYSTONE APPROVED...FINALLY – AT 9:32 A.M. ET:  It is long overdue.  A project that was derailed by vastly overstated environmental "concerns" has now been approved by the Trump administration.  From CNN:

Washington (CNN) The State Department issued a permit Friday allowing the Keystone XL project to proceed, reversing the Obama administration's decision to block the controversial oil pipeline.

Tom Shannon, the State Department's undersecretary for political affairs, issued TransCanada's permit, making good on one of President Donald Trump's campaign promises. The move greenlights the Canadian company to complete construction on the pipeline that will funnel crude oil from Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast.

Friday morning, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said Trump would make an announcement on the pipeline later in the morning.

The announcement comes in the midst of Republicans' heated and protracted debate about their Obamacare replacement legislation. A vote is set for later Friday on the bill, though it's unclear if it will pass and its failure would be a significant political embarrassment for Trump.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former CEO of ExxonMobil, recused himself from the decision earlier this month. Trump in January signed an executive order to advance the pipeline's approval.

COMMENT:  It is a practical move, and one that shows respect for Canada, our nearest ally.  By contrast, Obama's attitude toward Canada was decidedly aloof, although Canada's foreign-affairs officials handled Obama with keen diplomatic style.

March 24,  2017