Last Thursday, July 15, U.S. Navy veteran and Operation Free member Ashkan Bayatpour took part in a press conference at the U.S. capitol to highlight the national security threats posed by our reliance on one source of energy. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tom Udall (D-NM) and Michael Bennett (D-CO) introduced proposed legislation that would act to eliminate all foreign oil imports by 2030. America will have to replace oil by developing a “robust clean energy economy,” including increased production and use of electric vehicles, more rapid development of alternative fuels, revamping infrastructure, and improving energy efficiency in homes and commercial buildings. The Oil Independence for a Stronger America Act also would create a National Council on Energy Security to ensure a sustained focus on reducing the use of oil. The Council, housed in the White House, would be charged with making recommendations to the President and Congress to ensure that America has a focused, strategic plan for energy independence and with aligning the actions of various federal agencies.

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)

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.

Today, 65 veterans from Operation Free and Veterans Green Jobs joined Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman as they announced the American Power Act. A big part of what they had to say today was about the security impacts of climate change and oil dependence. In fact, both Senators made the point to highlight how oil money enriches unpredictable and unfriendly nations like Iran. And the first speaker after Senator Lieberman was none other than Admiral Fallon, former head of US Central Command, who spoke of the destabilizing impact of climate change on weak nations around the world.

This bill is the opportunity we’ve been waiting for. For years, Congress has stalled progress on energy security and climate. But the time for dithering and delay is over and the time for action is now. The consequences are too great, and the dangers too real, for us to sit idly by while our enemies grow stronger at our expense.

Fundamental change does not happen without a fight. The partisan games of Congress and the lucrative ploys of lobbyists have always stood in the way of solving America’s problems. That’s why Americans need to stand up, speak out, and join the fight — with military leaders and veterans at our side. Take a moment, sign the pledge to support the American Power Act, and stand up for American security.

The American Power Act was supposed to drop Monday, April 26, 2010.  Click here to view Operation Free’s full page, color ad urging the Senate to act.  The ad ran April 26 in papers such as Politico and the Military Times.