Vets: Fuel National Security with Less Imported Oil and Carbon

August 31, 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Today’s forum on National Security, Energy and Climate at the University of South Florida comes on the heels of a nationwide effort by a group of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans called Operation Free to bring attention to the issue. They’ve seen first-hand the destruction of armed conflict, and they’re calling for the nation to end dependence on foreign oil and to increase efforts to battle climate change, conditions they say are threatening U.S. national security.

Ben Lowe, member of a task force studying oil preparedness, says that in 2008 the U.S. bought 357 billion dollars worth of overseas crude oil, making up about 60 percent of all American oil consumption.

“It leaves us increasingly dependent on countries which are openly antagonistic to the United States. These nations are going to have the ability to cripple our economy, and will relish being able to use that leverage in negotiations or diplomacy and everything else.”

Some people argue that it would be less expensive to drill in domestic waters for more oil and gas than to develop alternative types of energy. Lowe argues that the United States does not have enough possible sources of oil to meet the demand. He says investing in renewable energy and in reducing climate change is investment in a safer future.

A recent report by a panel of admirals called climate change a “threat multiplier” that increases the number of conflicts the U.S. military must respond to. The report found continued climate change would lead to water scarcity, stronger storms, and mass migrations, especially in more volatile countries.

Drew Sloan, a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, says that will mean trouble for the U.S.

“You’ll have conflict over resources, possible genocide, international outrage, and then you’ll have eventual participation by American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to stop that carnage and then you’ll have the loss of American lives.”

Joe Murphy, Florida program director for the Gulf Restoration Network agrees, but says drilling off the Florida coast is not the answer. He says we need to be much less dependent on fossil fuel.

“We don’t have to drill off our coastlines, we don’t have to abandon our principles in terms of climate change; what we need to do is to become much more focused on defining ourselves as an energy-future state that puts natural resources, public health and quality of life first.”

Climate change will take center stage at the University of South Florida today, as two former U.S. senators and a vice admiral speak at the Forum on National Security, Energy and Climate.

There’s more information at www.operationfree.net

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