Skelton: Time to view climate change as a security issue
Rep. Ike Skelton
WASHINGTON — Perhaps no Missourian in Washington wields more clout than Rep. Ike Skelton, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Skelton, of Lexington, is a distinctly moderate Democrat seldom mistaken for an environmentalist. In battles over the Missouri River that flows near his home, Skelton casts his lot with farmers and bargers rather than the conservationists and pallid sturgeon lovers.
But Skelton has been doing some thinking about climate change, and what he is saying runs counter to some of his view about the environment and to the position of more than a few Missouri politicians.
In a column he writes for his constituents, Skelton observed today that climate change has emerged as a “real concern” among military planners.
“For many of us, this issue is ‘out of sight, out of mind’. But it is important for all Americans to fully examine how this phenomenon, if left unchecked, could increase the likelihood of U.S. military intervention abroad and further stretch and strain our troops and their families,” he wrote.
Skelton referred to a report by the former Army Chief of Staff Gordon Sullivan that sounds remarkably similar to the conclusions of the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the entity that some Missouri pols, notably Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, are fond of criticizing.
Sullivan concluded that “on the simplest level, it (climate change) has the potential to create sustained natural and humanitarian disasters on a scale far beyond those we see today. The consequences will likely foster political instability where societal demands exceed the capacity of governments to cope.”
The military report goes on to say that natural disasters like those that would result from rising seas and inundated lands could undermine governments in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, bringing the U.S. into the picture both for security and humanitarian reasons.
Skelton ends his column by saying that we need to be “open and honest” about the challenges from climate change — the issue that could consume Congress in a few months much like the contentious debate over health care dominates today.
I always take note when Representative Skelton speaks.
He is a common sense Missourian which is a rarity in Washington politics.
He has cast this whole issue in a different and distinctly thoughtful manner. That is, thankfully, the high standard of Representative Skelton: thoughtful consideration and commentary rather than the sound and fury of partisan rhetoric that is intended to inflame rather than enlighten and resolve.
Missouri is lucky indeed to have a blue dog common sense Democrat like Representative Skelton leading our state delegation in D.C.
Cap and Tax is a security issue. A job security issue. It will see our jobs heading to India and China.
Time to view Skelton as toast.
It is a security issue because it is a money issue. Spend the money now or not have the money to defend the country later. How much would it have cost to shore up New Orleans’ levees 10 years ago vs. what we have spent since Katrina? I just hope they have fixed that bridge over the MO river in Lexington. Last time I was there you had to pull your side view mirrors in for oncoming traffic!
Does Skelton WANT to lose next year?
Cap and trade is even less popular than health care ‘reform’
Heck, the only people on the planet that sign on to this miserable POS is guilt-ridden white Europeans, and US Democrats. Indians won’t have anything to do with it… or China, or Russia, or anyone in Africa or South America.
Bye Ike
Amazing! If Ole Ike believes this rubbish then it is indeed time for him to come home to Missouri. It’s time for us to get out of the wars on foreign soil business. Climate change has been going on as long as there’s been an earth. Relative to the earth’s age man’s time is insignificant. Mankind is NOT causing climate change. Ike is just going along with the party line and whatever the lobbyists are paying for. With our economy in dreadful condition, the last thing we need is a cap in trade job KILLER.
You ideologues are a riot. The jobs are already going, going…..and all you can do is shoot down a true servant of the state of Missouri because he dares to think and act in the name of prevention?
jjk?
tsquare?
Sailor?
dr.-bunk….don’t bother.
The only thing he will be preventing is another term in office.
Skippy,
Stick to making peanut butter. You are not very good at making insults.
tsquare- I believe the 1st attempt was the KYOTO accords. As in KYOTO JAPAN. Every country that attended signed off except one. Right, U.S.