Whether the rest of the government is willing to admit to the dangers of climate change is anybodies guess, but the intelligence community has issued a 58 page report saying that climate change is dangerous.  The rest of the world says: “Finally!”

The U. S. intelligence community has completed a study on the implications of climate change and world stability and arrived at the same conclusion as Environmental groups.  Climate change could indeed lead to world unrest, government instability and wars.

Two prominent government security experts will be testifying today about the report before Congress.  National Intelligence Council chairman Dr. Thomas Fingar and Energy Department intelligence chief Rolf Mowatt-Larsen  will be testifying on the 58 page report entitled, “The National Security Implications of Global Climate Change Through 2030.”

The results of this study is guaranteed to give government officials heartburn.  Finally, the intelligence community has decided to live up to its name and issue a report based on fact rather than White House policy.  Maybe it is because these are “spies” and not EPA officials, their full findings can make the headlines-sort of.  The actual contents of the report are being classified because of the “detail” and “specifics” discussed, but the majority of the report is expected to be revealed during the course of Congressional testimony.

Basically, climate changes multiply the tensions that already exist and are the catalyst for  conflicts.  Examples can be found in the fights for water taking place in Africa and the Middle East, as well as, the increased tensions in Asia after the tsunamis and Hurricanes.

When basic resources needed to live or make a living become scarce, people look elsewhere to find them leading to tensions, prejudice, and wars.  Simply look at the history of the water wars  in western U. S. to gain some idea of what dangers shifting climates and resources can have on tempers and growth.

One intelligence officer had this to say:

Richard Engel, deputy national intelligence officer for science and technology … said in a little-noticed speech last month at the University of Delaware that if the findings of the assessment were made public, “It would frustrate the execution of U.S. foreign policy.”

Now it seems as if Congress wants a bit more information and possibly a different direction for foreign policy.  Besides the two intelligence experts already mentioned the following experts will be testifying as well:

Former British Foreign Minister Margaret Beckett, retired Admiral Paul Gaffney and the Army War College’s Kent Hughes Butts, all of whom have previously raised alarms about climate change’s strategic impact. Lee Lane, with the American Enterprise Institute, has been pushing the issue of "geoengineering" in response to global warming. And Marlo Lewis, with the Competitive Enterprise Institute, calls the whole thing a "myth."

For those unfamiliar with the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), it is a conservative think tank associated with the Neo-Cons.  Many of the ideas that have been proposed by this administration developed in AEI.  Such Administration luminaries as Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz are listed as scholars and fellows of the AEI as is Newt Gingrich who has been a White House advisor.

Although the line up of speakers certainly seems eclectic, we can hope  that the fact that major intelligence agencies have participated in and signed off on the 58 page document holds more sway.

I doubt this administration is going to make any changes in policy based on this report.  Especially since there are only 6 more months remaining of the Bush presidency.  The hope is that Congress will begin to formulate new policies that can be adopted by the new President when he takes office.

Maybe under the new administration, such departments as the EPA, and the Centers for Disease Control can present unedited versions of their findings for Congressional and public discussion. 

Related:

Entry was posted on Wednesday, June 25th, 2008 at 2:09 pm under Science and technology, Security.

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