State Department strongly condemns lack of ... snow

Boucher: "The United States remains committed" to a snowy holiday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In a harshly worded statement, the State Department on Thursday strongly condemned the absence of snow this holiday season.

"No cause can justify the deliberate ruination of this monumental event," said a tongue-in-cheek statement from spokesman Richard Boucher.

Boucher was responding to comments made by President Bush, lamenting that there was no snow in Washington with Christmas just around the corner.

"Last month, the president outlined a positive vision of a holiday in which each of us could enjoy our families and friends in a snowy environment," Boucher's statement said. "The United States remains committed to doing all it can to make that vision a reality."

Boucher blamed the problem on nature, and called for immediate action.

"Understanding the need for dialogue and reconciliation, we have had frank and fruitful discussions with a wide spectrum of forecasters and have come to the conclusion that actions must be taken now," he said.

"We consider nature's continued refusal to recognize its obligations to civilized nations as provocative and counter-productive. We, therefore, urge nature to take the necessary steps to assure a credible and sustained snowfall with all due speed.

"Rest assured, at this critical moment, the U.S. is not giving up. We remain committed to happy holidays for all -- with or without snow," the statement concluded.

Nature did not immediately return CNN's calls for comment.