National Security

Global warming is not just a moral issue or an environmental issue. Global warming’s effects U.S. National Security.

Terrorist Recruiting

If we do nothing to stop global warming, many third-world countries will be caught in a cycle of violence, poverty, disease, and death. Youth spending their lives in those conditions—watching their families suffer—live with an air of hopelessness which often gives way to anger and resentment.

Many young citizens of these nations will view the United States with disdain, both for our arrogance in causing global warming and our uncompassionate response. These poor, impressionable youth are easy targets for recruitment by terrorist organizations.

The U.S. Military

In 1993, 13 U.S. soldiers were killed in Somalia when two helicopters were shot down over Mogadishu (their sacrifice immortalized in the book and movie Black Hawk Down). These U.S. soldiers were part of Operation Restore Hope, a humanitarian support mission with the objective of stopping Somali warlords from stealing food and supplies intended for refugees and victims of famine.

Global warming will cause famine and disease in third-world countries. Governments of third-world counties will be unable to care for their own people. These governments will destabilize and fall. The United States will be called on to provide humanitarian aide. Warlords and armed guerillas will seek to steal the aide, often killing humanitarian relief personnel. The U.S. will be called on to provide military support to protect relief workers. This will cost the U.S. a great deal of money, but more importantly, the lives of U.S. soldiers.

Foreign Oil

In 2009, the United States will import two-thirds of the oil we consume—more than $450 billion worth. A large portion of the $450 billion we transfer out of the United States (each year) goes to nations, organizations, and individuals who either do not hold the United States’ national security interests in high regard or actively seek to harm the United States.

By investing in more fuel-efficient cars, electric cars, and changing our driving habits, we can end our dependence on foreign oil. This will cut off funding to individuals, organizations, and nations adverse to our national security interests. By ending our dependence on foreign oil, we can also keep our children and grandchildren from being pulled into wars necessary to feed our oil addiction. All of these solutions will also reduce the causes of global warming.