Yesterday afternoon, Operation FREE field director James Whitaker kicked off the tour with a video introducing the team and explaining what we’ll be up to at each stop along the way.

Click HERE to view the video.

And stay tuned – we’ll keep the blog updated with pictures, videos, and diaries as we make our way across each state.

Reported by Justin Earley

Some U.S. military veterans say climate change isn’t just a threat to the environment, but national security. A busload of veterans on a crisscross tour of the nation are in the Natural State to bring attention to the problem. And the country’s leaders are listening.

Retired U.S. General Wesley Clark said, “I know to most of us national security is about men and women in uniform, it’s about a strong national defense.” But Clark told folks at Monday’s town hall meeting in Little Rock that it’s also about protecting Americans from natural disasters. And he says global warming caused by over-use of fossil fuels poses a threat. “A series of changes of rainfall, snowfall, glaciation, moisture, sea level, which taken together are so enormous that they will displace millions of people,” he said.

Meetings Monday in Pine Bluff and Little Rock kicked off a bus tour across the south for Operation Free Veterans for American Power. Along with climate change, veterans say Americans’ dependence on foreign oil will lead to an international crisis down the road. Marine Matt Victoriano served two tours in Iraq. “We were specifically protecting foreign resources and foreign oil in a foreign land, when we very well could have been producing our own resources,” Victoriano said.

Clark says the answer to all of it is alternative energy sources: electric cars and biofuels. Clark says putting 15 percent ethanol in gas instead of the current 10 would cut down oil use by a million barrels a day. Then there’s wind energy. Along with protecting the environment alternative energy production can put people to work. That’s why the group is pushing for passage of the Clean Energy Jobs in American Power Act. Representative Vic Snyder, (D) Arkansas, said, “that’s a big part of this bill. This bill is about the jobs of the future.”

The Clean Energy Jobs in American Power Act passed the U.S. House and now it’s in the Senate. Critics say it doesn’t provide any incentives for nuclear power but Congressman Snyder says the nuclear power industry backs it. Supporters say the act could create as many as 1.9 million jobs between 2010 and 2020.

A group of veterans from across the country visited Pine Bluff Monday morning to speak to local officials about the importance of U.S. development of clean, domestic energy.

Members of Operation Free: Veterans for American Power Tour shared their views on foreign oil dependence and listened to what local officials and residents had to say.

“The overall purpose of this particular tour is to lend the veterans’ voice to the clean energy dialogue,” retired Army Staff Sgt. Chuck Tyler said during the stop at Saracen Landing. “We understand first hand what it’s like being out in the field.

“It’s our opinion that America, as powerful as it is, as innovative as it is, we should be able to create clean energy alternatives so we are less dependent on fossil fuels.”

Jefferson County Sheriff Gerald Robinson said he thought people tend to listen to what veterans have to say.

“Our country is a country of patriotism, and by our veterans coming out and speaking, I feel people will listen because there is a certain respect that our country has for those who have given their services,” Robinson said.

Pine Bluff was the first of 39 stops on the tour’s southern route. Another bus began Monday touring the northern part of the country.

“One of the major reasons we went to Iraq the second time, although it is not discussed, is to protect our oil interest,” retired Marine Corps Sgt. Matt Victoriano said. “A lot of the Bush administration were involved in prior years with Iraq and they all perceived Suddam Hussein as being a destabilizing factor in the area.

“The fact we were going over there to protect our oil, especially when we could be providing our own energy, is I think a sacrifice for a lot of us,” Victoriano said. “When people die for reasons like that it can absolutely be prevented. I find it hard to believe we would be over there a second time if we didn’t rely on oil.”

A breakfast followed the town hall-style event and residents and officials had an opportunity to speak further with the veterans.

“I feel the United States is the greatest country in the world,” Robinson said. “I feel with the resources that we have — alternative fuels, solar sources, corn — the more natural fuel sources we depend on, the better this country is going to be.”

Chuck and his fellow veterans are tackling this issue in a way that few others can – they understand first hand the foreign and domestic policy implications of wars fought over oil.  They make the ultimate sacrifice because of policy failures that if remedied, would slow climate change, provide more (green!) jobs, and most importantly, take our national interests out of the hands of our enemies and place them back in the hands of the American people.  I’ve got to say, after a day of these events, it’s been pretty amazing to hear them stand up and make tell there powerful stories in every city.

Our full day finished up with short stops in Russellville (we couldn’t pass up a quick meal at local hot spot, Whataburger) and Fort Smith.  All in all, we accomplished what we set out to do – Ed, Chuck, Matt, and Marilyn got to talk to folks across the state about their own personal motivation to act now on climate change.  And in true Arkansas style, we rounded out almost every event with great local food.

Look out for more updates, pictures, and video tomorrow as we make one last stop in Arkansas before crossing the border into Missouri.   And be sure to check out http://www.operationfree.net/on-the-bus/ for up-to-date information on tour stops included in both legs of the tour.   We’ve got 20 states to go and we’re not slowing down any time soon.