So did Admiral Prueher and General Wald, where these three retired senior military officers testified yesterday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the security threats posed to the United States by climate change. Their concerns are the subject of a new report they prepared with eight of their colleagues from all branches of the U.S. military and the Center for Naval Analyses.
The national security bona fides of these three former military commanders are remarkable to say the least:
Adm. Joseph Prueher, U.S. Navy (retired), was former commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Command and former U.S. ambassador to China.
Gen. Chuck Wald, U.S. Air Force (retired), was former deputy commander of U.S. European Command and director of Strategic Planning and Policy at Headquarters, U.S. Air Force.
Vice Adm. Richard Truly, U.S. Navy (retired), was former NASA administrator (appointed by President Reagan, I might add), a shuttle astronaut and the first commander of the Naval Space Command.
Their message to senators yesterday was clear and sobering. As Admiral Truly put it, “The potential impacts of climate change inevitably exacerbate societal stresses, which in turn have potentially severe security consequences.” They will add to tensions in areas of the world that today are stable. They will act as a “threat multiplier” in already unstable regions potentially creating breeding grounds for extremism and terrorism, resulting in even greater threats to America.
And these military leaders believe now is the time for action. “If we start planning and working now, we may be able to mitigate some of the climate battles we may face in the future,” observed Admiral Prueher.
Many Republicans on the panel agreed. “We have the ability to do smart things now before the train goes over the edge here,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
This is clearly an important debate for America to have. I hope yesterday’s Senate hearing gets that debate started in earnest at both ends of Pennsylvania Ave.
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