Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to Alaska with a group of Operation Free vets and staff to talk about how national security is being impacted by our dependence on a single source of energy and the potential for increase in conflict resulting from climate change.  The experience was truly memorable.

It is hard to describe the beauty of Alaska; as I took a little time off to ride a bike along Cook Inlet, I could see Mt McKinley many miles away in the distance with its white covering even in July.  What a land of pristine beauty!  Alaskans are justly proud of the state’s natural beauty and want to keep it that way.

The Town Hall with Alaskan veterans, other OpFree vets, and Senator Begich was lively and interactive.  Alaskans are clearly concerned with protecting the environment and several noted the impacts of climate change already being experienced by the Native American Alaskan population.  Some truly sobering stories were told.  Veterans in the audience were quick to grasp the link between our dependence on a single source of energy and the risk that dependence poses on our national security.  It was a great experience.

We followed with interviews with local print, radio and TV media.  The receptions were all the same; warm, friendly and understanding.  The feedback was immediate and vocal during a news-talk radio program: we need to act.

LtGen John Castellaw, USMC (Retired)

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