THE NEW WEST: Liz’s Climate Disconnect.
Before casting her vote to defeat the amendment, drafted by Rhode Island Democrat Jim Langevin, Cheney, a part-time resident of Wilson, declared “there is no evidence that climate change causes war.” Cheney’s conclusion would be perfectly logical if it wasn’t so thoroughly contradicted by reality.
Maybe most telling, Cheney’s opinions are in sharp contrast with those of top U.S. military commanders going back 25 years.
“Climate change can be a driver of instability,” Mattis said, “and the Department of Defense must pay attention to potential adverse impacts generated by this phenomenon.” For years, dating back to the George H.W.
Climate-related droughts causing water and food shortages heighten human misery and can cause the kind of social instability that leads to terrorism.
Wyoming is the fifth-most arid state in America.
If that isn’t enough, she can pick up a copy of a memorandum titled Implications for U.S. National Security of Anticipated Climate Change prepared by the National Intelligence Council and released in September 2016.
“These effects are likely to pose significant national security challenges for the United States over the next two decades, though models forecast the most dramatic effects further into the future.” Given Cheney’s assignment on the House Armed Services Committee, perhaps the best reference point might be the Quadrennial Defense Review prepared by the Defense Department, which also highlights climate change.
Retired Marine Gen. Anthony Zinni, who oversaw the military’s Central Command, is someone Cheney should call to testify before her committee.
Or we will pay the price later in military terms.