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Apr. 16th, 2007 01:07 pmMilitary Sharpens Focus on Climate Change
A Decline in Resources Is Projected to Cause Increasing Instability Overseas
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 15, 2007; Page A06
Just last month the U.S. Army War College funded a two-day conference at the Triangle Institute for Security Studies titled "The National Security Implications of Global Climate Change." And tomorrow, a group of 11 retired senior generals will release a report saying that global warming "presents significant national security challenges to the United States," which it must address or face serious consequences.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/14/AR2007041401209.html
The really critical quote, for me, is this:
The Army's former chief of staff, Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, who is one of the authors, noted he had been "a little bit of a skeptic" when the study group began meeting in September. But, after being briefed by top climate scientists and observing changes in his native New England, Sullivan said he was now convinced that global warming presents a grave challenge to the country's military preparedness.
"The trends are not good, and if I just sat around in my former life as a soldier, if I just waited around for someone to walk in and say, 'This is with a hundred percent certainty,' I'd be waiting forever," he said.
In other words, we don't need complete certainty for action. We should act based upon 51% certainty in one direction. Waiting for more information is not just a waste of time, it's needless and it's harmful.
A Decline in Resources Is Projected to Cause Increasing Instability Overseas
By Juliet Eilperin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 15, 2007; Page A06
Just last month the U.S. Army War College funded a two-day conference at the Triangle Institute for Security Studies titled "The National Security Implications of Global Climate Change." And tomorrow, a group of 11 retired senior generals will release a report saying that global warming "presents significant national security challenges to the United States," which it must address or face serious consequences.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/14/AR2007041401209.html
The really critical quote, for me, is this:
The Army's former chief of staff, Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan, who is one of the authors, noted he had been "a little bit of a skeptic" when the study group began meeting in September. But, after being briefed by top climate scientists and observing changes in his native New England, Sullivan said he was now convinced that global warming presents a grave challenge to the country's military preparedness.
"The trends are not good, and if I just sat around in my former life as a soldier, if I just waited around for someone to walk in and say, 'This is with a hundred percent certainty,' I'd be waiting forever," he said.
In other words, we don't need complete certainty for action. We should act based upon 51% certainty in one direction. Waiting for more information is not just a waste of time, it's needless and it's harmful.
