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Feb 1, 2010

DOD says “climate change is a threat”

By Operation Free

OPERATION FREE
Secure America with Clean Energy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 1, 2010

CONTACT
David Solimini, 757-876-0295

Defense Dept. Strategic Plan: Climate Change a Threat


Quadrennial Review says climate change is acting as an “accelerant of instability” & “weakening fragile governments”

Time for Senate action to prevent threats to American security

Today, in an unprecedented statement, the Department of Defense highlighted broad geopolitical and security threats posed to the United States by climate change when it released the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review. The QDR is the Defense Department’s definitive statement of strategy, threats, and long-term planning.

In response to the threat highlighted by the Defense Department, Operation Free’s Veterans for American Power Tour is currently criss-crossing the nation in support of clean energy legislation in the US Senate.

The Department’s Review says that the effects of climate change are already being felt in the United States and highlighted the fact that “climate change will have significant geopolitical impacts around the world, contributing to poverty … and weakening fragile governments.” Weak governments and failed states are often the safe havens and breeding grounds of terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda and the Taliban. These groups are free to recruit vulnerable people in places like Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Nigeria without interference. Already-fragile governments are often unable to cope with the floods, famine, drought, and crop failures that are caused by climate change.

“With this statement, it is clear that action is needed to prevent climate change in the cause of American safety and security. The longer the we delay, the longer these threats have time to gather,” said Jonathan Murray, Operation Free Campaign Manager and Marine veteran. “The global instability caused by droughts, floods, and famine will mean more threats to our security and more soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines put into harm’s way. ”

The Review has never before included statements about the threat of climate change, highlighting a defense community consensus that “climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, increase the spread of disease, and may help spur mass migration,” all threats to regional and international security.

The report also notes that America’s energy dependence is cause for concern. Every day, America sends over $1 billion overseas to unfriendly nations to purchase oil. Previous reporting has noted that significant funding for terrorist organizations comes from oil-rich Persian Gulf nations.

The QDR is available online at: http://www.defense.gov/QDR/QDR%20as%20of%2026JAN10%200700.pdf. Section V of the QDR contains the passages on climate change quoted above.

USEFUL RESOURCES
Military and Security Leaders on Climate Change:

  • The Central Intelligence Agency has opened a Center on Climate Change and National Security. (Central Intelligence Agency, September 25, 2009)
  • In 2008, a National Intelligence Assessment from the National Intelligence Council said “global climate change will have wide-ranging implications for US national security interests over the next 20 years.” (Senate Testimony of Dr. Thomas Fingar, June 28, 2008)
  • Former Senator John Warner (R-VA), former Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), former CIA Director James Woolsey, Retired General Anthony Zinni, and Retired Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, General Wesley Clark, have all stated that climate change threatens our security.

Terrorist Funding and Dependence on Oil:

  • The Next President: Mastering a Daunting Agenda by Richard Holbrooke. Foreign Affairs, September/October 2008. Holbrooke is the US Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. “Saudi Arabia, which, although it has long worked with Washington to bolster world oil output and keep prices within an acceptable range, has simultaneously allowed billions of (ostensibly nongovernmental) dollars to go toward building extremist madrasahs and funding terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda.” http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/63563/richard-holbrooke/the-next-president

Operation Free is a coalition of veterans and national security organizations dedicated to securing America with clean energy. It is currently conducting the National Veterans for American Power Tour, a 2 month, 16 state bus tour of US military veterans who, at 65 stops across the nation, will highlight the connection between security and climate change. More online at www.OperationFree.net.

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