Vets: Fuel National Security with Less Imported Oil and Carbon
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Today’s forum on National Security, Energy and Climate at the University of South Florida comes on the heels of a nationwide effort by a group of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans called Operation Free to bring attention to the issue. They’ve seen first-hand the destruction of armed conflict, and they’re calling for the nation to end dependence on foreign oil and to increase efforts to battle climate change, conditions they say are threatening U.S. national security.
Ben Lowe, member of a task force studying oil preparedness, says that in 2008 the U.S. bought 357 billion dollars worth of overseas crude oil, making up about 60 percent of all American oil consumption.
“It leaves us increasingly dependent on countries which are openly antagonistic to the United States. These nations are going to have the ability to cripple our economy, and will relish being able to use that leverage in negotiations or diplomacy and everything else.”
Some people argue that it would be less expensive to drill in domestic waters for more oil and gas than to develop alternative types of energy. Lowe argues that the United States does not have enough possible sources of oil to meet the demand. He says investing in renewable energy and in reducing climate change is investment in a safer future.
A recent report by a panel of admirals called climate change a “threat multiplier” that increases the number of conflicts the U.S. military must respond to. The report found continued climate change would lead to water scarcity, stronger storms, and mass migrations, especially in more volatile countries.
Drew Sloan, a veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan, says that will mean trouble for the U.S.
“You’ll have conflict over resources, possible genocide, international outrage, and then you’ll have eventual participation by American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to stop that carnage and then you’ll have the loss of American lives.”
