Protection comes too late for this oil-covered marsh.

Guest Post by Ashkan Bayatpour

I just spent four hours on a boat in the Gulf of Mexico with fellow veterans and two retired Generals, touring the damage that the oil spill has had on the coast and the economy here in Louisiana. As a Gulf native, I know how much this will hurt the people here, and across America, who depend on the region for their livelihoods. But I also came as a veteran to see just how bad it would be if oil platforms were attacked by terrorist groups.

Seeing miles of damaged coastline really brings home just how unreliable one source of energy is and how vulnerable our dependence has made us – especially for this Navy and Iraq war veteran.

Check out the photos from our trip to the Gulf.

We know from attacks in the Middle East that oil infrastructure – pipelines and platforms – are increasingly targeted by terrorist groups. Being out here on the water made it very clear the massive impact that a terrorist attack on an oil rig would have. And I’m not the only one – We’ve got the Coast Guard standing watch on oil platforms in the Persian Gulf and Senator Jim Webb asking for an accounting of security on domestic offshore rigs.

We’ve put together an album of photos – see what it looks like down on the water.

Of course, the best way to prevent an attack on oil infrastructure is to move beyond oil. Today’s trip reminded me why we’re doing what we’re doing – as it has for so many other Americans who want to see their country secure and prosperous. We’re glad you’re along for the fight.

Ashkan Bayatpour is a veteran of the US Navy.

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